Special Report
The Economic Impact on Meeting Planning
Learn about the effect of the economy on the meeting planning industry.
Top Story
Canceled Programs Cost Planners Millions in Fees, Suppliers Billions in Lost Revenue
The average meeting planner expects to cancel or postpone meetings worth $560,000 in room revenue in 2009 and 2010, according to a recent survey conducted by the Professional Convention Management Association...
Publishing Industry Conventions Canceled
Two annual meetings in the publishing industry have been canceled for 2009, both casualties of the economic recession....
ASAE Economic Impact Study: Belt-Tightening Ahead
ASAE and The Center’s new economic impact study on how 8,500 members of 97 associations are reacting to today’s economy came up with some expected results—past attendance is the best predictor of future plans, for example—but there also were some surprises. ...
FICP Talk Radio: Meetings a Must
Maintaining a commitment to meetings will be crucial as companies try to climb out of the economic hole created by the recession, said Larry Roth, president and CEO of the AIG Advisor Group, and other panelists on a February 18 “State of the Industry” audioconference organized by Financial and Insurance Conference Planners. ...
How the Economy is Affecting Suppliers
On the supplier side, everyone agrees that 2009 is going to be a survival year. That's why everyone from destination and meeting management companies to incentive houses and speaker bureaus will need take stock and rethink their business strategies in this challenging economy....
Industry to Work Together to Prove Power of Meetings
Leaders from across the meetings industry gathered Monday in New Orleans to launch an advocacy and research initiative to determine the economic impact of the meetings industry. ...
Downturn, By the Numbers
Economic snapshots from the meetings industry niches....
2009 Paragon Awards
Once again Corporate Meetings & Incentives asked readers which hotels, resorts, and conference centers had best handled their meetings and incentive programs during the past year. Hotels were evaluated on the meeting services' quality, and resorts were judged on atmosphere, services, and recreational amenities. Conference centers (which must be members of the International Association of Conference Centers or deemed the equivalent by our editors) were judged on their facilities, equipment, and meetings services....
Deep Cutbacks for 2009 Incentives
With economic news still getting worse by the day, incentive program managers are feeling the pain. In our last issue, we spoke with the heads of incentive firms about their clients’ reactions to the down economy. This, our 2009 Incentive Trends Survey report, comes right from the source—the end-users: senior executives, directors of sales and marketing, and meeting managers at Fortune 1000 companies. And we found that more than half of respondents—56 percent—are postponing or eliminating at least a portion of their incentive programs in 2009. ...
MeetingsNet/An Analysis of the Economy’s Impact on Meetings and Incentives by Market Segment
MeetingsNet magazines conducted online surveys/polls of readers to gauge the effects of the economic downturn on their meetings and incentives. ...
Economy Curtails Physicians' CME Travel
The tumbling economy and higher cost of travel are causing physicians to rethink their plans to attend out-of-town meetings, according to Medical Meetings Physicians' CME Preferences Survey....
ING Cancels Incentives; Others Move Forward
ING Life Distribution has canceled next year’s incentive trips for its sales agents. ...
GM Bails Out of Meetings at NADA Convention
As General Motors seeks bailout money to stay afloat, it has canceled several meetings associated with next month’s National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans, according to published reports....
Excellence in Motivation Lays Off 34 Employees
Faced with the cancellation of a large 2009 travel-reward program for a West Coast automotive client, Excellence in Motivation, a Dayton, Ohio–based provider of incentive and performance improvement services, laid off 34 of its 250 employees last month...
The economic downturn hits medical meetings
Rough economy and stricter regulations are forcing medical association meeting planners to revamp their annual meetings...
Hospitality Industry Forecasts for 2009
According to the annual “Global Business Travel Forecast and Trends” report, released this fall by American Express Business Travel, the downwardly spiraling economy may actually cause a couple of results that could be positive for the meetings business: airfares likely will decrease and hotel rates will hold relatively steady. ...
Increasing Attendance and Revenues at Association Meetings During a Down Economy
With the U.S. economy in a recession that many say will get worse before it gets better, planners are facing the prospects of lower attendance, attrition, budget cuts, and revenue loss for their 2009 meetings. But meeting professionals are working hard to mitigate any shortfalls. Some are changing their pricing models. Others are shoring up attendance by redoubling their marketing efforts and seeking out new segments to target. Still others are reducing room blocks, making deals on exhibit space, and cutting back on everything from shuttle service to food and beverage events....
Cisco Cancels Annual Sales Meeting
Cisco Systems has canceled its annual Global Sales Meeting. ...
Industry Takes Hit in Third Quarter
All the major indicators measuring the health of the meetings industry were down in the third quarter, according to the CEIR Index, published by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Dallas...
Marriott Gets Candid with Customers on the Economy, Growth, and the Future of Meetings
A group of Marriott’s top corporate clients gathered last week to hear the hotel company’s president and COO, along with other executives, talk about the state of the company—and tackle some tough questions....
Do Canceled Incentives Have Legal Consequences?
AIG’s recent decision to cancel 160 meetings and conferences, including recognition events, begs the question: Does a company have a legal obligation to provide alternative rewards to the qualifiers of canceled incentive trips?...
More Information
Meeting Planner Travel and Hotel Information
Meeting planner travel and hotel information...
Economic Impact on the Special Event Industry
Special Events brings you information about how the economy is affecting the special event planning industry...
