News

Leading American Hospitality Brand, Two Roads, has announced the top meetings trends for 2018 based on data from its recent “State of the Meetings Industry” survey. More than 300 corporate, association, government and independent planners contributed to the sixth annual survey, 66 percent of whom control more than $100,000 per year in guest room, meeting space and food and beverage spend for their organizations.

Here are the key trends from the report:

Overall Market Strength & Stability: 2018 will see a strong showing in corporate meeting spending. 37 percent of survey respondents said they will plan more meetings for 2018, up from 30 percent in 2017, and nearly 45 percent of survey respondents say they have more money to spend in 2018. In addition to a higher demand, the new year will see an increase in costs and a shift in where meetings are planned.  

“Meetings are seeing costs rising because there’s strong demand from the leisure and transient segments, and because much of the new hotel supply is in the economy or mid-scale categories – which tend to lack meeting facilities and the leisure amenities preferred by both planners and attendees,” says Andre Fournier, executive vice president of sales, marketing & revenue for Two Roads Hospitality. “With 84 percent of survey respondents using upscale, upper-upscale or luxury properties, it is anticipated that these segments will experience stronger demand than supply.”

Value is a Booking Driver: It is no surprise that value significantly informs decisions around meeting bookings, and the way it is measured is crucial for success. The meetings industry is continuing to put great emphasis on delivering a quantifiable return on investment to both the attendees and the organization, determining this return through numbers-driven and perception-driven calculations. 

Creating an Interactive & Inspiring Atmosphere: More than 74 percent of those surveyed rated flexible meeting space as an 8, 9, or 10 in importance when organizing a meeting or event. Non-traditional elements, such as an informal living-room concept or a comfortable, lounge-style seating area, and unexpected spaces like urban rooftops, are becoming commonplace. Many meeting planners are also seeking mixed environments that blend the traditional conference table with a residential element, resulting in warm, transitional spaces that can evolve from one event to another. 

“With many sessions transitioning from being instructor-led to being attendee-led, the atmosphere must be convivial like at a coffee house,” says Fournier.  

Leading American Hospitality Brand has announced the top meetings trends for 2018 based on data from its recent “State of the Meetings Industry” survey. More than 300 corporate, association, government and independent planners contributed to the sixth annual survey, 66 percent of whom control more than $100,000 per year in guest room, meeting space and food and beverage spend for their organizations.

Here are the key trends from the report:

Overall Market Strength & Stability: 2018 will see a strong showing in corporate meeting spending. 37 percent of survey respondents said they will plan more meetings for 2018, up from 30 percent in 2017, and nearly 45 percent of survey respondents say they have more money to spend in 2018. In addition to a higher demand, the new year will see an increase in costs and a shift in where meetings are planned.  

“Meetings are seeing costs rising because there’s strong demand from the leisure and transient segments, and because much of the new hotel supply is in the economy or mid-scale categories – which tend to lack meeting facilities and the leisure amenities preferred by both planners and attendees,” says Andre Fournier, executive vice president of sales, marketing & revenue for Two Roads Hospitality. “With 84 percent of survey respondents using upscale, upper-upscale or luxury properties, it is anticipated that these segments will experience stronger demand than supply.”

Value is a Booking Driver: It is no surprise that value significantly informs decisions around meeting bookings, and the way it is measured is crucial for success. The meetings industry is continuing to put great emphasis on delivering a quantifiable return on investment to both the attendees and the organization, determining this return through numbers-driven and perception-driven calculations. 

Creating an Interactive & Inspiring Atmosphere: More than 74 percent of those surveyed rated flexible meeting space as an 8, 9, or 10 in importance when organizing a meeting or event. Non-traditional elements, such as an informal living-room concept or a comfortable, lounge-style seating area, and unexpected spaces like urban rooftops, are becoming commonplace. Many meeting planners are also seeking mixed environments that blend the traditional conference table with a residential element, resulting in warm, transitional spaces that can evolve from one event to another. 

“With many sessions transitioning from being instructor-led to being attendee-led, the atmosphere must be convivial like at a coffee house,” says Fournier.  

Food & Beverage: Making Meetings Delicious: Food & beverage was ranked the third-most important factor in site-selection decisions, behind only location and rate, with the average rating of importance increasing from 8.60 in 2016 to 8.74 in 2017.  

Fournier says: “How we source our food in the past several years has changed significantly.  Farm-to-table dining and local, organic ingredients are what our guests want. Freshness and quality are crucial, and there’s a strong demand for health-conscious cuisine from our planners. Additionally, the local emphasis gives attendees a deeper connection to the community and local culture, making it a more memorable experience that they’ll share with others.” 

Venues have an opportunity to provide destination-specific F&B offerings that may not have ever been seen before by participants. Planners also know quality options will result in maximum performance for attendees.  

Meeting Planning in the Digital Age: On-site technology plays a key role in today’s meetings, with 61 percent of planners ranking it 8, 9, or 10 in importance for the planning of 2018 meetings. Bandwidth is the top topic of concern, especially given the robust nature of event apps, social media platforms and other web applications used. 

Teambuilding: Leveraging Local Experiences: Nearly 40 percent of survey respondents rate leisure and teambuilding amenities as a 7 or higher in importance when choosing a site. 53 percent of respondents are interested in adventure or active teambuilding, while 47 percent prefer public service-focused activities. Locality plays a key role when planning teambuilding activities and meeting breaks. Immersive activities unique to the destination leave long-lasting impressions, further enhancing the meeting experience.   

Safety Concerns: Safety concerns are impacting the business meeting and event industry. Planners are working closely with venues to ensure the safety of their guests, being well informed on security details already in place and establishing emergency prevention and response plans.  

Etc venues. Etc Fenchurch street, Etc St Pauls, etc Liverpool street, CCT Venues, 30 Euston Square