Optimism and growth for association meetings

According to the latest IMEX annual Association Meetings Survey, meetings attendance from this specialist group continues to look positive.

The numbers identifying ‘significant’ or ‘slight’ growth in participation at their events have risen to 68 per cent (from 64% in 2005; 56% in 2004), while the percentage expressing confidence in continued growth for the year ahead reached 71% (69% in 2005; 62% in 2004).

Among key reasons for this general optimism are considerations like “attendees are travelling again”; “we are doing a better job of cost management”; and “our event marketing has improved”. On the downside, planners note “increased competition from commercial organisers” that dilutes their numbers; and “the growing difficulty that delegates experience in trying to get paid leave to attend”.

Such future buoyancy in this market may, however, depend on whether, and how, costs can be controlled. The proportion noting increases in costs at the destination has risen to 65 per cent (up from 60 per cent), and the total acknowledging that their organising costs have increased has also
risen to 60 per cent (up from 48 per cent). Explanations include increases in tariffs for hotels and air travel; the effect of fluctuating currency values; and the variations that arise naturally when switching between countries.

In response, some planners admit deliberately selecting cheaper destinations (e.g. the Far East rather than Europe; and Eastern rather than Western Europe). Opting to use a PCO has increased costs for some; others report a reduction in their conference charges arising from increasing funding through sponsorship.

Overall, the research suggests that the association meetings sector displays strong momentum. Those saying that they are ‘very’ or ‘definitely’ confident about prospects for 2007 outweigh by a factor of two to one those who say that they are only ‘quite’ or ‘fairly’ confident.

IMEX 2007 took place from the 16th to 19th April in Frankfurt with over 3,500 hosted buyers and an overall visitor total of 8,000, according to the organiser. “Both first-time and repeat exhibitors have told us that ‘quality’ has been the buzzword for 2007 – they’ve seen it in buyers from virtually every one of the 57 world markets represented here,” commented Ray Bloom.

More information: www.imex-frankfurt.com/dataexchange.html