National Forecast Shows Positive Signs for Florida Meetings
In a survey released by Meetings Focus magazine, the meeting trend forecast for the remaining half of 2011 is looking up, which has already been reflected in the recent rise in Florida meetings. Although the North American meetings industry has been challenged by both economic and social factors over the past two years, it seems the overall trend is starting to rebound. The 2011 Meetings Market Trends Survey revealed a number of interesting and promising findings from nearly 700 meeting planners, many of who plan and conduct Florida meetings on a regular basis.
According to the survey, meeting planners expect to hold more meetings during the second half of the year, work with higher budgets, and count higher attendance overall. Meeting planners also expect prices to increase. North America and Florida conference center activity should see some gains from this growth as well.
In last year’s survey, 14 percent fewer people said that a lower budget would be their biggest challenge in planning meetings for the year. Corporate planners agreed, with 20% responding that smaller budgets and cuts would be their primary challenge. This was certainly reflected throughout the Florida meetings market during 2010.
Respondents who said “decreasing attendance” would be their biggest challenge fell by 9.5 percent in 2011, and 12.6 percent fewer association planners felt that attendance decline was their chief concern. More than 11 percent of association planners – who generally hold the largest Florida meetings – answered that they expect their number of meetings to increase more than 10% next year.
Overall, the 2011 Meetings Market Trends Survey indicates that the meeting industry is picking up momentum and will continue to show improvements, making it the perfect time to make your next Florida meeting a White Glove Meeting at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort & Convention Center.
For more information, call Scott Selvaggi, Director of Sales & Marketing at 904-940-8000, or visit www.worldgolfrenaissance.com/meetings.