Will the Meeting Industry be Affected by Economic Decline?

ConventionPlanit.com’s audience has recently expanded to include 4,000 planners from the United Kingdom, serving as just one example of their growing global presense in the industry. 

MPI’s annual FutureWatch study indicates demand and growth in Europe for the meetings and incentive business, but it is cetrainly reasonable to think the current struggles in the United States ecomomy will have a negative impact on this.

Paul Kennedy addressed this issue in a recent speech at the AIME Media Conference.  Do you agree with his thoughts?  Will the industry experience sustained growth during an economic slow?  How do you think this can or cannot occur?

 

Guest-Friendly Facility Innovations

As we discussed in our last posting, environmental conservation is becoming the trend among many of the hotels and facilities across the nation. 

Some properties, like the Marriott Orlando Airport, which recently received Green Lodging Certification from the state of Florida, are helping the environment while simultaneously adding convenient features for guests.  The hotel  implemented user-friendly and environmental-friendly practices such as sensor lighting systems and programmable thermostats. 

As hotels and facilities continue to incorporate simple ways to conserve energy into their businesses, it becomes easier for guests to follow suit. 

What green practices are part of your daily routine?  Do you think twice before printing an email on a piece of paper?  What changes would you like to see the facilities you visit implement for your next meeting?