THE 19TH ANNUAL MEETINGS MARKET SURVEY

LET’SGETTHEBADNEWS over with first:Nearly one-half ofthe respondents to this year’sMeetings Market Survey reported that they had fewer attendees at their largest 2009 event compared to 2008. Only 34 percent picked up at least 90 percent of the room block for their largest meeting.And planners held an average of five fewer small meetings in 2009 compared to the previous year. But they aremoving on.The majority

of meeting professionals expect 2010 to be better than 2009, and many say that the industry is in a stronger position than before.Read on to learn how and why.

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVE CALVER CHARTS BY DAVE FOSTER