meeting-related content. Smart, interactive meetings are here to stay!
6. F&B: Healthy culinary continues, but ironically that doesn’t mean the Danish trays aren’t emptied daily. Meeting attendees, though, are demanding healthy, gluten free, sustainable cuisine and refreshment break selections - even going so far as to re- quest an authentic culinary experience refl ecting the native cuisine of participants. Creative, imaginative, and healthy culinary offerings are increasingly requested. Healthy protein-nourished meeting attendees are attentive conferees!
7. What’s New With Meeting Room Demand? Today’s meeting technology brings a stronger need for secure environments in which to conduct business and learning when offsite. And meeting planning professionals are demanding that meeting fa- cilities respond accordingly. There’s just too much at risk in this competitive busi- ness environment. Guess what else is in high demand - more breakout rooms… what we’ve been hearing for 20 years! Demand for smaller and more intimate at- tendee interface is increasing after a lengthy period of deferred meetings. Some things never change, including demand for more space!
8. Teambuilding Continues Its Trend Upward. After years of postponed or deferred meetings, many companies are using teambuilding to inspire camaraderie and re- vive enthusiasm. But this is not your 1990s ropes and obstacle courses; today’s team- building is about scavenger hunts, early morning group fi tness runs, competitive bowling, and culinary cook-offs. Fun, challenging and delicious!
9. 21st Century Meeting Planning Professionals are busier, with increased multitask- ing responsibilities than ever before. Fewer have planning as a primary function within their job responsibilities, and due to their hectic schedules, they have less time to be educated and even less patience to wait for a response. Interface with meeting professionals is increasingly done through RFP, e-mail communication and in some cases texting. Know your meeting planning professionals, understand their needs, and help them be heroes to their attendees and organization leadership! It makes a difference and helps your venue stand out from the crowd!
10. What Business Segments are Heating Up? Several, actually! Education (particularly engineering and technology), medical, bio tech, high tech, new media, association, not-for-profi ts, fi nancial services and the incentive segment are all showing signs of recovery for 2013. What’s not won’t surprise anyone - government related business.
Bonus Trend: Value, Value, Value, including plenty to do on property for attendees, up- to-date fi tness and recreation, and strong WiFi signals throughout! It’s all expected today. Social responsibility and sustainability are important, but not game changers - they’re a part of the mix and not an end in themselves.
About Benchmark Resorts & Hotels: Benchmark Resorts & Hotels represents the fi nest in lodging, dining, recreational and meeting accommodations in unique destinations throughout the United States. Each is a Four Diamond property with award-winning service and exceptional accommodations. Most Bench- mark Resorts & Hotels are certifi ed by the
www.iacconline.org International Association of Conference Centers, the leading professional organization governing the multi-billion dollar conference center industry on fi ve continents. Benchmark Resorts & Hotels deliver highly specialized service that anticipates guests needs and ensures a hospitality experience unsur- passed and long remembered. For additional information and the location of properties, visit
www.benchmarkhospitality.com.
WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM
Whether it’s a nod to green meetings or just
convenience, note pads and pens
are taking a back seat to iPads and electronic tablets as the preferred means of taking
notes and documenting learning in the meeting room.
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