Meeting Professionals International Releases First Edition of Report Predicting Future Meeting Trends
February 17, 2014
Meeting Professionals International released the first edition of its new Meetings OutlookTM, a quarterly report offering a unique perspective on the future of the meeting and event industry with information provided by more than 5,000 MPI members, including 700 senior meeting professionals on MPI's Business Research Panel.
The report covers new trends, as well as innovations on the horizon and replaces the bi-monthly Business Barometer previously published by MPI.
Meetings Outlook is available for free for both MPI members and non-members, making it more accessible to the broader meeting and event community and beyond.
Also, the new report's survey questions focus on what is coming down the road, rather than presenting an assessment of the current business environment.
"MPI spent months conducting research, analyzing the results and designing the Meetings Outlook," said Christian Savelli, senior director of business intelligence at MPI. "This new report is more comprehensive and insightful, and we believe meeting and event professionals will find it to be a valuable resource for strategic business planning."
The 2014 winter edition of the Meetings Outlook predicts increasing attention to meeting design, hybrid and virtual meetings, social media, tech innovations and the overall health of the meeting and event industry.
One of the findings of the report concluded: "In what appears to be a leading indicator of an economic recovery, U.S. and Canadian meeting professionals forecast a 5 percent improvement in overall business conditions in the coming year, according to the meeting professionals surveyed for this report. European meeting and event professionals expect to see a 4 percent improvement."
In addition, U.S. meeting professionals expect a 3.9 percent increase in meeting attendance and a 2.4 percent hike in budgets. Meanwhile, in Europe, meeting professionals forecast a 2.4 percent rise in attendance and a 1.6 percent increase in budgets.
Forty-five percent of the respondents said they saw their budgets increasing, for another 40 percent it was staying the same and 15 percent were seeing budget decreases.
Technology also was a major focus in the report, with 54 percent of the meeting professionals who responded indicating they had used virtual or hybrid event solutions.
Social media still seems to be vexing for some, with 16 percent saying they don’t have a social media strategy at all, 48 percent saying they adopted to new options and techniques and 25 percent saying they had a clear social media strategy.
MPI members will receive a printed copy of the Meetings Outlook in the mail each quarter in The Meeting ProfessionalTM magazine. The 2014 winter edition was mailed with the February issue of the magazine, and a digital copy is also available online at www.mpiweb.org/meetingsoutlook.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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