MPI's FutureWatch Shows Continued Meetings Growth in 2007

Both corporate and association planners anticipate holding more meetings with more attendees and having bigger budgets in 2007, according to the 5th annual FutureWatch survey conducted by Meeting Professionals International in partnership with American Express. FutureWatch assesses key trends impacting meeting planning by surveying both meeting planners and meeting suppliers.

Over half of corporate planners, 55 percent report that total meeting spend is calculated at their organizations. According to the survey, more planners anticipate doing so - with half of those not currently calculating total spend reporting that their organization is expected to move in this direction.

Another major trend identified in the report is increased globalization. "Globalization is on the rise in all areas of the meetings industry," the report states. "Client-side planners, meeting management and services companies and especially hotel and resort companies expect to increase their global presence in 2007."

With more than 60 percent of planners reporting that procurement departments are playing at least some part in their purchasing decisions, the survey asked meeting planners about the impact of this involvement. This involvement has increasingly led to increased use of preferred vendor programs and 60% of corporate planners believe that these programs have been successful or beneficial.

Download the full FutureWatch 2007 report.