Grass Roots HBI has revealed its sixth annual Meetings Industry Report (MIR) for 2012 as an App. The new format was unveiled at a media lunch at the Four Seasons, in London’s Park Lane, 1 May.
Grass Roots HBI Sales Director David Taylor said the new MIR would be interactive and updated regularly to provide summaries of industry research combined with GRG’s own data on hotel room rates and new venue launches.
The App will be free of charge and the move from print to App will save Grass Roots HBI £80,000 in print costs, according to MD Des McLaughlin.
Global Supply Chain Director Alan Newton gave a short analysis of key findings and industry trends contained in the new report, including statistics on rising day delegate rates (DDRs) in the UK five-star market in the South East. These DDRs had climbed 12 per cent in 2011, the research showed. This he contrasted with a 13 per cent drop in DDR in the four-star market in the North West of England. “If I were a weatherman it would be a mixed outlook with some sunny spells,” said Newton.
Newton also pointed to dynamic Asian markets. In Shanghai MIR identified a 21 per cent rise in room rates, with Singapore and Sydney also recording double digit rate growth in the mid-market hotels. However, rates in Greece were dropping, Newton noted, “by as much as 19 per cent in the five-star hotel rate category”.
In the Americas, Montreal led the way in terms of percentage rise in room rates, up 34 per cent in 2011, Newton said.
The MIR App also highlights a changing venue procurement landscape and offers some predictions on the future of strategic meetings management over the next 12 months.
McLaughlin and Taylor also noted the London Olympics had meant some meetings and training business had left the UK. “It was,” he said, “a big question whether all displaced business would come back”.
One investment bank client, they said, had moved a large graduate training programme from London to New York for 2012.
Taylor added that LOCOG had “messed up” the hotel inventory stock placed with it according to the London Visitor Charter. Some had been given back but was not necessarily enough for the meetings market.
The Government encouraging people to work from home if possible during the Olympics had not been good for giving confidence to those keen to stage events in the capital, McLaughlin noted.
Although, looking ahead, he saw signs for optimism, at least for his company’s outlook.
“The meetings market has been written off several times, yet the core business for Grass Roots HBI remains strong with investment banks and accountancy firms,” he said.
For Grass Roots HBI, McLaughlin said: “Quarter one 2012 has been above target, although Q2 has seen a dip. We expect a dip in Q3 with a strong finish for Q4.”
Last year Grass Roots HBI grew its revenue by around 30 per cent and Taylor said the division was looking to expand further into European markets.
From next week meeting planners will be able to download the new MIR App on their iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. A web-enabled version of the report will be accessible via desktop computers.
Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net
