A number of trends are appearing in meetings travel management company, Inntel’s latest meetings’ data, showing an increase in learning and development events, social media activity around meetings and changing rates in and outside London.
Inntel’s trends are based on analysing 4,000 client bookings.
Electronic influence: There is a trend towards more interactive meetings, where iPads and electronic tablets replace venue notepads and pens. Tweeting on meetings and event tags are now common, as is the demand for more breakout rooms.
Rates, rates, rates: Average Day Delegate Rates (DDR) in London showed an increase year-on-year of 1.2 per cent to £53.12, with rates rising with increased demand. Conversely, the average DDR in UK major cities was £35.38, a decrease year-on-year of 4.7 per cent. In the provinces, average DDRs remained static at £36.17.
Lead times: With the growing demand for meeting space, booking lead times remain high at 42 days, with organisers showing more confidence by booking larger meetings earlier.
Location, location, location: London, Leeds and Birmingham are the locations most in demand by Inntel clients, very much following the booking patterns of 2011/12.
Learning and development: A significant 30 per cent of venue bookings were to accommodate corporate training and exam courses. Twenty-nine per cent of venue bookings were for small (up to 40 delegates) meetings and 25 per cent for large meetings and conferences. These results show a marked increase in client’s learning and development budgets.
Bespoke finds favour: Trends are appearing for bespoke meetings packages and standard DDRs not so much the norm.
Traditional still popular: Annual General Meetings featured highly on the Inntel report, as did private dining, retirement and long-service events, product launches, Christmas parties, awards ceremonies and client hospitality.
It’s all about the team: Teambuilding events that had been shelved for a number of years are making a come-back, with activities such as cook-schools and reality TV-inspired themes replacing traditional raft building and treasure hunts.
“There are clear signs of increased confidence, with longer lead-time meetings being confirmed, the resurgence of teambuilding activities and the general growing demand for space,” says Inntel’s Director of Business Development, Jane Dibble. “It’s interesting to note the growth in spend on learning and development, showing that companies are investing more in their workforce, while the increase in social media activity and use of tablets in meetings is a natural consequence of this trend in all areas of life.”
Any conference-related news? Email sarah@mashmedia.net
