Planners face challenges sourcing unconventional venues with shorter lead times and high costs. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/boonchok
Shorter lead times and demand for less conventional venues are some
of the main challenges facing event planners, according to findings from
the latest Northstar/Cvent Meetings Industry PULSE Survey, released
this month.
The survey highlighted elevated levels of concern for space, dates
and rates since the last survey in January, while hotel satisfaction
rates have declined notably.
Levels of optimism remain high - with only 14% reporting they are
less optimistic than they were two months ago, and new bookings are
strong. Yet more than half of planners surveyed - 53%, report that lead
times are short, and that they are booking and/or sourcing events less
than one year out.
The continued backlog in rescheduled pandemic events is also making
matters worse - 30% of planners report they have yet to produce meetings
that were cancelled and rescheduled during the pandemic. Nearly
two-thirds of all planners said they will produce more meetings this
year.
Planners said they were also sourcing unique non-hotel/non-conference
centre venues for larger sized groups who want something different,
with clients looking for outside-the-box locations due to increased
F&B costs at hotels and convention centers.
Hotel satisfaction levels in terms of support received also declined,
with planners noting that ‘too many hotels, venues and other vendors
are still using the pandemic as an excuse to price gouge. Many are also
holding off on committing to business, holding out for better offers.’
The survey reflected the responses of 440 planners over a set period,
from 21 March to 5 April and included planners across corporate
companies, professional conference organisers, associations, nonprofits
and third party, independent planners.