In a recent HSMAI Sales Advisory Board meeting, I introduced the topic of meeting space utilization to the group for discussion. Read on for three takeaways from our dynamic discussion.
Marriott International, PCMA and CEMA, Release 'Guiding Principles in Experience Design' Findings at the Exchange: Association Masters
In what felt like the blink of an eye, 2022 came and went. 2022 was the year we found our way back to relatively normal, and for industries like hospitality, it was a year defined by recovery. 2023, however, promises to be defined by something else entirely – growth. For a long time, hospitality brands found themselves patiently treading choppy waters, and now it’s finally time to swim ahead.
While inflation and continued labor challenges across the travel and events sector leaves some trepidation, there’s cause for optimism. Here are a few trends that are likely to stay top of the agenda and evolve in 2023.
Hybrid meetings have waned, but onsite tech is still key
I'm going to start by stating the obvious: The way businesses operate has changed since the pandemic. Crazy right? Not really - these changes were felt in all industries, all over the world. In our world, this fundamentally changed the core of how we met.
As we look to 2023, it’s an exciting time to be in this industry. In-person meetings and events are roaring back – and at the same time, we can take lessons learned during the last few years to make positive, long-lasting changes to the way we work. Dramatic improvements in technology and a renewed focus on sustainability, wellness, and inclusivity provide a clear path forward for the industry.
Video conferencing has seen world-wide adoption and accelerated technology advancement, and virtual group meetings are now an acceptable form of engagement - especially when in a highly creative event environment. But it is still an artificial way to conduct business.
Aside from the obvious wellbeing and duty of care practicalities, there are other benefits to maximizing the value of integrated travel, meetings and events programs. According to Cirium, business travel is expected to accelerate in 2022 driven by an increase in meetings & events, with companies already having increased their business travel spend.
While most of the discussions on group demand at hotels is still related to COVID-19, hoteliers worry that crime and safety concerns could be the next issue that hampers citywide events.