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IAPCO Survey: More--But Smarter--Meetings Being Planned
Monday, June 6, 2011 by Kevin Iwamoto
Good news from the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO)! And it's news that very much is aligned with our own recent positive news here at StarCite. IAPCO, which represents professional organizers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 40 countries, surveys its member base each year, and, this time around, it found an increase in the number of meetings organized by members.
According to the poll, in 2010, IAPCO members organized:
- 2,153 association meetings, up from 2,102 in 2009 (itself up from 1,818 in 2008) - 498 government meetings, up from 399 the year earlier (again, a rise itself from 273 in 2008) - 3,454 corporate meetings, climbing from 3,140 in 2009 (compared to a low of 1,154 in 2006 and 3,079 in 2008)
The average number of events per IAPCO member also rose to 95 in 2010, up from 90 the year earlier. The only bit of disappointing news in the survey was that the average number of participants per event fell to 368 in 2010 -- a drop of an average 7 attendees from the year earlier.
Then again, perhaps the drop-off reflects more sound, strategic decision making among organizations about attendee levels -- given strained budgets. But I still think that more association, government and corporate events -- as evidenced by this survey -- is good news.
Likewise, so is our recent news that StarCite saw 52% growth in corporate meetings requests flowing through our Global Online Marketplace during the first quarter of the year. In addition, over the same time frame, total room night volume was up 68%, among other measurements of growth.
It's nice to see more evidence of a renewed rise in activity among Congress organizers, and the growth in StarCite's numbers spells good news, too, for both buyers (more e-rfps mean greater savings and efficiencies) and suppliers (more e-rfps mean more business for hotels).
I’d love to hear about any ways that your organization is meeting more – but in a smarter way. Please share here! |