In an interview with the Ft. Worth (TX) Star-Telegram this week, Gaylord Entertainment Co. (Dallas) chief executive Colin Reed said, "Over the last several months, we have witnessed a modest spike in attrition...this would not be good if we did not have contracts," to protect the hotel's revenue. Most meeting contracts have clauses that require groups to pay attrition fees to the hotel if rooms are blocked but not used.
In the recent Association Pulse survey by Association TRENDS and Association Research, Inc., 42.5% of respondents said attendance at their meetings in Q1 2008 was "even." 30% said their attendance was "down." 27.6% expect fewer to attend their events through the remainder of 2008.
While Ft. Worth CVB CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, told the Ft. Worth paper, "Through June, we didn't feel any impact of the slow economy," he also claimed that meeting planners are being more "conservative" in setting their room blocks for future events. A spokesman for the nearby Irving (TX) CVB said hotels there have seen drops in occupancy "every month this year."
Hotels need to maintain their revenue numbers. Associations that don't meet their contracted room blocks can expect to see increased enforcement of attrition clauses.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
It's worth the trip
As air fares rise, IAEE is extolling the benefits of exhibiting in a new ad campaign. Why should exhibitors travel to shows in the current climate of rising air fares? Well, to start, the advantage of meeting multiple potential clients in one place, says Steve Hacker, CAE, president of the International Assn of Exhibitions and Events, Dallas.
IAEE just released the "Be There" ad campaign to show corporate exhibitors why they should travel to exhibitions and events. The first ad in the series is available for free at www.iaee.com/bethere. Hacker said more ads will be posted in the coming weeks with complimentary full page, high-resolution print ads available as PDFs.
The cost to fly these days, as well as the cost to ship exhibits, has made some exhibitors re-think their need to travel. "These ads are intended to take that [notion] on directly. It boils down to this: Do the math - how many customers can you see at a trade show vs. what it would cost in time and in airfare to see them separately," Hacker said.
The campaign points out a number of things that should be in every exec's mind when promoting the assn's trade show:
• The power of face-to-face marketing plays a major role in exhibitions and events.
• The benefits of being on the show floor such as cutting expenses, generating revenue, creating profit, securing multiple contracts, meeting new leads and justifying ROI.
• The cost-saving aspects of reaching multiple clients and leads in a single location vs. making multiple trips.
Consider promoting your annual meeting NOW, no matter when it is scheduled. Rates are bound to go up-up-up and you will have continuing problems getting your members to travel.
IAEE just released the "Be There" ad campaign to show corporate exhibitors why they should travel to exhibitions and events. The first ad in the series is available for free at www.iaee.com/bethere. Hacker said more ads will be posted in the coming weeks with complimentary full page, high-resolution print ads available as PDFs.
The cost to fly these days, as well as the cost to ship exhibits, has made some exhibitors re-think their need to travel. "These ads are intended to take that [notion] on directly. It boils down to this: Do the math - how many customers can you see at a trade show vs. what it would cost in time and in airfare to see them separately," Hacker said.
The campaign points out a number of things that should be in every exec's mind when promoting the assn's trade show:
• The power of face-to-face marketing plays a major role in exhibitions and events.
• The benefits of being on the show floor such as cutting expenses, generating revenue, creating profit, securing multiple contracts, meeting new leads and justifying ROI.
• The cost-saving aspects of reaching multiple clients and leads in a single location vs. making multiple trips.
Consider promoting your annual meeting NOW, no matter when it is scheduled. Rates are bound to go up-up-up and you will have continuing problems getting your members to travel.
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