International Meetings Outlook: U.S. Organizations Sticking Close to Home

International meeting and incentive destinations suffered through major declines in group business in 2009, and the outlook is not much better for 2010, according to two recent reports.

The FutureWatch study, released by Meeting Professionals International in January, found that U.S. planners will hold 80 percent of their meetings in the United States in 2010, up from 61 percent in 2009. (Respondents included 967 planners—356 corporate, 318 independent, 263 association, and 30 government.)

And in the Incentive Industry Trends 2010 Survey recently released by the Incentive Research Foundation, 47 percent of respondents said they will switch from international to domestic destinations for their 2010 incentive programs. (Of the 103 respondents, 81 percent were U.S.-based incentive travel providers or corporate incentive travel buyers.)

On the other hand, the United Nations World Tourism Organization is taking an optimistic view of the year ahead, predicting a 3 percent to 4 percent increase in international arrivals in 2010. The prediction comes after the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer showed international tourism arrivals fell 4 percent in 2009. But that was actually good news, as a surprise 2 percent upswing in arrivals in the fourth quarter improved the worse result that had been expected. The UNWTO’s forecast of increased arrivals in 2010 also is due to some major upcoming international events, including Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, in May and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in June.

With short-term bookings becoming more common, there may still be an upturn in international group travel as well, possibly helped by a strengthening U.S. dollar.

And there are certainly international deals to be had. Hotel rates fell dramatically in 2009 in many popular destinations such as Madrid (down 19 percent), Dublin (down 17 percent), Zurich (down 17 percent), Salzburg (down 13 percent), Rome (down 13 percent), and Prague (down 15 percent).

In China, the rush by hotel companies to add properties to the world’s fastest-growing economy contributed to an oversupply that pushed the country’s average daily hotel rates down 21 percent in 2009. And even in the red-hot Middle East region, average daily rates fell 8 percent last year. Some cities that saw dramatic declines—such as Barcelona and Venice—already are seeing rate strength return in 2010, however.

RSS Share

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2010 Penton Media Inc.


Acceptable Use Policy
blog comments powered by Disqus

Search for Meeting Space

Find Event Suppliers, Request Quotes

Search 100,000 Venues


Advanced Search

The Meeting Planning Blog

Face2Face Latest Posts

Sign Up for Our Free E-Newsletters

Meetings Collaborative

Rate your experience with meeting venues and suppliers.

Facility / Hotel

 
Powered by: Meetings Collaborative
Aega Awards

Apex Webinars

Demonstrating Leadership in Turbulent Times

Join MeetingsNet, the Convention Industry Council, and two meeting professionals to learn how seeking out professional development and volunteer opportunities can enhance your career advancement. Click here for free registration.
View it Now! | View APEX Archives

Webinars

Medical Meeting Compliance: It Doesn't Have to Hurt

Overwhelmed by state and federal rules about what pharmaceutical meeting planners can—and can’t—do with meetings that involve healthcare practitioners? We’ll help you take it one step at a time. Join us August 5th from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
Register Here! | View Archived Webinars

Recent Comments

Powered by Disqus

Back to Top

Explore Our Newsletters


Meeting Planner Survival Guide

Whether you're a novice planner or a veteran, this compilation of must-read articles is your meeting planning resource.

Pharma Meeting Management Forum

Medical Meetings and the Center for Business Intelligence co-organize the Annual Pharmaceutical Meeting Management Forum.

Visit our photo gallery from the Sixth Annual Forum.

Suppliers/
Facilities/CVBs

MeetingsNet makes it easy to find the CVBs, tourist boards, and facilities you need for your next meeting.

Deal Finder

Special offers brought to you by MeetingsNet.

Find A Job

Targeted to all aspects of the hospitality and special events industry.

Education
Central

Upcoming Events, Live and Online

Facebook   Twitter   RSS Feed   Email

Inside Current Issue

MM July 2010

July/August 2010 MM

CMI Cover July/August

July/August 2010 CMI

FIM July/August

July 2010 FIM

June AM

June 2010 AM

RCM June 2010

June 2010 RCM

Browse Back Issues