A Little Help

The popularity of catering services continues to be high among RCMA planners. Just a few years ago, only a quarter of RCMA members surveyed reported using catering and banquet services. In 2007, however, 79 percent used those services.

Audiovisuals, too, are an integral part of religious meetings. RCMA members used AV supplier services at 79 percent of their meetings.

Efficient ground transportation and tours are important to religious meeting planners, according to the survey. In 2007, 52 percent of those surveyed said that they used ground transportation and tour services.

Special air rates and ticketing were used by 51 percent of the RCMA members surveyed, while exhibit and decorating services were used by 44 percent of RCMA members surveyed. Forty-one percent of those surveyed made use of car rentals.

A Priority

Again in 2007, the RCMA survey shows that people are willing to dedicate a significant amount of time to attending religious meetings.

The average length of conventions and conferences was 4.0 days in 2007, a statistic that has held steady for more than 10 years. The survey also seems to indicate that retreats are very important. The length of retreats remains high: 3.4 days in 2007. The length of the average board meeting was 2.3 days in 2007, and the average committee meeting and seminar lasted 2.2 days, unchanged from 2006.

Where Meetings Are Held

The Midwest continues to be popular for religious meetings, with 17.4 percent of planners reporting that they hold meetings there. The Southeast remains strong in the percentage of planners who chose it, at 15.7 percent in 2007. The Northeast states were used by 13.4 percent of the planners, followed by the Western states at 11.2 percent and South Central at 10.4 percent. The percentage of planners who hold meetings “throughout the USA” was 23.2 percent.

Of those surveyed, 8.7 percent said they hold meetings outside the United States.