Meeting planners struggle to control cost

November 20, 2009 |

Hotel managers are not the only party at the negotiating table struggling to control costs and operate within the limits of austere budgets. Meeting planners have also been given the challenge of setting up effective events at the least possible cost.

In an effort to work within the framework of slashed government, corporate, and association meeting budgets, planners have continued to cut banquet menus and off-site events as they have in the past. However, now they have begun to flex their negotiating leverage and ask for aggressive room rate concessions from hoteliers. In response, it appears that hotel managers have been increasingly willing to negotiate and offer room rate discounts.

In September of 2009, PKF Hospitality Research surveyed a national sample of nearly 100 meeting planners on behalf of ConventionSouth magazine. The survey covered such topics as meeting attendance, destination and facility selection criteria, technology, and budgets.

The following article highlight the findings of the survey that are most pertinent to hoteliers.

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