Analysis
A ‘sellers market’ for meetings in many parts of the UK (notably London – the Thames Valley – Heart of England; plus many major cities) is pushing up rates, making it harder to find space, and prompting corporate buyers and agencies to devise new strategies to place their business. A dozen of their tips follow:
* Negotiate more effectively
* Ignore ‘difficult’ hotels
* Try new regions/counties
* Give unknown independents a try
* Go further afield – apply SAT-NAV skills!
* Be impressed by the seaside
* ‘Train-it’ to France or Belgium
* Book several events at the same time
* Plan longer ahead (for volume!)
* Opt for specialist conference centre
* ‘Sell’ the benefits of the event to your preferred venue
* Google LateMeetings.com…
* * *
Outlook
Looking ahead, here are 10 more evolving categories of meeting:
- MicroMeets – ‘quickie’ events that last only a few hours and with a single topic agendaSamehourMeetings – the venue is booked at 9.10 for a start at 10am (small numbers, but nevertheless ….)
- TGV Meet – once the St Pancras terminal opens (mid-November), how much easier to meet in Northern France, Brussels or Paris …
- CutPriceMeet – using cheaper, unknown, unbranded hotels with function space because a meeting room is a meeting room …
- DateSwapMeet – not the preferred date, but a shift of a day here and there can save a lot (e.g. to include a Monday or Friday)
- ProcurementMeet – never mind the venue, save us 25% on rack rates, please!
- PsychicMeet – the addition of ‘New Age’ options that guarantee an entertaining evening (e.g. Tarot reading; Palmistry; Reiki; Astrology)
- ReverseMotorwayMeet – avoiding the predictable daily traffic jams by heading to a venue in the opposite direction, or choosing a less congested motorway (e.g. M3, M180, M74, M54, M55, M61)
- IntenseMeet - a maximum of 24 hours: fewer delegates; shorter agenda; more decision-making; no frills; no time-wasting
- SwitchCountyMeet – swapping a fashionable or posh county (e.g. Cheshire or Buckinghamshire or Surrey) for one less well known that might be less busy or expensive
The next edition of Outlook ’08 will appear in December.
Previous Outlooks:
January 2006 - Click
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March 2006 - Click
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May 2006 - Click
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October 2006 - Click
here to view
Spring and Summer 2007 - Click here to view
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