Meeting professionals in Latin America are shown to have the highest levels of optimism of any region when it comes to the health of the meetings and events industry. In fact, 86% said they would rank themselves as 8 or higher on a scale of 1-10. An impressive number. And 73% expect their meeting spend to increase from 63% in 2023.
Meeting professionals in this region are expecting a steady overall increase in activity in 2024. This steady increase balances growth with cautious optimism in most categories due to a variety of factors.
Slightly more conservative across the board, yet positive in outlook, European meeting professionals expect a moderate increase in activity level compared to North and Latin American regions. However, high levels of optimism regarding the overall health of the industry are firmly in place. 79% said they would rank their confidence level as 8 or higher on a scale of 1 to 10.
After a surge in virtual meetings driven by the pandemic, nearly three-quarters of event goers now say they prefer in-person events to virtual ones, according to a recent Hilton survey.
New Report 'Meeting Expectations: the Future of Meetings & Events' Reveals the Value of Human Connection and the Importance of Balance & Belonging as Priorities For 2024
In a recent HSMAI Sales Advisory Board meeting, I introduced the topic of meeting space utilization to the group for discussion. Read on for three takeaways from our dynamic discussion.
Marriott International, PCMA and CEMA, Release 'Guiding Principles in Experience Design' Findings at the Exchange: Association Masters
In what felt like the blink of an eye, 2022 came and went. 2022 was the year we found our way back to relatively normal, and for industries like hospitality, it was a year defined by recovery. 2023, however, promises to be defined by something else entirely – growth. For a long time, hospitality brands found themselves patiently treading choppy waters, and now it’s finally time to swim ahead.
While inflation and continued labor challenges across the travel and events sector leaves some trepidation, there’s cause for optimism. Here are a few trends that are likely to stay top of the agenda and evolve in 2023.
Hybrid meetings have waned, but onsite tech is still key