Meeting Planners Are Relying More on Tourism Bureaus in 2016
Photo Credit: Visit Denver executives go out to University of Colorado to learn about advanced industries potentially interested in meeting in Denver. University of Colorado
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The new Fulcrum report gives tourism bureaus a better idea of the business challenges facing planners, and how they can help planners deliver better business performance without giving them a free handout.
Conference organizers are looking for more direct financial help and sponsorship opportunities from destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in 2016, due to the sharp rise in hotel, venue, and food costs.
That's according to this month's "Destination Marketing Insights from Meeting Executives" survey conducted by the newly formed Fulcrum Marketing company. Its founders are David Kliman, principle of The Kliman Group, a veteran DMO consulting agency, and Bruce MacMillan, past CEO of Meeting Professionals International and Tourism Toronto.
The purpose of the survey was to hear what North American planners had to say specifically about the business of global meetings, and how the rising cost of large conferences will impact their working relationships with DMOs.
The hospitality industry posted record numbers in 2015, especially hotels in the upper upscale segment, many of which have plentiful meeting space and attractive downtown locations. According to STR hospita
