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Solid 2008 forecast for meetings industryAccording to FutureWatch 2008, a definitive market trends study for the global meetings and events planning industry, meeting professionals expect healthy attendance and budget increases in the coming year. The sixth-annual international study, conducted by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and sponsored by American Express surveyed 1643 meeting and event professionals and suppliers from around the world, marking the largest response ever to a FutureWatch study. Strategic valueOverall, meetings and events professionals expect a 19% rise in attendance in 2008. The finding was matched by a prediction that interest in webcasts and other web-based tools for live meetings will also rise, but clearly will not displace the strategic value of face-to-face meetings. “FutureWatch 2008 is further evidence that there's no substitute for the power of human connections through live interaction,” says Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of MPI. “This year's study showed that while meetings and events professionals are embracing technology, its greater role is in enhancing events, not replacing them.” Among its major findings, FutureWatch 2008 also found:
Those interested in learning more about green meetings can attend The European Meetings and Events Conference which will take place in London, 18 – 20th April 2008. More information is available online at www.mpiweb.org. Complete FutureWatch 2008 results detailing the economic, societal and travel industry trends expected to impact the meeting planning industry are available online at www.mpiweb.org or www.americanexpress.com/meetingsolutions. |