Posted: June 18, 2010

By Danielle Walker

danielle.walker@insidebiz.com

Venue holders need to know what meeting planners want - and planners want to know they have it.

This summer, Benchmark Hospitality International, a national hospitality management company that manages Founders Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach, released its top meeting trends for 2010. Inside Business has the rundown on trends spotted throughout Benchmark properties.

Bookings for 2010 are up, and 2011 looks bright. Corporate meetings are in higher demand than last year, and the scheduling pace for advanced bookings (in 2011) is also up. Planners are keeping close watch on the economy, but booking ahead in larger numbers.

Smaller booking windows, but cancellations are down. Trendspotters found that corporate meeting bookings tend to occur in a 30- to 45-day window. While this means that hotels and resorts have only about a month to nab bookers, the economy has discouraged planners from racking up penalty fees for cancellations. Overall, more planners seem to be sitting tight compared to 2009.

Shorter stays and smaller groups. For 2010, meeting group sizes have been on the decline, at times dropping 50 percent. To save money, more groups are choosing regional or local venues for meetings, and have cut at least a day off their stay.

Planners expect Internet access, but just the bare necessities are desired. Planners have increasingly shown a demand for maximum Internet connectivity, but they have a cut-to-the-chase mentality when it comes to extra bells and whistles. Having access to the latest technology is not a priority for planners, as long as their stay is hassle-free when it comes to Internet access.

Social media and networking sites? Some for work, most for play. LinkedIn and Trip Advisor have been increasingly used for planners seeking customer feedback and property info, but popular networks like Facebook and Twitter weren't necessarily preferred by the corporate meeting sector. While the business community definitely utilizes new media to make work connections, in-person networking was still a priority among those in the Benchmark study.

Healthier dining options that are budget-friendly. It's no surprise that today's business worker is interested in healthy dining and ample fitness resources when on business meeting trips - but now buffet-style meal choices seem to be commonplace too. In a press release, Benchmark Hospitality said an array of executives, ranging to top-level Fortune 500 company workers, thought the buffet was a fitting option.