 Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC | IACC released the results of its annual ‘Meeting Room of the Future’. The paper reveals that, as the global meetings industry continues to develop at a rapid pace, venues must continue to adapt to meet planners’ and delegates’ expectations on food & beverage and internet infrastructure. A full copy is available for download here. The report was conducted to gain insights from global venue operators, industry experts and suppliers, with the goal of understanding how they are responding to the changing expectations and needs of meeting planners, as identified in the 2017 survey of buyers. It brings together insights from over 50 venues across four continents, as well as suppliers including global meeting space designers, architects, technology companies, furniture manufacturers and nutrition experts. “As the industry evolves and expands, just as meeting planners must continually evaluate all elements of the meeting experience, operators and suppliers must also ensure they are meeting and anticipating the changing needs of planners,” said IACC’s CEO, Mark Cooper. “The survey was designed to highlight these growing needs; we looked specifically at experience creation, meeting room space and design, technology and internet capabilities as well as culinary trends.” |
Mark continues: “The report shows that high quality internet will be the most important meeting element in the coming years, and that the success of meetings today depends on the quality of a meeting venue’s internet infrastructure. Some of those surveyed reported to have created ‘internet disaster recovery plans’ in the event of internet outages mid-event, a sure sign that venues and planners understand the important role that internet plays in meeting collaboration and connectivity.”
Discussing the role that breaks play in meetings, Mark adds: “More operators are offering continuous refreshment breaks this year than previous years, however the report’s findings suggest that, while meeting planners agree that the format of breaks and meal times needs to evolve in the future, planners were divided on whether the trend should move towards short, more frequent breaks or longer breaks and meal times to allow in-depth networking”
Ellen Sinclair of Benchmark, a Global Hospitality Company, and chair of the project group comments: “Our industry experts provide compelling insight into meeting trends. Their insights will help us understand the elements that shape collaborative and productive face to face meetings.”
Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark, A Global Hospitality Company and IACC President comments; “Venue operators and suppliers are critical to the delivery of a meaningful and memorable meeting experience. They are the true partner to the planner, focused on the goals of the meeting. Hearing their voice in this research has been enlightening.”
The IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ is an initiative led by IACC, with the goal of sharing the association’s vision on what meeting spaces will look and function like in the future. The initiative brings together research, trends and innovations with the single goal of predicting, creating and shaping the future of meeting environments. The full report ‘A Survey of Meeting Venue Operators and Suppliers’ is here.
Discussing the role that breaks play in meetings, Mark adds: “More operators are offering continuous refreshment breaks this year than previous years, however the report’s findings suggest that, while meeting planners agree that the format of breaks and meal times needs to evolve in the future, planners were divided on whether the trend should move towards short, more frequent breaks or longer breaks and meal times to allow in-depth networking”
Ellen Sinclair of Benchmark, a Global Hospitality Company, and chair of the project group comments: “Our industry experts provide compelling insight into meeting trends. Their insights will help us understand the elements that shape collaborative and productive face to face meetings.”
Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark, A Global Hospitality Company and IACC President comments; “Venue operators and suppliers are critical to the delivery of a meaningful and memorable meeting experience. They are the true partner to the planner, focused on the goals of the meeting. Hearing their voice in this research has been enlightening.”
The IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ is an initiative led by IACC, with the goal of sharing the association’s vision on what meeting spaces will look and function like in the future. The initiative brings together research, trends and innovations with the single goal of predicting, creating and shaping the future of meeting environments. The full report ‘A Survey of Meeting Venue Operators and Suppliers’ is here.
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