5 Stories that Rocked Our Industry
by Jessie States
Meeting professionals faced a lot of challenges in 2009: sagging economic indicators, hotel foreclosures, travel scares, (yikes!) attrition. But the year also saw the emergence of new social media possibilities, groundbreaking research and green technologies. One+ assessed reader feedback and its own research to create this list of the top five stories that rocked the industry in 2009.
United for a Cause
As U.S. lawmakers called on government-subsidized companies to forgo business events and avoid popular cities—and companies canceled fistfuls of retreats and incentives—organizations throughout the meeting industry collaborated like never before with guidance from the U.S. Travel Association, which immediately launched its Meetings Mean Business campaign, scheduled meetings with government leaders and hosted a May 12 Travel Rally Day.
Lawmakers and individual industry organizations meanwhile trumpeted the value of meetings and events. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons spurned a meeting with Barack Obama after the U.S. president implied that companies should avoid meeting in Las Vegas, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) decried a government blacklist of touristy destinations. This summer, U.S. Travel research showed that for every dollar invested in travel, businesses experience an average US$12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits. Later, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) unveiled the industry's newest imaging campaign, “FACE TIME. It Matters,” with support from its 34 member organizations—including MPI. In December, industry groups announced the launch of a study of the economic impact of meetings on the U.S. economy, scheduled for completion in September.
MPI focused on education and content and helping industry professionals speak the language of business. The organization rolled out its international Knowledge Plan and announced the opening of training centers at universities across the globe, so that industry professionals could navigate clear career paths from beginner to senior leader. One+ kept readers up-to-date on the industry’s progress in March and in October.
Change in the Air
Southwest Airlines is creating a green plane, Continental Airlines completed a test flight partly fueled by algae and one company wants us all to stare at each other while we fly. It was an up-and-down year for airlines, as the industry giants came to grips with new competition from budget liners. The U.K. Competition Commission ordered BAA to sell off three of its airports, and the airline just barely avoided a holiday cabin crew strike.
A devastating airline disaster and several near-collisions caused increased scrutiny of airline policy, particularly flight hours for pilots. A foiled terrorist attack on a Dec. 25 plane from Amsterdam to Detroit made travel tougher for visitors to the U.S., who now face increased scrutiny in security lines, harsher baggage restrictions and even body scans.
Following years of lobbying by groups such as FlyersRights.org and the Business Travel Coalition, December brought relief for U.S. travelers stranded on the tarmac; the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new rule that establishes a three-hour time limit, after which U.S. airlines are required to permit passengers to deplane delayed domestic flights. Canada and nations in the EU already have such protections (although the European Commission just instituted new rail rights on Dec. 3).
Tweet, Tweet
It was an explosive year for social media in business, with teens going so far as to say they’d weigh network access when considering future job opportunities. One+ researched social media networking and the future of so-called Web 2.0. The mag’s Columnist Robert Swanwick shared tips for including Twitter in event methodologies and social media in registration strategies.
And the meeting industry embraced Twitter like it was the next overhead projector. According to destination
marketing firm Development Counsellors International, more than 300 CVBs have Twitter accounts. (Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, San Francisco and Tampa Bay are the top U.S. destinations to market their cities on the site.) And an M&C study shows that 50 percent of planners use social networking to market meetings.
Of course, not everyone is embracing new technology. In fact, a lot of meeting professionals aren’t. According to Enabling Technology, a survey of business travel managers by the Institute of Travel & Meetings U.K. & Ireland, only 8 percent of respondents plan to utilize social networking tools as part of their travel and meeting programs.
Swine Flu
In April, an H1N1 swine influenza outbreak in Mexico and the U.S. had meeting professionals shaking their heads. Attendance at events faltered as professionals shirked business travel. The World Health Organization (WHO) held its first emergency committee meeting on April 25. In June, the WHO signaled a Phase 6 global pandemic.
But a May study by Sabre Holdings (Travelocity amongst others) reported that business and leisure travel was relatively unaffected by growing attention to the H1N1 virus. In September, the American Hotel & Lodging Association released its H1N1 Influenza Management in Hotels to help hoteliers manage flu situations at their properties. MPI set up a Web resource on the flu and issued a series of webinars to educate travel professionals on the risks and facts of the virus. In November, One+ reminded readers to be prepared, not panicked.
By the end of the year, the H1N1 vaccine had been tested and distributed in countries across the world. The WHO says it is safe to travel, but prudent to stay home if you are sick. New studies show that children are more susceptible to the virus than adults.
A Green Industry
As economic and regulatory turmoil swirled, the meetings sector turned an even sharper focus toward international sustainability. The CIC unveiled final draft standards for green meetings and events developed by the group’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Panel on Green Meeting and Event Practices. British green event measurement BS8901 began its way to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) status (if you want to help, click here).
Building projects also looked green, led by the opening of the Las Vegas CityCenter project, heralded as one of the world’s largest sustainable developments. Other hotels and organizations took smaller steps with rooftop beehives, sustainable menus and event carbon footprint calculators. The Green Meetings Council launched a green event portal.
Of course, the big news came out of Copenhagen, where world leaders discussed global climate change during the December COP15. The event earned BS8901 accreditation. And the U.N. World Tourism Organization confirmed its commitment to the environment during the conference, launching its new Live the Deal initiative, which will help travel companies and destinations respond to climate change, reduce their carbon footprints and move to a green economy.
MPI was hard at work as well. The MPI Foundation gave a US$200,000 grant to the Triple Bottom Line Alliance to pursue the development and launch a CSR Measurement Tool. The nonprofit’s Canada arm launched the Events for Communities of Sustainability (ECOS) project, to transform communities in the areas of food, water, shelter and education. Canada’s projects have already been announced.