May 2011
Rentals and Staging

In This Issue:

Calling All Meeting Professionals!

State of the Meeting Industry

Image Named Among Colorado's Top Women-Owned Businesses

7th Annual MPIRMC & RMPCMA Golf Tournament

Denver Meeting and Events Industry - Upcoming Events

Concerts For Kids' Community Day at Joshua Station

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State of the Meeting Industry

The recently-released MPI Business Barometer (April 2011), which surveyed 1,000 event professionals across Europe and the United States, reveals that meeting planners are feeling optimistic about improving business conditions, but they are concerned about the rising cost of fuel and air travel.

Here is a summary of the report's findings:

• Optimistic on Economic Recovery: Meeting planners are generally optimistic about the ongoing economic recovery. The majority of respondents indicated that current and predicted business conditions are improving at a rate not seen since the end of 2008. In addition, 23 percent of survey respondents reported "favorable" conditions in April, compared to only 16 percent in February.
  
  
• Increasing Attendance: During April 2011, 54 percent of the respondents saw increased attendance at their meetings, which is a slight decrease from 55 percent in February, but a 2 percent increase from April 2010. In addition, 54 percent of respondents reported an increase in attendance levels, compared to 43 percent in December 2010.

• Rising Travel Costs: Meeting planners are becoming increasingly concerned about the rising costs of fuel and air travel. There was a 16 percent increase in the number of meeting planners indicating that "U.S. Fuel and Airfare Increases" is a top trend impacting their meetings and events. Twenty-one percent responded that they are concerned about future costs, which is a substantial increase from only 2 percent in February.
  

• Stabilizing Industry Employment: Meeting industry employment is holding steady with 25 percent of respondents reporting "rising full-time employment," which an increase from 24 percent in February.

• Increased Spending on Meetings: Forty-six percent of respondents reported increased spending on meetings. The numbers break down as follows: 25 percent of planners reported a 1 to 5 percent spending increase, 12 percent indicated a 6 to 10 percent spending increase and 9 percent reported a spending increase of over 10 percent

Outside of rising travel costs, these are positive signs on the state of the meeting industry! Image Audiovisuals has also seen improving business conditions in 2011. For more thoughts on the state of the meeting industry, please contact Scott Collinsworth at 303-758-1818.

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SALES STAFF

Scott Collinsworth
Director of Sales
Colorado Convention Center
303-228-8047
scollinsworth@imageav.com

Kelly Kucera
Sales Executive
Rentals and Staging
303-758-1818
kkucera@imageav.com


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