More than
half of planners have seen a noticeable improvement in business performance
since returning to face-to-face meetings.
The fifth annual
etc.venues survey reveals that 54 per cent of planners saw an upturn in business following the return to in-person events.
And almost 99 per cent of planners value in-person
meetings more than or the same as before the pandemic, up from 82 per cent a
year ago and a 22 per cent increase from the start of the pandemic.
One
respondent said: “After being forced online for so long, we have definitely
seen our busiest year of face-to-face events with people desperate to be in the
room. I think that people really realised how important physical meetings are.”
The results
indicate that the impact of a dispersed workforce has changed the way in which
meetings agendas are constructed, with 65 per cent of event planners arranging
more one-day meetings than previously. Of these, 38 per cent said it is to make
better use of people’s time, 32
per cent are doing to so to reduce costs and 30 per cent says it’s to help the work-life
balance of delegates.
One
respondent added: “It has been lovely being face-to-face again after such a
long time, however I believe it will not become as frequent as it once was as
work-life balance has become so much more important since the pandemic.”
The survey also showed that 27 per cent of respondents are looking at holding more in-person meetings than before the pandemic, with 36 per cent keeping the number the same as before.
Sustainability commitment
When asked
how committed the meetings industry is to sustainability, the answer was inconclusive,
suggesting planners don’t yet see a comprehensive approach to sustainability
“Everyone
is talking about it, but no one is doing anything except planting a few trees
here and there,”
said one respondent.
Only 7 per
cent of event planners thought the industry is not really committed but only 5 per
cent thought it is strongly engaged. Similarly, while 44 per cent thought that
organisations are taking action but not very committed, 45 per cent think that
the industry is fairly committed to action.
There were 423 respondents and the research was done in December 2022.
Adam
Simpson, director of marketing for etc.venues, said: “It’s great to see that
business performance
is improving as in-person meetings return and that face-to face meetings are now
universally valued. Confidence in the industry is back.”
