Meeting planners continue to have a hands-off attitude towards meeting packages (CMPs), according to a MeetingNews survey.
Reasons cited: high costs, extra charges, hidden fees, and limited services and options.
Only slightly more than half (54 percent) of those polled have used CMPs.
“Whether it is just perception or reality for planners…the lack of flexibility to unbundle and customize complete meeting packages remains at issue and may have led to the reasons cited above for their non-adoption,†said MeetingNews.
According to observers, a lack of clear understanding of the CMP model may have contributed to the recurring concerns about inflexibility, lack of cost control, and restricted services.
Ironically, the bundled pricing model may attain wider success if more properties that offer CMPs do a better job of breaking out the costs for meeting buyers, said observers.
