When is less more? When it comes to meetings involving air travel.
Planners are increasingly prioritizing short, nonstop flights and low airfares for their attendees, according to a recent survey of 422 meeting professionals conducted by MeetingNews.
â€Corporate planners often need to streamline air travel,†says the publication.
Said Libby Ricks, marketing and public relations director for Coalition America in Atlanta:
“Many of our attendees don’t have the time or patience to fly multiple stops, so it is important to have our meetings in larger cities with lots of flights.”
Said Julie Hovis, planner for Investment Planners Inc., in Decatur, IL:
“Our reps are interested in short or direct flights. They like to stick with the carrier of choice. Many attendees also request a big-city venue within 45 minutes from major airports.”
Said Benny Ellerbe, executive director of Optimist International in St. Louis:
“For our board and smaller meetings, we tend to select hub cities with lower-cost options and fewer connections.â€
Another issue for planners is air delays. Sixty percent confirmed that their attendees have had more flight delays in 2007 compared to prior years.
Report by David Wilkening
