Chicago, Orlando and Washington, DC, are the top North American markets in the meeting planners’ consideration set, according to STR‘s 2017 DestinationMAP (Meeting Assessment Program).
DestinationMAP is a comprehensive study of meeting planners and the meetings market in North America. Now in its 17th edition, the report surveys meeting planners’ preferences and their perceptions of 40 North American markets.
Following Chicago (67 percent), Orlando (67 percent) and Washington, DC (66 percent), the most common destinations that meeting planners have used or would consider using are San Diego (64 percent) and Las Vegas (62 percent).
“Sixty-seven percent of planners listed Chicago and Orlando in their destination consideration set, and both markets were particularly popular in what we define as the large meetings segment (1,000-plus attendees),” said Chris Klauda, STR’s director, destination research. “Planners indicated that a safe environment was overwhelmingly the top consideration when selecting a meeting site, followed by a clean and attractive location, and other logistical considerations.”
Other key findings from the 2017 DestinationMAP include:
Among meeting planners who plan seven or more meetings annually, roughly one-third attend IMEX America, while one-fourth attend local/national Meetings Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) events.
Over the past 10 years, Group (bookings of 10 or more rooms) average daily rate has grown at three times the rate of Transient (bookings of less than 10 rooms) ADR.
To purchase the 2017 DestinationMAP, email destininfo@str.com.