Report Reveals What Influences Planners, Favored Destinations

Meeting planners think Chicago is their kind of town, according to a new study of what influences their booking decisions. Development Counsellors International surveyed 187 North American industry professionals about everything from their favorite destinations to effective marketing techniques. “A View from Meeting Planners: Winning Strategies in Destination Marketing” is available for free at aboutdci.com. Among the survey’s findings:

–Named by 20% of respondents, Chicago was the No. 1 favored location for meetings in North America, followed by San Diego and San Francisco.

–Among international destinations, London was the top selection at 20%. Barcelona and Paris rounded out the Top 3.

–DMOs have a lot of influence over planners’ perceptions. Convention bureaus were the top source of information for planners when it comes to evaluating meeting destinations, with 57% of respondents relying on them.

–When it comes to destinations with which they’re not familiar, face-to-face meetings at trade shows were the most effective source of information, named by 17% of planners.

–Among the 70% of planners who attended an industry conference in the past three years, IMEX America 2011 was the most popular event. A quarter of them attended the conference.

–Planners said online ads were the most effective form of advertising, selected by 73%. Only 2% said social media influences their perceptions.

–Association boards and corporate CEOs often make the final decision selecting a meeting location. aboutdci.com