Global DMC Partners (GDP), a global network of independently owned destination management companies (DMCs), has published the results of its Q2 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey during its quarterly webinar.
Key findings: As the industry gets back to in-person events, new challenges, primarily travel/flight restrictions, venue availability and staffing, are arising. 46 percent of respondents cited travel restrictions and vaccine rollout as their primary challenges in returning to in-person events. Surprisingly, the challenge of implementing health and sanitation protocols dropped significantly, by nearly 20 points, in comparison to the Q1 survey results.
Indicators point to meeting and event budgets beginning to increase. While only 12 percent of planner respondents reported budgets were increasing in Q1, that number has increased by 14 points with 26 percent of planners now reporting that their budgets are increasing. Furthermore, 33 percent of planners reported budgets were decreasing in Q1, with only 23 percent reporting they are decreasing in Q2.
Webinar poll respondents also noted that staffing – both internal staffing and event onsite staffing – has lately become a greater challenge as demand continues to increase. This was also echoed by the panelists who pointed to issues that have surfaced with their event vendors – such as hotel, venue, décor, and A/V suppliers – being short-staffed.
The webinar concluded with the topic of market demand. Global DMC Partners reported that planners are considering more regions outside of their respective domestic markets for 2022 programs. The Q2 survey findings support this; in particular, Europe is gaining more traction as compared to the Q1 survey results. From the panel of experts, the top destinations of interest at this time are the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and parts of Continental Europe.
The webinar, hosted and moderated by GDP President & CEO Catherine Chaulet, attracted nearly 250 online participants. The virtual event included a panel of industry experts weighing in on the top findings, discussing insights from their own perspectives and sharing their real-world best practices.
The full results of GDP’s Q2 2021 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey have been published here (PDF, 26 pages).
