Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | B | Business Travel News

Optimistic conf. center chains consider pricing changes.

Article Excerpt
Leading conference center chains have reconsidered negotiating and marketing strategies in light of the growing role of procurement and new types of Internet sourcing in the meetings management Industry. Conference center executives said they expect an influx of corporate management training events and are weighing potential changes in the manner in which they price as the overall national economy improves.

"Those that stay true to what a conference center is will have a pretty healthy year," said Mike Fahner, vice president of development for Aramark Harrison Lodging. "We see that in corporations there's pent-up demand for management training." Part of that increase in management training, especially among financial companies, comes from such new legal requirements as Sarbanes-Oxley, he said.

Benchmark Hospitality chief marketing officer Jack Schmidt predicted that meetings of more than 100 attendees would rise as companies seek to re-energize management teams by bringing everyone together to prepare for future economic growth.

"Companies, as they become both healthier financially and more confident of the future, are returning to a more normal business pattern, which includes a renewed commitment to training meetings," Schmidt said, adding that Benchmark expects a strong year for new sales....

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!