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Aramark shifts toward transient.

Article Excerpt
Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp. plans to increase transient and leisure sales because of "flat" meetings demand at its Aramark Harrison conference center properties, according to the head of the company's newly combined division of conference centers and parks and resorts management businesses. The shift concerned some sources who said the industry may be missing an opportunity to gain a greater share of the meetings market and is in danger of losing its core customers.

Aramark last month announced the integration of the company's conference center business with its parks and resorts business. The combined divisions will retain the conference center brand Aramark Harrison Lodging. Bruce Fears, who was executive vice president of the parks and resorts division, has been named president of the new division. He said there would be greater emphasis on leisure business at Aramark conference centers next year.

"Our group market has been flat and our transient has had significant increases," Fears said.

Though a report issued in May by PKF Consulting indicated a strong rebound in the conference center industry (Meetings Today, June 6), Fears said Aramark properties would shift the...

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