Meetings + Events

by Laura Bickie

Data will be crucial in making decisions to drive the industry’s recovery. To that end, several organizations have poured resources into getting a snapshot of where we are at, where we are going and how to get there.

THE STUDY: 2020 Coronovirus Poll by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)

The September survey of 1,364 GBTA members around the world sought to get a sense of the status and future of in-person events.

Highlights:

45% of respondents expect in-person events to resume in the first half of 2021

25% expect a return in the second half of 2021

37% expecting to host some or many meetings or events in Q1, rising to 61% by Q2.

52% say an effective vaccine for COVID-19 would have the most influence on the planning process

48% of GBTA companies say their senior managers value a managed travel program “much more” or “more” than they did before COVID-19

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THE STUDY: Insights into the future of business events in Canada: A planner pulse check in the era of COVID-19 by Destination Canada

In August, Destination Canada surveyed international (US and other countries) event planners in the association, corporate and incentive market segments to gain insights into industry recovery.

Highlights:

31% of association and corporate meeting and event organizers polled indicated that they will continue to use third-party planners

5% of association and corporate meeting and event organizers polled will move planning in-house

57% intend to continue using third-party planners for incentives

7% are in the process of moving incentive planning in-house

25% of respondents indicated they are relocating events confirmed for regions outside of North America to destinations in North America

73% of those same respondents are open to considering Canada for these events

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