Meetings and events technology tops agenda

Meetings and events technology tops agenda
By admin


Leveraging meetings and events technology will be a key focus of travel managers in 2013 as companies look to reduce costs and tap into the potential of hybrid meetings, a new report has found.

According to a new survey published by Carlson Wagon Travel (CWT), more than 50% of travel managers in the Asia Pacific plan to prioritise meetings and events technology in 2013.

Most travel managers in North America also tipped M&E technology as a major priority in 2013, and the meetings and events sector also ranked among the top 10 priorities of all 706 travel managers surveyed.

As corporates look to control costs in the current economic climate, the report predicted that companies would increasingly embrace hybrid meetings to reach a wider audience at lower cost compared to traditional events.

Purely virtual events are also likely to take hold, with 53% of travel managers reporting that they plan to increase their use of virtual meetings to reduce their environmental impact.

“Meetings and events held both in person and online will be explored by more companies as a way to control costs while leveraging other features offered by new technologies,” the report said.

“At the same time, companies will continue to set up purely virtual meetings in suitable situations, such as video meetings and conference calls for regular team updates.”

CWT also released the 2013 Global Travel Price Forecast in conjunction with the report, noting that the price of air travel is likely to increase 1.3% in 2013.

Hotel rates are also set to jump between 3.4% to 6.4% led by an 11.7% spike in average rates in Perth, while Brisbane accommodation rates are likely to increase 8.6% this year.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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