Expect more meetings and events in Asia Pac in 2012

57% of meeting planners from the Asia Pacific region expect the number of meetings to increase this year.

According to research recently conducted by American Express Meetings & Events, while meetings demand across the world is on the rise in 2012, activity is strongest in the Asia Pacific region.

The research was based on a survey and in-depth interviews of meeting experts from across the globe, including planners, buyers and hotel suppliers. Of the meeting planners surveyed, 57% of respondents from the Asia Pacific region expect the number of meetings to increase this year, compared to 42% of North American, 50% of Latin American and 51% of European respondents. In addition, budgets within the region are also expected to increase, with 30% of respondents anticipating this trend, compared to just 20% globally.

Higher travel and meeting costs are anticipated, driving the need for companies to focus on striking the right balance of cost effectiveness and meeting success when selecting venues, according to the inaugural American Express Meetings & Events 2012 Meetings Forecast.

“Meetings and event spend is often a good indicator of how companies connect with their clients and prospects and well run meetings and events can be key drivers for growth,” said Issa Jouaneh, Vice President, American Express Meetings & Events.

“In the case of the Asia Pacific region, meeting industry stakeholders report increased meeting numbers and budget. This is largely driven by the continued growth of the local economies. We hope that this report helps meeting professionals and executives navigate this burgeoning activity to make strategic and effective use of their meeting investment.”

Asia Pacific Meetings Profile: 2012

Insight from both meeting planners and hoteliers in the Asia Pacific region sheds light on general characteristics of meetings next year. Companies and organisations can use the following observations to get the maximum return on investment of each gathering:

Bigger meetings, with bigger budgets: Unlike the rest of the world, the number of attendees per meeting in Asia Pacific is expected to increase, according to 43% of respondents. Additionally, while all other regions globally show a clear trend towards smaller meetings budgets in 2012, 30% of respondents in Asia Pacific said that budgets would increase.

Focus on compliance: Compliance, cost control, and the achievement of strategic objectives will have a direct correlation to decisions made around meeting size, destination, property and spend as it relates to individual meeting elements.

Venue selection: While the rest of the world has seen a shift away from bookings in the luxury or resort properties, there is not the same reluctance in the Asia Pacific region. Companies in the region are also shifting towards resort locations – which could come in response to demand for large events.