MEETINGSNET just put out their latest Global Forecast report and it should make us all very happy! A whopping 70% of meeting professionals see budget growth for 2025.
70% of respondents from North America, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific expect growth. Only Europe lags, where just 65% expect an increase. Here’s how it shakes out:
Breakdown: North American Meeting Spend
7% Significantly increasing
63% Increasing
20% Staying the same
8% Decreasing
1% Significantly decreasing
Top Challenges
The increases don’t necessarily ensure availability at venues of choice. As with the 2024 forecast, sourcing and rising costs are the most common challenges cited in the 2025 forecast:
43% Location availability
40% Cost
36% Budget cuts
28% Hotel staffing levels
28% Flight availability
26% Attendee registration
Meeting Formats 2025
All meeting formats – In-person, virtual, and hybrid have strong use across the globe, but in-person meetings continue to dominate. “When asked about changes made in response to inflation and budget cuts, many survey respondents report a change in format. Their two top reactions: “more virtual meetings” and “change destination or lodging.””
In North America, a greater percentage of meetings will be exclusively in-person than any other region of the world.
Formats: North America
68% In-person only
17% Virtual only
15% Hybrid
Formats: All Global Regions
59% In-person only
21% Virtual only
20% Hybrid
AI and Technology Tools “Across the globe, meeting professionals ranked artificial intelligence and mobile apps among the top technology tools they expect to use for executing meetings and events in 2025.” As the report notes, “The first waves of technology adoption helped meeting professionals boost efficiency and productivity. The arrival of A.I. offers new opportunities to automate and work smarter.”
How Planners Use AI For Meetings – Worldwide
42% AI-powered matching attendees and sponsors
41% Content creation
40% Generate creative event themes
39% Track attendee engagement
37% Optimize event logistics
36% Event communications
35% Chatbots
35% Translation
30% Post event evaluation
28% Registration
All in all, this is an optimistic view for 2025!
Copyright 2024, Lois Creamer, Book More Business. Lois works with professional speakers who want to book more business, make more money, and fully monetize their intellectual property.
Reach me in the following ways:
Lois@BookMoreBusiness.com
314-374-4007
For more information on my business, check out https://www.bookmorebusiness.com.
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