A couple of months ago, Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading hospitality management company with 30 award-winning conference hotels, resorts, and conference centers in locations coast-to-coast and in Asia, announced its “Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2009,” as observed by its properties. What is trend #1?

The Business of Meetings is Business.

Here is an excerpt from the trend report:

This year more than ever before, the business of meetings is straight-up ROI. There’s not a lot of room for leisure and extracurricular play in the current meeting environment, where every single dollar is measured for its contribution to the success of the overall conference.

Meetings have never been more serious, focused, or strategic–or more regional, for that matter, as transportation expenses are trimmed. It’s good news for conference centers, which are all about serious meeting environments.

To read the full report, head on over to PlannerWire. To discuss some strategic, “straight-up ROI” speaker solutions for your upcoming meetings, give us a call at ROI Speakers (615.526.6600) or just request a proposal online.