According to a survey of pre-registrants attending the fifth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show April 6-7, 2005 at Chicago’s Navy Pier, the majority of the respondents (53.7 percent) expect to plan more meetings in 2005 and beyond.

Most of those respondents anticipate planning three – 10 more meetings (one respondent was a particular stand-out by citing an increase of double the number of meetings planned last year – for a total of 400 in 2005).

Additionally, nearly half of the respondents indicated that they have increased budgets to plan meetings.

A new question on the survey – how planners’ roles have changed over the years – yielded interesting feedback. While many have seen the role of a meeting planner evolve over the years with increased responsibilities and larger groups to handle, some planners cited more challenges due to shorter lead times.

The survey also revealed that HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America was the top show at which they conducted business.

Further evidence supporting the value and popularity of HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® shows and their business-generating potential can be found in recent accolades. For the second consecutive year, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America and West events were named the Planners’ Best Bets for 2005 in a readers’ poll conducted by Meetings Media, publisher of Meetings East, Meetings Mid-America, Meetings West and Meetings South.

Additionally, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® was named the most popular meetings event according to an online survey conducted by Meetings & Conventions magazine.

“The results of the survey of pre-registered planners attending the Mid-America show reflect how we continue to remain on the pulse of the meetings industry by delivering a program of relevance for today’s meeting and event planners,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “As planners’ roles evolve and the meetings industry changes, so will our agenda of seminars and networking opportunities,” he added.

The survey was sent to 1,310 planners registered for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America. The response rate was at 26 percent with most planners from association, corporate and independent sectors.