Corporate sales and marketing executives rely on events and the Web as the marketing disciplines that provide the greatest return on investment (ROI).

This and other key findings can be found in the newly released global edition of EventView 2009, the largest and longest-running annual survey of corporate sales and marketing executives on the topic of meetings and events within the integrated marketing mix.

EventView is produced through a unique collaboration among the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation, the Event Marketing Institute (EMI) and George P. Johnson (GPJ) Experience Marketing.

The research is executed by independent research agency Intellitrends.

The Global report is part of a year-long series that provides insight into marketing strategies in North America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific and across a number of verticals including Healthcare, Technology, Automotive and Financial Services.

The report underscores the need for organizations to re-focus on creating and deepening customer relationships - and the marketing mechanisms that activate those relationships - to drive short-term profits and lifetime brand value.

It also provides the most definitive evidence yet that a new integrated marketing model is emerging, one based on cutting through marketplace clutter and engaging customers with highly-personal and relevant experiences that motivate consumers to action where they live, work and play.

Key findings in EventView 2009: Global include:

- 31% of respondents choose event marketing as the marketing discipline that provides the greatest ROI followed by Web marketing 20%
- Event marketing (40%) and Web marketing (31%) are the first marketing channels to benefit from an increase in the overall marketing budget
- 52% choose event marketing as the discipline that best accelerates and deepens relationships followed by public relations 21%
- 43% of respondents indicate that event marketing is taken under consideration along with other media and 32% characterize events as a vital component of the marketing mix; 15% say events are a lead tactic

A pdf of the Global report is now available for download at www.mpiweb.org, www.gpj.com and www.eventmarketing.com

The release coincides with a detailed EventView 2009: Global presentation at the Event Marketing Summit in Chicago, taking place from April 27-29th.

“There’s no doubt that at a time when the business community, non-profits and other organizations need to shore up their existing customer base and open new revenue streams, that meetings and events play a crucial role in creating those opportunities,” said Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of MPI.

“EventView data is helping to shift the marketing conversation towards an ROI and business performance model based on tangible revenue impact and other measurable outputs.”

“Those channels that empower brands to connect with customers, build trust and move a relationship forward are getting all the attention because they compress the sales cycle. That’s what live experience and the web do,” said Kerry Smith, Executive Director of the Event Marketing Institute.

“Now more than ever, business customers and consumers want to look the brand in the eye and trust the brand they’re spending money with. The data confirms that marketers and sales managers understand this reality and are investing accordingly.”

“While not unexpected that events and Web marketing would be high on the list for ROI, the degree to which these two channels are coupled in the minds of marketing executives and other leaders positions this to be more than a passing fad,” said Robert G. Vallee Jr., CEO of GPJ.

“The commonalities between these two channels – interactive, content and dialog-based, community-oriented etc. – point to an emerging hybrid direct response marketing model that organizations should position themselves to take advantage of to grow their business, especially in this difficult economy.”

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