Meeting News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 20)

MN Exclusive Research gy in Education, in Eugene, OR, is already strateWomen tended to be more worried than men: gizing for smaller attendance. ISTE’s big annual 41 percent of women were “not worried”versus 61 conference for educators begins June 28.“Now I’m percent of men. The under-31 age group showed at four months before my event and we have to the largest percentage of “very worried” respon- have three different events in mind: the super dents, 17 percent, versus 7 percent of those 51-plus event, the medium event, and the really scaledyears old. back event,” she said. Evoniuk is worried that attenCorporate meeting planners were 10 times as dees will decide Washington, DC, is too expensive. likely as association planners to say they’d been The opening reception might have to be com“very affected” by layoffs at their places of busi- pletely different from the usual blowout if attenness. Half of all corporate planners said they were dance is low: cupcakes and champagne, versus feeling the pain, being either “very affected” (10 two hours of all you can eat and drink.“Where I percent of respondents) or “somewhat affected” get concerned is whether or not we’ll be able to (40 percent), versus 25 percent of association produce an event this year that contributes to the planners who were “somewhat affected” (only overall longevity of our product,” she said. one such planner was “very affected”). Corporate planner Allie Wright, event coorMN “Association planners have always stayed Exclusive dinator for Phonak LLC, in Warrenville, IL, is Research stable because their job is to produce income cutting all frills. Her company’s product, for their organization,” said Dawn Penfold, hearing aids, are a luxury right now. They cost president of MeetingJobs.com, in New York. around $7,000, and insurance does not cover “They earn less money than corporate planners, them. Phonak laid off 18 people in October (out but their jobs are more secure.” of a 500 staff), including the exhibition coordinaHowever, said Penfold, in past recessions, asso- tor.Wright is busy figuring out a way to do Phonak ciation planners felt the fallout one to two years University, an educational experience for audioloafter it hit corporations. gy students. In addition to feeding attendees “simDonella Evoniuk, senior director of conference pler things, like prepackaged hamburgers and hot services for the International Society for Technolo- dogs with cookies and chips,” she has canceled the usual airport pickups by limo and will use group shuttles. People might have to wait, she admitted. To what degree are you worried about your Some independent planners have been hit hard. job in 2009? Kati Hulick, CEO of Kati Hulick & Associates Very Worried Somewhat Worried Not Worried Meeting & Event Planning, in Marina Del Rey, CA, laid off staff after last year’s Hollywood writers 11.7% Corporate 47.1% Planners 41.2% strike.“Business has not picked up, because at the 3.3% Association end of that 100 days the economy tanked,” she said. 36.1% Planners 60.6% “I’m desperately worried about my company. 9.9% Other 45.3% Planners When you don’t take a salary and you cancel your 44.8% 7.1% Male health insurance, where’s the bailout for that?” 31.7% 61.2% Hulick’s strategy is to partner with a recruiter 9.9% Female 48.8% and do pink slip parties. “It’s the best thing I 41.3% could think of,” she said. “At the moment, we’re 17.4% <31 39.1% 43.5% doing it out of the goodness of our hearts, but 4.9% 31-40 hopefully that will pick up as we get sponsorships 56.1% 39.0% AGE for the website www.pinkslippartyla.com.” 11.2% 41-50 49.0% Another independent, Pam Hamilton, princi39.8% pal of EventOvations LLC, in Denver, specializes 7.4% 51+ 37.0% 55.6% in golf tournaments. Sponsorships are way down Source: 308 of MeetingNews survey respondents because of all the scrutiny of corporate spending. continued from cover Do It All Again If you had an opportunity to start over, would you choose the same career path? Yes Corporate Planners Association Planners Other Planners Male 22.0% No 77.4% 22.6% 81.4% 18.6% 72.9% 27.1% 78.0% 74.4% 25.6% 71.4% 28.6% 82.9% 17.1% 72.6% 27.4% 75.6% 24.4% Female <31 31-40 AGE 41-50 51+ Source: 308 of MeetingNews survey respondents Planners In Denial? She spoke to MeetingNews on the day Northern Trust Corp.’s golf tournament story was splashed across U.S. newspapers and TV stations as the latest example of inappropriate use of bailout funds. Hamilton’s strategy will be to “reinvent the value that I bring to my clients to keep the business to bring different and new ideas to make sure that I stay in the contract.” Other planners said they are getting price breaks on hotel meeting space, F&B, and rental of AV equipment. “It’s unfortunate that it’s happening this way,” said Edyth Johnson, program coordinator of MC Medical Communications LLC, in New York,“but we’re getting unbelievably great deals.” MeetingJobs.com’s Penfold said planners should look to education, green technology, and biotech, as those areas will be doing a lot of retraining and meetings. “Government meeting planners should be increasing, too I would also advise people to be flexible and to uncover every stone,” she said. “It’s not just [monitoring] the Internet sites, they’re going to have to network, too.” Penfold added, “And for those who think that they’re safe, they should keep their eyes open. Everyone thinks they’re safe and they’re not.” H 20 MeetingNews March 9, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp http://www.MeetingJobs.com http://www.MeetingJobs.com?s http://www.pinkslippartyla.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 9, 2009

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