GM’s Corner: Meeting Trends

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June 13, 2013 by hermosainn

By: Michael Gildersleeve, Managing Director of The Hermosa Inn & LON’s

According to a survey conducted by Destination Hotels & Resorts, trends are showing 2013 will be a year of growth for groups and meetings. Most planners feel budgets have stabilized, with 20 percent anticipating increased budget flexibility for the coming year.

At the Hermosa Inn, we have seen a positive increase in group growth over the last year, as have many resorts in the area. Group travel, meetings and events all seem to be on the up and we have anticipated continued growth for the remainder of 2013 – with a steady pace during summer months, as per usual.

Examples of some identified current trends in the meetings and events world include:

• Location. While budgets have always been a main focus for groups, we are seeing a shift towards location as the most important consideration when choosing a venue.
• Technology. Technology integration with meetings continues to increase as technology needs evolve with the times; a trend that will surely never cease.
• What’s on the table matters more than who’s in the kitchen. We find groups asking more about the menu itself rather than the name of the Chef, and this seems to be a trend nationwide.

Summer is also a great time to plan meetings and hold group events, especially in Arizona, where resorts and hotels statewide are offering large discounts throughout the off-peak season.

Our own summer meeting package allows for many of the traditional and luxury amenities while being nearly half the price per person, versus meetings held in peak season. View our Summer Meeting Package details here.

We hope we can help plan your next meeting or event at the Hermosa Inn and show you first hand all we have to offer. For details about Hermosa Inn’s meeting space, click here or call us directly at 602.792.1916.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: With a distinguished 35-year career managing multi-million dollar luxury resort operations, Gildersleeve has gone from being a chef to hotel executive and has worked with some of the most well-known resorts in Arizona. As managing director of The Hermosa Inn for nearly 10 years, he has helped transform the property into the luxury boutique resort it is today, in addition to raising the bar on fine dining by bringing LON’s, the Inn’s culinary centerpiece, to Four Diamond status.