RESPONDENTS: The second IMEX Global Insight Report asked a standing panel of 60 senior meetings industry and corporate professionals for their views on the year ahead. Many are based in continental Europe but others come from the USA, the UK and the Middle East, plus representatives from Egypt, Australia, Russia, China and Asia. Most hold senior positions, including 26 at director level and 16 managers.

FINDINGS: The panel is more optimistic about prospects for business in 2010, with 47% expecting the number of meetings, events or incentives to go up - an improvement on the last Global Insights Report in November 2009. Only 37% expect the number to stay the same and 16.7% for them to go down. 46.7% expect budgets to be slightly higher than 2009 but 30% still expect them to decrease slightly. 60% of the panel says they feel more optimistic compared to the last quarter of 2009.

The need to cut costs, or being instructed by clients to do so, has become the strongest influence on the panel’s decision-making. Next is the need to demonstrate and detail return in investment (ROI) in a way that management understands. However, uncertainty about the global economic outlook has become less important than in November 2009.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become more important over the past 12 months according to most of the panel. A third (32%) is fully committed to CSR but 37% admit they do not yet have policies or guidelines in place.

The challenges of business in 2009 have had some upsides, the panel agreed. For several, it has led to a more serious approach to meetings and events, focusing on making sure they were “necessary”. The industry has also become more aware of the value of face-to-face meetings, interaction and exchanging ideas, some said. But for many the key upside was better pricing and more transparent costs. Overall, the industry came back fighting with more advocacy and campaigning on the importance of meetings.