Uh-Oh: How the Recession May Affect Meeting Planners
The mantra for almost everything these days has changed from “location, location, location,” to “price, price, price,”, a few groans, and more than an occasional “uh-oh.” Value and importance aside, meetings are suffering from the financial squeeze as well. Here are some ways a meeting planner might suffer–or benefit–from the recession.
Air Travel
Airlines are suffering, there is no doubt about it; they have also learned that the answer was not charging the customer per bag. However, the economic downturn has forced them to look at ways to become more efficient, and some of their answers are correct. One is no longer providing meals. Although it’s convenient for travelers, let’s face it–airline food was not all that great (unless you flew Continental).
Besides, would you really pay $10 for a half sandwich with mystery meat, a package of five small crackers, and a cookie that measured one inch in diameter? No. So this benefits the traveler as well. “Bring your own and save” is a phrase every meeting planner should rehearse.
Accommodations
Properties are also suffering, and many hotels are concerned enough about keeping good service reputations that they are lowering their room rates to attract customers. This can benefit the meeting planner looking to book large blocks of rooms. Take advantage of the position of these hotels and you could develop a life-long relationship based on good service and value.
Car Rentals
Oops! Car rental companies that were unprepared for the recession–which was probably all of them–have been approaching the problem by reducing the sizes of their rental fleets. While this saves some money on the surface, it has created a situation where the client is going to pay sometimes double the price from last year. There will be a lot less flexibility in late returns, damage, and other problems with car rentals that used to be small.
Although you will have other “uh-oh” moments–as well as an occasional “ah-ha”–you would be best served to inform your clients that some of these changes benefit them highly. That, in turn, will benefit you.
Meeting planners have a tremendous opportunity for a Discount Rental Car Program in Florida. We know the recession has taken money right out of your pocket so we are here to put some incremental cash back into it without doing anything more than you normally do. Please call 407-583-8004 or tony.graham@dtag.com for information on this complimentary program that pays commission, offers Free Rentals & Upgrades. Its available at all Florida locations as well. Call or email now!