The meeting market is in a twilight zone at the moment, with 30% decrease and 2010 looking to become the worst ever year for the business. The Danish price level stays the same because the marketeers are unable to innovate. When I entered this business in 2005 I was astonished by the conservative and rigid narrow minded view that hotels and conference centers had on themselves and thier market. In my view it was old school, obsolete technology and old boys network – comming from the software industry.

The industry is up for a bumpy ride. There are elements that will alter the meeting industry as we know it.

Co2 emmission issues are forcing companies to review travelling according to thier CSR strategies because consumers and buyers don’t see companies as profit machines any more, but also hold them responsible.

Financial crisis forces companies and delegates to review the outcome of meetings and how meetings are designed. They will raise the questions: is there a better way? How can we save time, ressources and money? Meetings and travel is and was the first expenses to be cut.

The last argument is obvious by mere observation of the most technological adaptive generation that this world has seen so far.

Observe how adolescents are forging new relationships. Notice their patterns of behavior and how they create communities of information through social networking. The technology is called web 2.0 allowing millions to interact and to form relations with one another. It is faster, more efficient, more responsible, selective and exclusive. Just imagine how things will be once our younger generation gets into the business arena.

The meeting market is in a twilight zone at the moment, with 30% decrease and 2010 looking to become the worst ever year for the business. The Danish price level stays the same because the marketeers are unable to innovate. When I entered this business in 2005 I was astonished by the conservative and rigid narrow minded view that hotels and conference centers had on themselves and thier market. In my view it was old school, obsolete technology and old boys network – comming from the software industry.

The industry is up for a bumpy ride. There are elements that will alter the meeting industry as we know it.

Co2 emmission issues are forcing companies to review travelling according to thier CSR strategies because consumers and buyers don’t see companies as profit machines any more, but also hold them responsible.

Financial crisis forces companies and delegates to review the outcome of meetings and how meetings are designed. They will raise the questions: is there a better way? How can we save time, ressources and money? Meetings and travel is and was the first expenses to be cut.

The last argument is obvious by mere observation of the most technological adaptive generation that this world has seen so far.

Observe how adolescents are forging new relationships. Notice their patterns of behavior and how they create communities of information through social networking. The technology is called web 2.0 allowing millions to interact and to form relations with one another. It is faster, more efficient, more responsible, selective and exclusive. Just imagine how things will be once our younger generation gets into the business arena.