A new report looking at data from online meeting room bookings reveals the rapid digitalisation of the industry, along with key trends in meetings.
The analysis, titled Online meeting bookings report: The numbers you need to know, by Meetingsbooker.com, found that nearly half (48 per cent) of all bookings through the platform went to non-hotel venues such as co-working spaces and business centres.
Online booking appears to be especially popular for small meetings, with groups of one to 20 accounting for 95 per cent of transactions through the website. Full-day meetings are also in demand with 49 per cent of bookings.
Just as other digital booking platforms, customers seem to be seeking out good deals for their meetings, with 41 per cent of those going through Meetingsbooker.com including discounted rates as compared to the venues’ standard prices or complimentary extras such as coffee breaks.
Meeting bookers are also utilising online platforms for last-minute meetings, with the average lead time being 14 days and half of bookings taking place less than a week before the event.
With Meetingsbooker.com partnering with Carlson Wagonlit Travel in 2017, the platform claims the rapid growth in online booking technology can help travel managers integrate meetings into their overall policy. Online bookings provide centralised payments and access to spending data, as well as the ability to promote preferred venues to employees.
Ciaran Delaney, CEO of Meetingsbooker.com, commented: “We felt it was important to share our data with the industry in order to answer the most common questions we are asked on a daily basis. We have spent years building out our technology platform and it’s our view that within three years, the vast majority of small meetings will be booked online.”
Download a copy of the report here.