The share of meeting planners looking to resume events in
2020 has increased slightly this month but still comprises only about one-fifth
of planners, according to the latest weekly survey results from i-Meet, which
has been tracking meeting planner sentiment since the beginning of April.
About 21 per cent of 284 planner respondents surveyed the
week ending 23 August expect to stage in-person events during 2020, up from 16
per cent two weeks prior. Meanwhile, about 69 per cent of respondents to the
most recent survey expect resumption in 2021, down from a peak on 9 August of
74 per cent.
About 68 per cent of respondents will offer a virtual
component in future face-to-face events, while 22 per cent remain undecided
about digital offerings. Small, drive-to meetings of under 25 attendees remain
the most likely events to first return, with 67 per cent indicating as much as
of 23 August.
The top factors that would influence the planning of future
in-person events were confidence in duty-of-care components focused on attendee
health and safety at 92 per cent, followed by availability of a vaccine and
other therapeutics for Covid-19 at 91 per cent, and favourable or flexible
cancellation and attrition terms at 90 per cent.