The UK's meetings industry is "generally buoyant" with fewer events being booked on short lead in times, according to a new survey by BTI UK.
The survey of meetings booked by its clients in 2005 found that the average size of meetings is growing but more companies are choosing the day package rather than deals with overnight stays.
The shorter lead in times meant that only about 20% of events were booked at short notice in 2005 compared with 33% in 2004.
The number of clients who booked more than eight weeks ahead also grew from 15% in 2004 to 23% last year.
The survey found that domestic bookings "far outweighed" international ones with London the most popular destination.
Brussels was the most booked overseas destination followed by Paris. Dubai was the only long haul destination in the top ten. All the rest were on the continent.
But the survey also found that some venues had eased their cancellation terms after companies held provisional bookings for long periods rather than confirm the booking.
The survey said: "However, in a buoyant market there is evidence to suggest that venues are becoming more stringent to avoid having last minute empty meeting rooms."
Carol Randall, head of corporate development at BTI UK, said that even companies with hotel programmes were still bookings their meetings on an 'ad hoc' basis – often at the same venues.
She added: "As suppliers firm up their policies once more it is increasingly important for clients consider the value of a consolidated programme, covering meetings/events and hotels, to ensure that they obtain maximum return on their investment and less restrictive conditions combined with added service benefits for their travellers."
Finnair reports soaring profits
Finnair said its profit after financial items for 2005 was 87.5m compared with 30.6m in 2004.
Turnover for the year rose by 11.2% to 1.87bn while traffic grew 7.2%.
The passenger load factor rose during the year by 1.4% to 72.6%.
Jukka Hienonen, Finnair's president and ceo, said: "All in all the 2005 result was acceptable and, in terms of the second and third quarters, even excellent.
"The result was the best recorded for five years. The company's profitability developed well from the beginning of the year, as years of cost-cutting and productivity improvements became increasingly evident in the bottom line of the income statement."