Exotic destinations, longer lead in times for bookings and tougher enforcement of cancellation charges are among the trends predicted for the meetings and incentive industry in 2006.
The forecast comes from P&O Travel Corporate Events whose director, Fiona Kail said the rate of change in the business accelerated in 2005.
She said altogether five trends had emerged and were likely to continue through 2006.
Clients were now choosing increasingly exotic destinations like Lima, Tanzania and Katmandu because businesses were becoming more global and organisers wanted destinations most of the delegates have not attended before.
Lead in times had also lengthened dramatically with the average now around 12 months.
"Venues and destinations are filling up again, especially the good ones. Organisers are understanding that they need to get in early to secure the venues they really want," Ms Kail said.
But she also predicted that hotels were hardening their attitudes to cancellations. "In the past, hotels have been so desperate for business that they have waived cancellation charges if clients put them under pressure.
"However, with demand rising, they are no longer buckling. Bookers need to check and re-negotiate cancellation clauses before signing the dotted line.
"If they do have to cancel, they should consider doing so at an early stage to minimise charges," she said.
Other trends are the increasing use of the Internet for bookings and confirmations and conferences being cancelled because of lack of delegates.
Ms Kail said this was due to the large number of events now being held with target audiences unable to attend them all.
* BTI France Events said the meetings market in France was re-surgent and said it expected 2006 to be a good year.
During 2005, it had organised events for 50 major companies and 13,000 delegates and expected this rise in business to continue in 2006.
LOT sacks president
LOT Polish Airlines sacked Marek Grabarek, president of its management board and board members Wladyslaw Metelski and Piotr Dubno.
It appointed Tomasz Kopoczynski as the interim president until a permanent appointment is made.
It also appointed Andrzej Wysocki as a new member of the Board.