CHECK THIS OUT …. This year's survey of hotel/resort readers shows that that 43 percent of respondents expect to stage more special events this year than last, and 60 percent expect a stronger year in 2008 than 2007. And many hotels say they are betting on business events; our readers report that business events make up 60 percent of their event business today, up from 43 percent in 2002.
HOW EVENTS ADD UP
Approximately how many special events (including weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthday parties, corporate parties, holiday parties) does your hotel or resort stage annually?
Percentage of respondents | 1 to 49 events | 14% |
| 50 to 99 events | 10% |
| 100 to 499 events | 41% |
| 500 to 999 events | 6% |
| 1,000 to 1,999 events | 7% |
| 2,000 or more | 6% |
| Unsure/no answer | 15% |
What proportion of your special event business is business events vs. social/private events?
BUSINESS | 2002 response | 43% |
| 2003 response | 53% |
| 2004 response | 57% |
| 2005 response | 58% |
| 2006 response | 57% |
| 2007 response | 60% |
SOCIAL/PRIVATE | 2002 response | 57% |
| 2003 response | 47% |
| 2004 response | 43% |
| 2005 response | 42% |
| 2006 response | 43% |
| 2007 response | 40% |
In terms of revenue, which area provides the greater growth opportunity for your property?
STAGING BUSINESS EVENTS | 2002 response | 50% |
| 2003 response | 43% |
| 2004 response | 48% |
| 2005 response | 55% |
| 2006 response | 52% |
| 2007 response | 52% |
STAGING SOCIAL EVENTS | 2002 response | 47% |
| 2003 response | 52% |
| 2004 response | 49% |
| 2005 response | 36% |
| 2006 response | 41% |
| 2007 response | 46% |
Will revenue increase, decrease or stay the same over the next 12 months in the business category?
| Increase | 67% |
| Increase by 1% to 9% | 29% |
| Increase by 10% to 19% | 41% |
| Increase by 20% to 29% | 14% |
| Increase by 30% and more | 11% |
| Stay the same | 28% |
| Decrease | 4% |
Will revenue increase, decrease or stay the same over the next 12 months in the social category?
| Increase | 64% |
| Increase by 1% to 9% | 25% |
| Increase by 10% to 19% | 40% |
| Increase by 20% to 29% | 18% |
| Increase by 30% and more | 12% |
| Stay the same | 33% |
| Decrease | 2% |
FORECASTING THE FUTURE
Will the number of special events that you stage this year be more or less than your “typical” amount?
WE WILL STAGE MORE EVENTS | 2002 response | 22% |
| 2003 response | 32% |
| 2004 response | 49% |
| 2005 response | 38% |
| 2006 response | 46% |
| 2007 response | 43% |
WE WILL STAGE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT | 2002 response | 48% |
| 2003 response | 47% |
| 2004 response | 29% |
| 2005 response | 29% |
| 2006 response | 33% |
| 2007 response | 37% |
WE WILL STAGE FEWER EVENTS THIS YEAR | 2002 response | 30% |
| 2003 response | 20% |
| 2004 response | 6% |
| 2005 response | 8% |
| 2006 response | 7% |
| 2007 response | 10% |
HOW WILL THE NUMBER OF EVENTS YOU STAGE NEXT YEAR COMPARE WITH THIS YEAR?
WE WILL STAGE MORE EVENTS NEXT YEAR | 2002 response | 54% |
| 2003 response | 57% |
| 2004 response | 67% |
| 2005 response | 60% |
| 2006 response | 64% |
| 2007 response | 60% |
WE WILL STAGE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER NEXT YEAR AS THIS YEAR
| 2002 response | 39% |
| 2003 response | 41% |
| 2004 response | 29% |
| 2005 response | 29% |
| 2006 response | 33% |
| 2007 response | 37% |
WE WILL STAGE FEWER EVENTS NEXT YEAR | 2002 response | 7% |
| 2003 response | 2% |
| 2004 response | 4% |
| 2005 response | 5% |
| 2006 response | 3% |
| 2007 response | 2% |
BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE PARTY
How much revenue do special events contribute to your hotel/ resort annually?
LESS THAN $100,000 | 2002 | 12% |
| 2003 | 10% |
| 2004 | 11% |
| 2005 | 6% |
| 2006 | 8% |
| 2007 | 9% |
$100,000 TO $499,999 | 2002 | 15% |
| 2003 | 19% |
| 2004 | 22% |
| 2005 | 16% |
| 2006 | 18% |
| 2007 | 14% |
$500,000 TO $999,999 | 2002 | 14% |
| 2003 | 17% |
| 2004 | 16% |
| 2005 | 10% |
| 2006 | 12% |
| 2007 | 15% |
$1 MILLION TO $1.9 MILLION | 2002 | 20% |
| 2003 | 19% |
| 2004 | 18% |
| 2005 | 17% |
| 2006 | 19% |
| 2007 | 14% |
$2 MILLION TO $4.9 MILLION | 2002 | 12% |
| 2003 | 14% |
| 2004 | 10% |
| 2005 | 10% |
| 2006 | 17% |
| 2007 | 12% |
$5 MILLION TO $9.9 MILLION | 2002 | 13% |
| 2003 | 9% |
| 2004 | 5% |
| 2005 | 12% |
| 2006 | 7% |
| 2007 | 10% |
$10 MILLION TO $19.9 MILLION | 2002 | 5% |
| 2003 | 5% |
| 2004 | 1% |
| 2005 | 3% |
| 2006 | 5% |
| 2007 | 6% |
$20 MILLION AND ABOVE | 2002 | 2% |
| 2003 | 2% |
| 2004 | 5% |
| 2005 | 2% |
| 2006 | 4% |
| 2007 | 6% |
“What does your hotel banquet/catering department do that makes your special events stand out?”
Statistics are only part of the hotel event story. Here, our respondents share what makes their special events truly special …
“We hardly pursued this in the past, but now we have a wedding specialist and created a lavish wedding office to attract brides.”
“We have a separate event department that handles decor and entertainment. We focus more on the branding aspects of events for our corporate clients.”
“We handle everything that has to do with setup for the property. One major outdoor event for six days draws half a million people. Banquet handles all setup, teardown and a lot more during the event.”
“Our staff offers exemplary customer service. They assist guests in their setup if needed, and the word ‘no’ is never heard.”
“Our presentations are all original. The food and beverage department is continuously looking for new ideas and trying out new products with guests.”
“We are a smaller hotel, so we are able to interact more with all of our clients. One specific thing we do is a ‘fond farewell’ for our groups. At the end of their meeting, we generally have a candy-shop break or other goodies for them to take on the road with them when they leave the hotel.”
“We work completely with our guests — not only for them.”
