Being a Good Neighbor

At a time when many organizations are making pledges of good citizenship, M&C asked meeting planners how their companies/associations hold up to the scrutiny of social responsibility. Of the 121 planners who answered an online survey in July, 45 percent said their firms have CSR policies, while 43 percent said their organizations do not have a written policy and 12 percent don’t know if such a mandate exists.

Paid time off to volunteer on projects such as building a Habitat for Humanity house or working in a soup kitchen is available to 41 percent of the planners surveyed, while 47 percent would have to take personal time to volunteer, and 12 percent don’t know if they are entitled to paid time off for charitable work.

Almost half of the survey respondents (49 percent) said their organizations go so far as to arrange opportunities for employees to volunteer locally.

In terms of the meetings they arrange, 29 percent of respondents include an optional volunteer activity during some events; 17 percent expect to add such activities to their meetings in the future.

During the site-selection process, most planners (84 percent) inspect the surrounding neighborhood when they are evaluating a property. If there is evidence of prostitution, urban decay, homelessness, a lack of business support or the presence of low-income housing, a small percentage (3 to 5 percent) of those surveyed actually are more likely to book properties there in order to boost the community. Overall, however, planners said they would be less likely to book hotels or other facilities where there is such obvious urban decline, or they would not book there at all in order to avoid negative perceptions.