While everyone can use a little help now and
then, most of the 430 meeting planners answering a recent
online survey conducted by M&C don’t turn to third-party
planners. Indeed, three in five (62 percent) do not hire
independent planners.
The reason given most often for not using outside help (cited
by 45 percent of respondents) was that, as in-house planners, they
already have plenty of staff. About a quarter (23 percent) cited
an insufficient budget. Among the 28 percent who chose “other,” one
planner admitted not handing over any responsibilities because “I’m
a control freak.”
The 163 respondents who do use third-party
planners hire them an average of 3.8 times per year, and a
majority of that group (62 percent) said the number of times
remained the same from 2003 to 2004.
Third-party planners provide a wide range of services and were
cited by respondents as planning entertainment, social functions
and sports tournaments (51 percent); conducting facility research
and selection (51 percent); negotiating with facilities (50
percent); providing on-site staff (49 percent); conducting
destination research and selection (48 percent), and making
transportation arrangements (40 percent).
Most of the third-party users (55 percent) said
they pay a negotiated project fee for the services, but a sizable
number (31 percent) allow hotels to foot the bill through
commissions.
Third-party users hire an average of two different outside
firms, found mostly through colleague recommendations (49
percent).
Art Pfenning is director of M&C Research
([email protected]).