Recently, Successful Meetings sent a survey out to our readership asking them to tell us what was important to them during the site selection process. Of the respondents 44% percent were corporate planners, 29 percent were association planners, and 27 percent were independent or third party planners. Of that pool, 44 percent reported that quality of accommodations was the most important factor in choosing a destination. Here's what else they had to say.
Most important factors in choosing a destination
Quality of accommodations: 44%
Room rate: 39%
Hotel F&B costs and quality: 39%
Quality of service: 32%
Promotability of destination: 21%
Amount of airlift or accessibility: 20%
Destination safety: 20%
Airfare costs: 19%
Overall reputation: 17%
Dining & nightlife options: 13%
Cultural appeal: 11%
Past personal experience: 9%
Golf & other sporting options: 1%
Most common sources of site selection information
Personal site selection visit: 53%
Hotels: 52%
DMOs, CVBs, Tourist Boards: 43%
Group fam trip with other planners: 26%
Online site selection portals such as Cvent: 24%
Industry publications: 20%
Other planners who have been to the destination: 19%
Site selection companies: 14%
Meeting Industry Associations: 12%
DMCs: 10%
Type of online content most helpful to the site selection process
Destination information: 25%
Direct contacts at hotels and venues: 17%
Online RFP: 14%
Facility photos: 11%
Meeting services information: 8%
F&B information: 6%
Facility videos: 5%
Amenities information: 4%
General information request form: 4%
Event calendars for specific destinations: 3%
Hot dates: 2%
Testimonials or group case studies: 1%
What feature do you find most helpful in an online RFP?
Ability to attach specs: 32%
Real-time availability and group rates: 28%
Ability to detail goals of the meeting/event: 15%
A profile area to highlight special needs: 11%
Ability to submit via mobile: 5%
Real-time booking for groups: 4%
Chatbot to ask questions directly: 3%
How soon do you expect a reply from an online RFP?
Three to five days: 33%
Two days: 32%
Next day: 23%
Same day: 12%
How satisfied are you with the experience of using online site selection technology
(Not Satisfied / Satisfied)
Ease of use: 8% / 92%
Promptness of response: 8% / 92%
Accuracy of how properties are depicted: 8%: / 92%
Ability to see all options at a destination: 11% / 89%
Relevance of information asked for on forms: 11% / 89%
Ability to connect with a live person: 13% / 87%
Ability to customize forms to match your meeting: 15% / 85%