Earlier this week, on April 22, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts marked Administrative Professionals Day by releasing the results of a new survey, which revealed that administrative professionals are actively involved in corporate meeting and event planning.
The survey, conducted in association with members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), details meeting planning trends as well as workplace topics, such as errands that administrative professionals have been asked to do as personal favors for their bosses.
Among Hyatt's key findings:
• Eighty-one percent of administrative professionals are responsible for planning meetings and events.
• Administrative professionals plan an average of four off-site meetings per year, accounting for approximately 17 percent of their time.
• Although 95 percent of administrative professionals believe that the budgets to support off-site meetings will shrink in the current economic climate, 85 percent still view meetings as valuable.
• To stretch smaller budgets, 82 percent of meeting and event planners are choosing locations that require less travel; 65 percent, meanwhile, are limiting food choices.
• Forty-four percent of administrative professionals have been asked to do personal errands for their bosses; the top indiscretions are keeping secrets (24 percent), covering for their bosses (20 percent) and making personal travel arrangements (16 percent).
"Administrative professionals are the backbone of companies from coast to coast, and on this Administrative Professionals Day, we are proud to join with Hyatt to recognize the work and the key role that these individuals play in corporations and organizations across the country," IAAP President Barbara Horton, CAP, said in a statement. "The survey results clearly show the important role that administrative professionals serve, and how they often go above and beyond the call of duty."
In recognition of administrative professionals' meeting planning contributions, Hyatt has introduced a new Hyatt Gold Passport loyalty program whereby anyone who schedules a qualifying meeting or event can earn points redeemable toward free stays at Hyatt hotels.
For more information on the Hyatt Gold Passport program and the Hyatt Gold Passport Planner Survey of administrative professionals, visit
www.plannerrewards.hyatt.com.