Last week, Mike Dominguez, chief sales officer, MGM Resorts International and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, spoke at the Independent Planners Education Conference in Austin, TX (a Northstar Meetings Group event). Dominguez addressed a number of trends affecting the meetings industry, ranging from the state of the economy to using drones at events.
We caught up with Dominguez for his take on how planners should be thinking about these trends.
1. Artificial Intelligence -- Open My Room Door, HAL
Even though things didn't work out too well with the HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dominguez says that AI is actually going to enhance the hotel experience for guests.
2. E-Gaming -- Grand Theft Meeting Space
Arenas and hotel ballrooms all over the country are being filled with spectators watching top gamesters play in video game competitions -- and they're paying for meeting space. Dominguez urges planners to put these new competitors for rooms and meeting space on their radar.
3. Airbnb -- Just a Slight Breeze
Worried about Airbnb hurting your room block? Here's why Dominguez thinks you shouldn't be concerned.
4. Drones -- The Sky Is Falling
They look fun and you end up with great video footage of your event. But here's why Dominguez thinks it's not worth it.
5. The Transient Market -- The Barbarians at the Gates
This market is growing at a much faster rate than the group market. Dominguez offers planners a strategy for dealing with that.
6. The U.S. Economy -- Don't Worry, Be Happy
According to Dominguez things are looking pretty good, but that doesn't mean planners shouldn't be ready for that to change.