The global meetings industry will chart solid growth gains for the second consecutive year, according to FutureWatch 2005, the industry report compiled by Meeting Professionals International and American Express.Planners forecast an average five-percent budget increase in 2005 over last year, building on a three-percent increase in 2004 over 2003, according to the annual survey of 1,851 planners and suppliers, which was released in January. Says MPI Chief Executive Colin Rorrie, "The health of the meetings industry mirrors that of business and the economy in general." The report points to an interesting gap between planners' and suppliers' expectations. While planners forecast a five- percent increase in their budgets for 2005, suppliers project a 13-percent jump in revenue. In its analysis of that result, FutureWatch suggested suppliers are making unrealistic projections—and that such an approach actually could take the wind out of the seller's market.The survey also indicated that commoditization—the price-is-all point of view—is an outgrowth of the continuing consolidation process and will have a major impact on meetings in 2005. And concern over attrition in meetings attendance has abated significantly from its 2003 and 2004 highs, according to the report, signaling positive results from planner and supplier cooperation.