In the most recent poll conducted by MiMegasite.com, fully 50 percent of the 200 respondents claimed that the strictest attrition clause they would accept in their meeting contract would require that they pick up only 80 percent of the room block. While that figure has been more or less the industry norm since the economic slump that began in early 2001, the robust economy of the past 18 months has caused hotels and other conference venues to ratchet up the minimum percentage of room-nights a group must fulfill. So it is a bit surprising that one out of two respondents say they would not allow the percentage of mandatory room pick-up to be negotiated beyond 80 percent.On the flip side, it seems that a sizable number of the other respondents are adapting to the lack of available lodging and meeting space lately, and thus allowing the minimum pick-up rate to be negotiated upwards. They are doing this either to ensure that their meeting takes place in their preferred venue, or because the planners know that attendees will not back out of the meeting due to travel-expense concerns and leave booked rooms empty. In fact, 22 percent of respondents said they would sign an agreement that called for 90 percent pick-up of the room block, while another six percent said they would sign an agreement calling for 95 percent pick-up of the block. In the middle range, nine percent of respondents said the maximum pick-up they'd agree to is 83 percent; 13 percent said they would agree to 87 percent.