Conference & Meetings World Issue 121 | Page 39

Research planning , European respondents were third ( 78 %) among all regions to say they incorporate sustainability ( only ahead of North America ) and were the least percentage saying their organisation has a defined sustainable meeting programme strategy ( 66 %). However , they were the most likely to calculate event carbon emissions ( 28 %).

Latin America Meeting professionals in Latin America feel strongest in expecting in-person attendance numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future ( 78 %). Meetings professionals in the region tied Asia Pacific as most likely to say their organisation takes sustainability into account when planning meetings and events ( 86 %) and are most likely to say their organisation has a defined sustainable meeting programme strategy ( 84 %). The region also stands out in DE & I : 96 % of respondents say their client or organisation actively strives to incorporate DE & I into its meetings and events compared to the other regions .
Asia Pacific For meeting professionals in the Asia Pacific region , over half ( 53 %) of respondents say that macroeconomic changes are a top factor that influences an overall change in meeting spend at their organisation , more so than other regions . Furthermore , they fall behind other regions in expecting in-person attendee numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future ( 61 %). This is likely due to the region easing Covid-19 restrictions later than other regions . Regarding sustainability , respondents in the Asia-Pacific region , alongside Latin America , were more likely to incorporate sustainability into their meeting and events planning ( 86 %) and 83 % say they have a defined sustainable meeting program strategy for 2023 .
The 2023 Forecast is based on a survey of 580 M & E professionals and
Every region is optimistic about meetings and events growth in 2023 .
Here ’ s what stands out across the regions .
North America expects to see the highest rate increases

7.4 %

NA LA
EUR
Hotel
AP

7.8 %

Latin America predicts the largest increase in attendees for every meeting type

5.08 %– 5.88 %

interviews with industry leaders . The survey and interviews took place from May to June 2022 . Respondents represented meeting planners , suppliers and hoteliers across 23 countries . The

Regional Trends

Aligning Around The Globe

Year-over-year expected increase in average group rates
Air
Above : PCMA leading from the front
In-person Hybrid Virtual
NA
Percentage increase in attendee numbers
Across :
LA EUR
AP
While Asia Pacific expects to invest the most per attendee for in-person , internal meetings
Cost per attendee per day for in-person , internal meetings
Asia Pacific
North America
And European meeting planners are the most likely to track their event ’ s carbon footprint
NA LA
$ 711
Percentage who provide post-event CO2 calculations
EUR AP
$ 662 $ 554
$ 554
Source : North American , European , Latin American , and Asian Pacific Surveys from American Express Meetings & Events , 2022 .
Latin America
Europe

28 %

result is a statistically and globally representative snapshot of what to expect in the meetings and events industry in 2023 . For more information , visit amexglobalbusinesstravel . com
ISSUE 121 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 37