WASHINGTON, D.C. — Results of a new economic impact study recently conducted by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership point to new challenges associations might have to face in the near future. The study, titled "ASAE & The Center Impact Study-Beliefs, Behaviors and Attitudes in Response to the Current Economy," shows that although overall the association sector is doing well, there are some important points that association leaders should consider when planning their business strategies for this and next year.

"Although some of the research confirms what we hear anecdotally from associations operating in a soft economy, other findings are somewhat surprising and counter-intuitive to what we assumed to be industry-wide trends," said ASAE & The Center President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. "For example, many associations are emphasizing virtual experiences right now, which is probably good planning, but the study clearly shows that the members who participated in the study want to meet face-to-face instead, and may even skip some more localized events that they would normally attend in order to afford a larger, distant meeting where the perceived value is high. This study really speaks volumes about what members want and value from their associations, and should be a great resource for associations as they adapt to these changing economic conditions."

Conducted between December 2008 and January 2009, the study evaluated the effect of the ailing financial system on working professionals who belong to associations and their outlook for the future. Nearly 100 associations agreed to share their membership lists, culminating in 8,500 professionals who participated in the study, including highly educated people like lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, counselors, architects, accountants, scientists, engineers and meeting professionals, representing both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

ASAE & The Center plan to conduct a similar study later this year to measure the change in beliefs, behaviors and attitudes among working professionals to see how their perspectives have changed based on the shifting economic climate.

"We want to make sure that our research reflects the constantly changing economic climate. A follow-up study later this year will give us an opportunity to benchmark the results and track progress, or decline, of the U.S. economy and its impact on working professionals," added Graham.

Associations operate in all 50 states and in dozens of countries around the world, and represent individuals, causes and organizations that comprise a vibrant and educated workforce. Associations also provide education opportunities and specialized training to make individuals more efficient and beneficial to the economy as a whole. Associations are a vital part of the U.S. economy, accounting for more than one million jobs nationwide, according to ASAE's 2007 research titled Associations Matter. Many associations have been hard hit by this unprecedented economic crisis, but have unique tools and resources that can be leveraged to assist the nation in its eventual recovery.

For more information about the study and to read the white paper highlighting the results, visit www.asaecenter.org/economy.

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NEW YORK — The time that the boundaries on events planners were as wide as their imaginations is over, and today, living within a truncated budget has moved to the top of the list of priorities they are receiving from their clients.

The available space for meetings, exhibitions and trade fairs as well as the supply of quality hotel rooms is growing worldwide. Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world's largest association of the meetings and events industry, confirms that meetings and conventions are still one of the global growth markets. Nevertheless, the economic situation has affected business.

Planners predict 9 percent fewer meetings for 2009, as well as 3 percent fewer delegates and a 3 percent shorter meeting duration. Nonetheless, they also expect a 2 percent increase in expenditures per event. This means that decision-makers are keeping an even closer eye on where they want to stage a meeting and what services they will get for their budget.

For those planners who think that keeping costs down means keeping clients close to home, the German Convention Bureau (GCB) has some good news.

Recently considered a somewhat high-cost destination, in part because of the relation between the dollar and the Euro, Germany has proven instead to be a high-value destination with some of the best deals in Europe.

According to Lutz P. Vogt, Managing Director of the GCB, "We sometimes find in our talks with customers that we still have a high-price image. But the reality is something else. There is a very good reason that, according to Meeting-& Event Barometer 2008, Germany is deemed the foremost meetings destination in Europe and is posting a rising number of meetings and events even in the midst of a worldwide economic crisis. And that has to do with the high value customers get for comparatively low cost."

To substantiate what German suppliers know anecdotally to be true, the German Convention Bureau has compiled information from a variety of international surveys and studies to give planners concrete data about why Germany looks very good price-wise.

According to the German Hotel Association (IHA) e.V 2007 survey of German and European room prices, Moscow, Geneva and Paris were the most expensive, with even the costliest German cities much further down the list.

One reason that prices in Germany are looking so good is that they have remained stable. According to the Hotel Price Index (HPI), published by the online hotel booking service, Hotels.com, "With a price increase of only one percent over last year, the average room rate of 101 Euros in Germany was one of Europe's most favorably priced destinations for the third quarter of 2008." This is one-third lower than the room rates paid in high-cost countries such as Norway (average 149 Euros), Switzerland (147 Euros) and Denmark (144 Euros).

Germany's hotels also fared very well in the 2008 Hotel Price/Performance Index published late January by Hotel.de. The index compares ratings of some 600,000 three- and four-star hotels around the world. While the price/performance ratios in major cities in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, the USA and China averaged 7.42, Germany had an above average rating of 7.55.
It is not only in the realm of hotel prices that Germany has achieved favorable ratings important to the industry.

Many surveys, including IMEX Research, conducted last year, consider Germany a competitive destination because of its superior infrastructure, top-level professionalism, state-of-the-art facilities, and unique venues. According to the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 prepared by the World Economic Forum and Booz Allen Hamilton, the European Union states remain the most competitive in the field of tourism.

Among these states, the leading position is held by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. According to the report, "Due to its excellent connection with international tourism flows, one of the world's most advanced rail and road infrastructures, its sustainable environmental regulations, and high security standards, Germany is among the top three."

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Jamaica breaks ground for convention centre in Montego Bay

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA — Ground broke on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Rose Hall, St. James to begin construction of the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

The highly anticipated facility will be built on 35 acres of land opposite the Shoppes at Rose Hall (between the Half Moon Golf Course and Rose Hall Great House) and is aimed at strengthening Jamaica's participation in the growing groups and convention market.

The project is financed through a 350 million Yuan (RMB) or US$51 million loan agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the China Import and Export Bank.  Construction is expected to be completed in 20 months.

Speaking at the official groundbreaking, Prime Minister Bruce Golding noted that Montego Bay added over 2,000 rooms in the last few years, bringing its capacity to just over 11,000.  Of that number 3,760 are located along the Rose Hall corridor.

"This financing of the convention centre signals the continuation of the growing economic co-operation between both countries and of China's willingness to help Jamaica expand, grow and develop," said Prime Minister Golding.

According to the Prime Minister the facility when completed will stand as a lasting monument of the close bond of friendship between Jamaica and China. Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett in bringing greetings noted that already several organizations have been lining up to take advantage of the facility.

"The Convention Centre will be part of the critical infrastructure necessary to facilitate the repositioning of Jamaica as an events destination in the global tourism market," stated Bartlett.

The Montego Bay Convention Centre is intended to provide space for meetings and conventions, to enhance the tourist industry, to increase foreign exchange earnings and to provide additional employment for persons in the western region of Jamaica.

The Centre is being designed as a modern state of the art facility, capable of hosting large and small meetings, conferences, exhibitions, banquets, weddings and other events. The Centre will provide over 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, over 20,000 sq. ft. of banquet facility and more than 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the Jamaica Tourist Board's Web site at www.visitjamaica.com.