According to the annual American Express Meetings & Events Global Meetings Forcast, companies will book more meetings in 2012. 60 percent of meeting suppliers agreed that there would be an increase in the number of meetings.  Among planner respondents, 42 percent of North American planners said they are seeing signs of increased activity from their clients. Globally, those numbers grow to 50 percent in Latin America, 51 percent in Europe and 57 percent in Asia. According to the forecast, companies will focus even more on value and cost effectiveness, given anticipated rises in travel and meeting costs.

"Even in the face of economic uncertainty, meeting industry stakeholders appear to be cautiously optimistic as they report an increase in services and property demand from clients," noted Issa Jouaneh, vice president and general manager of American Express Meetings & Events. More than half of suppliers (53 percent) noted that clients are requesting more local meetings, while nearly half (47 percent) said clients have green requests or requirements for their events. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of planner respondents said their clients are showing an increased interest in reporting green measures -- although that interest is not yet significantly affecting property decisions, interestingly enough. US respondents said they are seeing a shift away from meetings in luxury or resort properties. The forecast data was based on actual and planned meetings among clients, as well as surveys of nearly 200 hotel suppliers and meetings professionals around the world and in-depth interviews with regional meetings experts.

Read more details here: about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2011/meetings2012.aspx