1. IACC’s
Emerging Trends Committee
Presents:
Generational Preferences
In Meeting Location
Selection
March 2013

2. IACC’s
Emerging Trends Committee…
• Created in 2007
• Members are 30
years old or
younger
• Has conducted
three initiatives
including:
– Comprehensive Guide
to Social Media (2012)
– Internship model
(2011)

3. Development Counsellors
International…
• Since 1960, DCI
has worked with
400+ countries,
states and cities
globally to drive
both investment
and tourism.
• Published “Winning
Strategies in
Destination
Marketing in 2012”

4. Methodology
• IACC Emerging Trends Committee (ETC) and Development
Counsellors International jointly developed the survey.
• Survey explored if there are generational preferences among
meeting planners and whether these preferences shape how
meeting space is selected.
• On January 10, 2,000 meeting planners were invited via email to
participate in an online survey.
• Meeting planners were selected from a combination of IACC
member meeting planners lists and DCI’s own internal meeting
planner list.
• Survey was entitled: Selecting A Conference Center: Choosing the
Right Facility for Your Audience – 2013.
• The survey garnered 94 responses which is nearly twice of the
previous surveys by IACC’s ETC.

5. Generation Definitions
Mature
Age 66+
Baby Boomer
Age 47-65
Gen X
Age 33-46
Gen Y/Millenial
Age 18-32

6. Respondent Profile
Mature: NEC, 3% Baby
2% Boomer:
Gen Y:
12% 45%
Gen X:
38% * NEC= Not Otherwise Classified

7. Q. Have you ever heard of the International
Association of Conference Centers (IACC)?
76% of respondents have heard of IACC
Matures 100%
Baby Boomers 74%
Generation X 72%
Generation Y 82%

8. Q. If you have heard of IACC, on a scale of one (not
important) to five (very important), how
important do you feel it is that our next event be
held at an IACC facility?
Importance of Using an IACC Facility
50% 45%
40%
30% 24%
21%
20%
7%
10% 3%
0%
5 (Very 4 3 2 1 (Not
Important) Important)

9. Importance of Using an IACC Facility
(average response by generation)
5.0
4.0 3.1 3.0 2.9
3.0 2.4
2.0
1.0
0.0
Baby Boomer Matures Generation Y Generation X

10. Q. “Please rate on a scale of 1 (least important) to 5
(most important) how important each of the
following factors are when choosing a conference
facility on behalf of your clients.”
Most Important Factors
When Choosing A Conference Facility
4.5
5.0 4.2 4.2 4.1
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0

11. Less Important Factors
When Choosing A Conference Facility
5.0 4.0
4.5
3.5 3.4
4.0
3.5 2.7
3.0
2.5
2.0

12. Generational Differences
When Choosing A Conference Facility
Generation Y Generation X Baby Boomer Mature
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0

13. Most Important Characteristics By Age Group
(denotes answers by respondents who indicated that they selected conference centers
based on the age of their meeting attendees by ranking it a 4 or 5 in importance)
Mature Baby Boomer Gen X Gen Y
Proximity to airport Proximity to Proximity to airport Cost
airport and restaurants
Ease of getting Ease of getting Renovated Chic/Modern Facilities
around around
Cleanliness Cleanliness Vibrant activities Entertainment, Evenin
g Activities, Recreation
on Property, Off-site
Activities
Walking distances Comfortable Uniqueness Design
within venue rooms with
reading chairs
Level of service Wi-Fi Wi-Fi/Latest Technology
Technology
Wheelchair Access Access to
food/beverage

14. Q. Thinking abut your client’s annual meetings/
conferences that you have planned/attended,
what are the three most important criteria in
selecting a conference facility?”
Top Criteria For Facility Selection
24.1% Adequate meetings
rooms/flexibility of space
18.2% Location/appeal of
destination
16.8% Accessibility
16.4% Affordability/cost
7.7% Technology

15. Top Criteria For Facility Selection
(by generation)
Baby
Criteria Gen Y Gen X Boomer
Adequate meeting
rooms/flexibility of space 22.2% 26.3% 31.1%
Location/appeal of destination 25.9% 20.0% 19.4%
Accessibility 14.8% 8.4% 8.7%
Affordability/Cost 22.2% 14.7% 14.6%
Technology 3.7% 8.4% 7.8%
Size/Capacity 11.1% 4.2% 0.0%
Service 7.4% 6.3% 0.0%
Food & Beverage offerings 0.0% 3.2% 7.8%
Condition/Updated/Not under
Renovation 7.4% 6.3% 5.8%

16. Q. “What are the top three challenges or reasons
you would choose NOT to use a specific conference
facility or other type of meeting venue?”
Top Reason For Declining A Facility
16.7% Cost/excess charges
12.5% Inadequate meeting
space (size/amount)
10.2% Location
9.8% Appearance/condition of
property
8.3% Inadequate meeting
space (layout/design)

17. Top Reason For
Declining A Facility
(by generation)
Baby
Criteria Gen Y Gen X Boomer
Cost/excess charges 28.6% 17.3% 20.9%
Inadequate meeting space (size/amount) 21.4% 8.6% 17.4%
Location 10.7% 11.1% 11.6%
Appearance/Condition of property 3.6% 12.3% 11.6%
Inadequate meeting space (quality/layout) 17.9% 25.9% 16.3%
Accessibility 3.6% 7.4% 10.5%
Quality of Staff/Service 7.1% 8.6% 3.5%
Lack of technology or outdated 3.6% 6.2% 5.8%
Bad reviews/reputation 3.6% 2.5% 2.3%

18. Q. “Thinking specifically about the meeting space(s)
within a conference/meeting facility, please rate the
importance (1=least important, 5 = most important)
of the following meeting room characteristics.”
Most Important Room Elements
5.0 4.3 4.0 3.8
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0

19. Less Important Room Elements
5.0
3.6 3.1
4.0
2.6
3.0
2.0
1.0

20. Importance of Room
Characteristics
(by generation)
Baby
Criteria Gen Y Gen X Boomer Mature
Space has elements that are
conducive to learning or training 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.5
Space fosters collaboration and
innovation 4.0 3.9 4.0 4.5
Availability of break out rooms with
informal, moveable furniture 3.5 3.7 4.0 4.0
Space has informal furniture
groupings to allow participants to
socialize and converse with one
another 3.0 3.6 3.7 3.5
Space provides the ability to
recognize sales or key performers 3.5 3.2 3.0 3.0
Availability of white boards on
wheels 2.2 2.4 2.9 2.5

21. www.iacconline.org www.AboutDCI.com