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   A Penton Media Property December 4, 2008 Volume 4, Number 12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hotel Room Rates Drop
ASAE Establishes Seven Social Responsibility Principles
Cost-Cutting Tips for Tough Times
IACC Conference Centers Get New Tech Requirements
PCMA Set to Kick Off in New Orleans
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Up First
Hotel Room Rates Drop
For the first time in more than five years, hotel room average daily rates posted a year-over-year decline for the month, according to Smith Travel Research, further evidence of the emergence of a buyer’s market for meeting planners.

Average daily rate, or ADR, dropped 0.5 percent in October 2008 compared to October 2007, declining to $107.60. It broke a 63-month streak of positive year-over-year monthly ADR numbers dating back to June 2003.

Only three segments of the hotel market that STR tracks saw ADR gains: midscale with food and beverage (up 1.1 percent), midscale without food and beverage (up 1.8 percent), and economy (up 0.3 percent). Despite October’s decline, ADR is still up 3.2 percent for the year through October. Convention hotels, those with at least 300 rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space, were hit harder than most. For the year through October, ADR at convention hotels is up just 2.4 percent.

Read more about the buyer's market and what it might mean for hoteliers and planners.

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Issues and Trends
ASAE Establishes Seven Social Responsibility Principles
The boards of ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership adopted the "Global Principles for Socially Responsible Associations and Nonprofits," which were first developed at the Global Summit on Social Responsibility back in April.

The global principles, modeled after the United Nations Global Compact for corporate social responsibility, is designed to shape associations’ commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The seven principles call for associations to embrace responsible advocacy; economic and environmental sustainability of activities, including meetings; ethics and human rights; diversity; philanthropy and community service; socially responsible leadership; and an overall commitment to social responsibility.

Read more about the global principles and how ASAE and The Center have restructured their boards.

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Solutions
Cost-Cutting Tips for Tough Times
The state of the economy is a big concern for meeting planners heading into 2009. According to a survey of association meeting planners we conducted in November, 58 percent say economic factors will force them to make cuts to meetings next year.

For a list of ways to cut expenses, check out our compilation of money-saving strategies. And read the December issue of AM for more survey results and a look at the impact the economy will have on meetings in 2009.

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IACC Conference Centers Get New Tech Requirements
The International Association of Conference Centers has updated its minimum technology requirements for member facilities. The association’s Technology Task Force published a new reference document, “Design for Great Technology,” which outlines what it considers basic-, medium-, and high-level conference center technology, according to the size of a particular meeting room. The new basic-level technology requirements are now incorporated in the association’s “Universal Criteria” for membership and will be a part of member audits beginning in 2009.

Read more about the new technology requirements approved by the IACC board of directors.

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Sites and Venues
PCMA Set to Kick Off in New Orleans
Politics, the economy, a tailgate party—these are just some of the new twists and hot topics on the agenda for the 53rd Professional Convention Management Association annual meeting, to be held January 11-14 in New Orleans.

The big issues of the day for Americans—politics and the economy—will be featured topics in the keynote addresses. New York Times political columnist David Brooks will offer his take on the election and the Obama administration, while Jeremy Siegel, economics professor at the Wharton School of Business, will speak on the economy and stock markets. Also, former U.N. Ambassador Stephen Lewis will address the delegation about leadership. The theme of the meeting, after all, is "Convening Leaders."

Read more about some new programs at the upcoming annual meeting.

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