Hoosta Magazine

1. Hit the Spa!
The hottest trend going in hotels. It doesn’t matter if you’re a guest at a meeting, staying the night, or just getting away for the weekend, customers want to hit the spa, even if only for an hour or two at the end of the day.
Hotels and resorts are adding spas rapidly to meet the demand. It’s not just about healthy lifestyles … it’s well deserved pampering too!

2. Spending is Taking Off!
Spending on company meetings is taking off. Going into 2006, advance bookings for corporate conferences were up at Benchmark’s properties from 20% to 50% over the start of 2005.
Companies are investing more to bring their people together to launch, reinforce and accelerate initiatives in this strengthening economy. And the investment per participant is also up significantly over last year.
Corporations are gravitating to higher-end properties, where they can bring their people together in comfortable, full service hospitality environments and company leaders can make the right statement about the importance of their people and the meeting content.

3. A Rising Tide Floats All Boats - Some Higher than Others.
A rising tide floats all boats, but the meeting venues really taking off are those that offer much more than efficient and productive conference environments. Properties that emphasize individual service, great restaurants and bars, high quality amenities, luxurious settings and accommodations - and a true specialization in accommodating high-end conferences - are the ones poised to capitalize on the flow of corporate dollars into meetings.
Benchmark’s response is the Benchmark Conference Plan. It’s a product conference groups cannot buy at a traditional resort or hotel. The company has fine-tuned the concept, will continue to evolve it, and expects corporate America will embrace it in record numbers in 2006.

4. Luxury (is that a plasma screen in my guest room?) Is Back!
Travel budgets are healthier and guests are demanding luxury, first-class amenities and added value in return for their dollar.
Flat screen televisions, luxurious bath soaps, superior bed and bath linens are benchmarks of quality. And service expectations are at their peek. Oh, and throw in a spa treatment or two for good measure.

5. WiFi - Better Have It …
It’s about convenience. Laptops open everywhere these days and it’s expected that a guest can log on and access email or the office at a moment’s notice - wherever he or she is.
This is no longer a luxury, it is now perceived as a necessity, is expected, and more and more properties are providing it free of charge.

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