Chicago experienced the highest volume for meetings and events with 8.6% year-over-year (YOY) growth, according to Knowland. Washington, DC, and Phoenix were also top performers, with double-digit growth at 13.5% and 10.7%, respectively.
Overall, the volume of U.S. meetings and events increased by a modest 5.6%, as expected, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform and designed to help hoteliers protect their revenue base.
The Chicago market’s average attendance was 106, and the average meeting space used was 2,642 sq. ft.
The Windy City ranked highest in the top 25 U.S. markets with national association meetings, followed by education industry events. The following four markets: Washington, DC; Phoenix; Dallas; and Orlando rounded out the top five volume markets. The top drivers for meetings and events in these markets were:
- Chicago: National association, education, wedding, healthcare and technology
- Washington, DC: National association, education, charity/non-profit, technology and travel
- Phoenix: National association, wedding, technology, charity/nonprofit and financial/banking
- Dallas: Healthcare, technology, national associations, training/education and transportation
- Orlando: National association, technology, insurance, education and training/education
The top markets outside the top 25 (by YOY event percentage growth) were Colorado Springs, CO; Memphis; Lexington, KY; Sacramento; and Maui Island, HI.
