The growing cost of meetings is taking planners to rethink where they organize events. The lowest hotel rates and service rates in smaller cities make the destinations that once again look more attractive.
According to the CWT-GBTA global business trip forecast, it is projected that the average daily cost per meeting of the meeting will reach $ 169, compared to $ 162 in 2024. These costs include accommodation, food and drinks, AV, meeting space, activities, transport and technology.
The broader economic conditions are adding pressure. JP Morgan Research now puts the possibility of a recession from 2025 to 60%. The new tariffs could increase prices in all areas.
“Medium cities can provide a good alternative for many events by providing substantial cost savings and a strong service, while they still sacrifice incredible cultural experiences. Average hotel group rates for lar Steve O’Malley said, Coo of commercial events, maritime solutions, Maritz. “We will always want to look integrally the objectives of each event and determine whether a second or third level city will help our clients attract the right assistants, be the right geographical location for that group and offer the experience that the event needs to achieve its desired impact.”
The profitable alternatives become popular
As the budgets harden, planners are gravitating to secondary and tertiary cities, where the costs of hotels and premises are significantly lower.
“This is not new, but the winds against economics are accelerating change,” said Mike Ferreira, founder of facilitated meetings. “The nickel and the decrease in top -level cities are crushing budgets. Customers demand more profitable alternatives.”
His firm is increasingly recommended cities such as Indianapolis, Detroit, Tempe, Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Frisco, Texas, who square a strong access to the airport, schedules for transfer of short hotels and competitive prices, or without sacrificing the service.
Planners are also considering cities like Tulsa. “You can get much more for your money in Tulsa. We sacrifice a competitive package at a fantastic cost so that meetings planners seek to maximize the efficiency and impact of their budget,” said Renee McKenney, senior vice president or chamber.
According to CVven, average room rates at:
Tulsa They are $ 91
Indianapolis: $ 119
Tempo: $ 129
Compare that with:
Boston: $ 287
New York City: $ 266
Miami: $ 199
The smallest cities are extended for meetings
To meet the growing demand, many smaller cities are investing in complying with the infrastructure.
- Tulsa is building a $ 390 million hotel and 650 rooms connected to the Arvest Convention Center, which opens in 2029. The city says it lost 154 events in fiscal year 2023–24 due to the lack of hotels inventory.
- Fort Lauderdale will open the OMNI Fort Lauderdale hotel at the end of 2025. It connects to the Broward County Convention Center and includes 120,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and six dining rooms.
- Indianapolis is expanding the Indiana Convention Center in 143,500 square feet and adding a 50000 square feet dance hall, with a connected firm of 800 Hilton rooms that opens in 2026.
- Detroit is building a 600 room JW Marriott connected to the Huntington Place Convention Center through Skybridge. The completion is scheduled for early 2027.
- Savannah finished an expansion of $ 276 million in February, doubling the exhibition space and adding a 40,000 square feet dance hall and 15 new meeting rooms.
“We listen to customers after visits to the site in medium -level cities that obtain more value for their money,” said Ferreira. “The service is still fantastic, but the budget goes much further.”
