Yet another sign that the recession is bouncing back: industry giant Nationwide Insurance has reinstated their incentive meetings for 2010. Both trips were canceled this year due to the AIG effect. These are not junkets though — the agenda includes two half-days of education and business meetings. This rebound is great news for experts — educational content will be around for a while. Still won’t help expensive entertainment and celebrity speakers — they remain on the list of “too spendy” bells and whistles. Prediction: the idea of using top execs as motivational speakers will not last long.
Also look for closer to home locales (read: not extravagant) and efforts to give back to the communities they visit (read: great opportunity for cause marketing and sponsorship folks).
And Nationwide is not alone. Industry insiders report that the incentive cancelations have stopped. For now, 2010 is looking good for these lucrative meetings. Bottom line: recognition is back, but is retooled for a new financial reality.
Tags: branding, education, experts, incentive meetings, Marketing, Speaking, Sponsorship, strategy, Vickie Sullivan