Northstar

PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES SOURCE: M&C RESEARCH SURVEY OF 122 MEETING PROFESSIONALS Newsline Research 6 JAN-FEB 2019 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM Are 'Planner Points' Your Perk? WORDS LOREN G. EDELSTEIN Some say rewards for group biz are a well-earned bonus M ost meeting professionals belong to hotel loyalty programmes that o er "planner points" for group business. Yet, opinions are strongly divided regarding how those points can — or should — be redeemed. Many of the 122 respondents to our survey shared additional comments with M&C; read more at mcmag.com/research. 96% Yes 4% No Do you belong to any hotel frequent-guest programmes? Do frequent- guest programmes infl uence your personal hotel choices? 33% Yes, greatly 30% Somewhat 15% Not much 20% Not at all 2% N/A Do you think it's ethical to use planner points for personal travel? Do you collect hotel "planner points" for arranging group travel or meetings? If you collect planner points, how do you use them? 29% 64% 7% Does your organisation have a policy that addresses the use of planner points? ■ Yes ■ No ■ Not sure Do planner loyalty programmes infl uence your hotel choices for meetings or events? ■ Yes, greatly ■ Somewhat ■ Not much ■ Not at all How does your boss or client feel about planner points? 41% Points should benefi t the meeting or organisation 36% The topic has not been addressed 24% I am encouraged to use the points as a perk or bonus 11% They are not aware that I am collecting points From which hotel companies do you or your organisation receive planner rewards? Absolutely; it's how the programmes are structured 4% It's a grey area, but I appreciate the perk 42% I believe it's an unethical business practice 24% 79% Marriott/SPG 24% Omni 73% Hilton 23% Wyndham 52% Hyatt 4% AccorHotels 38% IHG 20% Other 40% Personal leisure travel 41% Yes, whenever available 25% Personal business travel 16% I decline such offers 19% Perks are applied to meetings or events 11% I'm not aware of such programmes 11% The client/host organisation earns the points 10% Yes, sometimes 14% Not applicable 5% Other 2% I request added value for the event instead 6% Other 29% 36% 26% 10%

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