2009 was a rough year for the meetings industry, with corporate travel and meetings under the microscope. With group travel stalled, the hospitality industry was impacted in a big way - hotel occupancy was down, air travel was reduced, and the economics of absence affected everyone industry wide.

As we enter a new decade, common sense is returning and there is recognition that nothing can replace the value or ROI of face-to-face meetings. I want to applaud those companies that were and are still willing to travel for meetings, despite the political pressure to do otherwise.

A positive trend that has developed from the past 18 months, is that many of our clients have become more receptive to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events that, as I like to say, put "meaning into meetings". At ACCESS, we have always tried to incorporate some form of community give-back into our client programs. These give-back programs are more than just “feel good” events, they have the added benefits of teambuilding and supporting a company’s values.

Throughout our blog we will highlight more examples of CSR programs that we’ve pioneered for our clients and for our industry, demonstrating how these programs put meaning into meetings. Keep checking in as we bring you take-away value throughout the year.