MEETINGS MEAN BUSINESS

1. MEETINGS MEAN BUSINESS 2015 Government Meetings Study

2. Landscape & Background • Landscape • In the U.S, Federal government agencies were limiting travel because of tight budgets and onerous travel restrictions introduced as a result of highly publicized abuses of government meeting spending • Background • Meetings Mean Business, a U.S based coalition created to showcase the incredible value that business meetings, travel and events bring to the U.S. economy, decided to launch a campaign targeting policy makersand influencers regarding the value of government participation in meetings, events and conferences

3. Objectives of the Study • To better understand how federal government workers find value in meetings, conferences, conventions and events. • To help the coalition better advocate for our industry to this important stakeholder group. • To tell a story about the impact of current restrictive policies and why face-to-face interaction is so critical.

4. Methodology • Mixed-mode survey among 164 government travel influencers conducted between February 9 and March 16, 2015 • Government travel influencers were those who worked in the Administration (70%), Congress (20%) or the private sector (10%) and are responsible for at least one of the following as part of their current position and role: • Make or evaluate meeting logistics, location and other travel decisions for government conferences, meetings or other special events; • Set, influence or enforce government travel policies; or • Set their private organization’s travel policies which is either required to follow or largely influenced by government policies • Survey questionnaire was informed by two focus groupsessions among 20 influencers held on December 10, 2014

5. Demographics Age Political Affiliation Political Ideology Gender *sums may not equal 100% percent as some respondents opted to not answer all demographic questions

6. Key Findings • THE LANDSCAPE • Though government travel influencers believed that U.S. government operations were heading in the right direction, there were clearly concerns regarding curbing wasteful spending and improving efficiency • influencers had seen restrictions increase in recent years and discussions around government travel policies are common • INITIAL TRAVEL POLICY POSITIONS • Influencers express mixed opinions of current government travel, event and conference policies; those favorable seek to prevent waste while those with unfavorable impressions complain of too much restriction • Despite mixed impressions, influencers support easing government travel restrictions generally; while they might support transparent, objective policies (e.g., mandating senior-level approval for those over $100,000 or subjecting those same conferences to public reporting), they oppose more subjective across the board measures (e.g. 30% budget reductions)

7. Key Findings (continued) • GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES STRONGLY AGREE THAT IN PERSON MEETINGS ARE VALUABLE • 98% believe meetings are important to advancing their agency’s mission. • 92% say engaging with colleagues, peers, partners and vendors face to face improves their ability to do their jobs effectively • 84% agree that future innovation and competitiveness is tied to engaging, collaborating and learning with those inside and outside of government • 2 in 3 employees believe that collaborating and innovating is best accomplished in person. 7 in 10 say it offers the best way to build public-private partnerships • 89% said that in-person trainings, conferences and continuing education events provide a better learning environment • 89% have attended an in-person event that would not have resulted in the same level of success if conducted remotely.

8. Key Findings (continued) • MESSAGING IN SUPPORT OF TRAVEL • Overall, messaging in support of travel is compelling and moves more government travel influencers to support easing travel restrictions • Messaging on government effectiveness, a high priority that influencers say the government needs to address, is most persuasive • Using the language of the meetings industry may be problematic as it is unfamiliar and not intuitive; descriptions of the conference, travel or events industry may provide greater clarity for influencers • Influencers view government organizations as the most credible voices on this issue; external organizations, such as U.S. Travel, PCMA and ASAE, are not well known, and building awareness may improve perceptions of authority

9. Curbing wasteful spending and improving government efficiency are top concerns • Interestingly, curbing wasteful or abusive government spending and improving the efficiency of the government are on par with improving the economy, traditionally the biggest concern by far How important is it that the U.S. government address the following issues: More important Less important *sums may not equal 100% due to rounding Q2: In your opinion, how important is it that the U.S. government address the following issues: Please rate your answer on a scale of 0-10 where 0 is not at all important and 10 is extremely important.

10. There is general awareness of discussions on government travel, large scale meetings What have you heard? • Respondents mostly recall discussions around restrictions, including budget cuts, arduous approval processes and limiting staff attendance How much, if anything, have you seen, read or heard about conversations around government travel and large scale meetings? n=112 Q3: How much, if anything, have you seen, read or heard about conversations around government travel and large scale meetings? Q4: Please list anything that you have heard regarding attitudes, expectations or policies for travel and in-person meetings, conferences, and special events. [CODED OPEN ENDS; MULTIPLE RESPONSE]

11. Influencers agreed they have seen more restrictions on government travel policies in recent years • A strong majority, seven in 10, report more restrictive policies in recent years • One in three say they have seen significantly more restriction • Only four percent say they have seen less restriction In recent years, how have you seen restrictions on government travel policies change? Don’t know Q7: In recent years, how have you seen restrictions on government travel policies change?

12. Respondents express mixed impressions of current travel and conference policies • A plurality say they have a neutral impression of government’s current policies • An almost equal amount say they have favorable or unfavorable impressions; intensity (i.e. very favorable/unfavorable) is also very similar • Those in the administration are split, while a majority in Congress are neutral (65%) and a plurality in the private sector are unfavorable (44%) What are your impressions of the government’s current travel, event and conference policies? Very I Somewhat I TOTAL Q5: Generally speaking, what are your impressions of the government’s current travel, event and conference policies?

13. Despite mixed impressions, influencers support easing government travel restrictions • Interestingly, Republicans (66%) and conservatives (70%) are the biggest supporters, potentially due to anti-regulation ideologies Do you support or oppose easing current government travel policy restrictions? Significantly | Somewhat I TOTAL Q9: Given all you know about current government travel policies, would you say you support or oppose easing current government travel policy restrictions?

14. When asked about specific policies, influencers favor transparency and objectivity Policies that are specific, such as mandating senior-level approval for those over $100,000 or subjecting those same conferences to public reporting, receive support However, across the board cuts, restriction of food/beverages and even (to some extent) limiting the number of employees are not supported, likely due to their subjectivity Q8: To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following policies proposed or enacted by The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?

15. Overall, messaging in support of travel is compelling • Respondents were exposed to 14 messages in support of meetings and travel - all but one are seen as compelling by a majority • The exception is the following message: • The meetings industry is an economic engine creating jobs, generating revenue and supporting communities across the county. The industry contributes more to national GDP than the air transportation, motion picture, sound recording, performing arts and spectator sport industries • This is consistent with focus group findings, where participants disagreed whether this was a credible message and, even if it was, it’s not seen as the government’s responsibility to “bailout” the meetings industry • Similar to focus groups, messaging around mission critical travel ranks as most compelling: Federal employee travel is an essential component of, for example, conducting food safety inspections, aircraft inspections, accident safety inspections, law enforcement inspections, military training and emergency preparedness and response. • A strong majority (84%) rate it as compelling; a majority rate it as very compelling (57%): • However, its not a driver of support for easing restrictions. This may be due to assumptions that, as one focus group participant put it, “mission critical travel is exempt from current policies” Q10: I will read some statements from those who support travel for meetings, events and conferences, and limiting restrictions. For each, please tell me if you find the statement very, somewhat, not very, or not at all compelling in making the case for easing restrictions on government travel policy. If you have no opinion, please say so.

16. Messaging on government effectiveness moves influencers • Regression analysis reveals two messages are primarily driving positive opinion movement: • Congress and federal workers rely on meetings and travel as an indispensable tool to do their jobs more effectively. These meetings enable successful information sharing, employee training and development, taxpayer services, and collaboration with other agencies and private-sector partners in a way that cannot be accomplished by other means. • Across the board cuts to travel budgets and the need to obtain senior-level approval for conference attendance mean fewer federal employees are well-trained, educated and engaged in important issues, or generally advancing the agency’s mission. The focus on travel costs reduction ultimately results in a less effective government. Q10: I will read some statements from those who support travel for meetings, events and conferences, and limiting restrictions. For each, please tell me if you find the statement very, somewhat, not very, or not at all compelling in making the case for easing restrictions on government travel policy. If you have no opinion, please say so.

17. Individual message ratings How compelling do you find each of the statements: Very | Somewhat | TOTAL COMPELLING* *sums may not equal total due to rounding Q10: I will read some statements from those who support travel for meetings, events and conferences, and limiting restrictions. For each, please tell me if you find the statement very, somewhat, not very, or not at all compelling in making the case for easing restrictions on government travel policy. If you have no opinion, please say so.

18. Individual message ratings (continued) How compelling do you find each of the statements: Very | Somewhat | TOTAL COMPELLING* *sums may not equal total due to rounding Q10: I will read some statements from those who support travel for meetings, events and conferences, and limiting restrictions. For each, please tell me if you find the statement very, somewhat, not very, or not at all compelling in making the case for easing restrictions on government travel policy. If you have no opinion, please say so.

19. After reviewing messaging, support increases for easing government travel policies • Support increases by 10 percentage points while opposition decreases by nine percentage points, for a total 19 percentage points of positive movement • Self-described “moderates” appear to be most persuadable Do you support or oppose easing current government travel policy restrictions? Initial Informed Strongly | Somewhat I TOTAL Strongly | Somewhat I TOTAL *sums may not equal total due to rounding Q9: Given all that you know about current government travel policies, would you say you support or oppose easing current government travel policy restrictions? Q11: Now that you’ve learned more, would you say you support or oppose easing current government travel policy restrictions?

20. Next Steps – Advocacy Platform • Industry point of view and policy principles. • Advocacy toolkit with updated messaging and new content. • Strategies and tactics that propel advocacy messaging. • Creative content that illustrates advocacy messaging and data. • Distribution strategy to reach decision-makers and policy-influencers.