According to the American Express Meetings & Events 2013 Global Meetings Forecast, released on Nov. 27, Asia Pacific is predicted to see the strongest growth among regions in both spending and the number of meetings. 

North America will remain relatively flat while Europe and Central/South America will likely experience declines overall, the report said.

The following are highlights from the report for each region:

Prediction:

North
America

Europe

Asia

Central/
South
America

Number of Meetings 0.00% (-2.3)% 6.40% (-1.1)%
Overall
Meeting
Spend		 (-1.0)% (-6.0)% 4.20% (-3.5)%
Average
Group Rates
for Hotels		 4.20% 0.00% 4.00% 4.70%
Average
Group Rates
for Airfare		 3.30% 2.9% 2.90% 3.2%
Top 5
Destinations    		 Orlando London Shanghai Riviera Maya/
Cancun/
Quintana Roo
Washington, D.C. Paris Singapore Rio De Janeiro
Las Vegas Amsterdam Sydney San Juan
Miami Barcelona Beijing Buenos Aires
Chicago Brussels Bangkok Punta
Cana

The findings are based on a comprehensive survey, extensive meetings and events data, and in-depth interviews of meetings professionals — all conducted by American Express Meetings & Events. 

The report also included trends concerning challenges for meeting planners such as budget challenges that call for more local meetings, safety and security issues and meetings approvals.

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