THE NUMBER of companies booking conference and incentive events for 2000 has increased by 50% compared to this year, according to conference organiser Banks Sadler.
Director David Campbell said the company has already taken bookings worth for next year and claimed many moreorganisations are still planning to make bookings.
He said companies are generally booking longer events involving more participants, with many taking place in luxurious venues. Next year, more companies than usual are allowing their staff to take their spouses to the events.
Campbell said Banks Sadler has so far taken 40 more bookings for 2000 than for this year.
He said:”It may be that companies have not been booking conference and incentive events in 1999 because they have been holding back on making bookings for events until 2000.
“The millennium factor is relevant throughout the whole of 2000, not just for New Year’s Eve.
“There is a sense of corporate optimism and general excitement at celebrating a new millennium and the result is a feeling that business events should be made more special for 2000.
“Consequently, companies are spending more on what is one of the highest profile events of the year.
“We would have expected people to plan a bit further ahead for the millennium. But we are actually finding that people are only just beginning to take on board the fact that there is something important about to happen. This is quite late in the day.”