Phoenix ranked first in the top 25 markets by meeting planners with year-over-year growth at 19.7 percent, according to Cendyn, previously known as Knowland. Las Vegas followed closely with growth at 17.7 percent, placing it in the top five markets for the 10th consecutive month. South Michigan and the Florida Panhandle led in secondary markets, while Kauai, Hawaii, experienced significant year-over-year growth at 72 percent.
The data was sourced from Cendyn’s Sales Intelligence platform, designed to help hoteliers protect and grow their revenue base.
Phoenix ranked first in the top 25 markets for the first time in 2024 with a strong mix of national association, technology, healthcare and financial/banking. Michigan South ranked first in secondary markets, also for the first time in 2024, likely due to football-related activities.
Phoenix topped the list with 19.7 percent event volume growth in October, averaging 5,612 square feet and 174 attendees, driven primarily by national association events (8.6 percent of event volume.) Las Vegas stayed in the top five, coming in second, driven by national association and weddings. For the top 25 markets, the average space used increased to 3,902, with an average attendee count of 132.
Phoenix (+19.7 percent): National association, technology, healthcare, financial/banking, charity/nonprofit/social services.
Las Vegas. (+17.7 percent): National association, wedding, technology, pharmaceutical/biotechnology, healthcare.
Dallas (+17.6 percent): Healthcare, national association, technology, pharmaceutical/biotechnology, education.
Atlanta (+17.3 percent): Education, national association, charity/nonprofit/social services, technology, wedding.
New York (+16.3 percent): Technology, travel, financial/banking, education, charity/nonprofit/social services.
Michigan South experienced significant growth at 99.2 percent, likely driven by university football activities. Hawaii-Kauai was in the top five secondary markets for the first time with an average meeting size of 9631 square feet and average attendees at 316. Although a significant contributor was weddings, consulting, education, and national association events also had a significant impact. Charity/nonprofit/social services events were secondary drivers for three markets.
The average space used was 3,841 square feet, and the average attendee count was 128. The five high-growth secondary markets and top industries were:
Michigan South (99.2 percent): Education
Florida Panhandle (99.1 percent): Retail/online retailer
Louisville, Ky./Ind. (98.2 percent): National association
Kauai, Hawaii (72.0 percent): Wedding
New Mexico North (71.3 percent): Travel