NFS Technology Group, a global provider of conference room booking software, have responded to findings from an American Express Meetings Events 2015 Global Meetings Forecast which shows UK industry will do more with less next year.

Restricted budgets and growing costs are to be combatted with creativity by UK meeting planners, the Forecast suggests, predicting that while meeting numbers are set to rise – a 1.2% increase is expected – overall meeting speed, individual budgets and attendee numbers are all set to drop.

In all, experts believe that budgets could see a fall of 0.7% next year with overall meeting spend declining by 1.1%. By comparison, in 2013 there was a 4.8% predicted increase in meeting spend.

The biggest expected growth for next year is for advisory board meetings which are predicted to rise by 3.3%. Declines are also expected for meeting attendee numbers except for advisory board meetings.

Lisa Thompson, UK Director of American Express Meetings & Events, said: “Meeting planners in the UK will have to make the most of squeezed budgets next year. While the UK economy is improving, meetings activity is set to be more subdued in 2015, with only a small increase over the number predicted for 2014.

“Reductions in individual budget and overall spend in the UK are predicted, so meeting owners are feeling the pressure to get creative and extract the maximum value from their meeting budgets. Planners are expected to deliver the same quality of experience as in previous years, despite group hotel and group air rates continuing to rise.”

NFS Technology Group, one of the best known conference room software providers in the UK, take an active interest in industry-related news. They believe that the sector has the creativity and the technology to perform strongly in 2015 in spite of limited spend.

A spokesman for NFS Technology Group said: “While this isn’t the most optimistic of trend forecasts, we agree that the sector has the ability to put in a strong performance even with restricted budget in mind. Many companies out there are already embracing cutting edge meeting room booking software, in the process minimising costs and delivering excellent conference solutions, so we know it can be done.

“The UK has one of the most impressive conference markets in the world and we fully expect that meeting spend will be circumvented by creativity and software technology.”

NFS Technology Group supplies room and desk booking solutions. Rendezvous, one of their most popular software options, is utilised by many in the conference sector. Visit www.myrendezvous.net today to find out more about Rendezvous and how it could help your business.