In a lodging industry report this past fall, Credit Suisse interviewed Brian Stevens, CEO of ConferenceDirect, on the meetings business as a driver of lodging in 2013.

Despite normal levels of corporate uncertainty, Stevens believes that most major companies aren’t holding back from committing to events for 2013. According to the advisory, “Stevens sees room rates in the U.S. growing at a minimum of 4 percent (plus strong occupancy) with upper upscale/luxury brands seeing double-digit pricing power in gateway markets. He was most instructive on price increases in traditionally gateway convention markets including Boston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle, and he described D.C. as potentially being ‘on fire’ as groups come back to this market in a major way.”

Marriott is the largest hotel partner for ConferenceDirect with about 20 percent of its business, followed by Hilton at 17 percent, Starwood at 14 percent, and Hyatt at 12 percent. Stevens told Credit Suisse that Marriott has the right brands in the right locations. Given that chain’s distribution and its acquisition of Gaylord, he views Marriott as well positioned to capture share from groups that rotate their events.