Meeting planners spend a lot of time considering generational differences among attendees. But meeting planners exhibit their own generational differences in their decision-making, according to a survey by the International Association of Conference Centers and marketing specialist Development Counsellors International (DCI). Here are some findings:

• Baby Boomers and Generation X ranked conference technology the most important factor in booking a meeting space, but connectivity was less important to Millennials. “That’s probably because younger meeting planners have the expectation that the technology will be there,” said Daniella Middleton, director of the meetings, incentives, conventions and education (MICE) devision of DCI.

• Millennials care most about cost/affordability (22.2%) than Generation X (14.7%) and Baby Boomers (14.6%). “Younger staff members are trying to prove themselves professionally, especially when they are presenting to an internal decision-maker,” Middleton suggested.

• Millennials look for a space that provides the ability to recognize key performers, more than any other generation.

“We’ll see a demographic shift in meeting decision-makers over the next 10 years,” Middleton said. “What was surprising was what was least important to the planners, regardless of age group: the preference of attendees as to where they want to meet.” — Maxine Golding