APEX Launches Workgroup to Study Room Block "Poaching"

In the meetings industry, room block "poaching" refers to businesses that actively seek to recruit or divert event attendees away from official room blocks and into other hotel bookings. Chaired by MaryAnne Bobrow of Bobrow Associates, Inc., and Michael Dominguez of MGM Resorts International, the workgroup is the latest issue APEX is addressing in its commitment to develop best practices for professional meeting management.

The volunteer committee continues the proven APEX Workgroup model, which brings together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders to conduct research and devise knowledge-based responses to issues affecting the industry. The APEX Room Block Poaching Workgroup was formed to raise industry awareness on the impacts of poaching and to develop best practices, tools, resources and education to aid individual meeting professionals in managing and protecting room blocks.

"Hotel ‘poaching,’ or ‘piracy,’ is not new but seems to be on the rise and affecting meetings around the globe. In some instances a meeting’s management team may be unaware that rooms are being poached," said MaryAnne Bobrow. "The stellar group of individuals that form this workgroup won’t be able to eliminate the practice, but we can develop awareness and best practices for minimizing its impact."

Michael Dominguez noted that "industry professionals can expect the workgroup to produce the high quality content APEX is known for, whether it is in the form of research, ‘how to’ guides, articles or education. Our first priority is research and data gathering, which will shape further work."

The members of the APEX Room Block Poaching Workgroup are: MaryAnne Bobrow, Bobrow Associates, Inc.; Adam Briggs, ConferenceDirect; Ronnie Burt, Destination DC; Michael Dominguez, MGM Resorts International; Lisa Dyson, TESOL International Association; Richard Harper, HelmsBriscoe; Michael Howe, OnPeak; Fun Lee, Cardiovascular Research Foundation – Center for Education; Michael Owen, EventGenuity; Anne Roth, Intercontinental Hotels Group; Stuart Ruff, RIMS, the Risk Management Society; Heidi Voorhees, Experient.

Meeting planners are encouraged to watch their email and social networks for information on a research survey the workgroup is conducting, and to check the APEX website regularly for updates.

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