VETERAN'S PERSPECTIVE

For this installment of Veteran’s Perspective we asked newcomers in the field of collegiate conferences and events (less than two years of experience) what would they like to know from a veteran in the field (15 years or more of experience).

We asked a couple of veterans the following: Have you seen significant changes in housing for conference and event participants over the years? If so, what are they? Have the changes been easy to adapt for the institution and conferences services? What do you see in the future of housing for conference guests?

Rebecca Leggett, director of visitor services at Peace College in Raleigh, NC said, “I have seen increasingly higher expectations of housing attributes from guest groups over the past few years. Clients understand (intellectually) that they are living in a college residence hall, but in reality, expect a more hotel-like experience than in the past. Some of the expectations are daily linen changes at no additional expense (we provide linens for duration of visits, not daily unless paid for), higher quality linens (fitted bottom sheets, mattress pads, etc.), phone service in each room, unlimited in-room high speed Internet access and wireless access at no charge, higher expectations of dining services and food (more variety, more organic and vegetarian offerings), and generally want the facilities to look more like a hotel without the usual 'decorations' found in residence halls from student living.”

Sheila Couture, CMP, director of community service education, outreach school at University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY has witnessed similar expectations and said, “We are using off-campus facilities with private bathrooms, bars, spas, and more ambiance than our campus can currently offer. A good example is something I recently saw on a meeting planner listserv about how the campus dorm housing would not let married couples room together because that was the policy for their student audience! I see the future, as money becomes available, dormitories will be remodeled for more individual privacy and for adult needs; I also see hotels being built by the university or adjacent to a university to provide appropriate housing.”

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