Five years ago, around 15 percent of all meeting leads to hotels came through electronic means. Now, according to hoteliers, e-RFPs represent the majority of leads. Technology and the proliferation of third-party and sourcing sites have made it fast and easy for planners to send meeting specs to multiple properties. But that progress has come with challenges. Hoteliers struggle to respond to the volume of proposals, while planners lament the lack of timeliness and accuracy in responses. That means both sides are having to learn the new rules of e-RFP engagement.

Picking a meeting hotel that takes its sustainable practices seriously can be tricky business, but here’s a question to add to your site inspection checklist: Does the property recycle its cooking oil? If you’re considering Hawaii as your meeting destination, the answer is quite likely to be “yes.” Here’s the story of Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel, an early leader in converting used cooking oil from hotels and restaurants into diesel fuel.

The board of directors of the Trade Show Exhibitors Association voted to dissolve the organization and transfer its members, intellectual assets, and administrative management to the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association, Bend, Ore. The deal will be finalized by a vote of the TSEA membership. Pending final approval, a new umbrella organization managed by EACA Executive Director Jim Wurm will be created to serve the interests and needs of both TSEA and EACA members. Read more about the merger.

The exhibition industry grew 2.7 percent in 2011, exceeding expectations and outpacing the growth of the U.S. gross domestic product, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. The year-end numbers were buoyed by a strong fourth quarter. Find out which metrics performed the best.