The survey also found increases in attendance levels consistently higher than a year ago  and fuel price and airfare increases continuing to be highly significant concerns in the US market.

Despite current and projected business conditions continuing to be positive, the MPI Barometer found early indications that increasing uncertainty about the US economy may be limiting business  in the US. The areas showing greatest growth in the US continue to be domestic corporate and domestic association sectors.

An MPI spokesman said: “Increasing employment and improving business conditions can’t stave off concerns over how potential jumps in fuel and airfare costs, a floundering economy and even add-on hotel costs (such as Internet, parking, service and vendor fees) will affect the business of meetings and events.

"Clients are keen to return to the same hotel and city for their meetings to avoid having to spend the additional time and money necessary for venue research and site inspections."

Taxation and legislation were other factors narrowing the scope of incentive trips, the MPI survey found.

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