UK Exhibitions & Conferences

UK Exhibitions & Conferences

The number of exhibitions held in the UK increased by around 2.8% in 2005. Traditionally, fewer exhibitions are staged in odd-numbered years, with many biennial shows being held in even-numbered years, so this increase was unexpected. However, the total number of visitor numbers in 2005 was estimated to be 5.3% down on the previous year.

There was a slight discrepancy between the two annual surveys conducted by the British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) and the Meetings Industry Association (MIA), which survey venues and organisers, respectively. While the BACD reported a slight rise in the number of conferences held in 2005, MIA reported a slight drop. However, revenues were down in 2005 according to both organisations, reflecting the fact that, in 2005, conferences were more likely to be non-residential.

This Market Report looks in detail at both the exhibitions and conferences sectors, which are further divided into trade (or business) and consumer (or public), and corporate and association (or not-for-profit), respectively. The number of exhibitions in both the trade and consumer sectors increased in 2005, but the number of conferences held by corporate sector organisers was down by 13.2%. The exhibitions sector is also examined in terms of the sectors it serves, some of which — notably food and drink, gaming and energy — are extending their existing brands into new territories or creating new shows.

2005, continuing into 2006, also saw a significant shift in the way marketers are allocating their budgets. There is an ongoing trend away from traditional media towards online but, at the same time, recognition of the value of face-to-face events for promoting a greater interaction between brands and the public is increasing. Marketing and public relations (PR) agencies are devoting their creative energies to designing live events around brands, and the conferences and exhibitions industry is also realising its potential to be part of this new marketing development. Exhibitions and conferences have long been regarded as invaluable tools for building personal relationships between suppliers and customers, but now the opportunity to build strong relationships with brands, to use events as marketing rather than selling tools, is one that is being taken seriously by the industry.

How success here is measured is an issue that is greatly exercising the industry, which is also concerned with the sustainability of events, and both of these are debated at length in an industry which is becoming increasingly collaborative. This collaboration is reflected in a certain amount of consolidation: two major industry associations merged in 2006 and a new informative website was launched as a platform for the industry to consider the issues that matter.

Also launched in 2006 were the results of a major new survey among exhibitors — The Big Survey, from the Exhibiting Show — the results of which are included in this Market Report. Key Note is also indebted to the now defunct Exhibition Venues Association (EVA) for making the results of its last ever UK Exhibitions Facts survey available, and to the BACD and MIA for allowing the use of results from their research.

1. Market Definition
REPORT COVERAGE
DEFINITIONS
Exhibitions
Conferences
MARKET SECTORS
Exhibitions
Industry
Services
Computing and Communication
Agriculture, Hospitality and Catering
Medicine
Leisure, Arts and Entertainment
Leisure, Travels and Family
Fashion and Textile
Conferences
Venues
MARKET TRENDS
Experiential Marketing
Trends in Technology
ECONOMIC TRENDS
Population
Gross Domestic Product
Inflation
Unemployment
Household Disposable Income
MARKET POSITION
The UK
Comparison With Media Advertising Expenditure
Share of Inbound Tourism
Contribution to the UK Economy
Overseas
Conferences
Exhibitions

2. Market Size
THE TOTAL MARKET
EXHIBITIONS
By Value and Volume
Number of Exhibitions
By Type
By Sector
Number of Visitors
Trade Exhibitions
Consumer Exhibitions
Exhibition Space Sold
CONFERENCES
By Value and Volume
Number of Conferences
By Type of Conference
By Type of Organiser
By Type of Venue

3. Industry Background
RECENT HISTORY
NUMBER OF COMPANIES
REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE MARKETPLACE
Conferences
Exhibitions
DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR VENUES
London and the South East
South
Wales and the Midlands
North
Northern Ireland
Scotland
New Venues
HOW ROBUST IS THE MARKET?
LEGISLATION
Age Discrimination Act
KEY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
Association for Conferences and Events
Association of British Professional Conference Organisers
Association of Event Organisers
British Association of Conference Destinations
British Exhibition Contractors Association
The Event Services Association
Meetings Industry Association
Other Industry Bodies
European Federation of Conference Towns
European Major Exhibition Centres Association
International Association for Exhibition Management
International Congress and Convention Association
Meeting Professionals International
UFI
Venuemasters
The Trade Press
Online

4. Competitor Analysis
THE MARKETPLACE
Market Leaders
Brand Events Ltd
Clarion Events Ltd
CMP Information Ltd
DMG World Media (UK) Ltd
EMAP Communications Ltd
Haymarket Exhibitions Ltd
Ocean Media Group Ltd
Reed Exhibitions Ltd
Trades Exhibitions Ltd
Upper Street Events
OTHER SUPPLIER COMPANIES
Exposure Event Creations Ltd
IO-Live!
ASP Multimedia Ltd
Livingston UK Ltd
Melville Exhibition and Event Services Ltd
LEADING VENUE COMPANIES
Earls Court & Olympia Group Ltd
The National Exhibition Centre Ltd
Scottish Exhibition Centre Ltd
MARKETING ACTIVITY
Main Media Advertising Expenditure
Confex Trade Shows
UK
Europe
National Meetings Week
Industry Awards
AEO Awards 2006
Meetings Industry Marketing Awards

5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS

6. Buying Behaviour
CONSUMER SHOWS
Conferences
Exhibitions
TRADE SHOWS
Exhibitions
Reasons for Exhibiting
Stand Preferences
Attitudes Towards Exhibiting
Growing Versus Static Companies
Conferences
Use of the Internet by Exhibitors and Conference Organisers

7. Current Issues
ORGANISERS AND EXHIBITORS — COULD DO BETTER
EVENT SUSTAINABILITY
Ten Top Tips For Holding Green Meetings
MEASURING ECONOMIC IMPACT

8. The Global Market
TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES
GLOBAL DECLINE
MEETINGS MARKET SHARE

9. Forecasts
ECONOMIC background
Population
Gross Domestic Product
Inflation
Unemployment
FORECASTS 2006 TO 2010
Exhibitions
Conferences
FUTURE TRENDS
Live Events
Return on Investment

10. Company Profiles
Clarion Events Ltd
CMP Information Ltd
Earls Court & Olympia Group Ltd
Haymarket Exhibitions Ltd
The National Exhibition Centre Ltd
Reed Exhibitions Ltd
Scottish Exhibition Centre Ltd

11. Consumer Confidence
METHODOLOGY
KEY FINDINGS THIS QUARTER
THE WILLINGNESS TO BORROW
Confidence Slips Slightly
Significantly More Adults Are Willing to Borrow
SPENDING FROM SAVINGS
Little Change in Spending from Savings
Saving Grows in Relative Importance

12. Further Sources