Lack of space threatens business events growth
- MICEBTN Archive Stories Issue #47
- Wednesday, 30 May 2012
A NEW survey covering Australia's business events space shows a strong and vibrant industry that injects hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy and says NSW beats Victoria by a margin of more than 100 per cent, hosting 36 per cent of events and exhibitions against Victoria’s 17 per cent.
The report by the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) also revealed that 12 new shows expect to launch in 2012.
The EEAA Market Monitor found that almost one million visitors attended events organised by EEAA members, with 11,278 exhibitors participating.
EEAA general manager Joyce DiMascio said the bi-annual Market Monitor captured previously undocumented insights into the health and performance of the Australian exhibition and event industry and would be an invaluable resource providing data “that puts us on a strong footing in our representations to stakeholders, including government, international industry associations, the media, universities, training institutions and investors”.
“More than half the organisers surveyed are presenting new events this year and 59 per cent of suppliers have reported an increase in turnover,” said Warren Liackman, chief executive of Micromex Research, the Monitor’s producer.
“The survey also showed that NSW is the biggest events and exhibitions destination, hosting 36 per cent of events against Victoria’s 17 per cent.
"Trade events had the largest exhibitor base, with 6,621 participating in the six-month survey period, attracting 202,688 visitors. Consumer events drew a larger number of visitors, 699,170 with a total of 4,309 exhibitors.
"In addition, 49 per cent of trade events had a paid conference or seminar program alongside them, compared with 16 per cent at consumer events.”
Key findings from the survey included:
• EEAA Members organised 69 events, with 11,278 exhibitors participating and approximately 940,000 individuals attending.
• Sold approximately 270,000m2 of exhibition space, whilst utilising almost 660,000m2 of venue space
• EEAA Member venues hosted 316 events.
• Employed 2,654 full time staff, 5,390 casual/part time staff and 2,002 contractors.
• 50 per cent of organisers believe the sectors they are operating in are growing, while 18 per cent believe they are declining.
• Over half of all organisers surveyed indicated that they are presenting new events in 2012.
• Suppliers to the industry were more likely to report an increase in turnover than a decrease, compared with the previous calendar year (59 per cent vs 22 per cent).
• Suppliers’ annual average turnover for the 2011 calendar year was A$4.8 million, for an approximate total of A$382 million.
• The exhibition industry accounted for 66 per cent of suppliers’ annual turnover.
• Venues hosted 92 new events, representing 29 per cent of shows hosted.
• 53 per cent of venues cited venue capacity as inhibiting business growth in the past, while 73 per cent expect decreasing exhibitor budgets to inhibit growth in the future.
