UK Exhibitions, Conferences Industry Anticipates 2012 Olympic Games Bonanza

A new report from the Association of Exhibition Organizers (AEO) estimates that the economic impact of the UK exhibitions industry is considerable, generating around GBP 9.3bn in expenditure in 2004. Certainly the industry, both conferences and exhibitions, had a very good year in 2004. It is estimated there will be growth across the two sectors at 45% over 2003.

Although there is some convergence between exhibitions and conferences (both of which are increasingly described as `events`), with more conferences and exhibitions pertaining to specific vertical sectors running alongside each other, data collected from organizers and venues tend to be reported separately. For this reason, this report examines the industry in terms of exhibitions and conferences, both of which performed well in 2004.

The industry received more good news in July 2005 with the news that London had been successful in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. This news was almost certainly a deciding factor in the agreement to build a new International Conference Center in London. In addition, the Games will continue to act as a spur for the industry to make improvements across the board, in infrastructure, service quality, training and health and safety.

It will also encourage industry representatives in the form of the various trade associations to look more seriously at how the industry is measured and reported, and we expect to see some consolidation in this area in the future to allow a more integrated approach.

Almost certainly, the build up to the Olympics will create opportunities in areas that have not yet been thought of, on top of a whole new collection of extra associated meetings and conferences that will take place.

However, before the London Games there are the Beijing Olympics and, with China increasing its economic powers, London will need to work harder to compete.