71 GL EVENTS | COMPANY REPORT 2014 | GL EVENTS VENUES

GL EVENTS VENUES

GL EVENTS VENUES : MARKETS AND TRENDS

1 EIBTM 2014 Trends Watch Report 2 UNIMEV, 2013 market figures, July 2014 3 AIPC 2014 Member Survey Report: Centre Performance & Perspectives, September 2014

In line with the economic upturn (+3.3% according to the IMF), the market for meetings overall started to pick up in 2014 1. This performance however varied significantly from one country to the next.

In France, Unimev (Union Française des Métiers de l Événement), the French Meeting Industry Council presented a positive picture for 2013 with expecta- tions for a generally solid performance in 2014 2.

The market for congresses remains the major busi- ness driver for convention and exhibition centres adapted for this type of event. This market offers undisputed advantages for sites and cities in terms of long-term visibility and significant economic impacts.

Congresses and conventions registered good perfor- mances in France and Europe. On a like-for-like basis (42 venues in France), the number of meetings grew 10% in 2013. Europe remains the top destination for association conventions and conferences. The quality of the programme and the notoriety of the speakers are two main factors driving convention attendance.

B2B and B2C trade shows have maintained the levels for the number of exhibitors and visitors. And while the surface area sold declined by 2.2%, revenue per square meter grew 5.7% in 2013. B2B trade shows are attracting more exhibitors (+4.2%) and visitors (+1.4%), benefiting in particular from increasing interest by international visitors.

And in contrast to trends of prior years, fairs were successful in recapturing visitor attendance by expanding their commercial offering and deploying innovative communication strategies. In the seg- ment of trade shows for the general public, those addressing specific communities of enthusiasts are continuing to grow.

For corporate meetings, the information and com- munications technology, pharmaceutical, auto and construction sectors remain the most important cus- tomers. While in France, demand has fluctuated in recent years (with rising demand in 2013, 2011 2010, and declines in 2009 and 2012), the international market has stabilized for the first year since the recessionary crisis with growth of 4.7% expected 3.

In conclusion, the market for meetings remained stable in 2013-2014 in France and internationally. While remaining cautious, companies are continu- ing to invest in meetings, as important promotional and motivational drivers for customer and employee audiences respectively.

Industry stakeholders remain optimistic about the outlook for 2015, despite the lack of political and economic visibility. Event innovation and customisa- tion provide added value to all event operations in addition to competitive differentiation.

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