Feature
State of
the nation
Over the past several months, EN has carried out a
survey* of exhibition organisers, in partnership with
GES, to check the industry’s pulse when it comes to
a few key issues and trends. *50 respondents
M&A
Sustainability
Phil Soar, chairman, CloserStill Media
“In the past 18 months, the amount
spent to acquire UK-based exhibition
groups now exceeds £8bn. Yes, I will
repeat that, £8bn. I don’t know who
the 50 respondents are, but 88 per cent
saying they are not thinking of selling
sits a little strangely with these statistics.
It is a good rule to sell when prices are
high – unprecedently so – and buy when
they are low.
“I know that the golden rule in the
events business is “don’t confuse
me with the facts” – indeed it was
Blenheim’s motto – but the latest SASiE
report on our business in 2018 has some
interesting things to say. Data always has
to be treated carefully, but it does show
there being circa six per cent fewer trade
shows year-on-year and gross square
metres falling at roughly the same
amount over two years. The overall
numbers suggest a decline of some one
per cent to 1.5 per cent annually over the
last three years.
“As I said, data has to be handled
carefully and there are caveats. Not
least is the decline of our largest events,
which is likely to put a bias into any
numbers. At the beginning of the
decade our largest 12 events by turnover
attracted over 1,250,000 visitors. In
2018 the eight that survive attracted less
than 500,000. There is no absolute link
between visitors and turnover, but it
would be perverse to suggest there is no
relationship at all.
“I am delighted that 35 of our 50
companies intend to launch an event in
the next 12 months, and that only one
out of the 50 is looking to perhaps sell
in the near future. But does this sit very
comfortably with the ‘real (whatever
that means)’ data which is available to
us?”
24 — July
Are you hoping
to sell your event
or business
in the next 12
months?
Yes 2%
No 88%
Unsure 10%
Are you planning
to acquire an
event or events
business in the
next 12 months?
Yes 32%
No 48%
Unsure 20%
Are you planning
to launch an
event in the next
12 months?
Yes 70%
No 20%
Unsure 10%
Kate Simpson, marketing director, The BDC
“I am encouraged that 56 per cent of the respondents
agree in some way that venues are passionate about
sustainability, but I would love to see that figure higher
as I believe venues are doing a lot of great work in
addressing the current situation.
“Some may be further down the line than others are,
but the pace of change is definitely accelerating as we see
products entering the market that allow businesses to
become more sustainable. Often cost has an influence on
decisions when aiming for sustainability, but a phasing in
process is definitely beginning with key industry players
making commitments to removing plastics and to aiming
for zero per cent to landfill, a policy that we are already
pleased to have in place.
“Change will definitely take participation from
all parties so seeing the AEV, AEO and ESSA cross-
association Sustainability Group bring together the three
event segments addressed in the survey, shows that the
sector is on the whole passionate about being closer to a
zero-waste industry. As a venue, we are definitely getting
more questions from organisers about what we are doing
and how they can work with us to achieve the same
goal, but there is still a lot of educating needed for venue
users.”
Ben Wielgus , head of sustainability, Informa
“It’s clear that the views of the importance of
sustainability in the events industry are evolving. I think
there’s an opportunity for us all to better recognise the
value that sustainability can come in, in terms of a source
for innovation, differentiation and cost saving.
“Ultimately, we need to find these opportunities
ourselves and implement them so that we can
demonstrate to our customers and our local stakeholders
that we’re taking something they care about seriously.
It’s particularly important that we keep in touch with
what our customers are expecting from us because what
they want is much deeper level of commitment: it’s not
just about knowing where our waste goes any more but
instead it’s about really working out how we can ensure
it’s disposed of responsibly and, ideally, making sure that
waste isn’t created in the first place.”
“Suppliers,
venues and
organisers are
passionate
about
sustainability”
Suppliers
Strongly
agree 4%
Agree 36%
Unsure 32%
Disagree 26%
Strongly
Disagree 2%
Venues
Strongly
agree 8%
Agree 48%
Unsure 28%
Disagree 14%
Strongly
Disagree 2%
Organisers
Strongly
agree 4%
Agree 40%
Unsure 32%
Disagree 24%
Strongly
Disagree 0%