Event industry views on the Spring Statement, and more

This month’s news round-up brings you industry and association news and views from March 2025, including meetings and event industry views on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Events Economy Tracker, UKEVENTS new Executive Committee, ABPCO Economic Impact Survey, and more.  

Before the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, beam urged the government to support industry growth.

Louisa Watson, Chair of the industry association said: “As Chair of beam, I speak on behalf of a sector that continues to show resilience and innovation in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty. The business events, accommodation and meetings industry contributes more than £61 billion to the UK economy each year, yet it remains particularly vulnerable to inflationary pressures, talent shortages and inconsistent government support.

“Ahead of the Spring Budget, our message to the Chancellor is clear. If the government is serious about driving growth, then thoughtful and targeted support for our sector must be part of the plan. Voices from across our membership highlight the need for measures that unlock long-term investment, ease operational costs and strengthen the UK’s competitiveness as a global destination for business events and tourism.”

Linden Beattie, General Manager, Down Hall added: “The government has made economic growth a clear priority, and we hope the Spring Budget delivers measures that ease inflationary pressure and support that ambition. Businesses in our sector urgently need relief from rising costs to stay competitive and continue fuelling economic activity. The right policies can unlock growth, investment and global competitiveness.

“The UK’s 20% VAT rate on business events, accommodation and meetings is among the highest in Europe, adding pressure on margins and increasing costs for venues, agencies and clients. Reducing VAT would ease the burden, improve affordability and help position the UK as a stronger global destination for conferences and meetings.

“Rising staffing costs, driven by increases to the living wage and employer National Insurance contributions, make it harder to attract and retain talent. Investment in skills and training is essential to tackle ongoing shortages and keep our sector driving employment and prosperity.

“We also need continued government backing for business tourism, particularly through destination marketing and international event attraction.

“We urge the Chancellor to avoid any further employment costs or payroll taxes, reductions in existing support schemes, or new regulatory burdens that would disproportionately affect SMEs and undermine future growth.”

Read more, here.

UKEVENTS announces new Executive Committee to strengthen industry advocacy

UKEVENTS has confirmed its new Executive Committee following the February Full Partners Meeting, with a clear focus on strengthening engagement with policymakers and capitalising on new relationships forged at the recent Houses of Parliament exhibition.

The newly appointed committee will lead UKEVENTS’ efforts to drive recognition of the UK events industry’s £61.6 billion contribution to the economy and ensure its role is firmly embedded in government policy discussions. With a renewed emphasis on advocacy and strategy, the committee aims to build on recent momentum and push for meaningful action that supports growth across the sector.

The agreed roles for the new Executive Committee are:

• Chair: Glenn Bowdin
• Immediate Past-Chair: Chris Skeith OBE
• Vice-Chair – Treasurer: Tom Clements
• Vice-Chair – Membership Secretary: Susan Tanner
• Vice-Chair – Policy/Strategy Lead: Andrew Harrison
• Vice-Chair – Advocacy and Government Relations Lead: David Tremmil
• Advocacy and Government Relations Co-Lead: Michael Hirst OBE
• Communications Lead: Martin Fullard

Glenn Bowdin, Chair of UKEVENTS, commented: “The UK events industry plays a critical role in driving economic growth, supporting a vast supply chain, and creating opportunities across multiple sectors. However, what became evident from our recent engagement with MPs is that many are still unaware of just how significant our industry is.

“This new Executive Committee is well-positioned to change that. We are committed to deepening our relationships with government, ensuring events are recognised as a key economic enabler, and fostering an environment where policymakers proactively engage with our industry to achieve their objectives. Our next steps will focus on sustained advocacy and strategic engagement, ensuring that the momentum we’ve built translates into tangible policy progress.”

Read more, via UKEVENTS.

ABPCO has released its second Economic Impact Survey results

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), the professional body for association conference and not-for-profit event organisers released its second Economic Impact Survey.  The survey provides a year-on-year benchmark in understanding the economic influence and contribution that its members bring to the industry.

In 2024, 62% of members managed a portfolio of events generating turnover in excess of £1M ratifying that the Covid re-bound of 2023 has been maintained, and that ABPCO’s members continue to deliver substantial economic impact and leadership in the associations and not-for-profit side of the events industry. This includes:

• 10% of members with a portfolio of over £10M
• 80% with a portfolio of over £500K

This year’s survey achieved a response rate of over 50%, and collectively presents a positive picture of on-going innovation and development in this sector, and a steadily upward trajectory in economic performance.

Key highlights from the survey include 2024 event delivery to 1,020,000 delegates via 6336 events throughout 7500 event days.  75% of these were in person – compared to 82% in 2023, demonstrating “the vibrancy and strength of this sector and the positive outlook for 2025 including the economic knock-on effect to venues and suppliers across the UK.”, according to the ABPCO.

Read more here, via MIA.

A record year for venues finally slows in Q4, suggests Events Economy Tracker from The Business of Events

According to the latest Events Economy Tracker from The Business of Events, UK meeting venues finished 2024 strongly despite a slowdown in event bookings and revenues per delegate. 

The Q4 2024 report, which uses data provided by Venue Performance from a sample of 350 venues across the UK, found that revenues per delegate, which includes venue hire charges, F&B and other expenses such as AV hire, slowed to £140.72 in the final three months of last year. Although down on Q3 2024’s findings, it still marks a significant increase from the £114.30 reported in Q1 2024 and represents a strong year-end, reflecting improved market conditions. 

The average number of confirmed events per venue also slowed in the final three months of last year, following an all-time high of 35 reached by September. 

The Autumn budget and the uncertain geopolitical landscape may have contributed to this slowdown, although the number of confirmed events in November was equal to the same period in 2023. 

Forward bookings were practically non-existent in December 2024, but again, they reached an all-time high in September. This shows that meetings and event programmes for 2025 were created much earlier in 2024 than previously. 

Venue Performance Managing Director Peter Heath said: “The data for Q4 2024 should be seen in the context of the year as a whole. Forward bookings shot up before the General Election as planners rallied to lock in costs and get ahead of any economic uncertainty. September was the busiest period many events professionals have ever known so a pause for breath in Q4 was not unexpected.

“Demand for events has driven revenue per delegate figures skywards all year. With the surge of activity in September, the year has finished strongly, despite a slowdown towards the end.” 

To download and read the Events Economy Tracker Q4 2024 from the leading Think Tank and Advocacy Network for the business events sector, visit The Business of Events.

MIA Chair hosts IBTM World’s second series of New in Events podcast

 New in Events, a podcast from IBTM World, has returned for a much anticipated second season with Shonali Devereaux as its new host.

Designed to inspire and support IBTM’s community of event professionals year-round with fresh insights, practical advice and innovative ways of working, series two of the podcast will feature ten fortnightly episodes, which run until the summer.

With a line-up of leading spokespeople from both inside and outside of the industry, New in Events will explore topics such as preventing professional burnout, crafting compelling stories through events, and how to promote inclusivity and accessibility.

In each 30-minute episode, Shonali chats with a headline interviewee before bringing listeners conversational highlights recorded in the podcast booth during IBTM World in Barcelona last year. The thought-provoking content is intended to inspire people to think more about the industry they’re working in and the people they’re working alongside.

Read more, via IBTM World.

Half of travel buyers predict business travel cost increases thanks to Trump Administration

New insight from Business Travel Show Europe has revealed nearly half (48%) of European travel and procurement managers and bookers believe it will be more expensive to travel to and from the United States with the new Trump Administration in situ.

Over one third (35%) also believes it will be more difficult to travel to and from the United States now the Republican Party are in power, and 44% agree that President Trump’s threatened removal of climate change quotas will dilute the pressure for corporates to expedite sustainable travel programmes.

When asked if their organisations are more or less likely to travel to/from the United States, 9% said more but 12% said less. 29% of the 115 survey respondents answered, ‘I don’t know’, leaving a potential maximum of 24% to believe travel will be cheaper now Trump is in the White House.

Business Travel Show Europe marketing director Jonathan Carter-Chapman: “The Trump Administration has only been in power for two months and policies that may affect corporate travel – trade tariffs, flight bans, possible environment legislation, and more – are still in a state of flux so it’s impossible to know for certain what the impact will be on travel and travellers to and from the United States. Despite that, many travel managers are proceeding with caution and, given the continued pressure to cut costs, are concerned.

“Our opening session at this year’s Business Travel Show Europe hosted buyer conference is called, ‘How geopolitics will reshape your company’s travel programme’ and looks at how the shifting geopolitical environment will impact business travel destinations, frequency and cost of business trips, as well as the risks travellers face. Delegate will discover what the new global risk map looks like and how to re-strategise their travel programmes accordingly.”

Closer to home, the survey also revealed that 83% of respondents are familiar with the UK’s ETA scheme and the EU’s ETIAS scheme, which will both come into effect in the final quarter of the year. Only 14% were not.

115 corporate travel and procurement professionals, EAs and PAs polled in March 2025. 78% of these were travel managers, 17% in procurement and 5% EAs/PAs. The geographical split was UK – 36%, Europe – 47%, RoW – 17%

Read more via Business Travel Show Europe.

The Meetings Show’s Hosted Buyer registration has opened

Event planners can now secure their space on Hosted Buyer Programme for the 2025 show, taking place at Excel London on 25-26 June.

With unrestricted access to educational and networking opportunities, plus the chance to meet hundreds of global event suppliers under one roof, hosted buyers can also access benefits, including support with travel and accommodation.

Securing space on the programme also includes invites to reinvigorated hosted buyer experiences on 24 June, such as Hosted & Exclusive: The Buyer Intelligence Exchange, a dynamic learning experience delivering interactive content, including a keynote by Emmy-winning comedy writer Beth Sherman, and an exclusive, fun evening event at a top venue, soon to be revealed.

Between supplier appointments at the show itself, hosted buyers can gain more insights and inspiration by attending a host of learning experiences, or refresh themselves and network in the Hosted Buyer Lounge.

Find out more, here. 

View from the EDGE

EDGE Venues’ Managing Director, Scott Ford, summed up the latest monthly insights:

“It’s great to see various industry bodies pushing for better government support and higher recognition of our important sector, I do ask myself though could we do better as an industry in finding a more unified and powerful voice to drive our agenda forward?

“A fast-paced 2024 saw some slow down in the final quarter of 2025 according to The Business of Events, as this informative article points out, we do need to recognise 2024 had some unique factors including a ‘rush to book’ prior to the snap general election, followed by caution after the Autumn budget.

“2025 will, I think, remain turbulent from a global perspective with a new US Administration not afraid to use high trade tariffs and a certain amount of protectionism practices which in turn could drive more caution and potentially higher prices. In this environment it crucial for our industry to continue to drive efficiencies, cut out wasteful practices and combine smart technology with a razor like focus on customer needs. As always I expect our industry to rise to the challenge and its good to see the likes of IBTM driving learning and new ways of working in their New in Events podcast.”

Book your next meeting or event venue on EDGEVenues.com