BERKHAMSTED, England — The seventh Index of dimensions and scales of exhibitions(SASiE) report of the Event Industry Alliance (EIA) — a collective comprising THE Association of Event Organizers (OEA), the Association of event venues (AEV) and theAssociation of event suppliers and services (THAT)— illustrates a British exhibition sector in full recovery.
The study found that an estimated 969 exhibitions took place in 2022 across the UK’s major exhibition venues. More than a third of these were held across the four major venues: ExCeL London, Olympia London, the National Exhibition Centre and the Scottish Event Campus. An estimated 6.11 million people attended exhibitions at these venues during the year, with the median event size being 2,800 attendees.
Average Visitor numbers in 2022 were down only 13% from pre-COVID levels. On average, there were 126 exhibitors at each event.significantly lower than pre-COVID levels.
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The total The number of commercial exhibitions has increased compared to 2019 levels, although the total number of all exhibitions and gross exhibition size in 2022 have not caught up to pre-COVID levels. General public exhibitions have resumed, but are slightly smaller in size.
This SASiE report, the first since the pandemic, shows a clear resurgence in the sector, said Shaun Hinds, CEO Manchester Central and current president of the EIA. “2022 illustrated the resilience of the exhibitions sector and the latest SASiE report confirms this. With data signalling a return to pre-COVID levels, and in some cases above 2019 figures, UK exhibitions have successfully re-established their position despite ongoing economic and geopolitical pressures.
““As we look to the year ahead, buoyed by the continued growing demand for live, in-person events, 2023 is our opportunity to amplify the vital role this sector plays in driving trade and investment as well as economic and societal prosperity,” he added.
Members of AEV, AEO and ESSA can access the report free of charge; The report is also available to non-members from AEV for £495 + VAT.
Contact Shaun Hinds at s.hinds@manchestercentral.co.uk