Insight: Issue 165 | Wed 13 Dec

Only 12 sleeps to go!

Never too early for a few cheeky festive libations…..

Our events news roundup kicks off here. This week, we have: NEC reports its biggest year for new events; The future of events: adapting before we go the way of the dinosaurs; EICC secures string of major conference wins; EVENTIT Launches Scottish Experiential Events Showcase; and Government minister gives lifeline to ‘London Sphere’ arena project.

NEC reports its biggest year for new events

In 2023, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham experienced its busiest year, hosting 23 new or relocated events. Among the highlights were The National Equine Show, The National Halal Food Festival, and Smart Factory Expo. The venue attracted 2.3 million visitors and 45,000 exhibiting companies, showcasing the industry’s positive impact on UK trade. The NEC’s success is attributed to both established and new shows, reflecting a strong outlook for 2024 with diverse event content and ongoing development initiatives.

Richard Mann, new business director at the NEC, said: “It’s been a fantastic year for our venue, both in terms of delivering our standout, established shows and bringing on board a wealth of new ones.

“We’ve also seen encouraging growth at many events, including the recent Solar & Storage Live which welcomed more than 17,000 attendees from over 20 countries. We believe this year’s successes truly underline the positive impact of the exhibitions and wider events industry on UK trade.

“We’ve placed a focus on developing our offering this past year, from launching the UK’s largest electric vehicle charging hub on our campus, to developing Show Insights which helps event organisers better understand visitor habits and profiles.

“Our outlook for 2024 is strong, with lots of diverse event content in the pipeline.”

The future of events: adapting before we go the way of the dinosaurs

Leslie Robertson, former CEO of Open Audience, delivered a compelling message at The Global Event Tech Summit. His session, ‘Adapting to Changing Delegate Needs,’ served as a call to action for the events industry, emphasising the urgent need to embrace technology for sustainable events.

Attendees, foreseeing a 2030 transformation, acknowledged the crucial role of sustainability, with over 60% actively integrating eco-friendly practices. Robertson underscored the lasting impact of virtual and hybrid events, urging industry professionals to evolve, adapt, and ensure a thriving past for events through innovation and foresight.

EICC secures string of major conference wins

Big licks to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), who have achieved a record-breaking events pipeline with 40 conferences in the next 12 to 36 months, bringing £32m in economic impact.

Notable events include the 36th International Papillomavirus Conference (Nov 2024), Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in GB & Ireland (Mar 2025), and the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists Annual Scientific Meeting (May 2025). The EICC’s revenue surged by 45% to £11.8m in 2022, recording an economic impact of £51.9m. CEO Marshall Dallas credits the success to the collaborative efforts of the sales and support teams, showcasing the centre as a global hub for diverse conferences.

EICC chief executive Marshall Dallas said: “We are proud to host some of the world’s top conferences from industries spanning environmental and engineering, health and bioscience, technology and education set for Edinburgh over the next few years, with over 50% of these large association conferences coming from outside the UK.

“The credit for the conference wins we’re announcing today goes to our sales and support teams, which we have carefully grown and strengthened in recent times, and the way in which the team works collaboratively with industry peers in Edinburgh and beyond to attract events to the city.”

EVENTIT Launches Scottish Experiential Events Showcase

EVENTIT has launched a new event designed to support the growing market for experiential events in Scotland.

EXPERIENCEit, which will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 8 February 2024, will aim to bring together organisations and individuals from the creative marketing and communications, film, entertainment, sport, festivals and business events sector.

Events director Judith Wilson said that the event will focus on creativity, technology, sustainability, wellbeing and diversity. “Our partners will create immersive and experiential activities, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of event experiences,” she added.

Government minister gives lifeline to ‘London Sphere’ arena project

The plan to build a 21,500-capacity Sphere venue in East London, replicating the screen-covered, state-of-the-art, domed arena in Las Vegas, has been given a lifeline by UK government levelling-up secretary Michael Gove, writes Christopher Barrett. The minister stepped in to temporarily block London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s rejection of the controversial project.

Following the news that Mayor Khan had rejected the project, AEG Europe executive VP of real estate and development Alistair Wood said, “We do not oppose competition in the live entertainment industry, and specifically do not oppose another large music venue in London. However, this proposal had fundamental flaws from the beginning. It was the wrong design, in the wrong location, and this was the right call.”

That’s a wrap for this week

So get that Christmas shopping done before everything’s gone…and we’ll catch y’all next week!