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Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 823 April 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€30.4bn

2019-2024 7.2 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

179k

2019-2024 0.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

63,392

2019-2024 3.2 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry analysis

Revenue in Europe’s Convention and Trade Show Organisations industry is anticipated to drop at a compound annual rate of 7.2% to €30.4 billion over the five years through 2024. The sink in revenue over the period is predominantly due to the significant damage the COVID-19 outbreak inflicted on the sector, as convention and trade show organisations were shut down temporarily or operated at limited capacity. The industry has weathered unfavourable economic headwinds since the COVID-19 outbreak, as inflationary pressures hit the Eurozone, limiting significant investment into new projects, compounded by lacklustre business sentiment. As a result, convention and trade show organisations' revenue is set to decline by 1.5% in 2024. The industry's key clientele is the commercial enterprises whose participation in events like trade shows and conventions mainly depends on their economic outlook. Private individuals are more likely to attend events during a positive consumer climate. This directly influences the appeal for companies to showcase themselves as exhibitors at trade shows. Inflationary pressures are set to ease over 2024, with promising signs in the latter end of 2023 strengthening business and consumer sentiment to the benefit of the industry.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe key trends

Technology took over when COVID-19 hit.

 

It remains a significant threat. Conference centres will have to prove their relevance to make people spend on hosting events that they could set up remotely for next to nothing

With the advent of COVID-19, technology became a significant competitor.

 

The industry will need to demonstrate its value to persuade individuals and businesses to invest in hosting events that could otherwise be arranged remotely at minimal cost.

Video conferencing tools’ popularity decrease the demand for in-person conferences.

 

By transitioning to virtual tradeshows and conventions, or focusing more on hybrid events, industry operators could still maintain their appeal and provide valuable services.

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Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €30.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The growing reliance on digital alternatives challenges convention and trade show organisations

  • Within the EU, Spain (336), France (298) and Italy (228) hosted the most exhibitions in 2022, according to Euro Fair Statistics.

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Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

The rising degree of digitalisation and virtual events will remain a threat to the industry

  • Teleconferencing and internet-based communication technologies have become essential for businesses, especially after the remote-working trend, accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Revenue

€30.4bn

2019-2024 7.2 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

179k

2019-2024 0.6 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€X.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 0.6 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Croatia +11.9%
  2. Turkey +7.9%
  3. Luxembourg +5.7%
  4. Portugal +5.7%
  5. Slovakia +5.1%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Denmark -14.1%
  2. Bulgaria -8.4%
  3. Bosnia & Herzegovina -7.6%
  4. Czechia -6.0%
  5. Lithuania -4.8%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Informa plc
4,327.3
1,270.8
29.4
RELX plc
10,401.7
3,766.2
36.2
GL Events
1,522.0
150.7
9.9

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Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe in 2024?

The market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe is €30.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 63,392 businesses in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 7.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe is expected to grow.

What does the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe include?

Trade shows and Professionally motivated events are part of the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry.

Which countries have the most businesses in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe?

The European country with the most businesses in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry is France.

How competitive is the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning industry in Europe.

Related Industries

This industry is covered in 37 countries

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Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry involves promoting, organising and implementing large-scale events, including trade fairs, congresses, conferences, meetings or motivational speaker events. Some of the industry players also provide staff for the event spaces.

Related Terms

CONGRESS CONFERENCE EXHIBITION

What's included in this industry?

Trade showsProfessionally motivated eventsConvention shows

Companies

Informa plcRELX plcGL Events

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

823 - Organization of conventions and trade shows in Europe

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Performance

Key Takeaways

The growing reliance on digital alternatives challenges convention and trade show organisations

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Revenue Highlights

Trends
  • Revenue
  • Current Year Revenue Growth
  • Revenue Volatility

Employment Highlights

Trends
  • Employees
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Employee

Business Highlights

Trends
  • Businesses
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Business

Profit Highlights

Trends
  • Total Profit
  • Profit Margin
  • Profit per Business

Current Performance

Charts
  • Revenue in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis

What's driving current industry performance in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?


Outlook

Analysis

What's driving the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry outlook?


Volatility

Analysis

What influences volatility in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

Life Cycle

Analysis

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Highlights

Trends
  • Largest Market
  • Product Innovation

Key Takeaways

The industry generates most of its revenue by hosting trade shows. Trade fair organisers are among the largest suppliers worldwide and also attract many international exhibitors and visitors with their events.

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Products and Services

Charts
  • Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis

How are the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry's products and services performing?

Analysis

What are innovations in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry's products and services?


Major Markets

Charts
  • Major Market Segmentation
Analysis

What influences demand in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?


International Trade

Highlights

  • Largest Importer
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Imports into Europe
  • Largest Exporter
  • Smallest Exporter
  • Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
  • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
  • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables

Value and annual change (%) included

  • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

Competitive Forces

Highlights

Trends
  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power

Key Takeaways

Fragmentation in the industry stems from low entry barriers. Simply put, it's easy and relatively inexpensive for new companies to step in and offer event planning services, leading to a wide array of planners competing for a market slice. This results in a landscape where no single player dominates and diversity thrives.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 10 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

Data Tables
  • Countries of operation for Informa plc
  • Countries of operation for RELX plc
  • Countries of operation for GL Events
  • Countries of operation for Messe Frankfurt GmbH
  • Countries of operation for Fiera Milano SpA
  • Countries of operation for EasyFairs NV
  • Countries of operation for IFEMA
  • Countries of operation for AIM Group International
  • Countries of operation for Svenska Mässan Stiftelse
  • Countries of operation for Clarion Events Ltd

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

There’s very little regulation affecting conference centres. The industry is not subject to industry-specific regulation. Otherwise, companies mostly have to worry about abiding by fire safety laws.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Profit can fluctuate wildly. It’s mostly driven by economic conditions, which drives the level of demand for both conventions and trade shows.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Convention & Trade Fair Planning in Europe industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.