Visitor Research

To better understand the events marketplace research was carried out among buyers in Scotland's medium and large corporates and the public sector. The main objectives were:

• To understand the range of job functions involved in events-related decision making;
• Assess the type of events held in Scotland, their frequency and the types of suppliers used;
• Gauge the split between in-house organisation and the use of external suppliers;
• Examine the supplier review process undertaken by organisers;
• Analyse media consumption;
• Measure attendance at existing exhibitions;
• Build an exciting, must attend seminar programme;
• Gauge the likelihood that potential visitors will attend the exhibition, and understand reasons for non attendance.

Key Findings*:

• 72% of corporates and public sector organisations organised events;
• 88% of events are managed in-house with services bought directly by the organising company;
  • 60% sourced hotels and venues;
  • 16% sourced event management companies;
  • 71% sourced audio visual suppliers;
  • 78% sourced catering;
  • 31% sourced incentives;
• 46% of respondents review their supplier base after each event;
• Only 14% of respondents read magazines related to the events industry and only 16% read the country's national newspapers;
• Only 1% attend Confex, and 2% The National Venue Show;
• 73% of respondents indicated they would attend a Scottish-based exhibition;
• 66% of respondents would use the exhibition for sourcing suppliers.

Download the full research here.

*Source: Visitor Research March 2007