Vital research into the UK’s conference, meeting and business events sector has been launched.
The 2016 ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ (UKCAMS), now in its 23rd consecutive year, has a specific focus on the value and volume of the market and the performance of meeting venues. It also highlights key market trends identified by venues.
The results provide a definitive insight into the business events sector and are widely used to inform investment, advocacy and marketing activities.
The survey asks UK venues to provide data on their conference and meeting business during the calendar year 2015. It includes questions on the number of events hosted, rates achieved, event duration and size, client type, investment plans, together with projections for business in 2016.
New for the 2016 survey are questions on:
- Factors likely to influence venue selection, such as facilities for hybrid events and the provision of flexible event spaces
- Sources of lead generation and new business for venues, including the social media, third party websites and referrals from other venues
All UK conference and meeting venues are being encouraged to participate in the UKCAMS research. Those venues completing the questionnaire will receive a complimentary, personalised report enabling them to benchmark their performance against other comparable venues.
The online questionnaire can be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UKCAMS2016
The research is being carried out by Tony Rogers of Tony Rogers Conference & Event Services and Richard Smith of RJS Associates. Tony has been involved with the research since its inception in 1993 and Richard since 2004.
Simon Gidman, Head of Business Visits and Events for VisitEngland and principal sponsor of UKCAMS 2016, comments: ‘VisitEngland recognises the necessity of providing the latest market intelligence to the industry as well as to government and other key stakeholders. The UKCAMS research is both well established and highly regarded as a source of reliable and robust information. It has a proven track record in making the case for the significance and value of this crucial sector to the economy, and in highlighting the latest and emerging trends. Support from venues across the UK is vital for this important research and I urge all of them to take part in this year’s study.’
Other sponsors of the research are: venuedirectory.com, Visit Guildford for Business, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, and Hiscox Event Insurance.
Further details of the research are available on the dedicated website: http://www.ukcams.org.uk