The Business Travel Show says its visitor numbers for the February event were on par with those seen in 2018 despite the event falling during the UK school half term.
Show organiser Centaur Media says visitor numbers for 2019 were 1 per cent off those seen last year, with total attendee figures including staff and visitors across the Business Travel Show and Travel Technology Europe reaching 8,804.
In addition, the event has reported 425 hosted buyers from across Europe attended the show. The average number of arranged meetings per buyer rose from 8.39 to 8.55.
There were 232 exhibitors at this year’s event, occupying 10,600sqm compared to 2018’s 9860sqm. Twenty new companies exhibited at the show, including Eurostar, Mytaxi and ACE Travel Management.
Group portfolio director David Chapple said: “We knew from the get-go it was a big ask to replicate the record rise in visitor numbers achieved in 2018, especially as we were unlucky enough to fall over half term. So, we are delighted with the final numbers and humbled by the feedback from our visitors and exhibitors, which has been really positive.
“Our hosted buyers – many of whom are regulars on the programme – felt that the meetings system had helped them to meet the right suppliers and that those suppliers were fully prepared for their appointments. They also rated the conference content and pre-show dinner at Chelsea’s Bluebird Cafe particularly high.”
Business Travel Show will return to London’s Olympia in 2020, moving to a later date of 26-27 February.
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