Tough 18 months ahead
Duncan Reid, director of Confex Group which runs the major UK MICE exhibition, has called on the industry to unite in the face of the recession.
He called fro an end to the industry's fragmentation and fro it to work together.
"Although I think there will be green shoots of recovery later this year, the next 18 months will continue to be hard for everyone.
"If we are going to capitalise on the opportunities ahead, the party and hospitality sector need to work more closely with the conference and exhibition markets," he said.
He said the first area in which to unite was at shows.
At the beginning of this decade a number of sector specific shows spun out of Confex but the niche approach is now too limited a focus.
"We've worked hard over the last few years to work with everyone in the events industry and put on shows that deliver for all sectors not just one to better reflect and champion the industry," Mr Reid said.
"I believe one of the key reasons our own Corporate Events & Parties sector was a success at Confex was because it capitalised on the buyers looking at multiple events.
"We see this area of the show growing next year at both Event UK and Confex with the run up to the Olympics and our tie in with the official Events 2012 & beyond Conference."
Mr Reid said that Confex had joined forces with special events trade association ISES to offer a year's membership for free to the next 10 exhibitors booking stands at Confex or Event UK.
www.event-uk.com www.international-confex.com