Figure focus

The survey, conducted across all conference desks and venues in the UK, reports an average 421 conferences per venue in 2004. Based on 3500 venues nationwide this equates to a total 1.47m UK conferences in 2004. Hotels averaged 525 conferences, with conference/training venues even higher at an average of 622 Venue income was £11.7 billions (est.) excluding additional delegate spend. The majority (83 percent) of this was generated by residential conferences. Average conference duration is 1.7 days, although most (62 percent) lasted a day or less Peak months were March, September, October and November Average daily delegate rate achieved by venues was £35.89 inc VAT. Average 24hr/residential rate was £158.15 inc. VAT About one-third of "conference venue":http://www.venues.org.uk/searches/conference_venues.asp events were residential – up on the previous year. A further 10 percent had delegates over-nighting offsite About one-third of conferences were booked by professional organisers or "venue-finders":http://www.venues.org.uk Non-profit organisations generated a third of conferences Average conference size was 54 delegates. This is a big increase on the last survey’s average of 37 delegates Source: The British Association of Conference Destinations