The variety of occasions held in Germany dropped 6.2% in 2024 to roughly 2 million, in line with the newest annual market report from the German Conference Bureau. That determine is down greater than 30% in comparison with 2019 ranges, whilst whole attendance rebounded 21.5% year-over-year to 377.6 million.
On the flip facet, primarily based on surveys of planners and venue suppliers, the report confirmed that common occasion period elevated from 1.4 days in 2019 to 1.7 days in 2024, the very best since a minimum of 2013.
Small occasions proceed to make up the overwhelming majority of whole occasions, however the common attendance of occasions shifted considerably from 145 in 2023 (146 in 2019) to 187 final yr, representing a 30% improve.
Impression on Sustainability
Bigger, consolidated occasions may shrink the trade’s carbon footprint. About 70% of planners imagine excessive emissions may harm occasion success. Solely 55% of suppliers agree.
The extent to which sustainability is a part of the decision-making technique of planners is topic to debate. However the report discovered that 79% of planners choose suppliers with sustainability requirements. Whereas 60% of venues maintain sustainability certifications, rising to 85% for lodges. Nonetheless, a key problem is the numerous variance of requirements. The commonest in Germany is fairpflichtet, however it’s solely utilized by 14% of venues.
Germany Development Outlook: Planners vs. Suppliers
Venue income grew by 4.7% in 2024, outpacing Germany’s 2.2% inflation price. Occasion facilities noticed 10.4% progress, whereas lodges managed simply 2%. Wanting forward, suppliers anticipate 6.6% progress in 2025.
Occasion budgets elevated 15.6% in 2024, and planners anticipated an 11.4% rise on this yr. Nonetheless, planners solely projected a 15.3% finances progress from 2024 to 2026, suggesting much less certainty.
Development projections on the variety of occasions and attendees range considerably. Planners forecasted 27% extra occasions and 25% extra attendees in Germany, whereas suppliers projected will increase of 9% and eight% respectively.
One clear optimistic pattern is the share of worldwide attendance reached 9.5% in 2024, nearing the pre-pandemic peak of 10.2%. In accordance with the survey, performed January-March 2024, 80% of planners anticipated elevated European attendance, and 65% anticipated extra attendees from exterior Europe. Suppliers are much less optimistic: 53% anticipated extra European attendance, and 24% projected extra abroad attendees.
One space that may be seen as each a problem and a possibility is venue capability, which stays underutilized. In 2024, venues have been empty for 160 days, whereas occasions came about on 142 days, and 36 days have been used for occasion setup.
The survey discovered planners extra optimistic about synthetic intelligence (AI) adoption than suppliers. Greater than three-quarters (78%) of planners reported utilizing AI, in comparison with 46% of suppliers who used the know-how. This hole prolonged to AI insurance policies, with 59% of planners having tips in place, versus 16% of suppliers.
Views on AI’s potential to deal with staffing challenges additionally differed: 68% of planners noticed AI as a staffing resolution, whereas solely 41% of suppliers agreed.
