The Business of Events’ Q4 2024 Events Economy Tracker, based on data from 350 UK venues, indicates that revenues per delegate slowed to £140.72 in Q4 from higher figures in Q3, yet remain well above the £114.30 recorded in Q1 2024. The average number of confirmed events per venue also decreased after reaching an all-time high of 35 in September. Factors such as the Autumn budget and a cautious geopolitical landscape appear to have contributed to the slowdown, although November’s confirmed events matched those of the same period in 2023. Forward bookings for December were nearly absent, in contrast to the record levels seen in September, reflecting early planning for 2025.

Q4 Report Analysis and Market Conditions

Peter Heath, Managing Director of Venue Performance, remarked that the Q4 data should be viewed within the context of a robust overall year. “The data for Q4 2024 should be seen in the context of the year as a whole. Forward bookings shot up before the General Election as planners rallied to lock in costs and get ahead of any economic uncertainty. September was the busiest period many events professionals have ever known so a pause for breath in Q4 was not unexpected,” he said.