Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.2bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
COVID-19 disruptions slashed conference centres' revenue
- The COVID-19 outbreak slashed conference centre operators’ revenue by an estimated 84.7% in 2020-21. Conference centres were forced to close their doors during lockdown periods, eliminating their main revenue stream.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Teleconferencing eats away at demand
- Teleconferencing and internet-based communication technologies let businesses hold large-scale meetings and conferences remotely, threatening the market scope of conference centres.
Biggest companies in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
London International Exhibition Centre plc | 121.3 | |
The National Exhibition Centre Ltd | 79.6 | |
Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd | 26.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Venue hire, Ancillary services and Other. Venue hire is the largest segment of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Venue hire remains the industry's primary source of revenue
- Clients pay a pre-negotiated fee for hiring conference venues and other facilities.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry rent out and operate purpose-built conference and exhibition centres, either independently or on behalf of a private- or public-sector entity. This industry excludes the organisation, promotion and management of events, conferences and meetings that take place in let or operated venues. It also excludes the ownership and operation of conference rooms in hotels. Companies generate revenue through venue hire, service provisions and registration fees.
What's included in this industry?
Venue hireAncillary servicesSecurity and ticketing servicesCompanies
London International Exhibition Centre plcThe National Exhibition Centre LtdManchester Central Convention Complex LtdPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
DELEGATECONFERENCECAPACITY UTILISATIONIndustry Code
SIC 68.20/2 - Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Conference centres must keep pace with technological developments. Conference centres will have to prove their relevance to make people spend on hosting events that they coul...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Inflationary pressures and a weak economy pushed trade associations away from more costly in-person events. However, recovering economic conditions in 2024-25 will encourage ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
London offers the most demand. It’s the UK’s economic and business hub, attracting lots of international companies, as well as high foreign investment – that’s why it has mor...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Location is incredibly important. Conference centres need to be easy to access, sometimes from across the UK and other countries, to be convenient for clients, so they benefi...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
LIEC is expanding venue space by 25%. When the expansion opens in October 2024, ExCel London will become the largest fully integrated conference centre in Europe.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of London International Exhibition Centre plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of The National Exhibition Centre Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for London International Exhibition Centre plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The National Exhibition Centre Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
There’s very little regulation affecting conference centres. The only industry-specific regulation relates to licensing for centres in Northern Ireland. Otherwise, companies ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Purchases are a big expense. However, some conference centres outsource buying to third parties, meaning costs vary between companies. They also vary based on what services e...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.2bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 462 businesses in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating market in United Kingdom are London International Exhibition Centre plc, The National Exhibition Centre Ltd and Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd
What does the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Venue hire and Ancillary services are part of the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is London International Exhibition Centre plc.
How competitive is the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Conference Centres Letting & Operating in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Hotels in the UK
- Sports Facilities in the UK
Complementors
- Estate Agents in the UK
- Corporate Housing in the UK
International industries
- Trade Show and Conference Planning in the US
- Online Event Ticket Sales in the US
- Trade Show & Event Planning in Canada
- Event Promotion and Management Services in Australia
- Convention & Exhibition Services in China
View all industries in United Kingdom
Methodology
How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?
Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?
Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
