Research

Listed below is a selection of key research items of relevance to the Business Tourism Industry. Click the titles to link to the download provider.

Click here to see details of organisations and companies offering research services.

Actual Impact of the Credit Crunch on the Conference & Events Market

MIA have commissioned this series - "Actual Impact of the Credit Crunch on the Conference and Events Market" to assist their members and the wider industry in their business planning. The editions available run from Autumn 08 to Autumn 09.


Advito whitepaper - Global Meetings Management Consolidation

Whitepater by Advito entitled "The View from the Other Side of the Pond - Hidden Challenges and Intelligent Solutions to Global Meetings Management Consolidation".


British Hospitality Trends & Statistics 2009

Published by the British Hospitality Association in conjunction with American Express, the report contains statistics on international and domestic tourism, UK hotel occupancy and rates, catering and employment in the hospitality industry.


British Hotel Guest Survey

A syndicated report led by BDRC Hotel Industry Research Team, this is a detailed annual survey conducted amongst both business and leisure travellers which includes hotel market trends, guest profiles, booking and staying behaviour, brand awareness, usage and preference etc (comparable studies in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia)


British Meetings & Events Industry Survey 2009

The first British Meetings and Events Industry Survey is crammed full of facts and information to help you make the right decisions. The survey includes data from 600 corporate and association event organisers. Commissioned by CAT Publications, carried out by The Right Solution and sponsored by VisitBritain, Confex Group (CMP), Jersey Conference Bureau, The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and Visit London.


Business Tourism Market Profiles - European and Long Haul

VisitBritain produces statistics on travel and detailed market guides on all its European and Long Haul markets. Choose a country from the list below.


Business Visitor Research Summary Report (Business with Pleasure?)

The report was prepared in September 2006 by Tourism Enterprise and Management Ltd (TEAM) for the Cross River Partnership and Visit London. The report looks at the importance and leisure potential of independent business visitors to central London.


Conference Demand Survey: LCCI members and UK companies.

A summary report written by the MICE Research Unit (MRU) at Bournemouth University and based on primary research. Available for free download.


Contract Catering Survey

Published by the British Hospitality Association the report is a comprehensive source of comment and statistical information on contract catering in the UK. Available for free download.


EIBTM research: 'Social and Political Trends' affecting conferences and incentive travel.

The organisers of the EIBTM exhibition have published some new research on the 'Social and Political Trends' affecting conferences and incentive travel. The research was carried out by Rob Davidson, Senior Lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster, and is part of a series of 5-year trend reports sponsored by Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of EIBTM.


Exhibition Facts

Produced by the Exhibition Venues Association (EVA), this publication contains in depth research on the exhibition market. The publication can be purchased by contacting EVA.


International Markets Research

Part of the DTI, UK Trade & Investment have a dedicated section of their website containing research on international markets.


International Passenger Surveys

Led by VisitBritain, these surveys include inbound and domestic tourism statistics for the UK and the regions and include occupancy figures, visitor travel patterns and visitor spend figures.
UK Occupancy Surveys are also available.


Labour Market Review of the Events Industry

Report published by People 1st, the sector skills council in January 2010. Contents include overview and structure of the industry, business events workforce and workforce development, current trends and issues, future trends.

To view the report please click here


Meetings Market Survey

A syndicated study led by the BDRC Hotel Industry Research Team, the research comprises detailed interviews with conference organisers and agents, covering important issues of venue selection, booker requirements, brand performance and key marketing issues.


New Media Trend Watch

This is a service for tourism marketing professionals from the European Travel Commission. New Media Trend Watch brings together, on one website, high-quality intelligence from over 70 sources on trends in internet usage by tourists all over the world. As well as the latest tourism and travel news stories on online marketing and ecommerce, it offers research reports and white papers, a free newsletter and a unique graph service for comparing country data.


Pathfinder Report - Period 1

Combining results from corporate, association and government buyers with venues, agents and suppliers the Meeting Industry Association's Pathfinder Report offers invaluable management information to help you drive your business forward.


Trends Influencing the UK Conference and Meetings Market

Summary report written by the MICE Research Unit (MRU) at Bournemouth University and based on primary research.
Available free of charge.
Also see a list of other relevant publications produced by MRU staff.


UK Events Market Trends Survey 2009

The Survey aims to measure the key characteristics of the UK conference and meetings market as experienced by venues. The research looks at methods of booking and the size, type, duration, timing and economic value of conferences and meetings. The purpose is to gain a clearer picture of the economic benefit of the conference sector to Britain as a whole and various regional areas of the UK in particular.

Previously entitled the 'British Conference Venues Survey, it measures the size and characteristics of the UK conference market. It has been undertaken each year since 1994.


Volcanic Ash - The Impact on the Meetings Industry

In the wake of the six day ban on air travel over the UK and much of Europe, the MIA has conducted a survey of its members on their response to the European airspace disruptions caused by the volcanic ash cloud and whether their businesses were affected in a positive or negative way.

The survey was completed by 126 individuals representing a mix of various different venue types from hotels to conference centres, sporting venues to academic venues and private members clubs from locations all over the UK. 68.5% of respondents had achieved the AIM accreditation, against 31.5% that had not.

This is available to MIA Members and non members free of charge.


Wales Tourism Statistics

Visit Wales produce a range of data on both leisure and business tourism in Wales.
(For research and statistics select ‘Research and Statistics’ link from the navigation bar at the top of their home page.)


Research Archive


Business Tourism Leads The Way

An overview of Britain's business tourism, highlighting key issues and priority requirements to support and enhance the sector's competitiveness and profitability.

pdf Download as PDF


Delegate Expenditure Survey - Estimating the Direct Expenditure Benefits of Conferences to a Local Area.

Conferences, meetings and incentive programmes are a key segment of the tourism market in many locations across Britain and Ireland and can make an important contribution to destinations' economic wellbeing and development. Research was undertaken in 1997 and updated in 2001 to estimate the value of conference and meetings delegates. In 2005, VisitBritain, VisitScotland, VisitWales and Failte Ireland commissioned a new research programme to provide up to date estimates.

963 interviews were conducted with delegates at 29 conferences. These were complemented by 50 interviews with Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs). The majority of the research was conducted by BDRC.