The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has announced the release of its first Annual State of the Business Events Industry (2023) Report, fulfilling a key commitment to its members and the broader business events community.

This comprehensive 41-page report authored by Dr Leo Jago, Director of Tourism and Business Events International provides essential insights into the business events industry’s performance in 2023, reflecting on the global and domestic landscape, as well as key trends impacting the sector. The report covers the total size and economic contribution of business events, contribution of business events to the visitor economy, and data covering convention centres, pipeline, the bid fund program, airline capacity, ICCA global rankings, incentive travel index, challenges and more.

Future annual reports will be released mid-year to provide timely reflection on the previous calendar year, with 2024 updates to be included in the next edition.

Melissa Brown, CEO of ABEA said one of ABEA’s core objectives is to provide its members, government, and stakeholders with data and analysis on the health of the business events industry.

“This is a crucial resource for our members and the broader business events community. It provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry, both globally and domestically. This report not only highlights the resilience and recovery of the business events sector but also underscores ABEA’s commitment to delivering actionable data and meaningful analysis that will help our members thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.”

Dr Leo Jago, OAM, Director of Tourism and Business Events International and author of the report said this first report offers a foundational structure, with future editions incorporating more primary research and deeper analysis.

“Due to the timing of the report, this edition relies primarily on secondary sources of information, however, ABEA intends to undertake industry-wide surveys in the coming year to directly assess market sentiment and explore key industry issues. The results of these studies, in collaboration with Tourism Research Australia (TRA) and other partners, will feature prominently in future reports.”

Insights from the report:

Australian Overview

Australia’s business events industry demonstrated strong recovery from pandemic shutdowns, overcoming challenges like airline access issues and labour shortages. Face-to-face events dominated, with the rapid adoption of event technologies, including apps, continuing to enhance the attendee experience. All signs point to a positive outlook for Australia’s business events industry, with strong demand and increased capacity expected to drive future growth.

Key trends in Business Events

The report lists key trends from the rise of the millennials and their impact, issues around health and safety, sustainability, event programs, data and technology, destinations and costs.

ABEA is committed to providing its members with in-depth research, market analysis, and insights into the evolving business events landscape.

All ABEA members have received the Report as a member benefit.

To receive a copy of the State of the Business Events Industry (2023) Report, please contact memberservices@abea.org.au