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Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Danny Martin Danny Martin Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: June 2024 ANZSIC X0018

Revenue

$13.7bn

2024-25

$14.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

65,092

Businesses

2,191

Wages

$X.Xbn

Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia industry analysis

Industry revenue has crashed as client and consumer behaviours shift. Exhibition and conference centre operators rely on business tourists, with the falling number of business tourist visitor nights squeezing the industry's potential market and dampening revenue growth. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many events, conferences and exhibitions being cancelled, greatly reducing industry demand and revenue in the years to 2021-22. As a result, industry revenue is expected to drift downwards at 2.6% annualised over the five years through 2023-24 to $13.7 billion. This trend includes an expected uptick of 0.2% in the current year as the industry gradually returns to pre-COVID-19 operating conditions and benefits from pent-up demand for face-to-face events.Industry associations often hold large events like exhibitions, allowing members to network. Changes in business tourist visitor nights have affected industry revenue, with international corporations and delegates leaning towards Australian exhibition and conference centres before the pandemic. However, the closure of Australian borders to international travellers saw the number of international visitors to Australia for business purposes dramatically drop away. Many businesses have become more accustomed to hybrid conferences – which combine in-person and digital formats - or decided to forgo events to save money. Exhibition organisers generate healthy profit margins due to the speciality of their services. Supply chain issues have ramped up conference equipment and labour costs, eroding profit margins across the board.The industry is forecast to recover from the pandemic over the next few years. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualised 3.2% over the five years through 2028-29 to $16.0 billion. Forecast rises in the number of businesses and business tourist nights will support the industry's growth over the long term. The hosting of new hybrid-style events introduced following the onset of the pandemic will remain a feature in the post-pandemic world as the industry's operating environment evolves to include in-person and digital events.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry has faced issues concerning venue and labour costs. Profitability has tanked as conference centres fight to get back on their feet.
  • Venues and organisers rely on their fees charged to the client company to generate revenue. Fees are primarily sourced through venue hire services, with auxiliary services seen as added benefits.
  • Annual conferences continually attract domestic and international businesses for corporate festivals and retreats. States that secure conference attendance strengthen their economic activity across the board.
  • Extra services to venue hiring like merchandising are monopolised, keeping revenue high. This factor is largely due to the convenience of these services for attendees and the monopolisation in individual events.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $13.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic brought the industry to its knees

  • Before the pandemic, the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry saw steady revenue growth due to ongoing demand for corporate events.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Events attendance will blossom as consumers lean into in-person gatherings

  • The easing of pandemic restrictions and vaccination campaigns have allowed foot traffic to gain momentum, a trend that will endure over the next few years.

Biggest companies in the Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
ASM Global
493.6
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust
246.8
Intercontinental Hotels
137.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Food and beverages, Venue hire and Accommodation. Food and beverages is the largest segment of the Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Venue hire services have shown resilience and a swift recovery

  • Venue hire includes renting out venues and other facilities, particularly buildings and rooms, to event organisers.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in the industry include exhibition and conference centres that host a range of events, exhibitions and conferences and companies that organise these types of events. Event organisers and venue operators generate revenue through venue hire, registration fees, food and beverage sales and accommodation.

What's included in this industry?

Food and beveragesVenue hireAccommodationParking servicesMerchandise

Companies

ASM GlobalMelbourne Convention and Exhibition TrustIntercontinental Hotels

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CONFERENCEEXHIBITIONSPOSITIVE EXTERNALITIES

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 9003 - Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia

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

The industry has faced issues concerning venue and labour costs. Profitability has tanked as conference centres fight to get back on their feet.

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

Venues and organisers rely on their fees charged to the client company to generate revenue. Fees are primarily sourced through venue hire services, with auxiliary services se...

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

Annual conferences continually attract domestic and international businesses for corporate festivals and retreats. States that secure conference attendance strengthen their e...

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 Asia Pacific, 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

Extra services to venue hiring like merchandising are monopolised, keeping revenue high. This factor is largely due to the convenience of these services for attendees and the...

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

Due to the highly fragmented nature of the industry, no individual firm accounts for a considerably dominant portion of revenue. Hotel chains account for the most expanded en...

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 ASM Global's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Intercontinental Hotels's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ASM Global, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Intercontinental Hotels, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Rising business confidence has signified a return to norm for many exhibition and conference centres. Industry organisers rely on businesses resuming their traditional event ...

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

Wage costs have ramped up to become the most expensive cost segment for industry hosts. Labour shortages have exacerbated wage pressures among operators.

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

  • 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 Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia is $13.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 2,191 businesses in the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Exhibition and Conference Centres market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Exhibition and Conference Centres market in Australia are ASM Global, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust and Intercontinental Hotels

What does the Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia include?

Food and beverages and Venue hire are part of the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Exhibition and Conference Centres in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is ASM Global.

How competitive is the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Exhibition and Conference Centres industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld 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 IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld 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 IBISWorld 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 Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

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, IBISWorld’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 IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’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.

IBISWorld 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.