As during the first quarters of 2024, key economic indicators for the event sector during Q3 are hopeful. Most event professionals report an increase in revenue, profit as well as in cooperation with permanent staff and freelancers compared to the previous quarter. Strikingly, however, confidence in a positive future for the event sector is systematically lower than confidence in their own professional activities and that of their organisations in every quarterly survey this year. The demand for more unification, less fragmentation and one umbrella organisation for all event professionals in our country is getting louder and louder. The results of the quarterly survey of 118 event professionals conducted by Event Confederation in October, together with research partner iVOX, also teach that.
Make the event sector an attractive(er) workplace
This year’s fourth quarterly survey exposes the pain points that need to be worked on. Above all, for instance, working in the event sector needs to be made more attractive. 48% of professionals indicate that finding suitable staff is one of the biggest concerns, 39% cite higher labour costs and 36% the increased regulatory and administrative burden.
Reduce government interference and market distortion
Increasing government interference is also a concern. For instance, local governments still too often act as organisers of public events. Offering their own equipment for free at events does not encourage healthy operation of the sector at all either. Almost one-fifth of professionals indicate market-distorting competition by subsidised organisations as one of the biggest concerns for their organisation in the coming year. Event professionals are asking Event Confederation to step up its efforts to combat unfair competition, curb under-pricing and not encourage working with non-professionals at many an event. After all, this has a pernicious impact on the future of the still fragile event sector.
Hope for a strong and more professional event sector
Despite concerns about the future of the sector, four-fifths of professionals see Belgium as an interesting country to do business and invest in as an event professional in the coming years. The demand for events is also on the rise. 45% of professionals even indicate that the number of visitors at the events they work for has increased compared to last year. Ambitions are also high when it comes to internationalisation. 53% even think this is an ambition for the organisation they work for. The ambitions for, possibilities of and hopes for a strong and more professional event sector are already there, but what has often been lacking in the past was a clear sense of belonging.
Stronger together
To be (re)recognised and more heard as an event sector, forces need to be joined. The sector survey confirms the demand of many event professionals for stronger unification, both across language borders and across different types of organisations. The demand for more unification and less fragmentation is also clearly directed towards the various federations in our country, to the extent that they already cover the full range. The call to all professionals to join one umbrella organisation that unites, represents, defends and informs the broad event sector in our country is not one that only resonates in times of crisis but is essential to perpetuate the future of the event sector and to make working in the sector more attractive. To this end, event professionals are looking first at the ambitions of Event Confederation.
