There’s no shortage of optimism in the events world right now - but the numbers tell a more complicated story.

The latest MIA Insight report lands with some stark numbers: almost half of organisations (46 per cent) are behind on their 2025 revenue forecasts, and only two thirds (66 per cent) are confident they’ll hit their targets next year.

That’s not a sector in crisis, but it is one under pressure.

Nearly nine in ten businesses (89 per cent) have seen costs rise this year - by an average of 12 per cent - but prices have only gone up 7 per cent. That five-point gap might sound small, but it’s the difference between a healthy margin and a fragile one. It’s also the kind of gap that, over time, erodes confidence, delays investment and tests resilience.

The ripple effects are already clear. A third (32 per cent) of organisations have paused spending, while a quarter (26 per cent) have reduced headcount. Combine that with shorter lead times (now averaging just 12 weeks) and shrinking client budgets, and it’s no wonder many businesses are feeling the squeeze from both ends.

Is this the real picture for 2025, then? Demand is back, but profitability isn’t? The market has recovered in volume, but not yet in value?

MIA chief executive Shonali Devereaux calls this “a critical juncture” for the industry. The challenge now is less about survival and more about sustainability: how to protect margins without pricing out clients, and how to invest in people when every spreadsheet says “not yet.”

As we head toward the autumn budget, the numbers in this report give event professionals plenty to think about. For everyone in the sector, they’re a reminder that agility, transparency and smart pricing are going to matter more than ever.