UK Convention Centre Price Survey 2023 - the results

Faced with high inflation, supplier costs and salary rises, you’d expect venues to be charging more. Many are. But they’re also grappling to give clients more for their money while working with them on very tight schedules, so some hikes are surprisingly modest. A couple have even reduced their rates.

In general, the mood is very upbeat as ‘normal’ levels of business returned after Covid and price structures settled down. Three more centres than last time are now in a position to take part in the survey.

It’s interesting, though, that both the Brighton Centre and NEC Birmingham admit their quotes don’t include the AV requirements in our two briefs as they’d be sourced independently by the client. Nevertheless, our tables still give an indication of price differences geographically. Accessibility, appeal and added value can all impact the rates centres charge. Time of year is another factor. Our briefs stipulate October, a month when rack rates are usually high. Many centres can be more flexible low-season, depending on the demand for dates, availability and lead time.

The Brief

Duration one day (eight hours)

Date October 2024

Meeting room requirement 500 people theatre-style/1,000 people theatre-style

Exhibition requirement 500 sqm net/1,000 sqm net

Equipment PowerPoint presentation facility (including laptop, data projector, lectern and screen).

Food and beverage morning and afternoon tea and coffee breaks, two-course buffet lunch with mineral water and soft drinks.

Conference Centre (500 people)

All prices ex VAT

Conference Centre (1,000 people)

All prices ex VAT

Looking at the centres at the top of the tables, ICC Birmingham reports buoyant levels of business and next year shaping up to be very busy. National associations and corporates are its mainstay business, but large companies don’t want to be seen hosting events at the present time so no super large corporate meetings. ACC Liverpool’s somewhat bigger increases are down to rises in room hire and food prices.

“Association business remains our largest market but international business has seen the largest growth and continues to be a targeted area of importance,” says Adrian Evans, director of conference and exhibition sales. “Corporate business still seems to be booked on a shorter lead time irrelevant of its size.”

In London, the Barbican is on track to have its most successful year yet. “As an arts and cultural destination, we have an open and accessible venue and a wealth of heritage in an iconic building,” says Sue Etherington, association business development manager. “Our unique offer blends the artistic with the commercial to create bespoke packages for business clients.”

The Barbican is a new entry this year so we can’t compare its year-on-year rates, but just a few stops along the Elizabeth Line, ExCeL London has posted lower prices than last year. “We have reviewed our rental rates to be more in line with our competitors and also offer part-lets of some spaces if the client doesn’t need all of the rooms,” explains head of sales Andrew Swanston. The centre, which embraces all markets, has enjoyed a strong year and noted the return of corporate face-to-face events. “Long-term, we are forecasting a minimum ten per cent annual growth and, with the addition of our brand new convention space next year, forward orders are strong. London is still a very desirable destination for international events.”

Short-lead business

Another one sitting in the top half of our price tables is the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales. “With prices lower last year as we recovered from the pandemic, a small increase has now brought rates back to a more even keel,” says Rachel Phillips, Celtic Collection sales director. Business is mainly generated through the UK corporate market but increasingly enquiries are coming from Europe and North America, she says. “Short lead, small-medium-size business is converting in a two to four week period for numbers of around 50 to 100 people but the volume of short-lead business has increased a lot across all sectors.”

Its partner venue, ICC Wales, is now into its second full year of trading. “We have moved to a pricing schedule that reflects our award-winning venue,” states sales director Danielle Bounds. As a new venue it has been hosting a lot of national associations but is now getting more enquiries from international associations. “Clients who contracted to low minimum numbers are being pleasantly surprised and having record attendances because of our excellent location and connectivity,” she says.

As ever, Venue Cymru, the third Welsh venue surveyed, quotes the lowest rates despite big increases due to food costs and staffing. But, as events head Adrian La Trobe points out, “When you are already very competitive there is much less scope for absorbing some of the impact of inflation.” Business, mainly from UK associations, is back to pre-pandemic levels with plenty of valuable enquiries for the next three years. “North Wales is central to the UK and Ireland with good road and rail links,” he adds. “We offer affordable facilities and copious accommodation in a destination where delegates always leave wanting to return.”

P&J Live in Aberdeen, in northern Scotland, has dropped its prices. “A new menu offer makes it more cost effective,” says Kim Stephen, head of sales – conferences, meetings & banqueting. “The exhibition is also best fit size or space but there is the option to scale this up.”

Last year, its first full year of trading, was exceptional and this year has seen a return to normal association booking patterns. “We’re seeing strong growth opportunity for international association business after becoming more established in national,” she says. “For corporate, our Scottish market is strong and we aim to become more established in the rest of the UK market.”

Extremely positive

In the Scottish capital, business at Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) picked up from March this year and the outlook for next year is extremely positive. “The reticence for events in winter that had been the norm since the pandemic has ended,” says Carron Webster, assistant director of sales. “In general, we quote lower rates from December to the end of February. Peak months are March, May, June, September, October and November.

“Our business mix is 50-50 corporate and association,” she continues. “The association market is stabilising in terms of destination rotation with a trend for sharp delegate number increases immediately prior to the conference. From an economic impact to the city perspective, the international association market is key.”

In Northern Ireland, ICC Belfast has played a leading role in making the city a thriving hub for business events since unveiling its extended facilities in 2016. It has welcomed back a number of long-standing association clients. “The swift action taken at the outset of the pandemic to work in partnership with clients and safeguard economic impact continues to pay dividends,” says Marie-Claire McGreevy, head of sales and marketing. She has observed a renewed focus by events on legacy, diversity, equality and inclusion. The centre’s dynamic new website features a custom-built ‘plan your event’ tool designed with time-poor organisers in mind to help the team create bespoke bids. It is also willing to build packages reflecting the levels of market demand in quieter times.

Rising energy costs

Back in England, Manchester Central continues to be affected by general economic instability. To mitigate this, it regularly engages with both existing and potential clients to identify future needs and works with strategically important customers to create long-term partnerships and secure multi-year contracts. It’s also investing heavily in its facilities.

Brighton Centre on the south coast has bookings up to 2035. Its business is determined by the overall business strategy of Brighton & Hove City Council whose main target is international association events which bring the biggest boost to the local economy. National association events come second. As standard, the centre offers only full and exclusive venue hire with minimum numbers of 400. The rates shown in the survey include a £41 catering DDR but no AV. Also, given the huge rising costs in energy, its rates are now subject to a £200 surcharge per open day. Business at the Riviera ICC, Torquay, is back on track following an ownership change and being a Covid vaccination centre. Association meetings are still of prime importance, and despite many last-minute bookings, there are signs of multiple bookings which take the lead-in period further on.

On the north-west coast, Blackpool Conference & Exhibition Centre posts four per cent rises but remains flexible in terms of rates. As a seaside hot spot, Blackpool’s accommodation rates are driven by the time of year which can impact certain conferences, according to Julie Vincent, head of Meet Blackpool. Enquiry levels are increasing and she believes events in general are looking for something different.

In the north-east, the former Sage Gateshead was renamed the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in September but still hosts national association and corporate events which fit with its diary planning. It’s the third highest priced venue for our 500 delegate congress brief. “As a truly unique venue, we create inspirational and memorable events and have so much to offer outside the event - coast, countryside and the biggest out-of-town shopping centre,” says Nicola Railton, events and hires sales manager. Its new neighbour on Tyneside, Sage NewcastleGateshead international arena, exhibition and conference centre, is due to open in 2025.

The PCO

Rebecca Jones, K C Jones Conferences & Events

The variation in price for convention centres is not at all surprising, often the accessibility of the city and available bedrooms is a key factor in our client’s choice but that is reflected in the higher price paid.

Often a less known convention centre/city with many nearby hotels is so much more competitive. In truth most delegates don’t really extend their stay any more or have much down time to explore. As many budgets are reducing for conference attendance, price is now even more imperative to ensure a balanced budget for our clients.

The inconsistency in what is and what isn’t included is also a concern. This differs significantly between venues - staffing, security, AV, even down to digital signage. Often these add-ons can add thousands to the original quotation. A more clear, concise, inclusive quotation would be gratefully received.

The in-house organiser

Sanj Kumar, CEO ELRIG (European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group)

ELRIG organises conferences, forums and networking events for the life science and drug discovery communities. Our biggest conference, Drug Discovery, is an annual meeting of 1,500 or so invited scientists and an expanding trade show.

We’ve used some of the other centres in the past but these days it alternates between ACC Liverpool in the north and ExCeL London in the south, both easy to get to, and lasts two days as the scientists don’t want to spend too much time out of the workplace.

I’m negotiating with ExCeL for 2026 now so am interested to see it has reduced its quotes in the survey. Something we don’t like is tied services, such as having to use the centre’s in-house catering which is often very expensive, and I wish that we didn’t have to pay extra for carpeting in the centre.

This is the cover story from the Autumn/Winter 2023 edition of M&IT, click here to read the full issue.