London, UK – Driven primarily by the Gulf region and the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China, the global exhibition market grew by 4% to $28 billion in 2013, according to the 6th annual Globex report from AMR International, a strategic management consultancy headed by Denzil Rankine, executive chairman. AMR said it expects continued growth of 5% until 2018.
Mature markets held steady in 2013, but China grew exponentially to become the third largest exhibition market in the world, surpassing traditional contenders, the United Kingdom (UK) and France.
The U.S. and Germany still hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots respectively. But the UK faces big hurdles in the next few years if it hopes to regain its No. 3 position. AMR is forecasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 3% for the U.K. through 2018.
Over all, AMR foresees a bright future for exhibitions, citing potential profitability, good cash flow and a high degree of revenue integrity driven by high exhibitor renewal rates. In addition, AMR sees continued potential for consolidation. The report said that, since the recession, growth in exhibitor spending is returning to nearly every geographic market, driving acquisition activity. AMR cited Nielsen Expositions’ acquisition by Onex Corporation and its subsequent acquisition of GLM in 2013 as examples of the sector’s attraction for investors.
“The outlook feels more positive than it has for many years,” the report concluded. AMR has conducted more than 300 exhibition assignments in 30 countries and works with organizers to drive growth in mature and emerging markets.
Click Here for the full report.
Reach Denzil at (44) 20-7534-3860 or denzil.rankine@amrinternational.com
