TBOE - 2023 International Planner Sentiment Report

Sustainability is becoming a greater priority for planners. The Business of Events has released its 2023 International Planner Sentiment Report. The report illustrates the current thinking of event buyers from a range of disciplines across the UK, Europe and North America in terms of their priorities when selecting a destination or venue.

An audience comprising corporate, association and agency planners were surveyed over a two-week period during the May 2023. The questions were focused on those areas which planners considered to be important when selecting a destination or major venue in the current environment.

Tracking the data from 2022, the report indicates a relatively stable level of sentiment from planners. However, the importance of skills, equity and sustainability have all tracked higher in this year’s report, reflecting the increasing importance of those areas within the events sector and the focus that has been on them during the past 12 months.

Key highlights of the 2023 data include:

• Sustainability is tracking on average 1.5 points higher across all regions, although remains lower within the North American market
• Both Skills & Talent and Equity & Diversity are tracking 1 point higher across all markets
• Cost and value for money remain high across all buyer markets
• Destination brand and market support remain high in importance, but stable compared to 2022
• Venue quality and quality of welcome are both seen as highly important, and as with 2022 are of significant importance to the North American market
• Accessibility and ease of travel continue to be tracking at the top in terms of sentiment
• North American planners again regard safety & security the highest importance of all three regions compared to 2022, ranking it 10, although the UK is tracking higher, perhaps due to the debate surrounding the forthcoming Protect Duty legislation in the UK.

Martin Fullard, Director, News & Content, The Business of Events, said: “As you would expect to see, cost and value for money remain a key factor in decision making when it comes to selecting a destination or venue, although more so among UK planners than in Europe and North America.

“Predictably, accessibility and ease of travel also tracks highly, so destinations with better air and rail links will find themselves at an advantage.

“Sustainability is tracking 1.5 points higher in all regions than in 2022, although North America is lagging behind the UK and Europe. Although, safety and security is ranked far higher among US planners.”

Download the 2023 International Planner Sentiment Report here.

About The Business of Events
The Business of Events (TBOE) is an independent Think Tank for the events sector; an industry that has enormous economic potential. Our primary role is to raise the importance and profile of business events as an economic, policy, and community driver and to maximise the opportunities achieved by having a strong business events sector.

Established in 2018 by brand communications agency davies tanner, our shared vision is supported by several strategic partners, including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, VisitBritain and UKEVENTS (formerly the Business Visits & Events Partnership), along with many of the world’s leading business events destinations, venues and trade associations.

To register your interest in policy, report ideas, or editorial opportunities please contact Martin Fullard, Director, News & Content, on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

To enquire about partnership opportunities or to request a copy of the 2023 Prospectus, contact Jen O'Higgins, Client development Director, on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.