Delegate Expenditure Survey - Estimating the Direct Expenditure Benefits of Conferences to a Local Area

Conferences, meetings and incentive programmes are a key segment of the tourism market in many locations across Britain and Ireland and can make an important contribution to destinations' economic wellbeing and development. Research was undertaken in 1997 and updated in 2001 to estimate the value of conference and meetings delegates. In 2005, VisitBritain, VisitScotland, VisitWales and Failte Ireland commissioned a new research programme to provide up to date estimates.

963 interviews were conducted with delegates at 29 conferences. These were complemented by 50 interviews with Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs). The majority of the research was conducted by BDRC.