Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire Executive Summary 2008
Introduction
The British Conference Venues Survey (BCVS) is a national survey that is conducted annually. This report provides an analysis of venues in West Yorkshire. To improve accuracy, this analysis is based on a three year average covering the 200507 period the overall sample of unique respondents was 76 venues during this period.
West Yorkshire Conferences in 2005/7 The Key Facts
Number of conferences
There were an estimated 85,600 conferences in West Yorkshire – an average of 540 conferences per venue. This was above the national average (396 conferences per venue) and regional average (466 conferences).
Levels were higher in Leeds an average of 742 per venue but lower in Bradford (an average of 197 per venue).
Conferences generated an estimated expenditure of £291m for venues in West Yorkshire. Estimated expenditure in Leeds was £220m, and £13m in Bradford.
Levels of residential conferences
About 79% of conference business in West Yorkshire was undertaken on a day basis. About 14% conferences stayed at the venue itself and a small proportion (7%) stayed elsewhere in the area.
Leeds showed a similar picture but a higher proportion was liable to stay overnight at the venue. In Bradford there was a greater bias to non overnight conference business.
Length of Conferences
The average conference duration was 1.5 days, although most conferences (69%) lasted a day or less. This varied from 1.4 days for non- residential conferences to 2.0 days for residential conferences.
The most common type of conference was a non-residential day conference (66% of the areas reported conferences).
Duration of conferences in Leeds was broadly the same as West Yorkshire as a whole Bradfords conferences tended to be shorter.
Delegate Rates
The average daily delegate rate achieved by venues for conferences in West Yorkshire was £41 this was slightly higher than the national (£39) and regional (£37) average. Leeds was higher still at an average of £46 Bradford slightly below average levels at £34.
The West Yorkshire 24-hour rate was £132 on par with the national average (£130) but slightly below the Yorkshire average (£141). Achieved rates in Leeds (£146) were higher – above national and regional averages. Bradfords were lower (at £117).
Conference Type
Across West Yorkshire, Leeds and Bradford there is a similar pattern the corporate sector accounts for the largest share of conferences (43% in West Yorkshire as a whole).
The government and public sector was the next largest sector (39% of conferences in West Yorkshire). Associations accounted for 18% of conferences.
There are some differences in Bradford the government / public sector was more important and associations less important. In Leeds, associations were (in relative terms) more important the government / public sector less so.
Conference Size
The average reported conference size in West Yorkshire was 40 delegates. This was slightly lower than the national average (average conference size was 50 delegates).
Conferences in Leeds (43 delegates) and Bradford (41 delegates) were a similar size.
Business performance
56% of venues highlighted that business was up in 2007 over 2006.
Venues were generally optimistic for 2008 57% anticipated that business would be up, with 13% were anticipating a downturn.
