Developing an ambitious strategy and next generation Conference Ambassador Programme, ‘Pathfinders’ will work to advance social and economic progress and enable business events to grow by 5% year on year to be worth £100million DEB (Direct Expenditure Benefit) / £39million GVA (Gross Value Added) / 1032 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) by 2025.
The value of our business events sector keeps on growing and is worth over £72million DEB / £28million GVA / 745 FTE recorded for Dundee and Angus in 2019.
Over 269,000 delegates, both from the UK and abroad, travelled to the area to attend a conference or event in 2019 with an increase of 33% in the number of international delegates against the previous year.
These figures underline the economic benefits of business events to Dundee City and Region – and provide firm evidence to help secure support and investment in the infrastructure needed to continue to grow business events in our region.
Statistics explained – Making meaning of the data
Our partners complete a monthly report, detailing top level statistics of confirmed business events held at their venue. Using the Direct Expenditure Benefit (DEB) rates, this allows us to calculate how much business events are worth to the region and to show our market share of the area in comparison to Scottish and UK statistics, helping to secure future funding to promote the destination.
About the Delegate Expenditure Benefit Research
The Delegate Expenditure Benefit research was conducted in 2006 in partnership between VisitScotland, Failte Ireland, VisitWales and Meet GB. The research looked at the various components of expenditure for each event type and arrived at a figure, the Direct Expenditure Benefit (DEB) rates that is recognised across the UK and Ireland.
The DEB rates are updated periodically using Scottish Government inflation indexes and were raised to 2018 prices.
Direct Expenditure Benefits (DEB) are calculated as delegates x days x DEB rate = direct expenditure benefit (DEB) to a destination. This does not take into account travel to a destination, but does include all local expenditure by or on behalf of a delegate or accompanying delegates.
In 2018 prices the DEB rates are:
- Corporate Day - £150
- Corporate Multi-day - £574
- Domestic association day - £213
- Domestic association multi-day - £576
- International association - £455
- Incentive - £366
For the purpose of this study, a conference was defined as an out of office meeting of at least 6 hours involving a minimum of 15 people. Where there was any ambiguity in defining the type of meeting, it was left to the organiser to select the appropriate category.
The DEB rates are recognised by Scottish Government and used by all cities, destinations and industry across Scotland.
The Direct Expenditure Benefit rate calculator can be found on the home page
