How impactful are events on destinations, and what form does that impact take?
These pivotal questions are at the heart of a significant new survey launched by Conference News in collaboration with Birmingham & West Midlands Convention Bureau – part of West Midlands Growth Company.
The research seeks to delve into the social legacy of events within local communities, exploring how events foster cultural engagement and drive positive change. A key focus will also be on the knowledge-sharing benefits of events and the evolving role of convention bureaus in shaping event legacies.
Additionally, the survey aims to uncover how effectively destinations are leveraging local culture to enhance their events’ long-term impact. The findings will offer valuable insights into the broader event legacy ecosystem, informing strategies for more meaningful outcomes.
Jack Newey, portfolio director at Conference News, commented: “With the knowledge economy and the social and cultural legacies of events increasingly recognised as some of their greatest benefits, we’re proud to partner with WMGC to dive deeper into this topic. This survey will help us uncover the true extent of the ‘legacy iceberg,’ exploring not only how event professionals view these aspects but how they incorporate them into their planning.
“We’re excited to share the results with the UK’s meetings and events community and contribute meaningful insights to inform future strategies.”
Steve Knight, senior business tourism manager at the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau, said: “The West Midlands is a welcoming UK business events capital, with thousands of conferences and meetings taking place each year across our region’s accessible, world-class facilities.
“We know that the legacy of the events sector has always been important, but never more so than at present. We are keen to learn more about this and how we can all play a part in the positive societal impact large events can have on our cities and communities.
“We look forward to working closely with Conference News over the coming months to research this area in more detail and sharing the outcomes with the events industry.”
Click here to take the survey and share your thoughts.
