The ABC Audit has confirmed that International Confex, the UK’s biggest event for people organising events worldwide, has achieved a rise in visitor attendance.

Duncan Reid, event director stated: “We’re pleased that the ABC Audit confirms Confex 2006 recording a slight increase in visitor numbers. This is very encouraging – especially when recent CTS Research showed a national trend of visitor numbers falling by two percent year on year – hopefully this is the start of a trend across the UK events industry with more people attending events this year.”

“Looking in detail at the ABC, association buyers were up by sixteen percent and the number of agency buyers rose by eight percent. The number of corporate visitors remained almost the same as 2005 whilst visitors from supplier companies were down – this is good news as it means we are refining our visitor audience to deliver more of the type of buyer our exhibitors want to see. Onsite, exhibitors were saying the quality was up and this proves it along with the 37% increase in re-bookings”

 “We recognise that the investment and hard work can’t stop here but we now have a very strong platform to build for 2007 and beyond to ensure that the success continues. We feel passionate about the meetings & events industry and it sends out a very positive message to anyone looking to run events as part of their marketing and communication strategy that the industry’s biggest and best event is in a healthy position.”

The ABC audit states that the total visitor attendance for 2006 is 7,211 compared to 7,198 (2005 total visitor attendance ABC audit). Total attendance (visitor and exhibitors) is also still over 11,000 confirming its number one position.