The Events Industry Council (EIC) today released the latest edition of its Quarterly Global Business Events Barometer, revealing continued recovery and long-term confidence across the global business events industry, even as organisations navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment.
The Q4 2025 Barometer shows that global hotel group room nights reached 97% of 2019 levels, reflecting sustained progress in event delivery, while request for proposal (RFP) activity remains above pre-pandemic benchmarks at 102%.
At the same time, the data highlights a notable shift toward longer-term planning, with RFP activity for events scheduled more than 12 months in advance continuing to grow, signalling strong confidence in the enduring value of in-person and hybrid gatherings.
“The Q4 2025 data showed, despite uncertainty the year brought to our sector and global society, we continued to see that across our global community the demand for business events remained strong, and their value deeply understood,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “As we move into 2026, while we believe that our sector now matters more than ever, the operating environment has shifted significantly. Last year closed with solid momentum and clear indicators of sustained interest in in‑person gatherings, but the early months of 2026 have brought new disruptions that are creating heightened uncertainty for our sector.”
“In the near term we anticipate it will reflect increased volatility related to the war in Iran and the resulting global impact on fuel supply, travel patterns, and economic confidence,” she said. “These emerging pressures underscore the importance of real‑time insights and coordinated industry response. We will continue to work closely with our members and partners including Oxford Economics to monitor the situation and provide data‑driven updates to help our community navigate this evolving landscape.”
The Barometer points to persistent cost pressures, with global room rates averaging 139% of 2019 levels, alongside broader macroeconomic and geopolitical factors influencing near-term event activity.
“In the short term, organisations are navigating a complex mix of cost considerations, travel dynamics and global uncertainty,” Calvert added. “At the same time, there is clear, sustained belief in the long-term impact of bringing people together to drive collaboration, innovation and progress.”
The findings come against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension and global disruption, including ongoing conflict in key regions that continue to influence travel flows, business confidence and investment decisions.
“The rapidly evolving conflict in the Middle East underscores how deeply interconnected global organizations and economies have become,” said Adam Sacks, President, Tourism Economics, Oxford Economics. “Event plans, business decisions, and conversations shift rapidly. In our latest forecast update, we downgraded our outlook for global travel spending, with impacts concentrated in the Middle East, but higher oil prices and weaker economic prospects also playing a role. Tourism Economics expects global travel to remain resilient: we currently anticipate 6% growth in international arrivals this year — down from 8% previously, driven by the enduring importance of business events and travel.”
View Oxford Economics Global Travel Update
Advancing Research to Strengthen Advocacy
Alongside the Barometer, EIC is advancing the 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study in partnership with Oxford Economics, with findings to be released in May in conjunction with Global Meetings Industry Day.
“This study is foundational to our industry’s ability to advocate effectively,” said Calvert. “It provides the credible, global data needed to demonstrate not only the economic impact of business events, but their broader societal value.”
The study builds on previous research measuring the industry’s global economic contribution and will deliver updated insights to support policymakers, business leaders and stakeholders worldwide in understanding the full scope of the sector’s impact.
Survey Participation Open Through 13 April
As part of this effort, EIC is calling on industry stakeholders across all regions and sectors to participate in the global survey informing the study. The survey will remain open through 13 April 2026, and broad participation is critical to ensuring the research reflects the full diversity and scale of the global business events ecosystem.
“Strong data depends on strong participation,” Calvert said. “This is an opportunity for organisations and professionals around the world to contribute to a unified, evidence-based narrative that will shape how our industry is understood and supported.”
A Critical Tool for Industry Decision-Making
Commissioned by EIC and conducted by Oxford Economics using data from Amadeus’ MeetingBroker platform, Cvent and STR, the Global Business Events Barometer serves as a key benchmarking and planning resource for destinations, venues, organisers and suppliers worldwide.
By providing real-time insight into global trends, the Barometer enables industry leaders to navigate uncertainty, manage risk and identify opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape.
“As an industry, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to tell our story with clarity, consistency and credibility,” Calvert added. “Together, through research and collaboration, we can ensure business events are recognised for the measurable value they deliver to economies, communities and societies around the world.”
