Over the past three months, as many as three out of ten organisations active in the event sector had to let staff go. Six out of ten organisations expect that they will have to lay people off in the next three months as well. This is evident from the second national sector survey conducted by the centre of expertise Public Impact of KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts since the outbreak of the corona crisis. The survey is an initiative of Experience Magazine, the Alliance of Belgian Event Federations, FMiV, VISITFLANDERS and EventFlanders.
The layoffs are a result of the many cancelled and postponed events. The expected loss of turnover increases every month. Researcher Joris Verhulst explains: "For a third of the organisations, all planned events have already been cancelled until the end of the year. Six out of ten organisations think that more than half of all events will be cancelled or postponed in 2020. For most organisations 2020 turns out to be a lost year.”
Expected loss in 2020 even higher than previously thought
Organisers of events in Belgium expect a loss in turnover of 68% in 2020 compared to 2019. This is an even greater loss than they expected at the end of March. At that time, this loss was estimated at 52%. The loss in turnover event suppliers expect (such as catering, decoration, audiovisual support, etc.) has increased significantly in June. Whereas in March it was estimated at 55% for this year, the damage is already estimated at 71%. Event organisers estimate the loss at 1.7 billion euros. Suppliers expect to lose more than 4.7 billion euros.
"The figures show a severely affected sector due to the corona crisis," says the head of the centre of expertise Public Impact Christine Merckx. "Yet we also see signs of hope. More organisers and suppliers than in March trust that their organisation has sufficient reserves to survive the crisis. The sector is making good use of government support measures and they appear to be helping. The perspective of a relaunch of the sector can also give rise to this mild optimism.”
The survey
At the beginning of June, more than 12% of all event professionals in Belgium completed the survey. These organisations are for more than 50% of their turnover professionally involved or active in the organisation of events, conferences, fairs, festivals, incentives and/or meetings.
This survey is part of a series of surveys. The event sector was surveyed for the first time in March. This survey in June is the second. In September and December of this year, the sector will be surveyed again. The aim is to monitor the impact of the corona crisis on the event sector, now and in the future.