The two organisers behind the co-located London Boat, Bike, Outdoors and Active Travel Shows have reported mixed results from this year’s co-located events.
 
National Boat Shows reported a six per cent drop in attendance year-on-year, with 102,841 visitor (unaudited) attending specifically for the London Boat Show. The show ran from 6 to 15 January and was opened by TV reality star Tamara Ecclestone.
 
While noting the drop, NBS MD Murray Ellis was still pleased with overall attendance in the face of a difficult financial climate and pointed out the result was just ahead of 2010 visitor numbers.
 
“We have worked extremely hard to create a 10-day event that our exhibitors would be proud of and that meets visitors’ expectations,” Ellis said. “We acknowledge that numbers are down, which is a disappointment, but we are pleased with the high quality of visitors and reflective sales.”
 
In contrast, VOS Media reported a five per cent year-on-year rise to its collection of consumer shows to 31,912 (unaudited). These ran from 12 to 15 January and included the Outdoors Show, second annual London Bike Show and the debut Active Travel Show.
 
This is the second year VOS and NBS have joined forces as part of a three-year co-location agreement. In total, 134,753 visitors travelled to Excel for one or more of the shows this year.
 
More detailed visitor analysis is now being conducted, but show director Geraldine Reeve was pleased with the top-line figures and exhibitor feedback. She claimed the London Bike Show had cemented its position with the cycling industry and said VOS had built up strong relationships with the likes of Future Publishing and its cycling portfolio, as well as key distributors.
 
“We’re extremely passionate about cycling and we’re delighted to be creating a very exciting event for the industry,” Reeve said. “We’ve already started planning for the 2013 show and we’re very confident the show will be bigger and better again.
 
“As cycling continue to grow within the UK we’re determined to keep improving the show to underpin the UK’s cycling industry.”
 
VOS claimed to have achieved a 70 per cent rebooking rate on its launch Bike and Outdoors Shows in 2011.
 
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