Meet Cambridge, the official conference and events bureau for the city has reported another excellent year in 2024, handling 3,510 enquiries at an estimated confirmed value of £4.3 million. The city continues to capture the attention of both domestic and international visitors, solidifying its reputation as a hub of tradition and innovation.
Cambridge’s academic venues continue to draw in visitors, with 56% of Meet Cambridge’s enquiries specifically requesting these locations. Once received by Meet Cambridge, enquiries are circulated to its member portfolio of more than 50 venues, including Colleges, hotels, museums and other unique venues in and around the city.
Ranked in the top 10 UK cities by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Cambridge is a sought-after destination for conferences and events. Meet Cambridge saw the highest number of international enquiries last year from the United States, Germany, China, India, and France. Notably, interest from Germany has grown consistently year-on-year since 2022, highlighting Cambridge’s expanding global appeal.
Meet Cambridge already anticipates events worth an estimated £5.3 million over the next two years, driven by diverse international and domestic clientele. Almost half (47%) of the enquiries have originated from the academic sector and a third (33%) from corporate entities.
Andrew Bell, Head of Meet Cambridge, said:
Cambridge is clearly set for another outstanding year as a top destination for conferences and events."
Insights and Trends for 2025
Optimism for 2025
In a recent survey, Member Venues of Meet Cambridge remained optimistic that the coming year would be positive, with 70% expecting an improvement on last year, despite an overwhelming feeling that the UK economy would at best remain on par if not slightly worse than last year.
Lead times are getting longer
Lead times for Cambridge venues are getting longer as confidence in the events industry continues to strengthen. Whilst nationally lead times have been getting shorter1 Cambridge's unique appeal has encouraged event professionals to plan further ahead, recognising the value of securing a sought-after location.
Dining venues top the list
Venues that offer exceptional dining experiences are the top choice for event planners searching the Meet Cambridge website. Furthermore, as hybrid working continues to be the norm, organisations are increasingly looking to complement face-to-face meetings with dining to combine business with professional pleasure. In 2024, 54% of enquiries were for dining events, 24% for day meetings, and 10% for room hire.
Sustainability at the forefront
Bell commented,
Sustainability is the new norm in the events industry, from minimising carbon impact and managing waste, to conserving natural resources and reducing pollution”.
Many University of Cambridge departments and the Cambridge Colleges take part in the University’s Green Impact accreditation scheme, which supports and encourages all properties in the reduction of their environmental impact.
Hotels also offer organisers the opportunity to calculate the carbon footprint of their event through schemes such as Hilton’s Light Stay Meetings Calculator.
Embracing Inclusivity
Bell continued;
The events industry is increasingly focused on creating spaces that are welcoming and accessible to everyone. From diverse speaker lineups, inclusive event formats, accessible venues and flexible event structures, organisers are making concerted efforts to accommodate a wide range of needs”.
Cambridge is making significant strides in this area as well. For instance, many of the Cambridge Colleges have signed up for AccessAble, a website that offers detailed accessible information for disabled people, carers, wheelchair users on how to navigate their premises. It includes information on entrances, parking, toilets, and other facilities enabling individuals to plan their visits more effectively.
1 https://mitmagazine.co.uk/Meetings/Operations/Lead-times-down-by-25-per-cent-between-2023-24-finds-Sledge-report
