Katarina Railko is a seasoned veteran in the hospitality and business events landscape, having spent years navigating the high-pressure world of international conferences and trade expos. As a key voice in the events and entertainment sectors, she possesses a refined understanding of how physical gatherings drive global commerce. With the UK’s events economy standing at a critical crossroads, Katarina provides a necessary perspective on why this sector is more than just a subset of tourism—it is a vital engine for national trade and innovation. This conversation dives into the urgent need for a cohesive national strategy, the staggering return on investment that current policy risks throwing away, and the mounting pressure from European competitors who are currently outmaneuvering the British market through superior funding and strategic alignment.
With the business events sector contributing over £33 billion to the economy, how does the current lack of a structured national strategy impact the UK’s ability to compete on the global stage?
When you walk onto a massive trade floor in Berlin or Paris, you feel a level of state-backed confidence that is currently missing from the British landscape. Our sector is fighting for its share of a £33.6 billion pie, yet we have become the only major economy without a fully funded national team to represent our interests. Without a structured strategy, we are essentially asking the 214 trade associations and venues that signed the recent letter to DCMS to fight a global war with one hand tied behind their backs. The sensory experience of a world-class conference—the vibrant networking, the deals being signed in the hallways, and the sheer scale of the innovation—is being dimmed because our competitors are simply outspending and out-organizing us at every turn. It is a high-stakes game where government inaction acts as a direct subsidy to our rivals in Ireland, France, and Germany.
The recent inquiry suggested moving the responsibility for business events to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Why is this shift in perspective so vital for the industry’s growth?
For too long, the government has mistakenly viewed business events as just another branch of the leisure tourism tree, but a trade fair is a fundamentally different beast than a weekend at the beach. When we treat conferences as distinct, trade-driven engines, we recognize them as essential platforms for investment and job creation rather than just hotel stays. By moving to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, we finally align the industry with its actual output: economic growth and international trade relations. We need ministers who don’t just show up for a photo op but attend with a structured plan to leverage the exceptional quality of these exhibitions for national gain. It’s about moving from a “visitor” mindset to a “partner” mindset, ensuring that every handshake on an expo floor translates into long-term industrial trade.
The Business Events Growth Programme previously delivered a staggering 35:1 return on investment, yet it was axed. What are we losing by failing to reverse the cuts to these types of initiatives?
It is genuinely frustrating to see a program that turned less than £1.8 million of funding into £60.6 million in direct economic return be dismantled so casually. This wasn’t just a number on a spreadsheet; it was the lifeblood that brought 167 major business events to cities like Newport, Sheffield, Liverpool, and Aberdeen, revitalizing local economies far beyond London. I remember the energy in cities like Glasgow or Cambridge when these events were in town—the hotels were at capacity, the restaurants were bustling, and local businesses were thriving. When we slash this support, we aren’t saving money; we are actively choosing to lose the massive dividends that international delegates bring to our shores. It is an irrational and counterproductive decision that ignores the proven evidence of how effectively this funding fuels the entire country.
Visitors for business events account for 17% of all visits to the UK, and there’s a target of 50 million international visitors by 2030. How realistic is this goal if the government remains stagnant in its support?
To be blunt, reaching that 50 million visitor target without a robust business events strategy is like trying to run a marathon with a lead weight attached to your ankle. Business travelers represent a high-value segment of that 17% visitor share, often spending significantly more and staying longer than the average holidaymaker. If we continue to trail behind twenty other European competitors who offer more support and better incentives to win these large-scale events, we will see those high-value visitors migrate to cities that actually make them feel welcome. The industry is standing ready to deliver growth in every part of the country, but every month of inaction hands our competitors an advantage they haven’t even had to work for. We have the committee’s recommendations and the evidence of success; without the will to act, that 2030 target will remain a pipe dream while our infrastructure suffers from neglect.
What is your forecast for the UK business events sector over the next few years?
If the government chooses to implement the Committee’s recommendations in full, I see a renaissance where the UK reclaims its spot as a premier global hub for trade fairs and exhibitions by leveraging its world-class talent. We have the venues and the expertise to sustain a £33.6 billion economy, but we need that national strategy to act as a catalyst for future investment. However, if the current approach persists, we will likely see a steady drain of prestigious events to more supportive European neighbors, leaving our regional cities to miss out on vital trade opportunities. My hope is that the collective voice of the sector finally breaks through, leading to a decade where trade-driven events are recognized as the primary engine for the UK’s international economic growth.
