Meetings facilities at airports

This paper investigates the extent to which airports act as venues, the importance that airports place on this type of activity, and whether it is certain categories of airport that are involved in this type of activity. Airports have always been a vital element of business travel in providing access to a destination where business can be conducted or where meetings, conferences and events can be held. In this situation it is largely the availability of air services at the airport that will attract passengers rather than the airport itself. However in recent years airports have become more than just facilitators of access and have developed infrastructure and services (’meetings facilities’) that allow them to become meeting venues in their own right.

► We survey 154 airports on their provision of meetings facilities. ► Two-thirds of airports surveyed provide meetings facilities. ► Meetings facilities provided by airports tend to serve local demand. ► Airports employ an average 1.4 persons to work with their meetings facilities. ► Airports earn an annual average of US$12,959 from their meetings facilities.