UK - International B2B media group Tarsus says more than a quarter of its revenue for the first half of the year came from events in emerging markets.
The company, which has seen revenue grow five per cent so far this year, also claims attendance at its international events grew by an average of five per cent over the period.
"There was a very strong performance from emerging markets, with US dollar revenues up 29 per cent on a like-for-like basis, comprising 28 per cent of group revenue in the first half," said Tarsus Group MD Doug Emslie.
Revenues for Tarsus’s two largest exhibitions, November’s Dubai Airshow and September’s Labelexpo Europe, remain "comfortably ahead" of the 2007 events, and the company's contracted revenues for 2009 in full stand at 86 per cent, up six per cent on 2008.
However, speaking to EW, Emslie conceded that while the group’s business in the emerging markets is faring well, its business in the UK is down around 20 per cent and “very difficult”. He named Dubai as its principal business driver in the emerging markets.
He added that generally speaking, the retail sector has been heavily affected by the current economic climate, while shows connected with the environment and counter-terrorism are succeeding.
According to Tarsus Chairman Neville Buch, the group’s results are heavily weighted towards the second half of the year, when the majority of its events take place.
