• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, April 9, 2008

Revenues from business-to-business expos and events grew a healthy 6.6% in 2007 compared to 2006, according to a new report from American Business Media's Business Information Network for Trade Shows. The 2007 growth comes on the heels of a 10% growth in 2006. In dollar terms, that means B-to-B expos and events grew about $1.5 billion over the two-year period to reach $11.4 billion in 2007.

The ABM findings were somewhat rosier than new figures from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, which calculated growth was just 3.2% in 2007, down from 4.8% in 2006. On examination, it's unclear why the two reports contain such disparities. The CEIR survey is sponsored by the Jordan Edmiston Group, an investment bank that specializes in media deals.

In step with the broader media marketplace, B-to-B digital revenues grew 20% in 2007.

The growth in expo, event and digital revenues came as a much-needed piece of good news for the business-to-business category, where other media are flailing. B-to-B magazines are down 2% overall despite strength in some categories, like architecture, design and lighting, and science, research and development. The main hits for magazine media came in the computing, software and telecom category--a result that reflects the recent troubles of tech publishers, such as Ziff Davis, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year.

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