Despite the advent of improved electronic communications technology, face-to-face communication and networking remain the most effective means of enhancing business performance and innovation, particularly for more complex products. During the recent global financial crisis, there has been substantial pressure to reduce the cost of doing business, which has resulted in many companies cutting their business travel and business meetings budgets. Concern has now been raised as to the consequence for long term business development of these changes.

This paper, which is based upon a study that was done for Australia’s Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), examines the role of face-to-face communication and the networking that occurs, especially through participation in business events in underpinning business development and innovation. In recent times, a number of surveys of business managers have been undertaken to assess attitudes towards the role of communication and networking in underpinning business development and this paper incorporates the key findings from these studies.