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NEWS RELEASE

8th May 2008

GLOBAL PROPERTY market heads for safe ground as channel 4’s a place in the sun LIVE ATTRACTS 13,052* visitors to LONDON’S EXCEL

A Place in the Sun Live at ExCeL (25th-27th April) maintains its status as the UK’s biggest and best-attended overseas property exhibition · 13,052* visitors over three days come in search of investment property, holiday homes or a new life abroad

· Most valuable audience yet: 82% ABC1 (72% AB), average income of £69,000 per annum, with £196,000 to spend on property overseas

· Millions of pounds’ worth of business for satisfied exhibitors

In a global property market dogged by the credit crunch and toughening commercial conditions, A Place in the Sun Live – the award-winning Channel 4 overseas property exhibition – brought a ray of sunshine to London from 25th-27th April at ExCeL in Docklands. 13,052* visitors from across the south-east flocked to the event in search of a property abroad and, with a record average of £196,000 to spend, it appears the desire for a bolt-hole overseas remains strong among those wishing to live the dream.

For organisers Brooklands Exhibitions, part of the Brooklands Group that also publishes the official magazine of the A Place in the Sun TV programme, the ExCeL show proved a major success in a challenging financial climate.

Says Darren Styles, Chief Executive of Brooklands Group:

“It’s a tribute to the strength of our brand and the resilience of our industry that in the teeth of a gale of (often exaggerated) negativity surrounding property sales and investment, both at home and abroad, we were able to attract more than 250 exhibitors and 13,000 visitors to ExCeL London for A Place in the Sun Live. Though down on our last show of this scale, at NEC Birmingham last September, a commensurate reduction in floorspace (to a still-mammoth 14,000 square metres) meant a busy show nonetheless – and some spectacular business for those rising to the challenge of the moment.

“What’s more, we have clear evidence from our visitor research that while the volume of visitors may be reduced, the quality reflects the market in our delivering the most valuable audience yet: 82% ABC1 (72% AB) with an average spend of £196,000. And this, coupled with our successful debut show at Manchester in February, now means we have attracted in excess of 21,000 visitors to our 2008 spring shows – an incredible result that out-performs the market in a cooling economy. We are well-placed for more of the same at NEC Birmingham and Earls Court London in the autumn.”

Says Ken Pritchard, Group Events Director of Brooklands Group:

“We have delivered yet another strong show, and this one at a difficult time. We had our best Friday since autumn 2006 and a very strong Sunday. For all that, we have reports of millions of pounds’ worth of business; the market has seemingly cooled rather than stalled, and the sales and leads we have generated here will see the show’s supporters through some challenging days to come.

“One exhibitor, RAK Properties, reported more than £15m in sales, while many others – Harlequin Properties, Choice Properties, Orka Turizm and Nirvana Developments among them – have already contracted all four shows ahead to ExCeL 2009.”

What the exhibitors had to say about A Place in the Sun Live at ExCeL:

“This show was a real success for us. Congratulations to your team.” Phillippa Roberts, Barrasford & Bird

“I do every A Place in the Sun Live show that I can – it is at the heart of my business and the basis of my marketing strategy. I am never disappointed, and this event has been no exception.” Steve Levie, Sunshine Sellers.com

“The exhibition, as ever, was impeccably presented and organised. We had a very good show, thank you for helping our business.” Paul Owen, Association of International Property Professionals

“Even with the tube out of service, the sun shining and a big football match live on TV, A Place in the Sun Live still pulled in a great crowd. The marketing campaign is very strong and the show is definitely the market leader. We did a lot of good business.” Peter Knight, Aegean Homes

“The show exceeded our expectations in every way. We were impressed with both the quality and quantity of the attendees.” Patricia Tan, Prudential Palms Realty

“A Place in the Sun Live is very well organised and promoted – brand awareness is very high among the general public and the seminar programme is excellent.” Felicity Quigley, Buy Association

“Excellent show! We found the sales and lead generation results fantastic and have booked in for all four shows over the next year.” Sara Noble, Elite Realty

“This exhibition has produced good quality leads for a workable budget, especially given the economic situation and exchange rate of the euro. It has delivered serious buyers, and co-locating with the London Golf Show worked; a great idea.” Lynn Davies, Promosol Villas & Spanish Property Forum

Visitor data shows serious buyers spending more…

· 83% of visitors are ‘in the market’ for a home abroad

· 58% want to buy within the next 12 months

· 32% already own one overseas property

· Average spend is £196,000, an A Place in the Sun Live record

· 36% buying for investment, 36% for a permanent move, 32% for a holiday home

· 35% seeking an overseas mortgage

· 68% new to A Place in the Sun Live, 32% visited previously

· 76% never visited any other overseas property show

· 41% read A Place in the Sun magazine

· Average age 48, 72% from London and south-east

· 82% ABC1 (72% AB), average income £69,000 per annum

A Place in the Sun Live show calendar:

NEC Birmingham 26th-28th September 2008

Earls Court London 3rd-5th October 2008

Manchester Central (GMEX) 20th-22nd March 2009

ExCeL London 17th-19th April 2009

Ends

For further information on the A Place in the Sun Live exhibitions visit www.aplaceinthesunlive.com

Brooklands Group, organiser of A Place in the Sun Live, is the publisher of the official magazine of the Channel 4 TV series A Place in the Sun and further holds contracts to publish customer titles for Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Renault and Vauxhall – plus the in-flight magazine for Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline. For further information on Brooklands Group visit www.brooklandsgroup.com