Reed Exhibitions parent Reed Elsevier released its earnings report through the first half on Thursday, indicating that the events group’s adjusted operating profit grew slightly to more than $191 million through the first six months of 2010, compared to about $185 million during the same period last year. Revenue, meanwhile, jumped 8 percent to roughly $597 million.

For its annual shows, revenues declined 6 percent during the first half—a significantly lower decline than the 17 percent loss realized during the same period last year. Its European market saw revenues slip 2 percent while in the U.S. revenues dropped 10 percent (combined, the U.S. and European markets make up nearly 80 percent of overall revenues).

Shows in China, Russia and Brazil “grew strongly,” the company says, although some of those properties are joint ventures and are not included in Reed’s reported revenues.

Reed says that while attendance is increasing at the majority of its show, the number of overall vendors in 2010 is below last year’s levels and annual show revenues are expected to be lower. This year, however, Reed Exhibitions is expected to see a revenue bump from its biennial shows, which it says should “deliver overall growth.”

“There are some encouraging signs in the forward space bookings in events in 2011, although these vary by sector, geography and timing of the shows,” the company says in the report. “2011 will, however, see the net cycling out of biennial shows.”