Published by Neil ThompsonThe event app is live, hundreds of appointments have already been made, and it’s now just one week to go until the global meetings and events community comes together at ExCeL London to celebrate the landmark 10th edition of The Meetings Show.
With a 92% increase in visitor buyer and 100% increase in hosted buyer registrations compared to 2021, more than 500 suppliers signed up to exhibit – the show is twice the size of last year’s – and a jam-packed programme of inspiring content planned, there really is no better place for event planners to stay on top of the latest trends, make valuable connections and find innovative solutions to take their events to the next level.
Here are some of the highlights of The Meetings Show 2022:
Insight and inspiration
Learning sits at the heart of
the show, and this year’s inspiring education programme will kick off with a
keynote by Lord Sebastian Coe, the man responsible for delivering what many
regard as one of the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games ever: London
2012.
Industry experts from American Express Global Business Travel, McKinsey & Company, Grant Thornton, DRPG, Identity, Vok DAMS, Stress Matters, ICC Wales, Delegate Wranglers are also among the stellar line-up of speakers confirmed.
The 49 dynamic and informative sessions will focus on the latest trends and cover burning issues including sustainability, building and fostering communities, the metaverse, sexual harassment, diversity and inclusion, event safety and security and more.
Global coverage
Wherever in the world you are
looking for event solutions, from Aberdeen to Abu Dhabi, and Zurich to
Zimbabwe, The Meetings Show’s got you covered. Estonia Convention Bureau, Visit
Norway, Destination Toronto, Singapore Tourism and Melbourne Convention Bureau
are among the many international destinations ready to help planners find the
perfect location for their next meeting or event.
Discover hidden gems closer to home, with convention bureaux such as Meet Bath and Bristol, Experience Oxfordshire, Events Harrogate, Edinburgh Convention Bureau, MeetCambridge and Visit Belfast just a handful of the UK destinations represented this year.
News and innovations
Many exhibitors have news to
share making The Meetings Show a must-attend for visitors hoping to stay
in-the-know. Meet Blackpool and Business Events Bournemouth will reveal major
investments in their venues and infrastructure, The QEII Centre will be inviting
buyers to discover their inner animal as well as the ones in their business on
stand B76, while Meet Cardiff is offering buyers the chance to win a trip to
the city.
With sustainability top of the agenda right now, many exhibitors will be showcasing their latest carbon reduction initiatives, including Make Venues, etc.venues, Helsinki Partners and Melia Hotels International. The Meetings Show has also just announced that The Complete Sustainable Events Course, its online course for event professionals created in partnership with isla, is back for its second year this September – find out more and register by visiting isla’s stand.
Quality hosted buyers
The Meetings Show attracts a
high calibre of hosted buyers and this year is no exception. Event planners who
have signed up to the Hosted Buyer Programme this year come from some of the
world’s biggest businesses and organisations including Ericsson, BCD Meetings
& Events, Ashfield Event Experiences, Capgemini, MCI, First Event,
Alzheimer’s Society and NHS Federation.
Activities for hosted buyers include an exclusive half-day pre-show conference and a welcome reception aboard the Royal Navy warship HMS Belfast, part of Lime Venue Portfolio, on Tuesday 28 June.
Platform for emerging
talent
The Meetings Show celebrates
and champions the rising stars of the industry through its Tomorrow’s Talent
initiative. Winners from 2022 and previous years will attend the show and meet
with fellow event professionals as they celebrate their success.
A new initiative – The Meetings Show Next Generation – with Event First Steps will see students invited to spend an afternoon at The Meetings Show on Thursday 30 June, offering them the opportunity to meet with exhibitors, attend a curated panel session, and join the Event First Steps post-show networking event.
Networking and
celebrations
It’s not all work and no play.
There will be plenty of opportunities to network and socialise with on-stand
drinks being organised by Newcastle Gateshead Convention Bureau & SAGE ICC,
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Hilton Worldwide Ltd and Carden Park Hotel,
among others.
There will also be a special drinks reception at the end of day one, sponsored by Visit Norway, with 'Foxy Arve' on the decks to celebrate the show’s 10th edition.
To register to attend The Meetings Show 2022 visit https://www.themeetingsshow.com/register
(There have been some
changes to the registration process this year, so The Meetings Show is advising
everyone to register in advance to avoid any delays on your arrival at the
show)
