The Meetings Show is a major event for the UK & International meetings industry bringing together the heart of the meetings community. The show provides a forum for the meetings industry to do business, develop industry knowledge, catch up on the latest trends, establish new partnerships or simply re-establish old friendships.  Suppliers from around the world will be exhibiting and the hosted buyer programme is designed to ensure high quality networking opportunities. The education programme, devised by a panel of leading industry figures, guarantees the very best content.

The Meetings Show has reported significant growth across all elements of the show. There has been a 150% increase in year on year hosted buyer numbers, clearly demonstrating the importance of The Meetings Show to the buyer market. To maintain this growth The Meetings Show has already achieved a 72% year on year increase in the number of hosted buyer recruiting partners, a figure that is set to increase even further over the coming weeks. The show also expects to see significant growth in trade visitor numbers following the opening of registration.

Event Director Steve Knight commented: “With more than 100 stands confirmed, equating to approximately 400 separate exhibiting companies, The Meetings Show is already bigger year on year than 2013. Even more exciting though is the fact that within days of opening - hosted buyer registration is up 150% compared to last year, primarily driven by a 72% increase in the number of recruiting partners, who will ensure this growth continues.

“We are confident that by the end of March we will already be in the enviable position of having a show which will be bigger than last year in terms of both size and exhibitor numbers. As a leading market place, meeting place and education resource for the UK inbound and outbound meetings industry we are constantly looking for ways to grow and improve the show. Such a substantial increase in our core offerings – exhibitors and hosted buyers - with more than three months to go means we are on track to deliver a superb event in July.”

Key meeting buyers and associations recently gathered for The Meetings Show’s Education Panel meeting at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC). During the intensive workshop the Panel focused on the importance of delivering targeted education of value to the entire visitor base.

The Panel, chaired by Sally Greenhill, MD, The Right Solution, includes: Juliet Price, Executive Director of the HBAA; Michael Foreman, Head of External Affairs, ABPCO; Linda Pereira, Executive Director of CPL Meetings & Events; Paul Kennedy MBE, Strategic Advisor to The Meetings Show; Angie Mason, Director, Absolute Corporate Events; Caitriona Lavery, Sales Manager, Hastings Hotels; and Caroline Hill, Director, Compliant Venues.

Steve Knight explained the focus on providing a comprehensive education programme: "Education is an essential part of our show; we regard it as a key driver in the delivery of a high quality hosted buyer and visitor audience. Our education programme is too important for us to simply hold a ‘call for papers’ – which inevitably leads to ‘sales-led’ seminar sessions. It is vital for us to consult meeting buyers and key buyer led associations to ensure we create a programme of education that is both inspiring and relevant to our industry. The Panel reviewed last year’s programme and the extensive feedback we received. Everyone agreed that last year’s education was really well received, but we are refining and fine tuning the format and topics covered to ensure it moves with the needs of our audience and reflects the industry’s ever changing requirements.”

The Meetings Show education programme will be announced in April.

The Meetings Show is organised by Centaur Exhibitions and will take place from the 8th to the 10th July 2014 at Olympia, London.

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