Centaur has announced that it is investing a sum in the region of £1million in The Meetings Show UK, creating the UK's most engaging and rewarding hosted buyer programme.  The show is expecting to attract over 1,500 buyers to more than 13,500 appointments, delivering substantial business and networking opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors.

The cutting edge programme will be run by a full time, dedicated hosted buyer management team with extensive experience sourcing and attracting high quality buyers.  The team will be assisted by recruitment and marketing specialists in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe and the UK - making it a truly international show. 

Centaur has also recruited specialists to focus on attracting association buyers as well as professional qualifiers, ensuring that all buyers have legitimate meeting requirements - a key requisite of exhibitors looking for a meeting industry focused show that delivers a return on their investment.

The specialist diary and registration system is being created by RefTech – the leading industry delegate and attendee management specialists who also support hosted buyer programmes for both The Business Travel Show and IMEX. The system has been designed with an intuitive, easy to use interface to ensure that buyers are immediately at ease with its use.

The Meetings Show UK, event director, Steve Knight said: “Hosted Buyer programmes have continually demonstrated the fact that they are fundamental to a successful show that delivers a high return on exhibitor investment.  Through their financial commitment to the Hosted Buyer programme, Centaur has clearly demonstrated its desire to deliver an industry leading show that meets the needs of all attendees."

"The 1,500 buyers will be fully hosted for the three day show but will only have to commit two hours a day to appointments, leaving them the majority of the day to tour the show and participate in the professional education programme and business networking events. Buyers will also have the opportunity to participate in the fam trip programme which will run after the final day."

Initial reaction to the Hosted Buyer programme have been incredibly positive, including the following endorsement from industry leader and expert, Linda Pereira, executive director of CPL Events:  “I am very impressed with the way the show is being put together and have total faith in the names associated with its organisation.  Based on what I have seen, it is a show that will actually make buyers want to be hosted."

Hosted buyers will receive travel, accommodation (including breakfast), and ground transportation throughout. Once on site they will enjoy an exclusive welcome reception, access to several sponsored hosted buyer lounges each featuring a business centre, a full range of refreshments and access to a tailored professional education programme. Hosted buyers will also be able to plan their day with personalised diaries.

The Meetings Show UK was announced by Centaur in March 2012.  It will bring together more than 4,500 trade and industry professionals during a week of events, education and networking in July 2013.

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