Hosted buyer registration opens for The Meetings Show

Hosted buyer registration is now open for the UK’s leading show that brings together the events, meetings and incentives industry to source, learn and network.
The Meetings Show, taking place live at London’s ExCeL as well as virtually on 30 September and 1 October, offers a tailored programme designed for buyers to maximise their time as they reconnect face-to-face and create new collaborations in a safe and secure environment.

Hosted buyers attending the live show for either one- or two-days benefit from a dedicated appointment diary to book pre-scheduled meetings with exhibitors, as well as support with travel, accommodation and a whole host of other benefits, such as access to the show’s comprehensive education programme. They will also be invited to a pre-show welcome reception on the evening of 29 September.

Buyers unable to travel to the show due to COVID-19 restrictions will be offered the premium virtual buyer option for the hybrid event.
As with hosted buyers attending the live event, premium virtual buyers will have access to the online diary and appointment booking tools to enable them to pre-schedule meetings with exhibitors of their choice. They can also access exclusive insightful virtual content, streamed education sessions from the live show and instant messaging functions to connect
with their peers.

Della Vernette, hosted buyer recruitment manager for The Meetings Show, said: “We’re thrilled to once again be in a position to open registration for our hosted buyer programme. Nothing beats the power of live events where new connections and collaborations are formed, so we’re really excited to be able to welcome and facilitate those all-important face-to-face meetings in a secure environment featuring enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols alongside other safety measures such as social distancing.”
She added: “We welcome applications from event and meeting planners keen to hold valuable meetings with the show’s diverse list of exhibitors and offering a completely fresh perspective to the event planning process as we help the industry get back to business.”

All hosted buyers at The Meetings Show, including associations, agencies, PCOs, corporates, incentive houses, venue-finding agencies and charities, are pre-qualified to participate based on the number and scale of events organised, budgets held and decision-making power. During the last in-person show in 2019, hosted buyers attended an average of 13 appointments, and more than half were at senior management level or above within their businesses.

Many buyers, who have attended in the past, already have the sights set firmly on this year’s show. Kim Campbell, owner of Creative Force - Marketing & Events Company, said: "Having worked on and attended numerous virtual trade shows in the past 15 months, I am really looking forward to having some face-to-face time with suppliers and The Meeting Show is the place to do it. It is always worth going as a hosted buyer as they get everything organised and ready for you to set your appointments."

Chris Walmsley, director of Connections Travel, said: “The Meeting Show has always provided me with exactly what I want – face-to-face meetings with suppliers that matter most to me and those who I need to build relationships with. Hotels, venues and destinations have constantly evolving environments, infrastructure and teams of people that are very important to me once I am being followed by my client and their delegates or achievers. Being hosted is a dream – trains and tubes from your local station to your hotel, and then luxury coach transfers in and out of the hotel to the show for breakfast before starting work – what’s not to like!”

Registration for The Meetings Show’s 2021 hosted buyer programme is open from today (29 June). To apply, visit here.  
There is also an option for co-ordinators to form and bring their own buyer groups to the show. To apply as a group co-ordinator, visit here.