#TakeTheTimeFor5 in May

The Meetings Show makes AEO Excellence Awards 2024 shortlist

The Meetings Show has been named as a finalist in two categories – Marketing Campaign of the Year – UK Tradeshow and Best UK Trade Show 2,001 sqm to 4,000sqm - of the AEO Excellence Awards 2024.

Co-located show Business Travel Show Europe is also a finalist in the Best UK Trade Show category, while TravelTech Show is a finalist in the Best UK Trade Show less than 2,000 sqm.

Northstar Travel Group’s Operations Team is also in the running for the Organiser Team of the Year award.

Winners will be revealed at the AEO Excellence Awards 2024 on 14 June at Grosvenor House.

Cvent reveals Europe’s top meeting spots and hotels for 2024

Technology provider Cvent has unveiled its annual list of top meeting destinations and meeting hotels in Europe.

London retains its place as the number one meeting destination, having experienced ‘significant growth’ with the addition of 30 new hotels in the last year. Barcelona is at second place, with Madrid moving up the ranks to number three after a strong year in which the city hosted 20 conferences driving an economic impact of 88 million Euros.

Other cities in the top 10 are Berlin, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt and Munich.

The top 10 hotels for meetings and events in Europe are Meliá Castilla, which moved three spots to number one after major improvements to its MICE offerings, Hilton Prague, NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding, Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center, Lisbon Marriott Hotel, Hilton Barcelona, InterContinental Athenaeum Athens, Meliá Avenida America, Corinthia Lisbon and AC Hotel Barcelona Forum.

The list is compiled based on sourcing activity through the Cvent Supplier Network.

Center Parcs to bring the outside in

Center Parcs Conferences & Events will be bringing the outside in when it attends The Meetings Show 2024.

To highlight the refurbishment of two of its conference spaces – The Venue at Woburn Forest and The Venue at Sherwood Forest - the exhibitor’s stand (C80) will take inspiration from the great outdoors and include a living wall and wooden features.

The stand will also be larger than in previous years to allow the Center Parcs Conferences & Events team to host more appointments and update visitors on its revamped spaces.

Center Parcs Conferences & Events has invested £7m in transforming these two venues into premium and versatile event spaces complemented by their woodland surroundings.

Sheffield invests in meetings and events

Conference Sheffield says the city’s MICE offerings will be boosted this year as part of its £470m Heart of the City Project.

Europe’s largest purpose-built food hall and social hub – Cambridge Street Collective - is near completion, offering 24 kitchens and space, giving a new home to networking events.

Hotels set to open this summer include the 154-bedroom Radisson Blu Hotel, a restored Victorian building overlooking the Peace Gardens and leaf HOSPITALITY’s 155-bedroom DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield City hotel development, with events space for up to 300 guests.

Visit Conference Sheffield on Stand B81 at The Meetings Show to find out more about what the city can offer.

Nominations open for the miaList

Nominations for the 2024 miaList are now open, as the Meetings Industry Association (mia) prepares to highlight the sector’s finest talent for its thirteenth consecutive year.

Three new categories have been added to this year’s miaList, open to UK MICE businesses, including Best New Initiative, Event of the Year and Campaign of the Year.

Returning titles include the dedicated Team of the Year awards for those in Events & Operations, Sales & Marketing, as well as those representing Destinations.

The miaList remains free to enter with nominations welcome from anyone working within, or associated with, the UK’s business meetings and events industry, with the exception of the individual titles which are exclusive to mia members.

Winners will be presented during a glitzy ceremony being held at Hilton Liverpool City Centre on Thursday 7 November.