Welcoming 4,554 verified attendees
The Meetings Show, the UK’s leading platform for the meetings and events community, is celebrating the success of its 10th edition after welcoming 4,554 verified attendees through its doors.
The Meetings Show 2022, officially opened by Yeoh Soon Hin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy for Penang, took place at ExCeL London on 29-30 June and has been hailed a success by visitors and exhibitors alike. More than 500 exhibitors took part in the show – twice the size of last year’s – with a particularly strong international contingent.
Australia, Boston, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Korea, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa and Zimbabwe were just a handful of the many destinations represented at the show, which also featured convention bureaux from all four corners of the UK and regional bodies including VisitBritain, VisitScotland, Visit Belfast and Visit Wales.
More than 22 hours of educational sessions
The three-day programme for hosted buyers, including the Pre-Show Conference and a Welcome Reception at the iconic Royal Navy warship HMS Belfast, part of Lime Venue Portfolio, proved particularly popular and was attended by more than 250 hosted buyers.
Alongside the chance to talk business with suppliers, buyers were invited to attend more than 22 hours of educational sessions covering burning issues including sustainability, building and fostering communities, diversity and inclusion, the metaverse, hybrid, purpose-driven events.
The opening keynote, held in partnership with TEAMS Europe, was delivered by Lord Sebastian Coe, who marked the 10th anniversary of the London 2012 Games by discussing the value of sport in communities and how staging events like The Olympics can have a catalytic effect on improving them.
Providing a platform for the next generation of talent
There were multiple chances to network, with visitors treated to a well-deserved drink and entertainment by DJ ‘Foxy Arve’ at the official 10th edition reception at the end of day one. The Delegate Wranglers’ cocktail bar also proved a popular place to spark up new contacts, while anyone wanting some time out was welcomed to visit the EventWell Hub and quiet room. Capturing activity from around the show and creating a long-lasting visual representation of the event was The Facilitation Partnership, a group of professional facilitators and visualises, whose work will serve as a long-lasting reminder of the success of the landmark show.
The Meetings Show 2022 included several initiatives as part of its ongoing commitment to providing a platform for the next generation of talent, including a partnership with Event First Steps to create a special programme dedicated to students. Winners from The Meetings Show’s Tomorrow Talent initiative, which celebrates and champions the rising stars of the industry also attended the show.
Daniel Wilcock, event manager and professional event services and Tomorrow’s Talent 2022 winner, said: “It’s been fantastic to have the opportunity to meet venues I wanted to learn more about, and the breadth of exhibitors was impressive. I was really impressed meeting the other Tomorrow’s Talent winners too and I’m thrilled to be included among such a talented group of people.”
The Meetings Show 2023 will take place on 28 and 29 June at ExCeL London.