The
list, which is growing at a rapid pace, clearly demonstrates the
industry wide spread of support for the new show, which takes place
in July, 2013.
With
the hosted buyer application system going live in early February, the
quality of the exhibitor list will provide additional motivation for
buyers from the corporate, agency and association markets to attend.
Major
UK destinations committed include: London, Birmingham,
Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, NewcastleGateshead, Coventry and
Warwickshire and Brighton.
International destinations include
Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Reykjavik, Istanbul, New York, Milan,
Holland, Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, Lithuania,
Mexico, Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, many
more destinations will be represented through more than 100
DMCs including Destinations Unlimited, Moulden Marketing,
Activ'Travel, 4 Corner Events, HL Adventure and Mags Worldwide.
Major
Hotel chains present will include: Marriott Hotels, Guoman Thistle,
H10 Hotels, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Puma Hotels, Expo
Hotels and Resorts and Zacchera Hotels. Individual properties
in attendance also include The Lensbury, MIC Hotel & Conference
Centre as well as hotels from the Accor group, Jury's Inn and Vine
Tree Connections’ group of luxury properties.
The
show is supported by leading venues such as Barbican, Earls Court and
Olympia, The Queen
Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Harrogate
International Centre, ACC Liverpool, Manchester Central, Imago, Hever
Castle, Blenheim Palace, Hedsor House, ILEC Conference Centre and the
Ricoh Arena. Venue groups include Unique Venues of London,
Merlin Entertainment and CCT Venues.
A
dedicated academic pavilion includes King's College, Robinson
College, University
of Manchester and Royal Holloway University,
who will also be joined by other academic venues such as Warwick
Conferences.
The
technology sector is represented by Cvent, RefTech, Power Vote, IML
Worldwide and PSAV.
Specialist
suppliers include chooseyourvenue.com, ARC International and Target
Response.
The
Meetings Show UK, Event Director, Steve Knight: "The initial
response and speed of confirmations has exceeded our expectations.
To have such a high profile and comprehensive list this far from the
show clearly demonstrates the need for a hosted buyer led, meetings
focused event for our industry. The response from potential
exhibitors has been unanimously positive, it is clear we will be
showcasing the most diverse range of exhibitors at any UK show."
As
the UK's only hosted buyer led show for the meetings industry, the
event will attract more than 4,000 visitors including 1,500 plus
hosted buyers from corporates, agencies and associations. It is a
show organised by meeting professionals, for meeting professionals
and the quality of the exhibitors who have committed clearly
demonstrates that The Meetings Show UK is filling a much needed gap
in the market.
Knight
continues: "Despite our success to date, this is just the
beginning – there is much more to come - we are currently in
conversation with a host of other exhibitors and expect to be able to
confirm representatives from Spain, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Italy,
Portugal, Scotland and a variety of long haul destinations in
the near future."
Sarah
Stewart, Chief Executive at destination management and marketing
organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: “Having the
opportunity to talk to national and international event organisers is
vital to ensuring our Convention Bureau capture and convert all
opportunities in this fast moving market. It was immediately
clear that The Meetings Show UK would be a key event for us,
targeting influential buyers in an innovative way through their
enhanced Hosted Buyer programme. NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau
both attend and deliver a range of annual events and exhibitions that
allow us to talk directly to organisers interested in bringing their
next big event to the destination, attending The Meetings Show UK in
2013 forms an integral part of this activity.”
Mexico
Tourism Board, Director of Association
Meetings - Europe, Virginia Arana: "The Mexico
Tourism Board is significantly expanding our operations in
Europe, with a specialised meetings focused office now operating in
Brussels. To succeed in this market it is vital we promote our
brand, cultural offering and high quality meetings infrastructure on
a targeted basis in each of our key markets. To succeed in
Europe we need to be here in Europe. The Meetings Show UK,
which is far more than just a trade
show, gives us the ideal platform to speak to the
UK market and raise our awareness. It will bring together a
host of global experts in a dynamic and open environment and we look
forward to the significant impact it will have on our business."
Steven
Small, Head of Business Tourism, Visit Manchester: “We’re really
excited to be involved with a major new event like this which offers
a fantastic platform for
Visit Manchester and our partners to
work together and showcase what our city has
to offer.”
H10
Hotels, MICE Department Coordinator Marta Fernandez: "The
Meetings Show UK will help our team meet and connect with new buyers.
This will lead to future new businesses that will help us to continue
achieving client needs.”
Harrogate
International Centre, Deputy Director, Simon Kent: “Here at
Harrogate International Centre we are all excited at the opportunity
The Meetings Show UK will provide to showcase the facilities we have
available to event organisers. We think this is the perfect platform
to not only raise the profile
of HIC, but also to speak directly to event
organisers”.
The
Meetings Show UK's inaugural event will take place during week
commencing 8th July, 2013 at Olympia, London
