London. Following more than 6,000 appointments, 190 education sessions and a host of networking events across London, The Meetings Show UK has received positive feedback by both exhibitors and buyers. Juliet Howie from NH Hotels said: “It’s been very successful. We’ve had over a million Euros worth of enquiries so we are very pleased. We’ve had a lot of Hosted Buyers visit the stand. The quality of buyers has been very, very high quality so that has been good for us.”
Hosted Buyer Amanda Quinn, Event Manager, Stryker: “The company I work for organises a lot of training events, but they stick to the same places. The main reason for coming to The Meetings Show was to get information on new venues in the UK so I can report back to my managers about different places to consider. And it’s been extremely successful. It’s one of the best meetings shows that I have been to. The quality of exhibitors is very high and exactly what I was looking for. There are a few places I didn’t have appointments with that I’ve also had a chance to meet with too.”
Julia Gallagher, VisitBrighton’s Convention Bureau Manager, said: “It was a brilliant show. I was impressed by the quality and quantity of buyers. I have a folder full of enquiries and if the show ended on day 1, I would have achieved real value for money. I am sure that in year two the profile of the show will have grown and will attract even more Hosted Buyers.”
Hosted Buyer Catarina Olim, Portuguese Speech and Language Therapist Association: “I think an event like this is the best way to travel around Europe – I’ve seen a lot of countries here, I’ve seen what they have to offer and I can manage my time at an event like this. Its very well organised – the stands, the space – we’re very well looked after!”
Highlights of the show included an Association Conference at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre; Keynotes from thought leaders Paul Bridle and Maarten Vanneste; the launch of the UKEIS; networking events including a welcome event organised in partnership with London & Partners at Ledenhall Market, the Oysters Summer Party and Manchester Live; and as The Meetings Show closed on Thursday more than 50 Hosted Buyers departed on fam trips to Bath, Bournemouth, Brighton, Brussels, Jersey and Liverpool. The next Meetings Show will take place at Olympia London from 8-10 July, 2014.
