Hosted Buyer Programme

So, what is a hosted buyer?

A hosted buyer is a decision-maker who is responsible for organising meetings and events.

Our hosted buyer programme is designed for busy meetings and events professionals like you, providing an enhanced method of attending to ensure you get the most out of your time out of the office. The programme puts the power in your hands, allowing you fast-track access to the suppliers you want to meet with, the education sessions you need to go to and the networking opportunities you want to attend.

Please note: applications for our hosted buyer programme are currently closed and we reopen again next year.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFYING CRITERIA TO BE A HOSTED BUYER?

Size and frequency of your events
Your level of purchasing/decision making authority
Geographic locations of your events

3 DAYS

Attendance at the pre-show conference on Tuesday 27 June (CentrEd at ExCeL) - more details to follow
Attendance at the official welcome reception on Tuesday 27 June
2 days at the show
16 appointments
2 nights’ accommodation on Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 June
Travel provided on request (UK and Europe only)

2 DAYS & WELCOME RECEPTION

Attendance at the official welcome reception on Tuesday 27 June
2 days at the show
16 appointments
2 nights’ accommodation on Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 June
Travel provided on request (UK and Europe only)

2 DAYS

Both days of the show
12 appointments
Travel provided on request (UK and Europe only)

1 DAY

One day at the show
6 appointments
No accommodation
Travel provided on request

UK based buyers only

Our pre-show conference is designed to ensure that senior event planners are equipped to overcome common event hurdles. This year's pre-show conference focused on topics such as growing profit margins, aligning business goals to changing trends, increasing attendee engagement, attracting and retaining talent, and demonstrating the new return of investment of face-to-face meetings.

Our opening keynote was delivered by Claus Raasted, Director at the College of Extraordinary Experiences, who discussed and shared tips, tricks, and paradoxes for a lifetime of event innovation.

The conference also highlighted the importance of event intelligence, social sustainability, the benefits of engaging with local communities, and the overall impact on the company's bottom line.

Sessions were interspersed with regular networking breaks, and to close things off attendees were given the opportunity to discuss their pain points, observations and suggestions (independent of the agenda topics) during our fishbowl session.

Our highly anticipated welcome reception takes place the night before the show, on Tuesday 27 June 2023. Plans are already underway, but in the meantime, take a look at what we did for this year's welcome reception...

2022 welcome reception:

Get ready to climb aboard the Royal Navy warship to enjoy exclusive use of HMS Belfast’s Quarterdeck and Boat decks while sipping ship-themed cocktails or mocktails and eating dishes selected from three themed food stations to a backdrop of live 1940s jazz music. You'll also be able to explore the ship's onboard museum.

The welcome reception is the perfect opportunity for you to network with 200 fellow senior meetings and event planners ahead of two jam-packed days at the show. We'll even transfer you to and from the venue, so the only thing you'll need to focus on is enjoying yourself.

Please note: places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and limited spaces remain. The welcome reception is only available to hosted buyers that select the 3-day attendance option or the two days + welcome reception option when registering.

TRAVEL

Buyers based outside the Greater London area are eligible for travel assistance to and from The Meetings Show. We work with a TMC who will contact buyers directly to arrange this. For UK based buyers, this will be a standard class rail ticket. For overseas buyers, this will be return economy flights from Europe or standard class Eurostar tickets.

ACCOMMODATION

Buyers who have requested accommodation assistance during the application process will be allocated a room in one of our partner hotels. If attending as part of a hosted buyer group, where possible, group members will be placed in the same hotel.

TRANSFERS

Transfers will be available from the relevant airports direct to The Meetings Show.

A London Underground travel pass is included with train tickets to allow buyers to make their own way to The Meetings Show via public transport. The nearest tube stations can be found here.

There are transfers to all major London airports after the show closes on Thursday afternoon.