EventIt, Scotland’s annual events industry show, is fast-becoming one of the hottest UK shows for events professionals looking for high-quality education and networking.

Proudly hosted in Glasgow, the UK’s second most popular destination for delegates, EventIt connects events planners to their supplier market – in Scotland and beyond.

With just a week to go, there’s no better time to plan your business calendar for 2019 by making EventIt, now in its fourth year, one of your ‘must-attend’ shows of the year ahead.

Taking place on Thursday, March 21 at the SEC in Glasgow – one of biggest and best-connected venues in the UK – the show is free to attend and features 100+ top exhibitors.

Meet ‘best-in-class’ suppliers – who you will be able to ‘pre-engage’ with via our AI-based preference matching service from Expoplatform – and attend our relaxed and informal Learning Zone, featuring four streams on: Event Tech, Connectivity, What’s Trending in Events and Festivals.

And don’t forget to check-in to our chillout lounges and café-style meeting areas, which allow you to catch up with your key contacts and discuss the latest industry topics, from blockchain to facial recognition, theming, sustainability and wellbeing.

With Brexit just around the corner, the event will be the last events industry show to air its concerns and address key questions as it prepares for the implications of leaving the EU on March 29.

Scotland is known as the ‘Perfect Stage’ for events, an inspirational place to host events and world-renowned for its expertise in delivering them. For those who want an in-depth experience of this event-rich nation, there will be opportunities for bespoke familiarisation (‘fam’) trips with our supplier base.

A show that combines events voices from all parts of a diverse industry, EventIt’s four E’s will guide you through what is set to be a very memorable year for a show quickly making its mark as one of the hottest properties in the UK market.

Established

EventIt is now in its fourth year and was established by lifelong event planner Judith Wilson, whose observation that there was no single show which offered events planners everything they might ever need – from conferences to product launches, to festivals and everything in between – has proved to be a sound judgement that has stood the test of time in a highly competitive market.

EventIt 2019 will be held at the SEC in Glasgow on March 21st. Photograph by Mary Turner/EventsIt

In a multi-tasking event planner’s world, no day is the same as the last and each new task brings with it a fresh set of demands; that experience is as true if you work in an agency, as a freelance or in a corporate in-house role, which is why EventIt works with planners at every level and from every conceivable sector to identify and connect a vast and diverse portfolio of suppliers.

Having now welcomed over 3,000 attendees and 350+ exhibitors, EventIt has proven its worth and credibility as a platform that connects events planners to all parts of the industry – from business events to live events, product launches, outdoor and festivals – ensuring you stay ahead of the curve in an industry that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself.

And if you don’t believe us, take it from these guys:

“Eventit is one of the key industry events in Scotland, and I would encourage serious players in the industry to be there.” Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events, VisitScotland

“EventIt, the Scottish Events Industry Show, has emerged as a must-attend event for meeting planners. Now in its fourth year, we are delighted that EventIt will return to Glasgow on March 21, offering an opportunity to do good business, engage in inspiring education and enjoy great networking in the World’s Friendliest City.” Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau.

“EventIt has a great educational programme with some interesting and challenging sessions; all relevant, well-delivered and a chance for event professionals to engage with content, and not just watch it.” Alistair Turner, President, ILEA UK.

“EventIt is a great event that really pulls together the Scottish events industry, creating a forum for doing business and learning at the same time.” Kathleen Warden, Director of Sales, Scottish Event Campus.

As our reputation grows in 2019, we are delighted to announce our headline sponsors this year are DelegateManager and 20/20 Productions and our supporting partners are The Scottish Event Campus, ExpoPlatform, EMA & The Meetings Show.

Education

EventIt works with all the professional industry bodies to deliver high-calibre content and information to our delegates with trusted industry experts from organisations including ABPCO, NOEA, VisitScotland, EventScotland EMA, SITE, ILEA and ICO.

EventIt 2019 will feature four Learning Zones covering Event Tech, Connectivity, What’s Trending and Festivals.

We run our Learning Zone programme adjacent to the main showroom with four distinct hubs located within Evolution Domes in order to minimise acoustic disruption and to create a friendly, intimate environment for briefings and panel-led discussions. Our learning streams for 2019 will be Event Technology, Connectivity, What’s Trending in Events and Festivalisation.

The show has a buzzing and vibrant feel to showcase expertise from established industry voices as well as innovative start-ups who are pushing the boundaries in new event technologies from AV projection to virtual reality and blockchain. Delegates can unwind and discuss new approaches to visitor health, wellbeing and sustainability in our specially-configured chill-out zones adjacent to the exhibition floor.

In 2018, EventIt added two additional events to its growing market offer: the new Best Practice forums are aimed at events professionals seeking to address key industry issues, such as contracts and pricing, whereas the What’s Trending in Events conference was a creativity-led showcase for suppliers to host a series of campfire demonstrations in front of groups of key buyers.

As a result, the education offer to all those who attend EventIt 2019 will easily surpass all expectations as we bring these fresh contacts, new experiences and insights to market.

EventIt prides itself on working with the leading educators in the field, whether that’s with the flourishing colleges and universities sector offering formal higher and further education courses  – as well as continuing professional development – or leading industry experts, both globally and across the UK.

Keep an eye on the EventIt website to see the full run-down of 20+sessions that will make up our education offer for 2019.

Experience

There is no better place to host an event or to gather events industry knowledge than Scotland.

With two of the top three meetings destinations in the UK (Glasgow and Edinburgh), as ranked by ICCA, there is unrivalled conference, convention and events experience, expertise and confidence north of the wall.

With lochs, munros, and a landscape unmatched for its beauty, diversity and life-affirming qualities, it is little wonder that Lonely Planet ranked the Scottish Highlands and Islands as a Top 10 Global Travel Destination in 2018.

As the emphasis on destination ‘additionality’ grows, Scotland is perfectly suited to the modern delegate, with its central belt cities surrounded by easy and abundent opportunities to reconnect with nature, and discover the true meaning of Hygge – whilst taking part in the best group offers in the world: from tank driving experiences, to bushcraft, whisky trails to orienteering, sailing and speedboats on Loch Lomond.

And with some of the world’s most famous festivals on our doorstep, from the Edinburgh Fringe to Hogmanay, Celtic Connections and The Tattoo, as industry increasingly demands ideas for how best to ‘festivalise’ a business event, EventIt is set to become one of the leading events industry platforms to share knowledge and experiences from distinct markets.

Ease

With 45 flights from London to Glasgow every day, costing as little as £49 return, we are located at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC Centre) – Scotland’s most recognisable events hub in the city centre – just eight kilometres from the airport to venue.

Glasgow’s SEC is conveniently located for all forms of transport.

Transport to and from the venue can be easily arranged by taxi or airport bus, which depart every 10 minutes and take on average 25 minutes door-to-door, all of which makes it possible to fly up and down in a single day.

There is a convenient drop-off zone directly outside the SEC Centre, making the journey easy and hassle free.

Glasgow cabbies are also famously good value and many have been trained on a variety of delegate welcome schemes by Glasgow Convention Bureau.

Those wishing to pre-arrange their local transport itineraries can also take advantage of car-pooling apps such as BlaBlaCar or LiftShare.

For train buffs (the views on the west coast line through the Lakes are reason alone), there are more than 20 direct trains per day from London.

Virgin Trains operate from London Euston & Kings Cross to Glasgow and the SEC has a dedicated railway station (Exhibition Centre), which is a three-minute ride from the main Central Station. The shortest journey time is 4hr29m and return tickets are from £103.50*.

And finally, for those wanting to hark back to regency era travel, the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train, with its plush new carriage design, is a brilliant way to combine your transport and accommodation all-in-one.

So, don’t delay – join the stampede to Glasgow on March 21 with fellow event buyers looking to source the very best in industry talent and expertise.

www.eventit.org.uk