The Meetings Show is back for its sixth edition on 27-28 June, with a new, streamlined two-day format which includes simplified attendance options for hosted buyers and a brand-new Pre-Show Conference, making it an unmissable event for meeting and event planners.

The leading event for the inbound and outbound meetings industry based in the UK, the show will welcome thousands of buyers to Olympia London to meet face-to-face with more than 700 individual exhibitors, including venues, conference centres, hotels, destinations and technology suppliers.

Forging a new relationship, EventIt – Scotland’s events industry trade show – will work with The Meetings Show to spotlight best in class Scottish meetings sector suppliers. As part of an innovative partnership, the following Scottish exhibitors will join the EventIt i200 stand:

  • University of Strathclyde – Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC)
  • National Trust for Scotland
  • University of St Andrews
  • The Aberdeen Altens Hotel
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre
  • The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort
  • EL Events Services Scotland Ltd t/a Shell Scheme Scotland

One of the core pillars of The Meetings Show’s offering is its education programme, which this year has expanded with the launch of the Pre-Show Conference, taking place on the afternoon of Tuesday 26 June at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel.  The conference will incorporate the Association Meetings Conference and additionally offer dedicated streams for corporate and agency buyers.

Opening the conference will be keynote speaker John Straw, a digital veteran with over three decades of experience in IT and marketing. John, advisor to McKinsey and IBM, will be sharing insights into artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and augmented reality, and how they may affect the future of the meetings industry.

The corporate, association and agency streams will then continue throughout the two days of the main show, on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 June, along with other streams including meetings design, technology, event marketing and my career and personal development which are open to all. The show will be welcoming a whole host of new speakers for 2018, to provide insightful and thought-provoking content.

The keynotes will come from digital disruptor Andrew Grill, global managing partner of IBM Social Consulting and internationally renowned thought-leader in digital eminence, and from Jez Rose, behavioural expert and advisor on improving personal performance and achieving excellence in customer service.

The 2018 Year of the Woman will be celebrated at the show with Dr Kate Dashper, Leeds Beckett University, leading a panel debate on managing the gender gap within the meetings industry and how the number of women in senior and leadership positions can be increased.

Speaking about the session, Dr Dashper said: “It will be positive and hopefully inspiring, as women at different stages in their events career will share insights from their own professional journeys and offer suggestions and advice to the audience. The session is not just for women, as everyone can learn from insights into career development, and gender inequality is an issue for all of us to tackle to ensure the events industry is a leading sector for everyone to work within.”

Tea Colaianni, chair of Women in Hospitality 2020, will also be sharing the findings of a review into diversity in the industry, and introducing the Diversity in Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Charter, which is committed to promoting diversity across the industry.

Elsewhere, the Learning Carousel will provide an opportunity for event planners to find out about the latest innovations in meeting technology with a speed dating-style format, offering five-minute slots with the show’s technology exhibitors. There will also be a ‘Techxperts Assemble!’ session hosted by Abi Cannons of Slido, with a panel of tech experts ready to answer the audience’s burning questions – attendees can send in their questions in advance at slido.com #TMS18.

For details of the full education programme and to register to attend The Meetings Show, visit www.themeetingsshow.com. Join in the conversation using #MeetYouAtTheShow