We are looking forward to exhibiting at The Meetings Show on the 19 – 21 October 2020 in a bid to bring hundreds of thousands pounds worth of potential events and conferences business to the region in 2021 and beyond. This will support the recovery of the local economy – particularly the business events and conferences sector, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic – by creating a stream of pipeline business for the coming years. For the first time ever, this prestigious event will be a fully virtual experience, allowing business continuity in a safe environment.
Launched in 2013, The Meetings Show is the UK’s premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) exhibition. Exhibitors include hotels, destinations, destination management companies, conference centres, venues and technology suppliers, while buyers originate from sectors including corporate meeting and association planners; venue finding, event management and marketing agencies; company executives; executive assistants; and the not-for-profit and public sectors.
We will be showcasing the very best of the city and its world-class conference venues on the virtual ‘exhibition floor’ via a series of appointments with events organisers from the international meetings industry. Our experienced team are keen to create long-lasting business connections, which could help to bring huge benefits to the city over the coming months and years and support its economic recovery from COVID-19.
We will use this invaluable opportunity to promote Nottingham’s fantastic event venues as well as the £2bn regeneration of the city including £30m Nottingham Castle transformation and the multi-million pound refurbishment of the De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre, which reopened in spring 2020. The venue offers state-of-the-art meetings and events spaces, banqueting suites and magnificent, contemporary public spaces, with sustainability at the core of the redevelopment.
We will also showcase our venue finding website, www.meetinnottingham.co.uk, which provides information about the highly varied range of conference venues available in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (from a 10,000 seat arena to a meeting room in the Grade I listed Nottingham Castle currently undergoing a £30m transformation and overlooking the city to a unique virtual reality gaming arena), with detailed information about capacity, facilities, and equipment, all with stunning imagery and an improved visitor journey.
Part of the tourist board Visit Nottinghamshire, Meet in Nottingham’s role is to help companies, event organisers and associations from all over the globe to find and book world-class venues across Nottingham. The organisation’s attendance at The Meetings Show in June 2019 resulted in around 80 enquiries regarding major conference events, which were projected to generate an estimated £600,000 for the local economy through the booking of conference venues and accommodation as well as local transport, leisure, hospitality and retail businesses.
VisitBritain Head of Business Events, Kerrin MacPhie, said:
“This year the Meetings Show is going virtual and although we cannot meet in person we are pleased to be showcasing the outstanding locations, venues and experiences that make the UK a leading destination for events.”
“Following a great response after last year’s exhibition the historic city of Nottingham is attending, underscoring its value to the industry. Although the sector is facing a time of great uncertainty, the industry is working tirelessly to demonstrate that the UK is getting ready to safely welcome international events back when the time is right.”
Robert Dixon, interim Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said:
“Our attendance at The Meetings Show last year led to a series of promising leads which could generate well over half a million pounds for the local economy. We’re delighted to be returning to the show this year, with its innovative virtual format opening up new possibilities with events organisers from all over the world. The Meetings Show provides a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the very best of our city, positioning it as a key conference destination for international event organisers as well as growing our network and forging long-lasting relationships with like-minded event professionals, and we’re confident that our presence at the show will pay off with a major boost to the local economy as these events come to fruition in the years to come.”
To register for this year’s event and talk to a member of our team please click here.
Posted on 08 October 2020
