Show Partners

Hosted Buyers enjoy the ride

Hundreds of Hosted Buyers headed to London’s Science Museum last night for a fun-filled interactive evening of networking, staged in partnership with Dubai Business Events.

#MeetYouAtTheShow

Just some of today’s on-stand networking opportunities

Visitportugal and its partners Hotel Cascais Miragem; MTS Globe Portugal; NAU Hotels & Resorts; Real Hotels Group and TAP Portugal, invite you onto their stand (E501) each day from 2pm to taste a pastel de nata and enjoy a glass of Port. Meet Bristol and partners will be hosting a drinks reception from 4pm today on stand J301. They will be serving locally produced wine from Aldwick Court Farm & Vineyard, a pretty venue located just 30 minutes outside of Bristol city centre. Join CHS Group for drinks from 4pm today on stand G700. The group is showcasing 18 independent venues, providing buyers with inspiration and the chance to network with exclusive properties. Academic Venue Solutions invites you for drinks at 12pm on stand I201. It’s an opportunity for organisers to meet Event Exeter, the University of Salford and Nottingham Conferences and discover why academic venues are a smart choice. VisitScotland is presenting new venues and developments at 3.45pm today on stand H400. Scottish cocktails and canapés will then be served from 4pm. Venues of Excellence will be celebrating its 2nd anniversary this evening with Imago Venues and Warwick Conferences, and taking guests on a bus tour of iconic London landmarks, with a delicious afternoon tea and gin cocktails served on board. Spaces limited, visit stand G601 by midday to reserve your place. To celebrate the launch of True North Gin, the first gin to be distilled and bottled in Sheffield in over 100 years, Marketing Sheffield is asking visitors to stand I602 to choose from a series of flavours to find their favourite, with a gin expert on hand at 3pm to share tips for the perfect pour.

Cocktails for charity

The annual MPI charity party will take place this evening from 17.30 to 19.30 in the Pillar Hall at Olympia.

‘MPI Foundation - Cocktails for Charity’ will offer a chance to network with peers, meet new contacts and celebrate a successful first day at the show. All proceeds raised will go to the MPI Foundation EMEA, directly benefitting key programmes for both the UK and EMEA chapter programmes, and additionally helping to fund the foundation’s young leader’s development programmes.

General admission tickets cost £20 for Buyers and £35 for suppliers and can be purchased at the MPI Ticket Desk next to the exhibition hall entrance.

Novotel launches easy booking concept

Novotel, part of the AccorHotels network, is debuting an exciting new concept for its meetings spaces and running a competition for a chance to win an overnight stay at Novotel London Canary Wharf.

Along with fresh and modernised meeting rooms across selected from a simplified booking system, which will make it easy to create customised meetings with themed and on-trend refreshments – giving guests the boost they need to stay engaged – as well as inspired breakout areas to Relax, Play, Share, Meet and Refresh. Stand: G301

British cities shine in ICCA global rankings

The latest ICCA rankings confirmed the UK’s global position in the top three, with London retaining its fifth place for a third consecutive year for the total number of international association events hosted.

Some 20 UK cities feature in these rankings, each with their own selection of quality venues, hotels and infrastructure, which stage seamless event experiences for global audiences. Scottish cities, which feature in the global ICCA rankings include Edinburgh (32nd), Glasgow (72nd) and Aberdeen (299th). Aberdeen’s aspiration is to climb the rankings with the construction of a £333 million multi-purpose convention centre, opening in 2019. Wales will see its new International Convention Centre open in 2019, offfering 26,000sqm of events space for up to 5,000 delegates. Welsh-ranked cities for international congresses included Cardiff (299th), with attractions such as Cardiff Castle and the world-renowned Principality Stadium, home of Welsh rugby. While in Manchester, the city’s Manchester Central conference centre has helped the city achieve 84th spot in the rankings. In Northern Ireland, Belfast achieved 165th place in the rankings. This month, the city’s £53 million Grand Central Hotel will open its doors. With 300 bedrooms and 23-storeys high, the Grand Central Hotel will be Northern Ireland’s largest hotel. It will boast two conference suites, three meeting rooms and the Panorama Lounge for private receptions for up to 100 guests. Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events for VisitBritain said: “These rankings reinforce the UK as a world-leader in hosting international business events. VisitBritain is committed to working with the sector to grow the UK’s share of international business events.”

UNI World Congress makes its UK debut

The UNI World Congress brought its flagship event to the UK for the first time in 2018, thanks to the warm British welcome and first-class facilities available for largescale conferences and events.

The event, which incorporated the UNI Women’s Conference from 1415 June, and the UNI Global Union World Congress from 17-20 June, took place at the ACC Liverpool. Over 2,500 delegates from more than 40 countries arrived at the waterfront venue. The UNI Global Union represents more than 20 million workers from over 900 trade unions worldwide. Speakers included Jeremy Corbyn, Reverend Dr William Barber, Guy Ryder and Dilma Rousseff. A spectacular opening ceremony, created by Andrew Sherlock, head of drama at Liverpool John Moores University, in partnership with Culture Liverpool, took place in the Echo Arena, part of the ACC Liverpool complex, on 17 June. Philip Jennings, UNI Global Union general secretary, said: “We were delighted to bring the UNI Women’s Conference and the UNI World Congress to Liverpool, a city recognised throughout the world for its warmth, humour and fighting spirit. This was the largest global union gathering in 2018. “Liverpool has its roots in the growth of the labour movement in the UK and we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the TUC as well as 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. “Our 2,000 plus participants enjoyed a warm scouse welcome. Culture Liverpool and ACC Liverpool made us feel part of the city and we had a great event.” UNI World Congress generated £5.1 million in economic impact for the city region with delegates packing out hotel rooms across the city. The event formed part of the Liverpool 2018 programme, marking the 10th anniversary of the city’s reign as European Capital of Culture. Bob Prattey, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “We worked with the organiser of UNI Global Union Congress for many years to secure and organise this significant event, which came to the UK for the first time.” Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events for VisitBritain said: “We are delighted the UNI World Congress chose the UK for its 2018 event, and that it achieved record attendance. This gives international organisers confidence that by choosing the UK, their events will be a great success.” Stand: H600