The value of sport in communities and how staging events like The Olympics can have a catalytic effect on improving them was one of the key messages delivered by Lord Sebastian Coe in his opening keynote of The Meetings Show 2022.
Following his joint keynote with TEAMS Europe, which recapped on his work staging the London 2012 Olympics, Lord Coe took part in a fireside chat with Jason Gewirtz, executive editor of SportsTravel Magazine.
It’s been 10 years since the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London set a new standard for producing the world’s largest sporting events. In the decade since, the city and the region have attracted hundreds of events based on the successful organisation during the summer of 2012.
Building a strong team around you and focusing on successful delivery of an event to help build a legacy were tips shared by the former MP and Olympic middle-distance runner.
He said: “The role of an organising committee is not to build a legacy, it is to deliver the best event it possibly can. If it does that, you have got a legacy.”
Lord Coe’s keynote kicked off a successful first day of The Meetings Show 2022 with thousands of meetings taking place between suppliers and buyers, hours of insightful education sessions delivered, and valuable connections made.
The landmark 10th edition of the show was officially opened today (29 June) by Yeoh Soon Hin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy for Penang at ExCeL London.
Reflecting the global meetings and events industry’s desire to get back to business after two years of disruption caused by the pandemic, this year’s show is twice the size compared to 2021, with more than 500 exhibitors from across the globe.
As well as attending meetings with the show’s quality exhibitors and networking events, visitors flocked to education sessions, the Event tech tour, allowing visitors to find out about the latest trends and developments from some of the leading technology suppliers, and attending panel discussions on what hybrid taught us, are venue finders being displaced by technology, generating engagement beyond events, the metaverse, COP26 and other hot topics within our industry.
Throughout the day, there were plenty of opportunities to network and unwind at exhibitors’ on-stand drinks, and visitors celebrated The Meetings Show’s 10th edition at a special drinks reception, sponsored by Visit Norway and featuring singer songwriter Ryan Keen and DJ ‘Foxy Arve’ on the decks.
More education, appointments and networking are set to take place tomorrow (Thursday 30 June) as the show opens its doors for what is expected to be an equally busy second and final day.
Highlights include panel sessions tackling burning issues including ‘Is the Meetings Industry Suffering from PTSD?’, ‘The Great Recruitment Challenge – how can the industry rebuild its workforce’, ‘Is the industry greenwashing?’ and a ‘Dialogue on diversity within the events industry’.
Jack Marczewski, event director, The Meetings Show, said: “It has been an incredible first day of The Meetings Show 2022 and we are thrilled to see so many successful meetings being held between exhibitors and buyers. Tomorrow is set to be another packed day of insightful education sessions and valuable networking events and we look forward to meeting you at the show.”
For more information and to register as a visitor, visit www.themeetingsshow.com/register.
