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 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 by Yeoh
Soon Hin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy for Penang at ExCeL London.
Yeoh Soon Hin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy for Penang, opened the show
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 on 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.
