Business events activities
Section 1
Across the year, the business events team organise activities for you to meet and network with international event buyers who book meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
This work is supported by the team in promoting Britain and our three nations to event buyers across global territories, seeking new business enquiries and opportunities.
Learn more about our business events nation partners:
Business events activities in 2024/2025
VisitBritain Association Conference
In February 2025 we will host an educational conference and workshop at the ICC Wales, welcoming British nation and city convention bureaus alongside international associations and professional congress organisers.
North America Business Events Trade Mission
In March 2025 MeetEngland will host their annual trade mission to North America to coincide with Successful Meeting University (SMU) International in New York City.
Germany Trade Mission
From 2-4 July 2024, MeetEngland hosted a trade mission across three German cities to meet meeting and incentive planners who book international events.
Meet us at industry events
PCMA Convening Leaders
Featuring business events leaders and industry trailblazers, this event features learning, networking and inspiration. Takes place in January 2025 in Houston, USA.
ICCA UK and Ireland Chapter Conference
This is the annual gathering for members of the UK and Ireland chapter of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Takes place in February 2025 in Leeds, UK.
The Meetings Show
We connect with MICE suppliers and buyers from across the UK and internationally, to generate valuable new leads and exposure. Takes place 25-26 June 2025 in London, UK.
PCMA EMEA
This three-day event unites the global business events industry for networking and keynote speeches. Takes place 15-17 October 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
ICCA Annual Congress
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) hosts its flagship congress for the global meetings industry. Takes place in October 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
The Business of Events: UK Policy Forum
The UK Policy Forum brings together senior business events leaders, policymakers, politicians, government officials, media and industry stakeholders to discuss the development of a long-term policy agenda for the sector. Takes place in November 2024 in London, UK.
Recent events
IBTM World - Nov 2024
MeetEngland exhibited at IBTM World in Barcelona, one of the key industry tradeshows in the business events calendar. The MeetEngland team were joined by 16 stand partners from across England including CVBs, DMCs, hotels and venues, who came to showcase their product offering alongside England’s impressive sector expertise.
Across the three days the MeetEngland stand hosted a total 561 one-to-one pre-scheduled meetings with international buyers and delivered six on-stand presentations that showcased England as a leading choice for meetings, incentives, conferences and events.
During the show, MeetEngland also partnered with leading UK influencer Delegate Wranglers to create social media content profiling our stand partners through live interviews which were streamed across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
IMEX America - Oct 2024
MeetEngland exhibited at IMEX America in Las Vegas in October 2024. Our team was joined by 11 stand partners from across England, including convention bureaus Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, showcasing the country’s valuable infrastructure, sector expertise and diverse product options.
Across the three days, international buyers were welcomed onto the MeetEngland stand for a total 164 one-to-one pre-scheduled meetings and five group presentations.
IMEX Frankfurt - May 2024
Representing MeetEngland at IMEX Frankfurt 2024, the team were joined by 19 destination partners from across England. During the trade show partners conducted over 350 meetings with international event and association planners, and hosted six destination presentations.
Alongside trade show activity, the team organised our annual evening event for stand partners with event planners from Europe and North America, and a breakfast with North American association planners to hear from MeetEngland, VisitScotland Business Events and Meet in Wales.
Great Ambassador Networking Group (GANG) - April 2024
MeetEngland hosted the Great Ambassador Networking Group’s Elevate Conference in Bristol, in partnership with Meet Bristol & Bath and the University of Bristol. This was GANG’s first gathering since 2019 and saw attendees sharing their experience and advice for working with sector ambassadors to win, then optimise the positive impact and legacy of congresses in Britain.
North America East Coast Trade Mission - March 2024
The team organised networking events and sales calls in New York City, New Jersey and Washington, DC for English convention bureaus to meet and present their destination to meeting, incentive and association planners. The week included engagements with over 50 planners generating new event enquiries for attending cities.
Association Conference - February 2024
In partnership with MeetEngland, Meet in Wales, VisitScotland Business Events and the Association of British Professional Congress Organisers (ABPCO), VisitBritain hosted our inaugural Association Conference in Edinburgh. The conference brought together 80 industry professionals including UK nations, city convention bureaus, international associations and professional congress organisers to consider business events’ ‘impact beyond the plenary,’ exploring ways to maximise the positive impact of a congress.
The conference saw the soft launch the VisitBritain Impactful Framework, created in partnership with #MEET4IMPACT and GDS-Movement to support the ongoing collective work in creating positive impact and legacy strategies across the industry.
