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Exclusively for hosted buyers, The Meetings Show has today revealed details of its thrilling masterclass programme and dedicated welcome reception, designed to enhance connection and learning for hosted buyers ahead of the main show.

Taking place at Excel London from 24-25 June 2026, The Meetings Show continues to bring together the global meetings and events community, with hosted buyers once again at the heart of the experience.

Make way for the masters

Ahead of the show opening, hosted buyers are invited to enjoy a bespoke programme of masterclasses, sponsored by Venues of Excellence, Imago Venues and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, on 23rd June.

Offering a more in-depth learning environment tailored specifically to hosted buyers, this year’s programme reflects the evolving needs of the global events industry and focuses on future-facing thinking and real-world application. Across the day, hosted buyers will explore the key forces shaping the sector from AI and automation to generational change, engagement design and the human experience of live events.

Kicking off the masterclasses in style is SongDivision, global pioneers of music-based teambuilding. Setting the tone for the day ahead with energy and inspiration, their networking lunch will blend music, creativity and collaboration to break down barriers and spark meaningful connections.

Back by popular demand, Dr Graham Norris, The Meetings Show Conference Futurist, will lead a live research workshop exploring what meetings and events could look like in 2036. Harnessing the power of collective imagination, this unique session will take a deep dive into the drivers of change influencing the next 10 years.

The masterclasses will also feature interactive sessions such as ‘From gen X to gen AI: bridging teams across time, tech & TikTok’, where hosted buyers can discover how different generations collaborate and communicate within modern event teams. Hosted buyers will also be able to take part in a hands-on AI workshop focused on practical tools that can be implemented immediately to support planning and delivery.

Other fascinating highlights include ‘Networking without the cringe’, examining more inclusive and effective approaches to event networking, and ‘The New Rules of Engagement’, which analyses pressure, behaviour and the realities of working within high-performance event environments.

Finishing the day on a high note, SongDivision will return to perform a live, co-created ‘TMS Anthem’, bringing together key takeaways from across the programme in one original banger.

A warm welcome

Giving hosted buyers the chance to connect in a more relaxed setting before the show opens, the UK’s largest hosted buyer programme also includes a dedicated welcome reception.

Sponsored by Manchester Convention Bureau, part of Marketing Manchester, the reception will take place at the iconic Savage Garden rooftop bar with its spectacular views of the Tower of London. Bringing together hosted buyers, exhibitors and industry peers for an informal evening of networking, it will include live music, Manchester-themed cocktails, and real-time cooking stations. This is as well as the opportunity to ‘sip & paint’ a Manchester-themed mural in collaboration with Paintillio, and a chance to ‘collect & connect’ exclusively with supplier partners.

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester, said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the welcome reception and be part of such an important moment in the hosted buyer journey. It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring people together in a relaxed and welcoming environment and to showcase the kind of experiences destinations like Greater Manchester can offer.”

Setting the standard

The Meetings Show’s Hosted Buyer Programme is designed to make every moment count. With early access to education, a strong focus on meaningful connections, exclusive networking events, and the opportunity to take part in pre-and post-show FAM trips, it continues to set the standard for hosted buyer programmes in the UK and beyond.

Jack Marczewski, Portfolio Event Director, The Meetings Show, said: “We know how valuable time is for event professionals, which is why we’re always looking for ways to enhance the hosted buyer experience. Our dedicated masterclasses and welcome reception mean buyers can start making connections and gaining insights before the show has even begun - creating a more meaningful and rewarding experience from start to finish.”

Following strong demand, this year’s hosted buyer programme has now reached capacity. To ensure anyone still wishing to apply has the opportunity to do so, and in recognition that cancellations may occur, a dedicated waitlist has been opened. Places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications will remain open until June 18. Those interested in joining the waitlist can do so here.

Anyone who joins the waitlist but does not secure a hosted buyer place will still be welcome to attend the show as a visitor buyer and make their own travel arrangements. A useful option for those seeking inspiration, market insight and valuable industry connections, visitor buyers can take advantage of the extensive education programme, network organically with exhibitors and peers, discover new destinations and suppliers, and tailor their onsite experience around their own priorities and interests.

To find out more about the buyer and visitor registration options at The Meetings Show 2026, which will be co-located with Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show

2 June 26, UK: Arena Racecourse Company (ARC) is looking to redefine how drinks are delivered across business events, with a renewed focus on premium low and no alcohol options designed to sit alongside traditional offers at every level.

The move reflects a shift in delegate expectations. Low and no is no longer a secondary consideration or a niche request. It is now a core part of how audiences experience conferences, awards ceremonies and live events, and organisers are responding accordingly.

ARC’s updated approach integrates low and no drinks across its drink packages, ensuring that every guest, regardless of preference, has access to a considered and high-quality experience. This includes alcohol-free sparkling wines such as (example) French Bloom, Thomson & Scott Noughty and Copenhagen Sparkling Tea, and Freixenet 0.0%, premium gins, including refined serves from Seedlip, Pentire and Gordon’s 0%, and alcohol-free wines from producers such as Oddbird, Torres Natureo and Leitz Eins Zwei Zero.

The shift is less about adding options and more about rebalancing the experience. Where once low and no sat outside premium packages, it is now being designed in from the outset, across all price points.

This is particularly relevant in a market where delegates are increasingly moderating their alcohol intake, but still expect the same level of quality, presentation and attention to detail. For organisers, the absence of strong low and no options is becoming more visible and more consequential.

Julie Coates Walker, Group Head of Sales, at ARC, said: “Expectations have changed. Delegates want choice, but they also want consistency in quality. Our approach is to ensure that every guest feels equally considered, whether they are drinking alcohol or not. That means offering low and no options that stand alongside our premium packages, not separate from them.”

ARC’s position reflects a wider shift across the events sector, where inclusivity is increasingly measured through experience design as much as accessibility. As low and no becomes embedded in audience behaviour, organisers are being challenged to respond with the same level of intent. For ARC, this means that low and no is no longer an add-on. It is part of delivering a modern event.

1 June 26, London, UK: To mark the appointment of James B. Clarke as the new General Manager of London Hilton on Park Lane, the hotel has unveiled a cinematic social film demonstrating its new vision for events, brought to life through music, performance, atmosphere, and glamour.

Framed as a modern love letter to the hotel’s long-standing role at the centre of London’s awards and banqueting scene, the film draws on a distinctly swinging 60’s aesthetic. Shot in low light and rich in detail, it blends vintage glamour with contemporary energy: ball gowns, smoke-filled rooms, and spotlighted performances sit alongside a confident, modern edge.

At its core is an original swing-inspired track, performed by a trio of vocalists whose presence carries the film across the full-scale of event capability available at the hotel. Clarinets, double bass, and live percussion build a layered sound, while the chorus “Elevated, iconic, yours already” anchors the narrative in the hotel’s identity.

The setting is unmistakably Park Lane. A Bentley arrives. Doors open and the film moves through the different aspects of the hotel that bring events to life; ballrooms, corridors, behind-the-scenes moments, each frame reinforcing a sense of occasion that feels both timeless and current.

The film extends this heritage into something more contemporary, showcasing a variety of musical genres, bringing a different rhythm and perspective, and reflecting how events at the hotel continue to evolve across formats and audiences.

Commenting on the film, the newly appointed General Manager, James B. Clarke, said: “This hotel has always had a relationship with performance. There’s a history here of big nights, big moments, and a certain kind of glamour that people associate with Park Lane. It captures something real about how this place feels when it’s at its best.”

The film reflects a broader shift in how London Hilton on Park Lane is presenting itself to the market. Rather than focusing on spaces alone, it captures how those spaces come alive, through people, personality, timing, and choreography that underpins delivery at scale.

As a companion to the hotel’s recent repositioning, the film offers a more immediate expression of its direction: a venue that balances heritage with a clear sense of how modern events are created and experienced. For event organisers, it is less a showcase and more

an opportunity to see how events at London Hilton on Park Lane are built, and how that sense of occasion is brought to life.