Organisers of new meetings and events trade show The Meetings Show UK - which will launch next year - will invest £1m into the hosted buyer programme.

Show organiser Centaur has announced that by investing the money into the show, exhibitors will have access to 13,500 scheduled appointments from 1,500 hosted buyers. The programme will be run by a full time hosted buyer management team, who will also be assisted by recruitment and marketing specialists in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Russia, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe to bring in international visitors. Centaur has also recruited specialists to focus on attracting association buyers.

The diary and registration system is being created by RefTech, an industry delegate and attendee management specialist which already provides hosted buyer programmes for both The Business Travel Show and IMEX.

The Meetings Show UK event director, Steve Knight, said: “Hosted buyer programmes have continually demonstrated the fact that they are fundamental to a successful show that delivers a high return on exhibitor investment. Through their financial commitment to the hosted buyer programme, Centaur has clearly demonstrated its desire to deliver an industry leading show that meets the needs of all attendees."

Hosted buyers will receive travel, accommodation and ground transportation for the show which takes place at London's Olympia from 9-11 July 2013.

Pictured: Steve Knight