The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and UKinbound have joined forces with VisitBritain to deliver a unique business-to-business event in 2012. The VisitBritain Hosted Buyers Marketplace (HBM) is an exclusive opportunity for British tourism suppliers and destinations to meet and do business with 150 specially selected international buyers from some 20 countries being brought over and hosted by VisitBritain for the occasion.

The Hosted Buyers Marketplace will be held at Wembley Stadium on 19 March, the day prior to ETOA and UKinbound’s well-established Britain & Ireland Marketplace (BIM) at the same venue. Together these two back-to-back workshops give tourism businesses even greater opportunity to reach key buyers through a programme of pre-scheduled and open appointments with additional networking at a gala dinner.

ETOA’s Executive Director, Tom Jenkins said:
“I am really pleased to be working in partnership with VisitBritain and UKinbound on this new industry networking event. It affords ETOA members and the wider tourism industry in Britain an exclusive opportunity to reach 150 international buyers here on our doorstep in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. Co-located with our successful annual Britain & Ireland Marketplace workshop, it gives everyone even more reason to put 19-20 March at Wembley Stadium in their diaries!”

Chief Executive of Visit Britain Sandie Dawe said:
“VisitBritain welcomes the opportunity to work alongside ETOA and UKinbound to deliver what will be a fantastic opportunity for British tourism to showcase a wide range of products to a network of international buyers. Buyers will also be taken on familiarisation trips to experience first-hand what the UK has to offer.

“The Hosted Buyers Marketplace is well positioned to build on the opportunity to showcase Britain during 2012 as a result of the Queen’s Diamond Jubliee and hosting the 2012 Games, and to ensure British product features heavily in international programmes. This work will be supported by our ambitious “You’re Invited” marketing programme over the next four years.”

Mary Rance of UKinbound said:
“UKinbound is delighted to be a partner with ETOA and VisitBritain in this new initiative. It provides our members with a unique and invaluable opportunity to meet and do business with VisitBritain’s hosted international buyers. Timed to take place adjacent to the Britain and Ireland Marketplace Workshop (BIM), which has become regarded as one of the key events in the inbound calendar, this new workshop adds even more business benefits for suppliers and buyers.”