What kind of hosted buyers attend Italy at Hand?
Highly qualified international hosted buyers, carefully selected by Convention Bureau Italia, including decision makers and MICE professionals from corporate event agencies, DMCs, incentive houses, PCOs, and corporations.
All participants have a strong and proven interest in Italy as a destination for events, congresses, incentive trips, and corporate travel, which they organize regularly across Europe and worldwide and with potential events in Italy.
In short: everything related to business travel and corporate events.
Italy at Hand is the ideal meeting point between MICE demand and supply, where valuable business connections are made in a strategic, experiential, and authentically Italian environment.
What will hosted buyers experience and learn at Italy at Hand 2025?
International hosted buyers attending Italy at Hand 2025 will enjoy a unique, immersive journey through Venice and The Land of Venice, discovering them as top-tier MICE destinations.
Italy at Hand provides a concrete opportunity to understand what makes Venice one of the most sought-after destinations for corporate events, incentive trips, and international congresses.
Buyers will take part in three half-days of targeted B2B meetings with a curated selection of highly qualified Italian MICE suppliers, including:
- Local CVBs and DMOs
- Leading international hotel chains
- Business hotels and luxury boutique properties
- Congress centers and unique event venues
- Italian DMCs with proven experience managing corporate and incentive groups across Italy
- Transport providers and technical/logistics service companies for events
Additionally, optional post-tours will be available to explore The Land of Venice and discover everything the Veneto region has to offer for business travel and corporate events.
World-Class Networking at Its Best
We believe the strongest connections are built through meaningful meetings and shared experiences. Our program is thoughtfully designed to ensure every moment provides unparalleled opportunities to grow your business network.
Why Italy at Hand?
It’s a B2B event carefully crafted for each participant, capable of surprising and inspiring even the most experienced event planners.
For four days, international meeting planners will be hosted in one of Venice’s most iconic hotels, taking part in an intense and engaging program that offers the opportunity to discover the destination, gain fresh inspiration for future events, and connect with fellow industry professionals from around the world.
What truly sets Italy at Hand apart is its comprehensive national representation. Participating suppliers span all key segments of the MICE industry – from hotel chains and independent properties to convention centres, DMCs, venues, and event agencies – and come from every region of Italy.
Thanks to the involvement of local Convention Bureaus and DMOs, the event offers a complete and hands-on overview of Italy’s diverse offering, helping international planners discover the most suitable solutions for their events, no matter the location.
The program includes three half-days of B2B appointments, exclusive site visits, dinners in different venues across the city, and a curated selection of “at hand” experiential activities, designed to be easily proposed to their international clients.
To complete the experience, optional post-tours will be available to explore all that the Veneto region has to offer in terms of hospitality, culture, and business travel solutions.
Italy at Hand. Your next best business decision.
Save the date – this time, we’ll handle everything for you!
Once your participation is confirmed, we’ll take care of everything: from booking your flight (unless a direct reimbursement is required), to arranging transfers within Italy, reserving your hotel and experiences, and even communicating any allergies or food intolerances.
All that’s left for you is to manage your B2B agenda… and maybe pack some motion sickness tablets, just in case.
For once, let someone else take care of all the planning — you just enjoy the experience
- How it works
Attending Italy at Hand as a Buyer
The Italy at Hand hosted buyer programme is reserved for international professionals with proven decision-making power in the selection of destinations and suppliers for MICE events.
Eligible profiles include:
- Corporate event managers responsible for planning meetings, product launches, incentives and conventions
- Incentive agencies organising motivational travel and events for corporate clients
- Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) managing international conferences across Europe
- Association meeting planners seeking destinations for rotating congresses
- TMCs and international DMCs including Italy as a strategic destination for events and incentives
All buyers undergo a structured qualification process based on the number and type of events organised, annual budget managed, and demonstrated interest in hosting events in Italy.
During Italy at Hand, buyers will have access to pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with over 30 carefully selected Italian suppliers representing the full spectrum of the country’s MICE offer. These include:
- Local and regional Convention Bureaus, offering free expert support for planning events across Italy
- 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts equipped with meeting spaces in cities, seaside destinations, mountains and countryside
- Conference centres suited for corporate and association events, with varied capacities
- Specialised Italian DMCs, offering tailor-made proposals and deep local knowledge
- Unique and exclusive venues, such as historical villas, museums, theatres, and repurposed industrial spaces
- Suppliers of event services, including technical production, catering, creative agencies and more
A digital matchmaking platform supports the appointment scheduling, ensuring each meeting is based on actual business interests.
Qualified hosted buyers will enjoy a fully hosted experience that includes:
- Round-trip international flights to and from Italy
- 3 nights’ accommodation in a 4- or 5-star hotel in the host city
- All airport and local transfers during the event
- Guaranteed participation in 3 half days of B2B meetings with a personalised agenda
- All official meals, coffee breaks, and evening dinners, in some of the most evocative venues in the destination
- Experiential networking activities, showcasing Italy’s excellence in art, gastronomy, design and culture
- Optional post-event fam trips to other Italian regions (limited spots, by invitation only)
The hosted buyer programme is designed to combine business efficiency with a deeply authentic experience of Italy as a leading MICE destination.
Yes, we often organize FAM trips after the event to showcase the best of the destination. Details will be shared closer to the event date.
Our cancellation policy will be outlined in your registration agreement. Please review it carefully and contact us with any questions or concerns.
Contact Cristina Grumeza – International Relationship Manager – cristina@conventionbureauitalia.com
- hosted buyer Benefits
What’s included
You’ll meet the highest-quality MICE venues, destinations, and services over just a few days, saving you months of research and giving you maximum return on your time.
33 targeted one-to-one meetings
Meetings at IAH are the best in the business, personalised to your business needs and supported by cutting-edge AI matchmaking tech and our onsite team.
Destination discovery & site visits
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.
Flights, accomodation and F&B
Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus.
Discover more
- Feedback buyer
“The event was an excellent platform to network with the professionals of the Hospitality Industry and gain deeper insights into Italy’s rich cultural, Hospitality & Events options.”
Sabrina
IAH 2024
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to be included as a hosted buyer at Italy at Hand – Torino. It was an incredible experience to discover the beauty and potential of Destination Italia for future events I plan to organize for my clients.
The meeting was excellently managed, and I was truly impressed by how well-prepared and professional the suppliers were. It was such a pleasure to connect with destinations that were previously unfamiliar to me, including Vincenza, Padova, Rovigo, and so many more. Each destination showcased its unique charm, leaving a lasting impression.
The site visits were enlightening, and I look forward to returning to explore further.“
Heater
IAH 2024 Torino
“It was a great pleasure to attend the Italy at Hand event. Thank you so much for inviting me.
I always prefer to see the destinations, hotels, venues, and restaurants in person. It makes conversations with clients so much easier when I’ve experienced them myself.“
Tuija
IAH 2024 Torino
“I really had the best time meeting with providers from all over Italy and discovering more about all the possibilities they can offer in terms of MICE event.
I did not know Piemonte before, and I feel now that I have a better understanding of what we can propose and would love to bring group in this region.
The whole event was really inspiring for me, especially the meetings with the DMC, and I can’t wait to be back with incentive groups!“
Angélique
IAH 2024, Torino
“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the fantastic event you organized! It was not only well-structured but also highly effective and engaging. The attention to detail and the effort put into ensuring a seamless experience did not go unnoticed.
The event provided valuable insights and opportunities, and I truly appreciate all the hard work that went into making it such a success.
Thank you once again for your dedication and professionalism.”
Lara
IAH 2024, Torino
“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with so many incredible professionals and learn more about the unique and diverse destinations Italy has to offer. I particularly enjoyed our conversations and the insightful information shared during the event. I’m excited to bring these new experiences and ideas back to my clients, and I will certainly be working to promote Italy as a top destination in the upcoming year.”
Anna
IAH 2024, Torino
“It was an amazing opportunity to get to know better the region and meet with a great selection of suppliers from all over Italy. I came back to Brazil with new ideas and options for my clients, which is really challenging for Italy as they already know really well the destination in general. I have good new options to surprise them now.“
Paula
IAH 2024, Torino
“As a first timer, it was a great opportunity to meet new people, make connections and learn about the destination of Florence!“
Anthi
IAH 2023, Florence
“I had the possibility to learn more in-depth about Italy and making the right connections for business.“
Kelsey
IAH 2023, Florence
“I especially loved the pasta making activity and would definitely include it when planning an event in Italy. It was an opportunity to network with the other planners and eat delicious pasta. Well done! The hotels did an incredible job on the site tours and the dinners they planned for us were exceptional! Thank you!!!“
Andrea
IAH 2023, Florence
“Suppliers were really well distributed between Convention Bureaus, DMCs, Hotels, Services. Excellent! “
Cristina
IAH 2022, Naples
“Perfect organisation, great quality of the participants, very interesting activities and social events on a par with the magnificent country of Italy and the fantastic city of Naples.“
Daniele
IAH 2022, Naples
“I really liked that the meetings were held on two half days. The length of the meetings was perfect and the breaks in the schedule were much appreciated. The quality of suppliers was excellent.“
Martin
IAH 2022, Naples
“The social programme was extremely interesting, allowing to discover even more the Italian and Neapolitan beauty, tradition and uniqueness, as well as creating an ideal atmosphere for sharing ideas and profitable networking.“
Daniele
IAH 2022, Naples
“The quality of the venue for the Gala Dinner simply blew me away. It was surreal, and so very, very memorable. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this event.“
Martin
IAH 2022, Naples
“Italy at Hand was a great way to meet many suppliers quickly and get a good overview of a destination.“
Marjolaine
IAH 2022, Naples
“There are so many interesting hidden gems in Italy and this is an excellent way to uncover them in detail.
There is a good mix between the social and business aspect which is essential for networking which I think is one of the most important aspect of this event.“
Brendan
IAH 2022, Naples
