The Meetings Show Introduces Industry-First On-Site Crèche for Attending Families

The Meetings Show will become the first trade show in the global meetings, incentives, and events industry to introduce a fully staffed on-site crèche for attending families, marking a significant step forward in accessibility and inclusion across business events.

The initiative, delivered in partnership with specialist childcare provider Nipperbout, reflects a broader industry conversation around attendee wellbeing, work-life balance, and the changing realities faced by modern event professionals.

Available during the 24–25 June 2026 edition of the show at Excel London, the service will cater to children of all ages — from babies and toddlers through to teenagers — while also providing dedicated breastfeeding and nappy-changing facilities for parents attending the event.

Located in the Gallery Rooms on the venue’s north side, just moments away from the main exhibition floor, the Ofsted-accredited crèche will be fully staffed by qualified Nipperbout childcare professionals and is expected to accommodate between 10 and 15 children throughout the event.

This year’s themed experience, ‘Epic Play Quest’, will transform the childcare space into a live-action adventure environment inspired by popular children’s games, featuring creative workshops, active play zones, imaginative challenges, and social activities designed to encourage interaction and engagement.

For organisers, the move represents more than an additional attendee service; it signals a growing recognition that accessibility and inclusion must increasingly be designed into events from the outset.
 

ESCRS Partners with Nipperbout to Provide a Crèche for its 2024 Annual Conference

Jack Marczewski, Portfolio Event Director, The Meetings Show, said: “Today’s event professionals are balancing busy careers alongside family life and other real-world responsibilities, and we wanted The Meetings Show to reflect that reality. Introducing an on-site crèche is about making it easier for people to attend, participate and get the most from the show without having to choose between professional opportunities and caring responsibilities. We know accessibility and inclusivity mean different things to different people, and this is one way we can better support our community and create an event experience that works for modern attendees.”

Nipperbout, which has specialised in event childcare services for more than three decades, sees the partnership as part of a wider evolution in how live events are being designed and experienced.

Janthea Brigden, CEO and Director of Childcare, Nipperbout, said: “For over 34 years, we’ve supported organisers to create environments where families are considered an integral part of the attendee experience and not an afterthought. Providing childcare within live events requires specialist expertise to deliver safely and effectively in busy, fast-paced environments. We’re proud to be partnering with The Meetings Show on this initiative, which reflects a growing recognition across the industry that accessibility and inclusion need to be embedded into event design from the outset, and we look forward to talking to organisers about our services on stand F52.”

Parents and carers wishing to use the service will be able to pre-book spaces until 10 June using the dedicated event code, while limited drop-in availability will also be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Now entering its 14th edition, The Meetings Show continues to position itself as one of the UK’s leading gatherings for meetings and events professionals. The 2026 edition is expected to welcome more than 550 exhibitors and representatives from over 80 international destinations, alongside its co-located events Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show.
 

Read our exclusive interview with Nipperbout here in HQ #117 (page 47)
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.