The guide
Private forum or trade show: which suits your business?
A hosted buyer forum and a trade show both put luxury travel suppliers in front of buyers, but they work differently. At a hosted buyer forum such as Private Luxury, a limited number of selected buyers are hosted by the organiser and meet exhibitors through one-to-one appointments scheduled in advance. At a trade show, exhibitors take a stand and meet whoever visits the floor. Which suits you depends on what you want from the event.
The two formats compared
| Private Luxury (hosted buyer forum) | Typical trade show | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | A limited number of selected buyers: 120 to 130 planned per 2027 edition | Usually open to any registered trade visitor; audiences are typically much larger |
| How you meet buyers | Up to 43 one-to-one meetings, matched and scheduled before the event | Visitors come to your stand; appointments are usually arranged by exhibitors themselves |
| Buyer selection | Each buyer is reviewed by the event team for fit before a place is offered | Varies by show; often open registration for trade professionals |
| Setting | Residential: three days at a host hotel, with shared experiences and evening events | A convention or exhibition centre, with visitors coming and going |
| Exhibitor presence | A meeting table for one delegate | A stand, often staffed by a team, with build and design costs |
When each format fits
A private forum fits when the aim is a set number of focused conversations with pre-selected buyers from known markets, over a few days. A trade show fits brands that want broad visibility to a large, open audience, or to meet many existing partners in one place. Many suppliers use both.
Frequently asked questions
How is a hosted buyer forum different from a trade show?
At a hosted buyer forum such as Private Luxury, a limited number of selected buyers are hosted by the organiser and meet exhibitors through one-to-one appointments scheduled in advance. At a trade show, exhibitors take a stand and meet whoever visits the floor; meetings are usually arranged by the participants themselves.
When does a private forum suit an exhibitor better than a trade show?
When the aim is a set number of focused conversations with pre-selected buyers from known markets, over a few days. A trade show suits brands that want broad visibility to a large, open audience.
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