Hosted Buyer Program

MIC’s Hosted Buyer Program allows meeting planners and MIC sponsors/exhibitors to conduct business in an efficient and productive setting during exclusive hours prior to the MIC Annual Conference opening on Thursday, March 12, 2026. In today’s fast-paced and competitive environment, curated meetings with potential supplier partners are a valuable use of time. At MIC’s Hosted Buyer Program, you meet one-on-one with suppliers who can help you attain your business objectives and get all the top-notch education and networking that MIC has to offer—for free!

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How it works:

  • Planners apply for Hosted Buyer status, and applications are reviewed and approved based on verification of identified meetings and events. The selection criteria are based on purchasing and decision-making authority.
  • Approved planners and sponsors/exhibitors will schedule appointments through a customized registration portal.
  • Appointments are scheduled during exclusive pre-opening time from 8:30 - 10:30 am on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Hosted Buyers must schedule and complete a minimum number of appointments determined by the tier of participation. All appointments are nine minutes in length.
     

Hosted Buyer Qualification Criteria:

All buyers MUST:

  • Have the responsibility for researching, organizing, influencing, or making budgetary decisions for events
  • List two confirmed or planned events due to take place in the next three years
  • Be able to demonstrate involvement with an in-person or hybrid (not solely virtual) meeting within the past year
  • Have at least one event of 50 attendees or more


Note: The MIC team will check the details you provide with the venues listed. If any information is incorrect, this may delay your application or result in a declined application.

MIC 2026 has the final decision on all hosted buyer approvals into the program.

New this year: Three Tiers of Planner Participation 

  • Standard Hosted Buyer: Registration | 4 Appointments (Minimum Requirement) 
  • Enhanced Hosted Buyer: Registration + 2 Nights Hotel | 8 Appointments (Minimum Requirement) 
  • Full Hosted Buyer: Registration + 2 Nights Hotel + Airfare (up to $400) | 8 Appointments (Minimum Requirement) 

Conditions of Attendance:

  • A hosted buyer is required to attend both days in full.
  • A hosted buyer is required to make a minimum number of appointments based on the selected level of planner participation.  The required appointments will be 9-minute  with exhibitors, to be held on the morning of March 12th during the designated hosted buyer appointment times from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Arrive early for your first appointment.
  • Acceptance into the hosted buyer program is at the discretion of MIC. Hosted buyer applications will require a credit card fee of $1.00. A hosted buyer who does not meet the qualifying criteria will be allowed to sign up as a paid attendee at the early bird rate.
  • MIC may limit the number of hosted buyers per organization.
  • MIC reserves the right to decline a hosted buyer’s application without providing a reason for doing so.
  • MIC reserves the right to cancel the participation of a hosted buyer, including after the buyer’s acceptance into the program, for example, should it become apparent that the buyer is unable to fulfill their obligations and commitments to the program.

Deadlines

  • Applications will continue to be accepted until February 3, 2026.
  • Early Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted or declined starting February 10, 2026. 
  • Accepted Hosted Buyers will receive additional information and a customized link to make appointments the week of  February 24, 2026.
  • Appointments are scheduled during the exclusive exhibit hall pre-opening time from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Cancellation Policy

  • We understand that schedules can change at short notice; therefore, we have established the following tiered cancellation policy.
  • Cancellations received on or before February 12, 2026, will not incur a cancellation fee. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to info@mic-colorado.org
  • After February 12, 2026:
    • Standard Hosted Buyer: $150 cancellation fee will apply and will be charged to your credit card on file.
    • Enhanced Hosted Buyer: $650 cancellation fee will apply and will be charged to your credit card on file.
    • Full Hosted Buyer: $650 cancellation fee will apply and will be charged to your credit card on file. No flight reimbursement will be issued.

Program Exclusions:

  • Standard Hosted Buyer: Transportation, Accommodations, and Parking are not included
  • Enhanced Hosted Buyer: Transportation and Parking are not included
  • Full Hosted Buyer: Transportation to/from the airport and to conference events is not included. Parking is also not included.

Program and Attendance Dates:

Wednesday, March 11 (tentative)

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Awards Reception 

Thursday, March 12 (tentative)

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Hosted Buyer Appointments 

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Educational Sessions 1

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM | Coffee Break in Exhibits 

11:15 AM – 11:40 AM | MIC Welcome Experience 

11:40 AM – 12:30 PM | Keynote Session

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch in Exhibits 

1:30 PM – 2:20 PM | Educational Sessions 2 

2:30 PM – 3:20 PM | Educational Sessions 3

3:20 PM – 4:00 PM | Coffee Break in Exhibits 

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Keynote Session 

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Reception in Exhibits

Friday, March 13 (tentative)

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Keynote Session 

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Coffee Break in Exhibits 

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Educational Sessions 4

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Educational Sessions 5

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | Keynote Session

See our MIC FAQs for more information, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch with our hosted buyer team member who is available to help at info@mic-colorado.org.