London is a city of diversity and choice, whether it’s hotels, venues or activities – there is so much to choose from. London’s offers so much to see and do that you really can see the world in just one city.
London is also an ever changing, and since winning the bid to host the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games there has been an even greater buzz around the city.
New hotels are being built, businesses are developing, new venues are being designed and more transport links are being created. The city is thriving and there has never been a better time to come to London to do business.
London attracts hundred’s of Business trips every year and in 2007 Business visitors spent a record £3 billion in the capital. In 2007/08 Visit London dealt with over 886 business events enquiries, and confirmed over £115 million worth of Business economic benefit to the capital.
Tracy Halliwell, Director of Business Tourism for Visit London says: “When business travellers choose London they are choosing a world-class city which delivers on experience and on value for money, offering unique and unusual venues. The choice you get in London is unsurpassed, nowhere else can you find this mix of leading venues, hospitality, culture, high-quality service and events knowledge – we really are ticking all the boxes.”
Leading Events Destination
London’s strength is its world-class variety. More than 50 major international communities have made London their home. You might hear more than 300 different languages spoken in the capital.
Value London
With so much choice, London is able to stretch to any budget. If money’s tight, let the Visit London experts advise you on ways to reduce costs without compromising on quality. There are many cost-saving options available including various accommodation types and tax reclaim opportunities. A number of activities are free – including the major museums and art galleries, not to mention London’s many famous street markets.
Accessible City
London is one of the most accessible cities on the planet. Five international airports handle a steady stream of flights and have fast, direct train services linking them to the city centre.
Eurostar’s stunning terminal at St Pancras International in the very heart of the capital means you can travel from Europe to London easily and when you arrive it’s just as easy! London’s Oyster Travel card gives a cost-effective way of travelling around London’s underground ‘Tube’ system in a hassle free and enjoyable way.
Accommodation
London is a city which is able to offer a vast array of accommodation which will suit any size of group.
From the uber cool and luxurious to the decedent and historical hotels which have been welcoming celebrities and Royalty for many years; Stylish and quirky hotels with an English boutique-air about them, to State-of-the-art, London’s hotels are able to combine luxurious accommodation with contemporary meeting and conference spaces.
World-class Venues
One of London’s strengths is its’ world-class variety of Business venues. The capital boasts 16 major exhibition centers including ExCeL London, and has a huge range of historical and cultural meeting spaces including the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, and the Royal Albert Hall, alongside ultra modern meeting spaces which offer the very latest in state of the art technology and seamless business services.
Leisure Time
London is a city which thrives on culture and arts. Around every corner of London visitors will find new and exciting options; music, dance, theatre and restaurants, the list goes on.
One day visitors could be soaking up the grandeur and historical atmosphere of the Tower of London or Hampton Court and the next day they can be shopping in the most famous shops such as Harrods, Selfridges or Harvey Nichols.
In terms of theatre, guests can watch one of Shakespeare’s plays at the famous Globe Theatre or be dazzled by the glitz and glamour of one of Andrew Lloyd Webbers latest musicals.
There are more then 6,000 restaurants with 43 of them Michelin-starred, London can be a truly tasty option for any palette or any purse!
Looking Towards the Future
There is an overall positive effect that the 2012 Games are having on London’s events and hospitality sector and the East area of London is seeing a massive amount of redevelopment and investment. A number of business venues will actually be transformed into Olympic venues, such as ExCeL London, the 02 Arena and the iconic Wembley stadium will all have a major role to play in hosting 2012 Olympic events.
It’s not just venues which are seeing the benefits of 2012. A number of new hotels are also being built. By 2012 London will offer 20,000 more rooms which will bring the total to 120,000.
So see the world, visit London in 2010!
By Chloe Couchman (Business Communications Manager, Visit London)