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LONDON Meetings with an Olympic Legacy
facts DestinationFast Report London
is a special edition of Headquarters Magazine November 2012
Introduction
Ever-changing, ever-fascinating London Unless you’ve been living marooned on another planet for the past few months, it’s impossible not to know London hosted the Olympic Games as well as Paralympic Games this summer. It has presented a huge opportunity for the city to offer all the facilities expected of a global destination. The east of London seems to have been completely revamped, and what would normally have taken 15 years for any destination to accomplish has taken just four years for the UK capital to transform. London has always been memorable, but now it’s truly magical. Report Rémi Dévé
physiology and much more and London is the place! London is also known to be one of the leading financial and business centres, with 480 overseas banks, the world’s top 20 insurance and reinsurance companies, 750 healthcare related companies… Shall we continue?
Tangible vibrancy
London welcomes about 51,000 association delegates a year
Constantly bustling, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is a megalopolis of people, ideas and frenetic energy. The capital and largest city of both the UK and England, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of a little over 8 million - although the figure of 14 million for the city’s metropolitan area more accurately reflects its size and importance. Considered one of two of the world’s leading ‘global cities’, London remains an international capital of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade. Everywhere you go, the vibrancy of London is tangible. You can go out at any time, and there will be people on the streets, 2
and interesting shops will still be open. Everywhere you look there is one, two, three cranes standing proud, showing some new venue is being built, some new, fancy neighbourhood is being created. It’s like something is always going on, and although you might feel dizzy about it, you will find this vibrancy is infectious, like you can be part of a bigger picture.
Lasting legacy Associations going to London will surely feel the same and find ways they can relate to the British capital. A city rich in know ledge, boasting no less than 45 universities and colleges, London is an academic hub of pioneering scientific research and home to many prestigious science, health, and medical institutions. Think about cardiovascular health, nutrition, human
Nothing new about all this, you will say, and rightly so. But a little re-cap doesn’t hurt. What has actually changed is the perception of London as a global destination - and this is what the Games have greatly contributed to. Many of you would have thought not a long time ago that the city is noisy, hard to get around, difficult to grasp. The Games have shown London is welcoming, friendly and quirky - it in fact boasts something for everyone. The legacy of the Olympics is definitely there, in terms of new venues, infrastructure upgrade, transport, etc., as well as the experience of the city as a whole. And that is exactly what this destination report will try to show.
Introduction
A winning association destination A chat with Becky Graveney London is justifiably one of the world’s leading association congress destinations. In fact during my visit there, London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s official promotional organisation and the city’s convention bureau, gave me a scoop: the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will bring its annual congress - the largest medical congress in Europe to London in 2015. All the more reasons to ask Becky Graveney, Head of Associations, what makes London such a great association destination. HQ: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recently announced that its 2015 Congress would take place in London. You must be terribly excited about it. Becky Graveney: It is terrific news for London. The ESC Congress is the one of the largest cardiology meetings in the world. Around 35,000 medical professionals are expected in the capital for the five-day event in 2015. London has an impressive track record in hosting international
conventions with excellent facilities and so much for delegates to see and do during their stay. The fact that ESC chose London proves that we’re on the European and international meeting map as never before. The latest ICCA stats show it: London now ranks 7th in the Top 10 of Association Meeting Cities (we have constantly moved up the list in recent years) and I’m particularly proud of this achievement.
The services of London & Partners As London’s official convention bureau, London & Partners boasts a team of experts that can help you organise the best event possible. From the start of the bidding process to the end of the conference, they’re here to share their knowledge and experience. This includes: • advice about venues, hotels, agencies, etc. • site inspections • budget advice and quotes from partners • production and presentation of bid documents • production of promotion material, like congress videos • group Osyter cards purchase … and much more!
Becky Graveney
HQ: Do you think this win has to do with the Olympics and the Paralympics having proven to the world you can host large events like no other destination? Becky Graveney: Definitely. The Olympics showcased to the world that London can effectively present the greatest show on earth and deliver bigger audiences, a warm welcome and an unrivalled experience. There used to be a time when London was perceived as a purely leisure destination. This perception has clearly changed. We have grown into a more mature destination, one that knows where it stands. We recognize we can be a bit complex to understand, but that’s what makes us so special! HQ: What do you find most challenging when promoting London to associations? Becky Graveney: Explaining the logistics of the city. London is constantly busy, we have to be able to help the organizer make the most of the city and maximise the delegate experience. We have so much to offer, there is so much to choose from that sometimes it can seem a bit of hectic. We’re here to make people understand how to best use what’s available. HQ: That is why you created a ‘London for Associations’ guide not so long ago? Becky Graveney: To complement all the new facilities for associations, we have created a London for Associations package, which is dedicated to providing associations with bespoke information, including a directory, regular newsletters, a toolkit with relevant marketing collateral and a dedicated section on our website. This makes it easy for associations to understand how best they can organize an event in London. 3
Olympics Legacy
The Olympic Legacy The summer of 2012 was definitely memorable for London. It all started with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June, then continued with the opening of the NOC Houses which took place across the city and welcomed thousands of businesses and visitors, all through Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony to the Olympics and the subsequent Paralympic Games. Like it happened for Beijing in 2008 and the World Cup in South Africa in 2011 (maybe there to a lesser extent though), the Games have represented a unique opportunity for London to bask in the global spotlight: the city was able to showcase all it has to offer from its wonderful attractions to the major new infrastructure projects. London has done a great job raising its profile, as it drew more overseas travellers to come to the city, as well as investors eager to profit from the many opportunities arising from hosting the 2012 Games.
East London is the place The part of the city that has seen the majority of landscape change is East London, where a whole regeneration project took place including the Olympic Park. There the lasting legacy for the Olympics is clearly visible and apparent - that was in fact the 4
first thing I was taken to when I arrived from the Eurostar - which was connected by the super-fast Javelin train which links St Pancras Station to Stratford International in just 7 minutes. The huge regeneration
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is set to host 9.3 million visitors a year, from 2016 on in the east of London benefits residents, business visitors and event planners alike. The Olympic Park itself, now known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is managed by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which is ensuring that the park and its Olympic venues will be used to their full extent (and not experience what happened in Athens for instance!). More information can be found at www.noordinarypark.co.uk.
What used to be factories and docks has given way to a funky arts scenes, bars, clubs, exotic streets and new locations for association planners. East London now boasts a legion of venues, with Westfield Stratford City, Europe’s largest shopping centre, Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, ExCeL (the large exhibition and convention centre), London City Airport and the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at its core. Further enhancements planned for East London include the Strand East project from LandProp, part of the Inter IKEA group, which will create an entirely new neighbourhood for the city close to the Olympic Park. Currently closed to undergo a complete revamping, the Olympic Park will reopen in July 2013 as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: seven new hospitality areas are in the pipeline including the ArcelorMittal Orbit - the tallest sculpture in the UK - which will be able to host 300 guests for a reception with breath-taking views.
Olympics Legacy
Olympic Park
What to expect at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park? ArcelorMittal Orbit
The Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome will also surely become much sought-after venues for meeting planners, especially for exclusive gala dinners for instance. Known as the ‘Copper Box’, the Multi-use Arena will become London’s third biggest indoor arena. There will also be some temporary exhibition and conference venue space as well as the actual stadium, at the far south end of the park. But of course, the influence of the Games has extended to the rest of the city as well, not just all around East London. A raft of improvements and developments have been made to the transport network such as the Javelin train run by South East trains (with 4 trains an hour, it just takes 10 minutes from Kings Cross to Stratford), new venues, new hotels and many more new attractions. London & Partners’ role as the capital’s Convention Bureau is to support those bringing their events to London to take advantage of this changing landscape now the Games are over.
Investment didn’t stop with the end of the Games. Athletes may have left, but workers are already busy transforming the Olympic Park. On 1 January 2013, it will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, an even more exciting piece of London City. • the Stadium: That’s where the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games took place (as well as the Athletics), so the venue already wrote a bit of history. It will host everything from community sports events to international meetings. Capacity was 80,000 but will reduce in the near future. The World Athletics will happen there in 2017. • Aquatics Centre: The Centre’s side-wings will be removed, reducing the seating from 17,500 to 2,500. In 2014, it will re-open as a world-class multi-discipline training facility catering for everyone basically. I was told movable floors within the giant pool can alter depths for different kinds of activities or even to create a dry space for outstanding events, like gala dinners for instance (poolside dining possible for 500 people). • Multi-use Arena: As the name suggests, this Arena - the third largest in London - will be highly flexible, suitable for tournaments, trade shows, conferences, gala dinners, you name it. Maximum capacity for a conference: 7,500 pax, or 2,000 for gala dinners. • ArcelorMittal Orbit: Designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the UK’s tallest sculpture, standing proud at 22 metres high. Ideal for intimate events (with formidable views!), it will accommodate up to 300 people on two levels. Who would have thought you could organize something inside a work of art? • South Park Hub: Considered the beating heart of the Park, it’s situated right next to the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Stadium. Designed for more intimate events with a creative feel, it has different spaces available, the roof terrace or the gardens, up to 150 people for dinner or drinks. ... And those are just a brief selection of indoor venues! In addition, there will also be 15 outdoor event spaces, spread all over 560 acres. Needless to say the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is set to become London’s new sports and leisure, and as far as I’m concerned here, business destination. 5
Congress centres
THINK BIG Organizing large congresses in London London is big, London is vast. The city boasts thousands of venues, from small intimate gatherings all the way to mega association venues. For the latter ones, ExCeL London and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre are the places to be.
ExCel London, the capital’s largest event venue When it comes to regeneration, ExCeL London, which doesn’t really need to be introduced, could write a book on it. It indeed has just undergone radical changes, thanks to an expansion programme that has created new, versatile spaces that now sit alongside the existing conference and exhibition facilities. Located in the heart of East London, 41 minutes from Heathrow with Crossrail which will open in 2018, with prestigious neighbours as Canary Wharf, the O2, London City Airport (which you actually can see from the far end of the building) and the soon-to-open Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it boasts an impressive 100,000 m2 of flexible event space, and is the home of London’s first ever and brand new international convention centre - ICC ExCeL London. The additional venue - which is cleverly integrated into the ‘old’ one includes the UK’s largest fully flexible auditorium, offering up to 5,000 seats and London’s largest banquet hall, the ICC Capital Hall, for up to 3,000 people for a dinner or 5,000 for a reception. Gemma Parkhouse, Head of Marketing and Communications, says the main asset of ExCeL
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London is ‘definitely its flexibility. The venue also has amazing capacities, which allows us to cater to almost any kind of event. Personally I’m fond of the ICC Auditorium, in which you can let your imagination and creativity loose. The high ceiling are pretty dramatic, and the wood panelled walls allow for great acoustics.’ Worth mentioning are the 1,500 bedrooms on site, another 5,000 within 10 minutes with the tube, and 105,000 in the whole city. Within the next two years, a floating hotel as well as three 4-star hotels with 1,000 beds will see the light of day in the direct surroundings. And don’t forget to go on the new Emirates Air Line cable car, a nice alternative to the tube, travelling from ExCeL across the Thames to Greenwich. Experienced at staging major events, ICC ExCeL London was ideally placed to host the biggest cluster of Olympic and Paralympic events outside of the Olympic Park, with boxing, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling and more happening all over the place. And it obviously exceeded all expectations from the organizers and visitors alike. It looks like, indeed, you can safely put your association event into ExCeL’s capable hands.
Case Study 29th Congress of the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology With 6,100 individual members and 40 European National Societies, the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology needed a versatile destination offering a great choice of different hotels as well as several options of venues for social events. Large, flexible space and excellent European transport links were also necessary. ICC London ExCel was chosen because it had the space required to accommodate the main congress, but also plenary sessions, exhibition and registration. The fact that London City Airport is situated a mere 5 minutes away also helped, as well as the presence of 5 on-site hotels, ranging from luxury to budget, all within just a few minutes’s walk from the main entrance, also helped. With 8,000 delegates, the EAACI Congress was a great success, in fact the biggest Allergy Congress to date. Feedback from the organizers, speakers, participants and journalists was overwhelmingly positive.
Congress centres
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, in the shadow of Big Ben The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre is more the ‘traditional’ conference venue. Situated within close proximity to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, it offers the finest services to associations. The conference and meeting rooms can be used in a variety of combinations to match any requirement. They cater for events from 40 to 1,300 delegates in plenary session and 2-2,500 in total capacity, over 29 conference and event spaces across 7 floors. Known as one of the most technologically intelligent conference centres in the UK, QEIICC provides wireless internet access throughout, digital signage across seven floors and high definition audio visual equipment. Needless to say the last few month have been particularly busy at QEIICC. The whole Centre was transformed into ‘Casa
Italia’, home to CONI (the National Olympic Committee of Italy), then during the Paralympics it became the headquarters of the Paralympic team of Italy, and finally the Department of Culture, Media and Sports held a reception for all the Team GB athletes, following the Victory parade through the streets on London. Capitalising on the opportunities the Games have brought to London is of paramount importance, says Sue Etherington, Commercial Director: ‘ We have been building the foundations for a pipeline of international events to take place at the Centre in future years. It is important that the meetings industry capitalise on the interest in London that the Olympics has generated. There are great PR opportunities; once you have been successful in hosting the world’s largest sporting event, the PR and legacy opportunities are valuable to all. We are certainly seeing more international event enquiries for 2013 and beyond, but it’s too early to say for sure as booking trends have changed.’
Case Study ISCoS Annual Scientific Meeting 2012 Held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC) in early September, and organized by Kenes UK, the annual meeting of the International Spine Cord Society was three-day conference and exhibition. The Churchill Auditorium was host to the main plenary session, with the Whittle Room used for syndicate sessions. The smaller rooms and suites on the 4th Floor were also used as syndicate rooms, whilst the Flemming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge on the third floor housed an exhibition. Exoskeleton technology leader, ARGO Medical Technologies, along with mobility solutions provider, Cyclone Technologies, were exhibiting and used the event to announce that Claire Lomas would be the first person to take home an exoskeleton system for personal use. Claire demonstrated her personal ReWalk™ at a press conference held during the event. Claire Joffe, Kenes said: ‘The event went really well and delegate numbers were about 50% higher than expected. I think that holding the event in London in the middle of the Paralymic Games has a significant effect on delegate numbers. We used social media to promote the event with a hashtag #ISCOS2012 and all feedback so far has been very positive.’
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Hotels
Atrium Executive Lounge, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Conference hotels Take your pick When it comes to conference hotels in London, your options are quite varied and diverse. Depending on where you want to be located - next to the airport, Big Ben or Wembley Stadium for instance, if you want to organize a residential conference, you can easily take your pick.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Occupying a dramatic position among the striking architectural and historical landmarks of London’s South Bank (the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the London Aquarium, and the city’s finest theatres, restaurants and bars are just a short stroll away), Park Plaza Westminster Bridge now stands where there used to be maybe one of the ugliest buildings in the English capital. With no less than 1,021 guest rooms and 30 function rooms, it’s definitely not your average conference hotel as it can accommodate up to 1,400 delegates - or if you push the walls, even 1,800 I was told! The hotel’s convenient ‘layered’ meeting space is quite striking. Located on three consecutive floors with dedicated lifts and stairs, it’s highly flexible, easy to get around
and at times you can feel like you’re not in a hotel but in a high-tech conference centre. The 1,200 m2 pillar-free Westminster Ballroom is definitely the one to choose for large gatherings: it houses 1,400 people theatre style or 1,000 for a seated dinner. Daniel Pedreschi, General Manager, is pretty proud of the hotel he runs - and rightly so. He says: ‘We organize over 60 conferences a year. The main reason planners choose us is our perfect location. But once they come over, they are amazed by the total flexibility of our meeting space. When we opened in March 2010, we were a big player in the UK market; in two years’ time we’ve become a big player on the international scene. A colossal event like the SportAccord Convention which we recently held - 5 days, 120 exhibition stands, etc. - proves the point.’
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Park Plaza’s guestrooms and suites include large family-friendly studio rooms with bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and living space with pull-out sofa bed. Enhanced amenities and extra space are on offer in the chic penthouses and suites. Dining options are aplenty with Brasserie Joël, Ichi Sushi Sashimi, 1WB Lounge Patisserie, Primo Bar and espressamente illy cafe. The hotel also boasts a fitness centre with 15-metre pool and Mandara Spa.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, the facts Maximum capacity: 1,400 Number of rooms: 1,021 Breakout rooms: 30, for 8 to 225 people Total exhibition space: 2,500 m2
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Hotels
Novotel London West
Novotel London West I remember the Novotel London West when I first visited it a few years back. I had thought: ‘Great, another soulless conference hotel!’ I had been completely wrong. Thanks to a recent massive refurbishment, highly flexible space and expert team, I could see why delegates and planners alike feel at ease at once there. Located in West London near Harrods, Kensington Gardens and the Hammersmith Theatre, conveniently close to London Heathrow Airport, the four-star Novotel London West has not only 630 rooms, but also some of the largest meeting facilities in the city with 35 meeting spaces that can accommodate a 1,000 person convention or large formal function, spread over four connected, dedicated floors. All in all, it’s about 3,000 delegates that the Novotel can host for a big conference. Again, getting around the hotel and the conference space is quite easy and you don’t necessarily need to run into hotel guests to do so. Ed Hobson, Commercial Director, gave me a quick tour of the facility and could not stop talking about the assets of the Novotel. And there is even better news: ‘The Chablis Suite, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people for a reception, is being refurnished. And we’re also upgraded a few of our executive bedrooms, which will be nice 10
St Ermin’s Hotel
for conference delegates. ’ When questioned about the state of the market, Ed said: ‘Lead time are increasingly compressed. But we’re a big supporter of the Accommodation Charter London & Partners set up. It’s, in fact, allowing us to look into the association business much more because of the certain long-term benefits it brings. The International Coaching Federation whose 900 delegates we recently welcomed is a good example of this.’ Novotel has created the Eureka programme which is dedicated to meetings. Eureka is an all-inclusive meeting room revolutionising the meeting environment and encouraging the free flow of creativity. The Eureka room features unconventional and flexible ergonomic furnishings combined with state-of-the-art technology tools to inspire fresh thinking. Eureka also lets conference organisers enjoy the choice of an à la carte and / or buffet menu within the meeting space, another instance of Novotel’s commitment to offering the guest flexible choices. Organizing a meeting or a conference at Novotel London West makes all the more sense this way.
Novotel London West, the facts Maximum capacity: 1,700 Number of bedrooms: 630 Breakout rooms: 32, for 8 to 220 people Total exhibition space: 3,086 m2
The London Accommodation Charter The charter, designed to simplify the process of sourcing London hotel rooms for events that require 1,000 beds or more, has been created by London & Partners’ dedicated Association team. The team worked with 12 major hotel groups, which represent around 32% of the overall bedrooms available in London, to create the charter terms. The signatories include Accor hotels, Radisson Edwardian hotels, Millennium & Copthorne and Hilton, and represent more than 32,325 hotel bedrooms in the capital. Other hotel groups signed up to the charter include InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott hotels, Park Plaza hotels, Travelodge, Premier Inn and Guoman. The Charter’s agreement for the hotels include the following terms: Standard allocation release times Standard commission rates Standard policy for no shows and cancellations Standard check-in/out times Standard complimentary room policy The charter is an on-going document, and all hotel groups are encouraged to sign up.
Hotels
HILTON, A GREAT CHOICE Of course there are more than three Hiltons in London, but I’ll focus here on Hilton on Park Lane, Hilton London Metropole and the brand-new Hilton London Wembley, three options worth considering. I was lucky enough to stay at London Hilton on Park Lane, which is synonymous with excellence and style. Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the hotel offers stunning views of Hyde Park and the capital’s skyline from all guest rooms. London Hilton on Park Lane has hosted many of the city’s landmark events over the years, and welcomes pretty much everyone from kings to presidents, Hollywood nobility to the International Olympic Committee during the Games. So when it comes to events, they are quite expert. Hilton on Park Lane boasts some of the best banqueting facilities in London, with 13 modern and flexible rooms, most of which have natural daylight. I was also personally impressed with the Grand Ballroom, its stylish interior and grand stairwell entrance, which accommodates up to 1,250 guests.
Fact: There are more than 600 hotels in London. And growing. It’s estimated that by the end of 2012 there’ll be between 105,000-110,000 hotel rooms. Just ten minutes from Oxford Street lies the huge Hilton London Metropole, quite well-known among business travellers, which was hired by VISA during the Games. Here figures speak for themselves, as 3 to 3,000 can meet, 2 to 2,000 can eat and 1 to 1,000 can sleep under one roof. The hotel’s seventeen meeting rooms, business centre and breakout area have just been upgraded and transformed into sleek modern spaces that include all the latest in audiovisual technology. The hotel boasts two large conference suites each with the capacity to hold 1,600 people and a third theatre style suite which caters to 1,000. The two identical Conference Suites are in fact quite stunning, and they are very convenient for a plenary and an exhibition. All meeting rooms, which have been given a breath
Hilton Metropole
of fresh air with a contemporary and light design and stylish but functional soft furnishings, can be used separately or linked together in a wide range of configurations and also benefit from the resources of their own dedicated Business Centre. The refurbishment is part of an ongoing programme of upgrades at the hotel that will continue into 2013. Last but not least is the brand-new Hilton London Wembley, which, as the name suggests, overlooks the iconic Wembley Stadium. Located 20 minutes from central London and 45 minutes from London Heathrow Airport you are in easy reach of all that the city has to offer. There are different spaces available to meeting planners: Sky Bar 9 is open for private hire and offers spectacular views of the Stadium, while 10 meeting rooms and one ballroom allow any kind of gatherings for up to 700 attendees. Needless to say Hilton London Wembley works in synergy with the famous sports venue next door and, as a hotel which has just opened, it features all the latest amenities and technology you can expect. And you know what? It boasts a fancy restaurant that’s called The Association. All the more reasons for you to choose it for your next event!
London Hilton on Park Lane
Roof terrace, Hilton London Wembley 11
Special venues
Venues with flair What’s really good about London is that it’s rich in history, culture, entertainment and obviously sports. So when it comes to conferencing or just dining in very special venues, or simply pre- or post-congress possibilities, you have many to choose from. Below are a few highlights clearly worth considering - of course there are hundreds more.
Royal College of Physicians We already wrote about it extensively in the previous issue of Headquarters, thanks to Marcel for whom the Royal College of Physicians is one of his favorites venues ever, but I had yet to discover it with my own eyes. And I dare say it is, indeed, a very fascinating place. Founded by Henry VIII in 1518, England’s oldest medical institution also sells meetings facilities to planners the world over. Recently named the ‘World’s Best Convention Centre’ at the AIPC Congress, the RCP - as they more easily call it - is actually many things at the same time: a convention centre, a boutique facility, a heritage building and a museum! Specializing in international events aimed at about 300 delegates, it’s easy to understand why it’s a planner’s favorite. Centrally located overlooking Regent’s Park, and also well-connected, the College’s impressive portfolio of purpose-designed 12
facilities includes tiered auditoriums, exhibition space and dining facilities including the stunning Council Chamber and the ‘jewel in the crown’ Dorchester Library (with hundreds of books saved before the Great Fire!), which is now available not only for conferences but for dinners as well, a novelty at the RCP.
Fact: London boasts 250+ free attractions, 17 renowned national museums, 150 theatres and 6,000 restaurants, bars and cafés General Manager Clive Ostler says: ‘As a medical institution with members and fellows, we can’t accept just any type of meetings. It has to be more or less related to what the College stands for. Having said that, we function like a charity. Any money we make is redistributed to good causes. That’s definitely an incentive for meeting planners to choose us, but also what sets us apart from more ‘conventional’ convention centres.’
Royal College of Physicians
One more word about the equally intriguing building itself. Designed by famous British architect Sir Denys Lasdun, it has become an icon over the years. Ladsun was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Trustees Medal in recognition of his work at the RCP, considered to be ‘ the best architecture of its time anywhere in the world.’ Could the Royal College of Physicians have it all?
BMA House The RCP is not the only medical institution in London. BMA House also stands proud on the map. Home to the prestigious British Medical Association and the NIKE corporation during the Games, this stunning Grade II listed building was designed in 1911 by the famed architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and has been the headquarters for the BMA since 1925. Many of its spaces can be hired out for events of almost any kind, as long as it is in line with BMA’s values. Located only a few minutes walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras International train station, the House has undergone many developments and refurbishments over the years, the most recent being completed in 2008. Now BMA House boasts five versatile and
Special venues
contemporary meeting spaces. The good thing is many of the rooms still retain their original Grade II listed features - they can be used for events and meetings alike. Capacities range from small boardroom meetings for 2 to large conferences for 300, dinner for 200 and cocktail parties for 320. The House also boasts a courtyard and garden offering outdoor space that is so rarely found in Central London. Particularly enthralling is the Great Hall, which retains a certain grandeur, and seems to be ideal for conferences. ‘The impressive Great Hall attracted us to BMA House and is a fantastic setting for any conference. The attention to detail of the on-site events staff was second to none and they were able to accommodate any adjustments we needed to make on the day without any fuss’ said The NHS Confederation.
Old Billingsgate
History in the meetings Old Billingsgate is the name given to what is now a hospitality and events venue, based in the Victorian building that was originally Billingsgate Fish Market, the world’s largest fish market. Designed by City architect Horace Jones and later refurbished by architect Richard Rogers, originally to provide office accommodation, it boasts all the features you can expect in a Victorian venue: acres of space, pillars, flair, atmosphere… and a beautiful view of the Thames. Now Old Billingsgate seems to be made for exclusive conferences, as its spaces can be tailored to any requirements. It was the House of France during the Games. Surprisingly versatile, its areas can perform multiple tasks and be adapted to a wide range of function. Maximum capacity: 1,500 people in the main hall. As part of the big worldwide media family, I knew that One Great George Street had been the London Media Centre (LMC) during the Games. Its location in the heart of Westminster, outstanding service, conference and event facilities and commitment to sustainability made it the ideal choice for it. So, for a few weeks during the summer One Great George Street welcomed over 8,000 registered media… and over 150,000 cups of coffee were served!
Great Hall, One Great George Street
Courtyard, BMA House 13
Special venues
The View from The Shard
Glaziers Hall
Of course the venue was not so busy when I visited it. However, I could easily understand why it was selected. Offering first-class facilities, it’s simply a magnificent four-domed Edwardian building, perfect for conferences and meetings as well as gala dinners or receptions. Whether you simply need one boardroom for 10 or a large plenary for 100 with smaller breakouts, One Great George Street can be the place - every event is allocated a dedicated event coordinator! From the traditionally decorated rooms to the purpose-built theatres, any function can also easily be combined with social entertaining.
Last but not least is Glaziers Hall, which offers unrivalled views of the River Thames and London, minutes from London Bridge and Waterloo tube and train stations. Suitable for groups of 10 to 600 people - it was the House of Switzerland during the Games it boasts meeting rooms featuring splendid details such as stained glass, oak panelling, and floor to ceiling glazed arches looking out to the river. Whether it be in the Banqueting Hall, the Court Room or the River Room, meeting there will surely be memorable.
Sales and Marketing Director Wendy Greenhalgh says: ‘The housing of the LMC looks set to increase One Great George Street’s profile on the international scene. It puts us in a stronger position to face a possibly challenging UK and Eurozone economic year after the Games. Already a number of events have been gained as a direct result of our housing the LMC, and I’m confident this trend will continue.’
As with the Olympic legacy, London is brightly looking towards the future. The building of The Shard surely embodies this vision. The latest landmark addition to London’s skyline, standing 310 metres high on the capital’s South Bank, it is set to be the tallest building in Western Europe. When complete, The Shard will be no less than a vertical city containing offices, residences (the highest in Europe), a Shangri-La Hotel, and spa, restaurants and London’s highest viewing galleries, The View from the Shard. The latter will cater for small, intimate but surely exclusive gatherings - think drinks with a view - for about 200 people.
One Great George Street has set up a special package for not-for-profit organizations. Called ‘Cuts for a cause’, it offers various discounts on room hires and special delegate, dinner package rates… and a few additional values for your marketing purposes. As Katy Evans, Stakeholder Relationship Officer, Drinkaware, testifies: ‘Drinkaware has held several events at One Great George Street. It’s easily accessible and offers a variety of modern and traditional room styles to suit the tone and atmosphere of your event. The events team will go out of its way to ensure your event meets your expectations. No question is left unanswered and no request is too trivial or too last minute.’
In the future
A few words about CitizenM, a new breed of hotel welcoming the mobile citizens of the world. Located at the Bankside, minutes from the Tate Modern, it has been designed with a modern twist that makes you feel spontaneously at home when you’re in it. Its mottos are ‘affordable luxury’ and ‘creation of an experience’, so for smaller meetings (boardroom style for up to 20 people) it’s definitely the new place to be.
Dining in London’s palaces Under the ‘Historic Royal Palaces’ brand names, dozens of beautiful indoor and outdoor venues across five of London’s most important historic sites, a range of approved suppliers at your disposal and a knowledgeable events team are ready to make your event an unforgettable experience. Whether you’d like to organize something in the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace or Kew Palace, Historic Royal Palaces serves as one-stop-shop for you. All those venues are owned by the Queen – so if you want to add a certain British flavour to a cocktail, a reception or a dinner, search no more. Capacity ranges from 5 to 400 people. CitizenM 14
Facts
London’s practical facts London is a big city, but surprisingly easy to access and to get around. Here is all you need to know to get practical in the UK capital
Accessible London
Getting around
With five international airports and several rail and road options, London is one of the most accessible destinations in the world. London welcomes direct inbound flights from hundreds of destinations worldwide, from and to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, London Stansted and London Luton. Combined, they carry 108 million passengers a year on outbound flights to 273 overseas destinations.
With 11 colour coded lines, the London Underground is fast and efficient, and the Oyster card is the city’s travel smartcard giving delegates access to the London public transport networks at the cheapest fares. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connects the City and the London Underground network with London’s Dockland area and offers a great way of exploring this rapidly changing area of the capital. Trains are useful for reaching places that are not served by the Tube, such as Hampton Court and Windsor.
Eurostar and Airport express rail are also worthwhile options. There are frequent services from Paris and Brussels to London daily by Eurostar’s high speed rail link. Eurostars links St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris (in 2h15), Brussels (in 1h51), Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps. In 2011, Eurostar enhanced its Business Premier class, with the introduction of a guaranteed boarding benefit, which offers business passengers guaranteed access to the train of their choice regardless of their reservation. Deutsche Bahn is also due to arrive to London in 2014.
Travelling by boat is also an inspiring possibility to get around and view London by day or by night. There are several piers for boarding and services head east towards Greenwich and the Thames Barrier, and west towards Richmond. Tickets can be purchased on the pier and Oyster cards are accepted. Walking and biking are also encouraged. With the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme, it’s nice and easy, all across the capital, 24 hours a day, all year round and no booking is necessary !
Green London Choosing London means choosing a city which takes its green credentials as seriously as it takes the success of your next event. Among other things, this includes encouraging environment-friendly behaviour and the use of public transport, promoting and marketing London sustainably, commissioning research to identify and implement opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions from London’s visitor economy.
London & Partners The official convention bureau for the UK capital, London & Partners helps associations and not-for-profit organisations plan their congress, meeting, conference, exhibition and/or accompanying partner programmes in London. Becky Graveney Head of Associations +44 (0)20 7234 5825 or +44 (0)20 7234 5833 bgraveney@londonandpartners.com associations@londonandpartners.com www.londonandpartners.com/ convention-bureau A directory as well as a useful App can be downloaded from there
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I MAG I N E YOU R N E XT CON G R E S S I N
Imagine holding your conference where Michael Phelps won gold. Imagine your events reception gazing out from Europe’s tallest building. Imagine dining in a Royal Palace. You don’t have to imagine it, experience it for real in London. londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau