Press Cuttings Transcripts
Business chief to head London Centre study
Meetings & Incentive Travel, 01 March2004
Camelot director Gerry Acher has been appointed chair of the new mayoral
commission which will investigate whether London needs a world-class convention
centre.
Set up by the London Development Agency, the mayor’s agency for business and
jobs, the commission will look into the potential benefits of building a
large-scale international convention centre in the capital. It will also look
more widely at other options to ensure London maximises its potential in the
multi-billion pound business travel sector.
Acher’s first task will be to appoint fellow commissioners. The commission will
meet this month and an initial report is due within a year.
Acher, currently vice-chairman of business group London First and a
non-executive director of Camelot, said: “My top priority is to lead a full and
frank investigation into the case for a major new convention centre for the
capital. The international market for hosting large conferences is worth more
than £100 billion a year and growing fast; it may come as a surprise to many
that London can’t compete for that business at present. Unlike other world
cities, the capital doesn’t have a venue that can cater for a meeting of five
thousand or more at a time.”