Press Cuttings Transcripts
'Full and frank' Examination Of Case For International Convention Centre In
London
Conworld.net 18 March 2004
Business leader Gerry Acher was this week confirmed as Chair of the new Mayoral
Commission tasked with deciding 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 explore thoroughly 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. Mr
Acher, currently Vice-Chairman of business group London First and a
non-executive director of Camelot, said: ‘A successful convention centre could
mean a quantum leap for London, not just in business tourism but more
generally. However 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.’ Mr Acher added: ‘It is something much in demand from London’s
tourism industry, but first I want to see a totally robust, scrutiny-proof
business case that leaves us in no doubt this is what London needs. If we don’t
find that, then it is my job to say so. ‘
The Mayoral Commission is an independent body, set up by the London Development
Agency, to take evidence on this major issue and provide a report and
recommendations to the Mayor for his deliberation. It will look at the
arguments surrounding the possibility of London having its own International
Convention Centre. It will look to see if there is a market for a new centre,
whether there are existing alternatives in London that could be developed and,
if the case is made, to make recommendations on location, funding and timings.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: ‘A major convention centre could bring
enormous benefits to the capital. We know business visitors who come to London
don’t just sit in meetings while they’re here. They already boost the economy
by an incredible £3bn a year and combine business with leisure, often with
their families, both in London and in other parts of the country. ‘I’m very
pleased Gerry has agreed to lead this important work. He brings with him an
analytical approach and the vital business know-how to have an independent,
hard-nosed look at the facts and figures to make sure there really is a case
for a new convention centre.’
Honor Chapman, Chair of the London Development Agency, said: ‘The capital is
already one of the world’s top destinations for business visitors but we can’t
afford to be complacent. At present, London can’t compete with other European
cities like Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Vienna and Barcelona in the major
international convention centre market. That market is potentially worth
billions of pounds and could bring jobs and wealth not just to London, but to
other parts of the country. ‘But we need to fully understand the facts first so
I’m delighted with Gerry’s appointment as Chair of the new Commission. He has a
track record of successfully leading complex projects like this and, with his
team, will undoubtedly deliver a rigorous examination of the issue.’
The need to investigate the case for an International Convention Centre in
London was highlighted in ‘Visit London, the Mayor’s Plan for Tourism in
London’ published in September 2002. A decision to establish the Mayoral
Commission was taken after the first London Leadership Forum on Business
Tourism last year, organised and facilitated by Visit London, London’s official
tourism body. The forum brought together 100 major industry figures and
identified an international convention centre as one of five key issues for the
capital to address. David Campbell, Chief Executive of Visit London, said:
‘Business tourism is a much higher spending and more sustainable sector than
leisure tourism so this is a big deal for London. We already have some
fantastic venues in London for large-scale events and some of the most unique
in the world for smaller events. A new 5000 plus capacity, fully-flexible,
all-purpose space would be hugely beneficial to the entire sector across many
levels. We put our full backing behind this Commission.’ Mr Acher’s first task
will be to appoint fellow commissioners who can bring an in-depth understanding
of the broad range of issues and challenges surrounding such a project. The
first meeting of the Mayoral Commission will be within a month and an initial
report within a year.