Press Cuttings Transcripts
London urged to construct mammoth convention hall
Estates Gazette, 13th November 2004
London needs a convention centre with a hall that can seat up to 5, 000 people. The conclusion was reached by a commission working for the London Development Agency.
On Wednesday, the London ICC Mayoral Commission revealed the interim findings of the feasibility survey, carried out by Grant Thornton. The initiative may see the construction of a purpose-built convention centre with a 3,000 – 5,000 seat plenary hall on a 12-acre site in the capital. There would be seminar rooms and catering facilities. The study, which was presented to an advisory board meeting at the Greater London Authority, found widespread dissatisfaction among international associations and blue-chip companies with London’s convention venues. It concluded there is “sufficient demand” to justify the construction of a new, purpose-built London convention centre or the extension of an existing venue. The new centre would compete with other international venues, such as those in Berlin, Cape Town, and Vancouver. London’s largest convention centre is the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, SWI, which accommodates 1,000 delegates. As a result, the London ICC Mayoral Commission has warned that the UK market is “failing to keep pace”. London’s ranking as an international convention centre has slipped from first place in the 1970’s to 16th in 2002. Gerry Acher, chair of the commission, said: “We recently attended an ICC meeting in South Africa and there was concern from organisers that London’s role would decline if a centre was not constructed.” A final report will be presented in March.
Article by: Darren Lazarus