Press Cuttings Transcripts
CALL FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LONDON CENTRE.
Meeting & Incentive Travel - March 2005.
An international convention centre in London cannot compete on the world stage without public funding.
That was the view of delegates at the Association for Conferences and Events (ACE) and Tourism Society debate ‘A London International Convention Centre (ICC): To be or not to be? The 50-strong audience voted in favour of building an ICC in the capital, but raised questions over who should finance it, the location and its size.
Gerry Acher, chairman of the Mayoral Commission looking into the feasibility of developing a centre, said: “Unless I see an operating profit I can’t see a way we’ll go ahead.” Vanessa Cotton, managing director for conferences and events at ExCeL, said: “ExCeL is run to make a profit but we find that we are often 40 per cent more expensive than our competitors. Without subventions London will continue to lose groups to destinations such as Vienna and Madrid , places that make long-term, stable subventions in the industry”.
Nick Waight, divisional director, ICC Birmingham, said the decision needs to be made about what the ICC will be for. “Whether the centre will be run as a commercial venture or one to attract groups for the local economic benefits they bring. Money talks: without subventions the centre will not win international events”.
The commission is due to present its report in July.