Wednesday Sep 07, 2005

ExCeL London, one of Europe's leading conference, exhibition and event venues is increasingly winning major national and international association business.

International wins for 2005 and beyond include: the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2005, European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons Congress 2006 and World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems 2006. These three international meetings alone are expected to attract nearly 15,000 delegates, generating £6.1million into London's economy, based on an average daily delegate spend of £210 (source: Visit Britain).

Bookings for national meetings include the British Society of Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology 2006, British Congress of Obstetrics 2007 and National Association of Pensions Funds 2006. Since the 2000 opening of ExCeL London - offering multi-purpose, flexible event space and the convenience of onsite hotels - the capital is now able to host events of up to 20,000 delegates. EADV, the largest association meeting confirmed at ExCeL London to date is expected to attract 8,000 visitors.

Marilyn Benham, chief executive officer of the British Association of Dermatologists explains why they took the decision to bring the EADV to London: "ExCeL London is the capital's only venue that could provide all the conference and exhibition space we needed to meet the high standards that our international delegates now expect. In terms of design and technical support it can compete with the best European centres and I believe the facilities offered by ExCeL London were a key factor in us being able to win the bid to bring the EADV to London in 2005."

Vanessa Cotton, managing director of ExCeL London's conference and events division comments: "Our association business is going from strength to strength and is testimony to the fact that London now has a venue that can truly compete at an international level, providing the scale and quality of facilities and services that association planners expect. Moreover, we're located in a fast-paced and dynamic world capital city with unrivalled travel links, exceptional standards in hotel accommodation and first-class conference support services."

ExCeL London's campus style environment includes six onsite hotels with 1,500 hotel rooms within a five-minute walk of the venue's event facilities, over 30 bars, cafes and restaurants, 3,700 car parking spaces, easy access to the rest of London by DLR and tube and is located adjacent to London City Airport and 35 minutes from Stansted.