Selecting a venue is possibly the most significant decision an event organiser must make. Choose the right venue and it will be full to capacity. So how do you ensure you get the right venue? Selecting the right location will go a long way towards delivering the delegate numbers and what better way to make sure you achieve this than by hosting your event in London.
Whether you are organising a domestic or international event, there are so many reasons why London is the perfect place, from the transportation and venues through to industry expertise and talent. Cvent ranked London as the number one meeting destination in the UK and here at The QEII Centre we pinpoint six key areas that make London such a great location:
Transportation
London has exceptional transport links making all points of the city easily accessible. There are five international airports located within an hour of the Centre and a high-speed rail network providing a link to Western Europe. Navigating around London is also straightforward with the underground network and busses providing quick and convenient access to venues throughout the capital.
Venues
With over 1,000 venues to choose from in London, you will always find the perfect one for your event. The diversity of venues enables London to accommodate all formats (e.g., conferences and exhibitions, fashion shows and product launches to awards and dinners), sizes and innovation and technical requirements. London also has an array of venue styles so whether you are looking for somewhere purpose-built, quirky, modern, and trendy or with heritage and tradition, you will always come across somewhere to impress your delegates.
Accommodation
London is well stocked with a wide range of accommodation that meets all budgets and requirements. Whether delegates are looking for hotels (from luxury to boutique), apartment rentals or B&Bs, they will always be able to find a place to stay within a short distance of their chosen venue.
Technology
London continues to be a hub for technology and prior to Covid it retained its position as the leading European city for technological investment and overtook Beijing to become the third biggest hub globally. London’s venues have kept pace with these developments, and you will find super-fast Wi-Fi, state of the art AV equipment, video conferencing, web streaming and platforms for social media conversations. Whilst event organisers are taking advantage of the available equipment to deliver content in more creative ways from virtual reality to wearable technology.
Industry Expertise and Talent
London is a hub for event experts, attracting experienced, knowledgeable, and talented professionals from around the globe. Bringing their passion for events and specialist skills, this has created a workforce that sets the standard for customer service and goes the extra mile in delivering an outstanding delegate experience.
Attractions and Entertainment
With just under 20 million visitors coming to London in 2019, this made it the third most visited city in the world. A leader in global culture, it continues to prove a popular destination with its unique mix of attractions and unrivalled opportunities for evening entertainment. London is synonymous for its array of world-famous attractions, from historical sites such as Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, and the Tower of London through to contemporary locations such as the Shard and the London Eye.
When your sessions are finished for the day, there is still plenty to look forward to in London. There are countless options including theatre in the West End through to the lively music and sports scene, with several high-profile football teams located in the capital. If restaurants and bars are more appealing, London’s culinary establishments can cater for all tastes whilst the pubs and bars span everything from the traditional English pub through to upmarket nightclubs.