2023 is set to become
the new benchmark for success in
the sector, according to
leading industry figures.
James Rees, executive director of conferences and events at
ExCeL, hailed 2023 as a “milestone” year at London’s largest event venue, with
events tracking 10 per cent higher than the previous all-time record from 2019.
“2023 is the new benchmark,” said Rees, speaking at IMEX
Frankfurt, where he was backed up in his comments by Tracy Halliwell MBE, director
of tourism, conventions and major events at London & Partners.
They were joined at the show by London deputy mayor for business Rajesh Agrawal
and together they shared the latest events news and updates from the capital with
an international audience.
Their
comments come on the first anniversary of the opening of the Elizabeth line,
which ExCeL CEO Jeremy Rees has
hailed as ‘transformational for the
city’s event industry’.
Opened to the public on May 24 2022, ExCeL boasts its own dedicated Elizabeth
line station via Custom House and benefits from the network’s fast, frequent
and direct service across London, including being just 43 minutes door-to-door
from Heathrow Airport.
Now fully
operational with up to 24 trains per hour at peak times (seven days per week),
the line has seen more than 150 million passenger journeys since opening and
accounts for one in six of all journeys on Britain’s transport network.
Jeremy Rees
said: “The introduction of the
Elizabeth line has not only removed the friction of travel across London, but
it’s also been transformational for the city's event industry. In person events
are not just back, they’re booming and firmly in the driving seat to reviving
the city’s business tourism economy.”
Studies conducted
by independent researcher Explori identified that, as well as an
increase in visitor footfall, the Elizabeth line has led to a 5 per cent increase in those travelling from Europe to
ExCeL, along with a 9 per cent rise
in delegates spending more than one day at the venue. It also found that 68
per cent more people now reside within
45 minutes-travel of ExCeL.
Certified carbon
neutral, ExCeL welcomes up to four million visitors every year with around one
million of those from overseas – approximately 25% of all inbound business
tourism to London.
Jeremy Rees added:
“All this has resulted in ExCeL needing to expand and we’re now in the final
construction phases of a 25,000 sqm expansion programme – opening in October
2024 – to continue to put London at the forefront of the global events stage.”
ExCeL will now
continue its packed schedule of events this year including this week’s MCM
Comic Con, through to world sporting championships like Formula E (July) and
major congresses such as the International Conference for Robotics &
Automation (June). Earlier this year, it hosted immersive experience Jurassic
World: The Exhibition, selling a record-breaking 315,000 tickets.
