London seen as 'safer bet' thanks to pace of vaccine rollout

The pace of the UK's vaccine rollout is making London a 'safer bet' for international meetings and events planners, according to the city's convention bureau.

And as the vaccine rollout creates a path to safe recovery, London’s meetings and events industry is getting ready to reopen with a host of new hotel openings and venue refurbishments underway.

Tracy Halliwell, director of conventions and major events at London Convention Bureau, told M&IT: "We’re already seeing a response to the UK’s vaccination programme that has been picked up by international buyers. ‘You’re the place we’re going to come to, our delegates will feel safer with you', that’s what they’re saying.

"There’s so much uncertainty for planners at the moment, so many variables, so they’re looking for surety and confidence. They see the UK as a destination where they’re not going to put delegates at risk. You compare that to destinations that haven’t been as quick and we are coming up as a safer bet at the moment."

With the return of international events unlikely until 2022, in the interim, the bureau will be doing more work helping the domestic market.

"We’ve seen a huge increase in enquiries, there’s huge pent-up demand", says Halliwell. "Everybody’s desperate to get out and our venues are itching to get back. We’re working with everybody to open that up as quickly as we can.

"London’s one of those cities that never stands still. The number of hotel projects still in the pipeline, it’s wonderful. Every time I go into the centre there’s a new building, or something I didn’t know was coming.

"When people do get back there’s a lot more scope, new stuff, old faithfuls, hybrid-ready venues – something for everyone."

And hybrid is going to be part of the new normal, Halliwell believes.

"It will be popular with big associations, reaching larger numbers over large geographical areas," she said. "There will also be all the meetings that will come back face to face because they have to. You’re not meeting people, making new connections, having those meetings that further the world of progress."

Frame of mind

Sustainability will be a key factor as the recovery takes off, with a change of thinking needed, says Halliwell.

"We have to get into a much more sustainable frame of mind – a lot of our venues were doing that already, but Covid-19 has fast-tracked it a lot more. London has zero carbon targets that we were already working towards, we’re hearing from a lot of corporates that it’s going to be a big touchpoint.

"We’ll get better and better. We do have an ambition to be seen as a green sustainable city."

Despite a much-reported exodus from London over the last 12 months, Halliwell is adamant that the capital still has a role to play.

“London is where the conversations happen. The entertainment, the after-work culture – all of those things you don’t get in the countryside – or other European destinations.”

While Brexit doesn’t seem to have made any difference to the long haul market, Halliwell says its effects are being felt in Europe - but for how long?

“The biggest challenge is in European markets. There’s a lot of movement around goods and services and people needing to be a bit more organised. Over time it will sort itself out.

“We’re still getting enquires from Europe. It’s teething problems. We are very clever and innovative and we will find a way to make these things work.

“The UK has four million people in the London area that are avid event-goers, attendees, delegates and we’re still a very important industry in our own right.”

“We are cautiously optimistic. We’ve really got a sense of things starting to come back. It’s not going to happen overnight – it’s going to be a nice slow movement towards normality over the next two to three years.”

What's coming to London in 2021

The capital is set to see a number of highly anticipated hotels open their doors this year, as hotel operators show a strong appetite for increasing hotel capacity across the city in expectation of an uptick in bookings when it is safe to do so.

Venues and hotels in London have also undergone a number of redevelopments and new investments over the past year, investing in smart stages and hybrid event studios, undertaking refurbishments, increasing sustainability measures, and getting ready for new openings.

Several international hotel brands have chosen London as their location of choice for their first venture into the European hotel market, with NoMad London, Mondrian Shoreditch and Pan Pacific London to open in the first half of the year. London is also set to play host to the world’s first super boutique with the highly anticipated opening of The Londoner by the Edwardian Hotel Group. With a strong focus on sustainable luxury, this five-star hotel delivers on opulence with sophisticated rooms, private cinemas, and a ballroom.

During the pandemic, venues have also enhanced their business offerings through redevelopment projects, increased hybrid solutions and the creation of virtual platforms. To help bridge the gap between in-person and online events, Tobacco Dock has created an immersive virtual reality platform, Tobacco Dock Virtual, that will cater to a global audience.

Looking ahead, the £1.3 billion redevelopment project at Olympia London is on track to launch in 2024, expanding the venue's cultural spaces and eateries and incorporating two new hotels and 50,000 sqm of office space.

New event spaces and hotels set to open in 2021 include:

· Kingsland Locke, spring 2021 – Drawing inspiration from trendy East London, Kingsland Locke will feature 124 signature studio apartments with fully equipped kitchens, appliances and living spaces. On-site you’ll also find a microbrewery, gin distillery, all-day restaurant, co-working spaces, workout station and coffee shop.

· Courtyard Marriott London City Airport, April 2021 – Conveniently located near London City Airport and along the Dockland’s Light Railway, the new-build seven-storey, 184-room property offers a comfortable stay for guests flying into the city. The hotel includes a bar and restaurant, gym, and meeting facilities.

· The Londoner, June 2021 – The Londoner, which at its heart is a sustainable luxury hotel from the Edwardian Hotels Group, has had more than £300m in investment. You can expect expertly designed rooms, private screening rooms, six concept eateries, meeting spaces and gym and spa facilities.

· NoMad London, early 2021 – Inside the former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station and opposite Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House you’ll find NoMad London. As the first international venture for NoMad Hotels, NoMad London showcases Mexican inspiration mixed with the historic origins of the building in their 92 rooms and food and beverage outlets.

· Mondrian Shoreditch, spring 2021 – Taking over the Curtain Hotel and opening as the European flagship property and the sixth hotel for Mondrian, the Mondrian Shoreditch will embrace carefully curated interiors and exceptional culinary experiences. The Curtain Members’ Club will remain intact alongside the rebrand of the hotel.

· Pan Pacific London, spring 2021 – As the first European property in Pan Pacific’s portfolio this multi-use development will be located on Bishopsgate in the City of London. The property will include luxury apartments, the hotel, a public plaza, mindfulness studio and spa facilities, One Devonshire House, high-end retail and a destination restaurant and cocktail bar.

· Nobu Hotel Portman Square – The hotel features a world-class restaurant and bar, and a range of meeting spaces, from boardrooms for small meetings to a ballroom for drinks receptions for up to 700 guests.

· Canopy by Hilton London City – Complete with a rooftop bar for open-air dining and networking, the 340-room hotel offers a stylish setting and convenient London location.

· The Peninsula London – Find the best of British culture at The Peninsula London with 190 exquisitely styled guest rooms and suites. The hotel also features a grand entrance and collonaded courtyard reception, as well as a grand ballroom to host spectacular events.

Event spaces and hotels that have undergone developments in the past year include:

· Tobacco Dock – In partnership with Sansar, Tobacco Dock is taking its event space digital with ‘Tobacco Dock Virtual’. The virtual venue will allow users to experience immersive, real-life conferences, seminars and events online using the pandemic-proof platform.

· Hilton London Metropole – One of Europe’s largest hotel and conference centres with close transportation links to Heathrow Airport and Central London has undergone an extensive £1.8m refurbishment. The new Superior rooms have a contemporary design and floor-to-ceiling windows and the venue also boasts large working and relaxation areas, a gym and swimming pool.

· The Carlton Tower Jumeirah – Following a £100 million renovation, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah is set to open with a revamped spa, 20-meter indoor pool, health club, restaurant and balconies looking out onto iconic London views. The hotel’s new design will draw inspiration from its rich heritage, location, and modernist architecture.

· Olympia London – The £1.3 billion redevelopment project for Olympia London will launch in 2024 as a world-leading cultural destination includes a four-screen arthouse cinema, 1,500-seat theatre, live music venue, restaurants, shops, cafes, two hotels (Hyatt and CitizenM) and 550,000 square foot of office space.

· The Westin London City – The Westin London City is located on prime riverfront in the heart of the City of London and is a key part of the redevelopment of the former Queensbridge House site. The hotel will feature ultra-modern meeting and event facilities, a 24-hour business centre, a Junior Ballroom, an indoor swimming pool, spa, and a fitness studio.

· Marriott Kensington – The London Marriott Hotel Kensington has undergone a phased renovation project transforming the hotel’s guest rooms and public areas. Featuring intuitively designed accommodation, a seven-story atrium and a restaurant. Marriot Kensington is in an ideal location with close links to Central London and Heathrow Airport.

· Leonardo Royal London City Hotel – The £11.5m large-scale refurbishment of Leonardo Royal London City will transform the hotel's public areas, notably the lobby and reception, and includes renovations to the hotel's bedrooms to create a new relaxed and restful environment.