Visit London to Focus on Business Tourism for 2012 at EIBTM 2009

Since the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing and the focus now on the British capital in 2012, Visit London will be announcing and launching a number of new initiatives and benefits for international associations and conference planners who have already started to discuss their plans.

The main points are the introduction of a city-wide accommodation charter involving all major hotel groups, partnerships with air and rail and group rates for associations, new hotels coming on stream, as well as new venues, restaurants, and entertainment spaces to make the choice even greater.

Visit London have also been working closely with travel partners –engaging both air and rail in offering associations group rates. There have also been discussions regarding special offers with products such as Travel Oyster cards, which can be used on the majority of London’s public transport, and could be used as a sustainable and cost-effective travel option for groups.

The product offer is also a major benefit which the business industry has already started to benefit from. More businesses and services are being developed –gearing up for the 2012 Games- which in turn has strengthened London’s offer as a world-class destination.

A number of new hotels such at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza, the new Hilton at Wembley, the Renaissance at St. Pancras Chambers and the Sofitel at Heathrow T5 are being built. This will create even more choice and will raise London’s hotel bedroom capacity total from 100,000 to 120,000 for 2012.

As well as growth of accommodation there are also a number of new venues, restaurants and entertainment spaces being planned or built. So the overall offer for delegates coming to London is constantly changing, contributing to a new and inspiring image for the destination.

There is an overall positive effect that the Games are having on London’s events and hospitality sector and below are some facts and figures about just a few of the Olympic venues, which are based in East London and will host London 2012 Olympic events.