London’s convention bureau will be showcasing the city’s diverse neighbourhoods as part of its 2018 European programme of hosted buyer trips.
As well as visiting venues and accommodation, the programme, which will see attendees discover the city according to different themes, such as medical meetings or technology, will give partners the chance to show delegates their favourite London hidden gems and share their insider tips. This initiative will showcase more of the city to international business leisure visitors in a bid to spread the benefits of tourism right across the capital.
According to a report released by the city this year, London is expected to welcome 40.4 million international and domestic visitors by 2025, up from 31,2 million in 2016, a 30 per cent increase.
Barbara Jamison, Head of Business Development Europe at London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s official promotional agency and convention bureau for the city, said: “London has never been so popular for both business and leisure visitors. But while this is great news, we need to ensure that we do everything we can to guarantee this will benefit Londoners while giving our visitors the best possible experience. Showcasing our wonderful and lesser known neighbourhoods and attractions to event planners will do just that, allowing them to see the breadth of London’s offering and find the best suited solution for their delegates.”
Some of the recommendations from the Tourism Vision to continue to develop sustainable tourism include encouraging and enabling visitors to see more of London, as well as carrying on improving infrastructure.
London is currently home to 145,000 hotel rooms, and another 17,000 are expected to open by 2020. Other accommodation providers, such as serviced apartments and Airbnb, add to the city’s capacity and help satisfy the demand. Last year, London’s hotels’ occupancy rate reached 81.3 per cent, the second highest in Europe.
A number of transport projects are under way to make sure all parts of the city are accessible. The Elizabeth line, also known as Crossrail, will launch at the end of 2018 and will drastically cut down travel time from Heathrow. The Northern Line is also being extended and will see two new stations opening in 2020 in the South London areas of Nine Elms and Battersea.
Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of European Cities Marketing added: “It’s never been more important for tourism to be sustainable and this is nothing short of crucial for a city as big and as attractive as London. Infrastructure such as hotels and transport are absolutely key in encouraging visitors to venture further afield and ensuring the whole city reaps the benefits of tourism.”
Tags: Crossrail, Heathrow, IBTM, london, London & Partners
