GBP 165 million Extension of ExCeL in London

ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) has officially inaugurated the second phase expansion of ExCeL London, signalling a new chapter in ADNEC’s emergence as a rising star of the global events industry.

ExCeL London’s AED 900 million (GBP 165 million) expansion creates a world class ICC (International Convention Centre) for the UK capital with facilities including a 5,000-seater auditorium, a breakout area for 2,500 delegates and London’s largest banqueting hall with a 3,000-seat capacity.

Additionally, exhibition space at ExCeL London, the venue for exhibitions such as World Travel Market and DSEi, has grown by 50%, to 97,500 sqm to become one of Europe’s largest exhibition centres.

“Our ongoing investments in ExCeL reiterate our commitment to the global events industry. They are also in line with Abu Dhabi’s strong and ongoing relationship with the UK – a relationship that is decades long and born out of mutual respect,” said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, ADNEC Chairman.

The UAE and UK governments aim to boost trade by more than 60% by 2015, said H.E. Sheikh Sultan, stating that successful partnerships such as ADNEC and ExCeL, will have a significant role in realising this ambition.

“Additional areas of mutual growth for ADNEC and ExCeL are being identified,” added Sheikh Sultan citing ADNEC’s building of a 252-room Aloft Hotel at ExCeL London, in time for the London 2012 Olympics. ExCeL is host venue for seven Olympic and six Paralympics disciplines for the London games.

Key features of ExCeL’s expanded facilities include:

• Additional 32,500 sqm of flat-floor event space - equivalent to 14 football pitches.
• 9,500 sqm of the 32,500 sqm will be dropped floor space with 15m high ceilings
• 4,500 sqm semi-permanent auditorium with retractable seating for up to 5,000 delegates (equal to the largest ICC in Europe – Berlin)
• Further conference, banqueting & meeting space accommodating up to 2,000 delegates
• 20 conference/meeting rooms bringing total to 65 break out/meeting rooms
• Additional F&B and retail area
• An extra 625 underground car parking spaces bringing the total to 2,225
• One of the largest production kitchens in the UK
• 25000 m3 of concrete has been used on the new phase – enough to fill 10 Olympic sized swimming pools
• 7,500 tons of structural steelwork
• 70,000 m3 of excavated soil reused on site
• 75-85% recycling rate for materials removed from site

With a waterside setting near Canary Wharf, the UK capital’s new financial centre, ExCeL London has staged more than 3,000 events welcoming 5 million visitors from more than 200 countries in the ten years since it opened.

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Awards, Flights, Codeshare, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Videos, ADNEC, ExCeL, Abu Dhabi, London