WORLD TRAVEL MARKET MOVES TO LONDON’S EXCEL

New state-of-the-art International Centre to Host the World’s Leading Industry Business Event from 2002

World Travel Market is to move from Earls Court to ExCel, the UK’s newest, purpose built, state-of-the-art exhibition and conference centre at London’s Docklands in 2002.

The unanimous decision by the Advisory Council in September follows extensive research with World Travel Market exhibitors over past nine months.

Lord Oxfuird, chairman of the Advisory Council said: “ExCel is the largest and most sophisticated venue in London and the first totally integrated technology and communications infrastructure in Europe. It is the kind of cutting edge facility that World Travel Market and the many loyal exhibitors and visitors needs if the event is to continue building on its successful track record for effective business.”

Currently being built on a 100-acre site, the £250 million ExCel, situated on the waterside, can accommodate up to 65,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space, plus an additional 13,000 square metres of breakout, seminar and function rooms, directly accessible from the exhibition halls.

There are two inter-linked halls with a covered central 20 metre wide boulevard running between two entrances.

The venue has good road, rail and air links. Journey time from central London to ExCel is 15 minutes with three Dockland Light Railway stations on the site. Car drivers are 15 minutes drive away from junction 27 of the M25 motorway the venue is just five minutes away from London City Airport.

ExCel will also have a choice of six hotels with 1,150 bedrooms, 500 apartments and service apartments. Talks regarding seven hotels on site, at a total investment of £100 million, are currently under way between leading hotel chains such as Holiday Inn, Marriott Hotels and Hilton Hotels and developers.

Seven contemporary restaurateurs are to open bar, café and restaurant outlets, including a Wheelers champagne and oyster bar, a 100-cover Leiths restaurant serving modern British food, a mezzanine Italian restaurant, and The Reef, a mezzanine bar, seating 120 people.

Tom Nutley, managing director of Reed Travel Exhibitions, of which World Travel Market is the flagship event, said the decision was definitely the right one for the industry as a whole.

“ This is a world class venue for a world class industry event and will more appropriately suit the needs of everyone, exhibitors and visitors. Members of the Advisory Council felt that we simply could not continue with the limitations of Earls Court.”

Fiona Jeffery, exhibition director of World Travel Market said that the two year lead time would enable her and the team to work closely with exhibitors to ensure that the move is smooth and efficient.

“This is a very exciting and positive move. World Travel Market must continue to grow and develop with the industry, and respond to the challenges the 21st century offers.

“ExCel provides us with the right environment, the flexibility and the technological infrastructure to ensure that World Travel Market remains a leading industry event in a state-of-the-art venue.”

During World Travel Market, a series of presentations about ExCel will be made to exhibitors.