Friday September 25 2009
London is one of the most international travel destinations in the world, attracting about 26 million visitors each year. In 2008, about 15 million international travelers visited London, including 3.1 million international business travelers, according to Visit London.
Business travel accounts for roughly 20% of international visitors to London, and accounts for roughly 31% of the total share spent on hotels in London. Even though the current global economic conditions have resulted in a 19% decline in overseas business travel visits to London in the first quarter 2009, business travel still generates about 20% of total London international travelers. Growing interest in London as a destination is coming from Spain, Italy, Poland, France and Germany. Nevertheless, the U.S. still remains London’s strongest market of overseas visitors with nearly 2 million visitors in 2008.
London offers a full range of activities, including museums, galleries, theatre and sports for London visitors. And with more than 1,000 hotels in London, how can business travelers and meeting planners decide which popular hotels will meet their needs?
Well, economic conditions are very favorable right now for small business travelers who are searching for business hotels for future business travel to London, or if you’re a corporate or association meeting planning searching for hotels in London for future meetings or events. And most people stay an average of four nights in London hotels. Consider the following hotels in London on your list of possibilities:
- Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments
- Claridge’s Hotel
- InterContinental London Park Lane
- Jumeirah Carlton Tower
- Sheraton Park Tower
- Sofitel a Terminal 5 (Hethrow)
- The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel
- The Ritz Carlton
- The Royal Horseguards
- The Rubens at the Palace
Many business travelers in London will inevitably find themselves spending time at Earls Court and Olympia Exhibition Centre or ExCeL London for larger conventions and exhibitions. Earls Court offers more than 97,000 square meters of exhibition space and meeting room space to accmmodate up to 500 attendees for meetings and events. ExCeL London includes 65,000 square meters of flexible exhibition space, is located in London’s Royal Docks – part of a 100 acre campus that includes 5 hotels and numerous bars and restaurants.
