London Named Top Meeting Destination in Europe
London has been named the number one meeting destination in Europe by events and hospitality technology provider Cvent, as reported by Conference News.
Cvent released the lists naming the top meeting destinations and hotels in Europe for the first time since 2020.
The lists were compiled based on sourcing activity through the Cvent Supplier Network and included regional rankings for North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
After opening 17 hotels in 2022, London currently has 400 hotels in the pipeline, indicating ongoing development and expansion within the hospitality sector.
“London is a diverse and inclusive city, and offers unrivalled choices when planning a meeting or event,” Fiona Plumpton, head of London Convention Bureau Services, said in the Conference News article. “London is also a global leader in technology and innovation.”
Hoteliers in London, among those in other European countries who made the list, used the unexpected downtime from the pandemic to make improvements to their hotels and meeting spaces. These improvements include upgrades and renovations to prepare for the travel boom expected to hit after lockdown restrictions were lifted, according to the article.
In addition to London’s recognition, hoteliers in other European countries also utilised the unexpected downtime from the pandemic to make improvements to their hotels and meeting spaces.
“The critical role the meetings and events industry plays in bolstering local economies worldwide was never more apparent than when that business disappeared overnight during the pandemic,” Graham Pope, Cvent vice president of international sales, said in an article from Meetings & Incentive travel. “Fortunately, destinations and hotels alike have seen a dramatic comeback from pandemic lows as they benefitted from the pent-up demand for in-person experiences.
According to an article in Meetings & Incentive Travel, three other UK destinations made the top 25. Manchester is at spot 19, Birmingham is at spot 21 and Edinburgh is at spot 22.