A multinational city in every sense of the word, London’s vibrant business environment lures global companies — an increasing number of which have established headquarters here, making it a particularly desirable meeting destination.

An established center of international trade and finance, there’s also plenty of synergy between the city’s ancient and modern aspects: In addition to offering more than 2,000 years of heritage and culture, London boasts more than 116,000 hotel rooms and a comprehensive public transportation network for easy mobility. And it’s definitely connected, with direct rail service to mainland Europe and five airports with direct flights from 450 destinations worldwide.

London perfectly meets the needs of events of all sizes, whether a private executive meeting or large-scale conference. When it comes to “big,” venues include the QEII Centre, located conveniently near Westminster Abbey and Big Ben for conference break leg-stretching. Central London’s largest dedicated conference and exhibition space, the QEII Centre recently underwent a major renovation, with capacity for 2,500 delegates and new design elements that include raised ceilings, a Sanctuary executive lounge, airport-style check-in desks, multiple wide information flow screens, a concierge desk and a video wall with an array of 55-inch ultrathin bezel screens.

The QEII Centre also offers skilled meeting planners, in-house technology teams, a new state-of-the-art IPTV system, complimentary WiFi throughout and flexible meeting spaces. A team of award-winning caterers capable of customizing menus to meet a variety of dietary requirements stands ready to streamline events of all sizes.

Also easily accessible via road, air, rail, river and cable car, ExCeL London (Exhibition and Convention Centre London), located within the Royal Docks area, regularly hosts large-scale international exhibitions and conferences, with an estimated 25 percent originating with North American companies. This spring and summer, the space will host Grand Designs Live 2015 and PayExpo 2015.

Private meeting
room at One Aldwych © One Aldwych Hotel

In London, doing business while embracing heritage and historic architecture is part of the allure — and historic venues can add singular cachet to business proceedings. Options include the elegant Royal Albert Hall, with six meeting rooms, event space and theater seating for 200. On a smaller, equally stylish scale, One Aldwych is a true meeting statement-maker. One of the city’s earliest steel-structured buildings, the triangular Edwardian edifice — referred to as the “sister” to Manhattan’s Flatiron Building — stands at city center at the juncture of The Strand and Aldwych. It recently served as the setting for meetings concerning London’s new Garden Bridge, with planning for a monumental project that will serve both as unique green space and a vital pedestrian link between the North and South banks of the Thames.

“One Aldwych began its life as the home of The Morning Post newspaper,” says general manager Kostas Sfaltos of the building’s unique provenance. “Meetings are rooted in its very history. Today, our Screening Room accommodates up to 30 in graduated Italian leather seating and is equipped with the latest in digital cinema technology and 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound. The room offers a host of tech perks that include video conferencing and full compatibility with electronic presentations. Next to it, Private Room Three is perfect for canapés, reception dinners. One of our meeting strengths is the ability to provide a private, fine-dining experience within an event space.”

Sfaltos adds that the hotel’s Lobby Bar, now a coveted spot for business assignations, once served as the newspaper’s advertising offices. Meeting spaces include several sophisticated, gracefully detailed private rooms fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and ceiling-mounted screens. The Lyceum Theatre and Royal Opera House area located just beyond the front doors, along with high-end shopping at Covent Garden, provide ideal opportunities for incentives. Inside One Aldwych, triple-glazed windows ensure a quiet, serene environment throughout.

For business on the move, the iconic Belmond British Pullman can be chartered for multi-hour journeys from and to London Victoria Station. Seating capacity is 226 within 11 beautifully restored luxury vintage carriages. Incentives include themed expeditions, such as a private murder mystery journey with cocktail party and customized menus that incorporate the host company’s logo.

Take a small meeting, seminar or event to the water aboard HMS President. Now permanently moored on the Thames, the Flower-class anti-submarine Q ship is one of the last three remaining warships built by the Royal Navy during World War I. It can accommodate standing receptions of up to 600 and seated dinners for 230.

Above the waterline, the iconic London Eye offers private Champagne capsules for small group meetings and receptions, along with an element of moving spectacle that’s difficult to replicate. The entire wheel can also be hired or combined with dinner receptions aboard the luxurious, Art Deco-themed river cruiser London Eye Barracuda. The cruiser and its award-winning catering team, Dish, arrange seated dinners for up to 140 guests or receptions for up to 230.

If making a memorable statement is a prime directive, London provides a selection of distinctly unconventional meeting spaces for multiple group sizes that include The Aviary Bar, accommodating up to 95 people in a quirky replicated cave setting; rooms at legendary Abbey Road Studios; SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s underwater networking and dinner spaces; the sets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter; and Vinopolis, London’s wine tasting visitor attraction with eight separate event spaces and tastings and master classes available as incentives. Numerous museums, including the Tate Modern, also offer meeting and exhibition space.

London & Partners, the city’s official convention bureau, is ready and waiting to provide advice, help locating an appropriate venue, bid assistance, promotional materials and a full set of planning tools. They can also advise — or help create — wide-ranging incentives encompassing attractions, world-class galleries and museums, international networking opportunities, professional training and development offers and unusual cultural perks such as the chance for executive groups to create personal street art.