(From left to right: Caroline Gourlay, Head of Exhibition Sales at Excel London, the lucky 60 millionth visitor Nigel Fowler and Suzanne King, Chief Operating Officer of CloserStill Media who organiser the Learning Technologies event that Nigel was attending.)
submitted by Tom Phillips, Excel London
LONDON – Excel London, part of ADNEC Group, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, welcomed its 60 millionth visitor this week during the Learning Technologies exhibition.
Excel, which opened its doors in London’s Royal Docks in 2000, has gone on to stage everything from the G20 Summit (2009) and 13 events in the Olympic and Paralympic Games (2012), to flagship gatherings for the likes of Google, Bett, Amazon and Adobe, as well as major trade shows such as the World Travel Market.
In addition to staging some of the worlds’ largest medical congresses, the venue also played its part during the pandemic by transforming – in just nine days – into the NHS Nightingale Hospital London.
More recently, it has become a fan-favourite hosting popular consumer shows such as MCM Comic Con, and becoming the world’s only indoor/outdoor racetrack for electric race series Formula E. It’s even provided numerous film locations for major Hollywood movies including Mission Impossible and Batman Begins, together with music videos for the likes of Ed Sheeran and Labrinth.
Today, the venue attracts around four million visitors a year – a million of whom travel from overseas – hosts around 400 events, supports more than 37,000 jobs and contributes to the London and UK economy through business and leisure tourism.
As well as being its 25th anniversary, this year will see Excel become the largest fully integrated venue in Europe as it completes an additional 25,000sqm expansion as part of a key project of ADNEC Group, tallying 125,000sqm in total.
Furthermore, this summer the venue will put the finishing touches to its new waterfront immersive entertainment district – Immerse LDN – which has already sold more than one million tickets to attractions such as The Formula 1® Exhibition.
The lucky visitor turned out to be Nigel Fowler who travelled from Cardiff to attend the Learning Technologies exhibition, hosted by organiser CloserStill Media. As a prize, Mr Fowler received a bottle of champagne, tickets to Immerse LDN and a stay in a hotel, presented to him by Caroline Gourlay from Excel and Suzanne King, COO of CloserStill.
Humaid Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Excel London and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “Since our acquisition of Excel London in 2008, we have embarked on a journey to make Excel a world-class event venue and further strengthen its leading position within the international events and business tourism industry. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we remain committed to further strengthening Excel’s position as a leading hub for innovation, trade and business, playing a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of London’s events industry for decades to come.”
“This is a fantastic achievement for Excel and underpins our ambition to be the best event destination in the world, and testament to the investment, vision and continued support we receive from ADNEC Group,” added Excel CEO Jeremy Rees, who was recently appointed a member of the government’s new Visitor Economy Advisory Council. “Since opening in 2000, we have welcomed everyone from Barack Obama and The Princess Royal to Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise through our doors, all contributing to 60 million people in total.”
He added: “2025 is set be a transformational year for Excel and London as we open our new, state-of-the-art expansion, allowing us to connect even more lives through the events we host, and continuing to drive London’s business tourism economy… as we have done for the past 25 years.”
For further details on Excel London visit www.excel.london
About Excel London:
Excel London, part of ADNEC Group, first opened in 2000, in an area of huge regeneration in London’s historic Royal Docks. 25 years later it has become one of Europe’s largest and most influential event venues, hosting some 400 shows per year and welcoming around four million visitors from every corner of the globe.
From major medical congresses including the European Society of Cardiology, through to the World Travel Market trade show and the all-electric Formula E motorsport championship, Excel hosts an array of events all bringing communities and businesses together through the power of face-to-face. Indeed, events hosted at Excel generate upwards of £4.5 billion in economic impact for London and support approximately 37,500 jobs throughout the events industry.
Over recent years, Excel has seen significant investment by owners ADNEC Group in its facilities, and is currently embarking on an additional 25,000sqm expansion programme opening soon.
More recently, it has played host to an array of immersive experiences such as Disney100: The Exhibition, inspiration behind Excel’s new Immerse LDN – a kilometre stretch of redeveloped waterfront becoming the London’s newest entertainment district. Excel also prides itself on championing sustainability and is certified carbon neutral – the first UK venue of its kind to achieve the international recognised PAS 2060 status – and has pledged a net zero target of 2050.
