Press Release Details

ExCel London Buoyed by Positive Results in 2013

Publication Date: 14 Jan 2014

Commenting on the robust growth registered by ExCel London, Kevin Murphy, Chairman of ExCel London, said that without the support ExCel London’s Director Board and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company, it would have been impossible to reach the level where ExCel London is today, and that the achievements that followed the acquisition by ADNEC reflected the great role played by ExCel London in the European and global events and exhibition sector.

Murphy also added that the outstanding performance delivered by ExCel London in the past year is a major feat for the Centre, and that the many prestigious awards it won in the exhibitions and events industry are the biggest testimonials to the quality of services, infrastructure and excellent facilities it offered, allowing the Centre to host the most coveted international events. He also underlined that the success of the Centre over the past year exhibited its ability to sustain growth in hosting various events across multiple economic sectors.

ExCel London continued its successful journey by hosting a record number of events in 2013, when it hosted more than 15 global events, in addition to a number of corporate events, making the venue one of the most happening places in the event industry worldwide.

He also revealed that ADNEC acquired ExCel Centre London in May 2008 for a price tag of AED 1.9 billion (£318 million), and the value of investment has grown about 40 per cent to AED 2.67 billion (£445 million) by the end of 2012. ADNEC also estimates that its investment in ExCel would have grown by 52 per cent to AED 2.8 billion (£482 million pounds ) by the end of 2013.

Murphy also said that despite the fallouts of economic downturn and recession on UK economy, ExCel has proven to be a lucrative investment for Abu Dhabi Government.

He pointed out that from 2008 to 2013, the number of exhibitions hosted by ExCel London has nearly doubled, while the number of conferences and other events increased by 48 per cent which catapulted ExCel London into the No. 1 position in the United Kingdom in terms of the number of exhibitions hosted. Furthermore, the visitor turnout at ExCel London between 2008 and 2013 surged by nearly 177 percent, and ExCel’s performance has had a positive impact on London’s economy.

Murphy further added that ExCel London has provided 31,000 jobs last year, and helped London jump from 19th to 6th position in the latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings. Murphy also pointed out that ExCel London’s direct and indirect contribution to London economy since the acquisition by ADNEC was estimated at AED 17 billion.

Kevin Murphy also added that the synergy between ExCel London and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre has resulted in setting up a long term secondment programme for training Emirati talents employed by ADNIC. Since its launch in 2009, the programme has trained nearly 23 Emiratis, and this year 10 ADNEC employees will be seconded for training at Excel London. Candidates receive training in many areas of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry at ExCel London facilities. In addition, ADNEC employees had the opportunity to take part in the organisation of 2012 London Olympics.

ExCel London hosted in summer 2012 seven Olympic games and six Paralympic sports over 16 days. The second busiest place during the Olympics after the Olympic Park, the venue hosted on July 30, 2012 nearly 70,000 visitors who thronged its facilities to watch various competitions of London Olympics.  During the event, 33 poster sites were used by ADNEC, in addition to the largest advertising site in London which was seen by more than 3 million people. The Olympic events staged by ExCel London were watched by nearly 1.3 million people who also watched Abu Dhabi’s welcome message to the world. The value of advertising for Excel London and the television production during the Olympics is estimated at AED 54 million.

Kevin Murphy also added that ADNEC has invested AED 225 million (£48 million) to build Aloft London with 252 rooms within ExCel London premises, which added AED 150 million to ADNEC’s investment in ExCel London.

The design and development of the second phase of ExCel’s expansion, which took 22 months to complete, added a total of 32,500 square meter exhibition space. The phase two has already generated £60 million in revenues and the venue has been fully booked for events until 2017. ExCel London today competes with the top ten events and conferences venues across the world and it has the advantage of promoting events held in London, as opposed to the exhibitions and events held elsewhere like Germany where events are promoted by major German cities.

Excel London also comprises a hall that can accommodate 6,000 guests and a huge network of facilities and features that enable it to compete with the major exhibition centers in the United Kingdom.