Marketing consortium Unique Venues of London ran its fourth edition of its expo, 2 October, with over 500 sign ups this year, up from 350 at the 2011 showcase.
The 78-strong venue consortium had all but five members exhibiting at pods spread around Somerset House, London, according to UVL Chairman Moya Maxwell.
The 2012 UVL Expo was supported this year by Table Talk and Blue Strawberry caterers and a familiarisation tour of selected UVL venues was over-subscribed.
The keynote presentation on the Olympic legacy was delivered by Creative Director of the Time Based Events agency, Richard Dodgson and was standing room only.
Dodgson spoke about his agency’s work to deliver the Omega Countdown Clock unveiling in Trlgar Square prior to the Games and shared experiences of working with corporates Deloitte, AT&T and Samsung at the US and Jamaican Houses in London for the duration of the London Olympics and Paralympics.
Dodgson noted £90m had been spent on the 40 National Houses and that the huge programme of public events had provided a big platform for other events in the UK.
He also noted that, although his agency worked with UK Trade and Industry, the meetings and events sector had “no real support from Government – you’re on your own,” he said.
“We have to use the media and trade press to keep the momentum gained from the Olympics,” he added.
Dodgson also said the largely positive business events climate in London was cocooned. “It does feel like a bubble in the capital, completely different to the economic climate in the rest of the country,” he said.
Delegates to the 2012 UVL Expo also attended an evening reception at Tower Bridge.
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