London’s New Crown Jewel: Excel Pairs Big Investment With Planner Priorities

Published on October 21, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

By Yousuf Basil and Jennifer Deaton

Las Vegas, USA: After a $340M description —and pinch nan Elizabeth statement astatine its door—ExCeL London makes a product-first lawsuit astatine IMEX America 2025: sustainability, F&B by design, connectivity, and a waterfront built for activations.

LAS VEGAS — “This is what we consciousness we are: nan caller jewel successful London’s crown… London and ExCeL person created nan champion normal halfway successful Europe.” — James Rees, Executive Director, ExCeL London

The statement group nan tone. ExCeL’s IMEX America briefing was little boast than blueprint: a $340 cardinal description scaling nan venue to ~1.3 cardinal sq. ft. crossed 2 levels, positive London’s multibillion-pound Elizabeth statement now astatine ExCeL’s beforehand door. Together, those investments anchor ExCeL’s transportation to planners—and its belief that it stands arsenic Europe’s benchmark normal venue, successful nan gateway to Europe.

Designed astir what planners opportunity matters now

Sustainability — non-negotiable.
ExCeL says nan field is c neutral, pinch a published 2025 Net Zero Transition Plan and a Net Zero by 2045 target. On catering, Compass Group is driving toward Net Zero by 2027, pairing sustainability pinch healthy, stay-sharp menus that suit agelong programme days.

F&B arsenic a programme asset.
What utilized to beryllium “refuel” has go portion of acquisition design. Clients are specifying variety, nutrition, and pacing aligned to sessions truthful delegates support their edge.

Connectivity that changes nan day.
With an Elizabeth statement position connected nan doorstep, ExCeL is ~15 minutes to nan City and ~43–45 minutes nonstop to Heathrow (LHR), pinch throughput up to 36,000 delegates per hr crossed nan network. That door-to-door velocity is shaping RFP choices.

Scale, light, water
The description delivers six contiguous halls beneath (about 125,000 sq. ft. each) and ~37 elastic rooms supra pinch movable airwalls. High ceilings, extended daylight, and a ~200-meter waterfront pavilion create options—from fresh-air breaks to friendly hosted events. The 180-acre field layers successful hotels, restaurants, and promenades truthful delegates enactment connected ft and still consciousness successful London.

Kevin Lang, Director of Global Accounts, Opus: “Scale, daylight, and entree successful 1 place—boxes North American shows struggle to tick simultaneously.”

Who’s booking—and why

ExCeL reports U.S. organizers now correspond ~60% of its normal and legislature business by worth (up from ~37% a twelvemonth ago), pinch pipelines and programs spanning Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Gartner, INTA, AAIC and more—tech, enterprise, associations, science. The communal thread, activity said: a venue built astir sustainability, F&B quality, and connectivity, successful a metropolis delegates already want to visit. Add abundant airlift—read: plentifulness of nonstop and nonstop flights—English arsenic nan moving language, and a beardown estimation for safety, and nan destination lawsuit strengthens further.

Tracy Halliwell, Director of Tourism & Conventions, London: “America is our biggest inbound market. Airlift, language, assemblage strength—London is an easy yes, and nan city’s entreaty does nan rest.”

Quick facts for planners

Total space: ~1.3M sq. ft. post-expansion

Halls / gathering rooms: 6 contiguous halls; ~37 elastic rooms (upper level, movable airwalls)

Daylight & outdoor: Extensive glazing; ~200 m pavilion for breaks aliases mini activations

Transit: Elizabeth statement astatine nan door; ~15 min to nan City; ~43–45 min to LHR

Throughput: Up to 36,000 delegates/hour connected nan line

Sustainability: Carbon-neutral campus; Net Zero 2045 target; Compass Group Net Zero 2027 (F&B)

Bottom line: ExCeL’s lawsuit is finance positive fit—greener operations, amended nutrient by design, door-to-door speed, and a waterfront venue that gives delegates light, air, and options. For galore RFPs, that operation makes nan “why London” slide write itself