The Events 2012 Development Group, the industry body tasked with maximising the benefits of the London Olympic Games to the UK events industry, is extending its reach as the host city prepares to take centre stage from Vancouver as it in turn gets ready to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The stakeholder group, created by Visit London and VisitBritain with the support of LOCOG, is now working with a wider range of Olympic related organisations including the City Operations Group, IOC sponsors, NOC’s and official agents. David Sharpe, Managing Director of the London Eye, and Head of the Events 2012 Development group says; “This extended network is designed to ensure the UK events industry continues to be at the very heart of the games. In recent months, our emphasis has moved from information gathering and communication to the visitor experience and delivery as we head towards the 900 day milestone and as the focus moves from Vancouver to London.”
At the same time the group is seeing renewed support for its ground breaking Fair Pricing & Practice Charter, the first of its kind for a host city, which now has over 350 members including iconic venues such as the Natural History Museum and Twickenham Stadium and experience marketing agencies including George P Johnson and Imagination. Signatories to the charter undertake that their pricing for the period around the 2012 Olympic Games be both fair and reasonable and that they will not artificially inflate prices for goods or services. In turn, charter members are promoted to organisers seeking venues and suppliers via Visit London’s enquiry service and through Visit Britain’s network of overseas offices.
Visit London Director of Business Tourism, Tracy Halliwell comments; “With Vancouver just around the corner London is determined to highlight that it’s a city that is ready to welcome the world both pre and post Olympic Games. London is the first Olympic city to create a charter like this and for Visit London as the official Business Convention bureau it’s all about maintaining the business tourism we have and looking after that future business legacy for the city and country.”
Venues and suppliers can sign up to the Charter, by visiting
www.visitlondon.com/business/2012Charter
