London is the best destination in the world to hold a conference, according to corporate travel planners.
The UK capital won the coveted gold award in the Best Conference Destination category in the inaugural Conference & Incentive Travel magazine (C&IT) Hot List.
More than 400 event planners representing some of the biggest brands and their corporate travel budgets voted across an eight-week period.
C&IT Editor Yasmin Arrigo said: "With just over 1,000 days to go until the 2012 Olympics – arguably the biggest event on the planet – roll into the capital, corporate event planners have placed London top of the conference league. Awarded on the eve of ExCeL London becoming the capital's first International Convention Centre (ICC), London can be justifiably proud of its event offering."
The C&IT Hot List 2009 is designed to celebrate the best destinations, venues and suppliers for events across 12 categories, as voted for by C&IT readers, with a Gold, Silver and Bronze place awarded in each.
ExCeL London took gold in the Best Conference Centre category, while SEA LIFE London Aquarium won Best Unusual Events Venue.
The winners received recognition at a gala event held at Axis at One Aldwych in London on 30 September.
The full list of Gold winners is as follows:
- Best Conference Destination: London
- Best Incentive Destination: Cape Town
- Best UK Conference Hotel: Celtic Manor
- Best Overseas Conference Hotel: Hotel Arts Barcelona
- Best UK Incentive Hotel: Chewton Glen
- Best Overseas Incentive Hotel: Hotel Arts Barcelona
- Best Conference Centre: ExCeL London
- Best Unusual Events Venue: SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- Best DMC: Vista Events (Greece)
- Best Venue for Sustainability: ACC Liverpool
- Best Transport Provider: British Airways
- Best Hotel Chain: Four Seasons
