The 2016 London calendar will see some great cultural events taking place, including celebrations for the Queens 90th Birthday, a program of activities marking 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy and 40 years of Punk heritage, and the opening of the highly anticipated Harry Potter stage show – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
With another blockbuster year of culture, incentive planners will be spoilt for choice.
EXHIBITIONISM, the first major exhibition on The Rolling Stones, will be opening at the Saatchi Gallery in April. For event organisers, this ground-breaking event offers a unique entertainment platform for hospitality events, providing private access to one of the most anticipated exhibition of the year.
To celebrate 400 years of Shakespeare, a number of cultural venues are hosting Shakespeare inspired events. Explore one of the most iconic theatres in London, Shakespeare’s Globe, and watchHamlet performed in a venue made famous by Shakespeare himself. During April, flocks of Shakespeare enthusiasts will also walk the 2.5-mile route along the Thames, for the Complete Walk,throughout which 37 screens will show the playwright’s famous works in a series of specially-made short films.
The Barbican’s Shakespeare Weekender will see a variety of experiences, interactive workshops, fun installations and performances with a difference, take place during the event, followed in May by The Royal Shakespeare Company in association with Tower Theatre Company’s performance of A Midsummers Night’s Dream. For delegates with a love of Shakespeare, the Barbican offers bespoke private tours with behind-the-scenes access to some of the performances.
Also joining in the celebrations, Museum of London are offering a Shakespeare Boat along the Thames experience, where delegates can see famous iconic London landmarks and sites associated with the Bard. For a more laidback atmosphere, Guildhall is hosting a Shakespeare Cocktail Concert, allowing delegates to sip on cocktails whilst enjoying a Shakespeare themed evening of words and music.
A hub for music, art and food, Kings Place offers guided tours of the art and sculpture galleries at their King’s Cross site, located a few minutes from the Eurostar terminal. Delegates and incentive programme participants can also have the unique opportunity to meet performers and artists during their event. Enjoy a private dining experience at Rotunda, where the menu changes daily, with organic and sustainable produce served fresh from the restaurant’s own farm in Northumberland. An expert can guide diners through their ‘nose to tail’ dining experience and share with them the ethos of the restaurant.
Experience the city’s largest collection of rum at The Langham’s renowned bar, Artesian, winner of the world’s best bar for the fourth consecutive year. Set at the forefront of the sophisticated London bar scene, try their tapas style dishes inspired by ingredients from the new ‘Surrealism’ cocktail menu.
For Michelin Star dining, Roux at The Landau offers a private dining experience with a touch of glamour in elegant surroundings, with menus devised in partnership with Michel Roux Jr and Albert Roux OBE. The restaurant is ideal for networking events and bespoke dinners.
The newly opened 400 bedroom InterContinental London – The O2, located in the Greenwich Peninsular, is located right next to Europe’s largest entertainment and events complex The O2, where delegates can enjoy watching superstars perform or take over their private space for an event.InterContinental Meetings’ Insider Collection also provides a range of experiences to create truly engaging, personalised experiences, which can range from off-site team building, through to sourcing local expert speakers.
Sports fans can visit the famous Wembley Stadium, home to UK football and the largest stadium in the UK. From the Great Hall to the Wembley Suites, the Stadium offers event space with a unique history and atmosphere. The venue provides the perfect setting to hold conferences, meetings and award ceremonies. On non-match days the stadium offers a truly unique incentive experience, where clients can dine in the presence of the FA cup in the home team changing room.
Speaking about the importance of the capital’s range of cultural incentive offering, Barbara Jamison, Head of Business Development, Europe and London, said: “London is a unique and diverse city that combines over 2,000 years of living history with a wide breadth of museums, galleries and extraordinary exhibitions, plus it offers a bustling nightlife and world-class cuisine. This year’s celebrations and anniversaries really highlight the city’s position as a global business centre which also offers a wide range of great incentive opportunities, enabling planners to combine business with reward experiences and to create a truly memorable event in London.”
Other notable 2016 celebrations include Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday and the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London.
Wembley Stadium, Kings Place, The Langham, Barbican and The O2 are some of the partners joining London & Partners’ Convention Bureau team at IMEX Frankfurt on stand F400.
For more information and to book an appointment with the London & Partners team at IMEX Frankfurt go to conventionbureau.london
