Excel London announced the acquisition of London’s Business Design Center (BDC) on Wednesday.
ADNEC Group, the parent company of Excel London, is adding a venue to its portfolio, although the BDC is much smaller than ADNEC’s other properties. In addition to its two properties in London, ADNEC also owns and manages the ADNEC Center in Abu Dhabi and the ADNEC Center in Al Ain.
Chief executive Jeremy Rees said: “We look forward to integrating BDC into the ADNEC ecosystem and will continue to invest significantly to ensure that Excel and BDC provide the highest quality platform for the events industry, thereby strengthening London as a global Position as a leading event destination.
BCD offers nearly 65,000 square feet (6,000 square meters) of dedicated event and meeting space and 135,000 square feet (12,500 square meters) of support space. The building, now a Grade II listed building, dates back to 1862 and was originally the Royal Agricultural Hall. More than 130 events use the space each year, attracting more than 900,000 visitors to North London each year. The sale also includes a 4.5-acre freehold estate that houses the adjacent Hilton London Angel Islington hotel.
“My brothers and I are no longer young and it is time to pass the baton to new owners who understand and respect what we have built. ADNEC has a long and recognized history of building, owning and managing venues and I wish them all the best A complete success in moving BDC forward.
Excel’s ambitious plans
Excel is about to undergo a major expansion, adding 270,000 square feet (25,000 square meters) of exhibition space, bringing the total venue area to 135,000 square feet (125,000 square meters). In June, the venue revealed that more than 65% of available expansion space for 2025 was already booked.
Excel hosts some of the UK’s biggest exhibitions, including World Travel Market, which opens on 5 November. of business transactions exceeds £2.2 billion.
It’s been a busy month for Excel, with the company recently announcing a brand refresh and working with The Disability Taskforce, part of The Hobbs Consultancy, to set new standards for venue accessibility. Excel said it will develop a new accessibility strategy and roadmap, working towards the long-term aim of improving and making the venue truly accessible for everyone. Earlier, Excel revealed plans for an immersive entertainment area to complement its expansion.
