ExCeL London's board of directors recently met senior officials of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) to discuss progress on the second phase of development of the ExCeL London exhibition centre.

Adnec had acquired Excel London, one of the busiest exhibitions centres in Europe, hosting more than 2,000 events, in May 2008 as one of its initial steps towards global expansion.

The second phase of the project is due to be completed and launched this June, said the officials after the meeting.

On completion, the venue’s exhibition area will increase by 50 per cent to 100,000 sqm thus making it one of the biggest exhibition venues in Europe. A new conference hall that can accommodate 5,000 people will also be unveiled, they added.

The expo centre will also feature a large banquet hall that can hold up to 3,000 guests, strengthening catering services and retail facilities. Furthermore, easier access has been facilitated via the new eastern gate from the metro station.

During the meeting, initiatives to promote Abu Dhabi as a leading investment hub for exhibitions and special events within the UK were also highlighted.

Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, managing director of Adnec, said the investment in Excel, along with other developments within Adnec is a key factor in its strategy of achieving international leadership in the MICE industry.

"Furthermore, Excel’s expansion will enable it to host a huge number of international events and compete at the same level as venues in other leading international cities," he remarked.

The development involves in the addition of conference pavilions that can accommodate 2,500 people as well as a customized hall for business executives, Al Dhaheri added.

The Excel London expo centre will play a vital role in the 2012 London Olympics as it will host seven Olympic events and six Olympic activities for the disabled covering boxing, judo, table tennis, fencing, weight lifting, taekwondo, and volley ball.

Adnec's acquisition of the expo centre was fully supported by the Abu Dhabi Government and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi as it jumpstarted the development of a world-class network of exhibition centers for holding international live shows and conferences.-TradeArabia News Service