Visit London and Visit Britain unite to attract Olympics events

Visit London and Visit Britain have pledged to work together to maximise Olympics opportunities for the events industry.

Speaking at the ‘Events 2012 And Beyond' conference during International Confex, the organisations said they were cooperating to bring events to Britain in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Visit London commercial director David Hornby said that there were plentiful Olympics opportunities for the events industry, especially if it put strategies in place well before the Games took place.

Hornby said a long-term strategy was being put in place to ensure Britain capitalised on the opportunities to attract events long after the Olympics ended.

"Visit London is working with Visit Britain on the meetings and events side and we are presenting a co-ordinated approach to stakeholders," said Hornby.

"A long-term vision is critical and we have an opportunity now, while we are in the spotlight for the next four years, to bring events into Britain in the years after the Olympics."

Visit Britain head of business visits and events Joss Croft said the Olympics would be worth some £3bn to the economy and many of the opportunities would come post-Olympics.

Britain was attracting major events, especially in sport, to be held in the decade after the Olympics. These include the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and the Rugby World Cup 2015.