London, 28th November 2012: Following a fierce competition that has seen the entry of 450 venues in the UK to be then shortlisted into 20, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)- owned ExCel London has been voted the Top Event Venue according to the poll of the Event Magazine that was conducted on 4500 readers. 

HE Ali Saeed Bin Harmal, The Managing Director, ADNEC, said, "Being the top venue according to one of the leading Event Magazine bears witness to tremendous developments and strides ExCel London has been experiencing since 2010. This investment has been instrumental in enabling the venue to host London Olympics and Paralympics 2012. Besides, it has been the second busiest location after the Olympic Park, the launch-pad for the Olympics." 

"Our sound and meticulously-planned investments have raised the profile of the Venue to be as it is now the UK's most robust and largest exhibition and conference centre. The Venue has welcomed more than 70,000 visitors per day during the Olympics and its 48- pound investment ExCel London Aloft Hotel has been fully booked for three months by the Olympics guests."

Kevin Murphy, CEO, ExCeL London comments: "We are delighted to have ExCel London been crowned amongst the Top 20 event venues in 2012 poll. We are particularly pleased to win as the poll was voted on by the entire world's event industry."

"The Venue has topped some of the world's prime exhibition centre owing to its world-class and quality services provided to industry professionals, which they highly appreciate", he added.

ExCel London's halls have been so engaged all-around the Olympics time as the venue housed more than 70,000 fans daily to watch 26 events staged in 34 halls. ExCel London has taken up 26% of total Olympics activities and 30% of the Paralympics which were hosted in the Venue's 21 halls.  

London's Olympics have seen 14,700 athletes taking part in its various games, out of which 2,736 (18% of the total number) were been competed at ExCel London. Besides, the Venue has been ranked in the second position in media hits, following the Olympic Park.

This year, ExCel London hosted 247 exhibitions, conferences and activities, attracting more than 4.200 million visitors from around the world. The venue is planned to host 350 activities next year. ExCel London grabbed four international and global trophies this year.

About ADNEC
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC's venue portfolio includes one of the most modern exhibition centres in the world, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and the UK capital's largest exhibition and conference venue, ExCeL London, and Al Ain Convention Centre in Al Ain.

ADNEC creates the ideal environment for Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing events industry. The projects surrounding the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre include: Capital Centre, a mixed-use development of 23 residential, commercial and mixed-use towers adjacent to the exhibition centre; Capital Gate, the iconic 35 storey record-breaking leaning tower that offers 14 storeys of grade A office space along with the 5-star Hyatt Capital Gate hotel; the interconnected four-star Aloft Hotel; and a 20,000sqm waterfront quayside (Marina). 

The company also owns BoxOfficeME, the region's most advanced and high-tech ticket vendor, which complements its event facilities in the UAE; and Al Maa'red Weddings, ADNEC's specialist weddings consultancy.   

For more information visit www.adnec.ae; www.excel-london.co.uk; www.capitalgate.ae; www.boxofficeme.com.

Media contacts
Wael Kanakri
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company
Tel: +971 (0) 2 444 6900
Fax: +971 (0) 2 444 6135
Abu Dhabi
P.O Box 5546
United Arab Emirates
Email: wael.kanakri@adnec.ae

© Press Release 2012