London show organiser Clarion ATE has confirmed that Earls Court will remain home to ATEI, ICE and ICEi for the foreseeable future.
The news followed an announcement that the exhibition centre’s owner, EC&O Venues, has entered into a 50-50 joint venture with a FTSE100 property investment company to build on and enhance Earls Court’s status as one of the UK’s premier events venues.
Long-term contracts with exhibition organisers, almost £1m invested in improving access into Earls Court One Level 2 and the company’s agreement with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games to host the volleyball in 2012 also assure a commitment to the venue’s future.
The joint venture deal sees Capital and Counties entering into an equal partnership with the major shareholders of EC&O Venues to continue the development of Earls Court and Olympia as landmark leisure destinations, based around the core businesses of exhibitions, conferences and special events.
Peter Rusbridge, chief executive of Clarion ATE, said: “Speculation and rumours surrounding the future of Earls Court were beginning to cause some concern for some of our exhibitors.
“We obviously welcome this news, together with the reassuring commitment from our landlords that our tenancy agreement will continue to be honoured.”
