London Convention Bureau (LCB) has secured over £13 million of business for the city from association marketing during 2002.

The latest success is the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress 2006 which is worth over £5 million. It will bring 3,000 to 5,000 delegates plus their partners and families into London for 5 days. It will be held at ExCeL.

Other successes of LCB’s association marketing department in 2002 include the annual meeting of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology which will come to London in 2005.

The four-day event at ExCeL is expected to attract between 5,000 and 7,000 delegates, plus accompanying partners and family and will be worth around £5 million to London’s economy.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is holding the triennial International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in 2005.

The meeting, which has previously been held in New York and Gothenburg, is expected to attract 1500-2000 delegates over five days, spending £2 million. In addition, the Association of Maritime Arbitrators is using London, home to the International Maritime Organisation, as the city for its 15th International Congress from 26-30 April 2004.

The 300 delegate meeting will last four days and will be worth £250,000 in revenue for the capital. The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations is also bring between 500 and 1,000 delegates to London for four days in October 2005 and the projected economic benefit for London is in the region of £800,000.

Mady Keup, head of London Convention Bureau said: “Looking at the business that LCB has secured for London in 2002, the value of the association market to London is very evident. I am delighted with the success of our association marketing and look forward to developing this market further in 2003.”

LCB’s association marketing activities will be strengthened in 2003 with the launch of a new guide. Aimed at the association market, it will provide organisers of national and international association meetings with an easy to use comprehensive guide on London’s venues and services.