18 May 2026
As UK business leaders travel to Los Angeles for the Great Together LA trade mission, its theme -Unexpected Connections - feels particularly fitting.
For millennia, countries have embarked on trade missions because, bluntly, they work. Things might have changed a little since Henry VIII travelled to France in 1520 for the famous ‘Field of Gold’ summit, but the ethos and ambitions are remarkably similar.
Both the fields of Calais and the metropolis of LA will create shared moments where businesses, investors, policymakers and industry leaders come together, often from different sectors and perspectives, and new opportunities begin to take shape. Some are planned. Others happen in the margins - in conversations, introductions and shared experiences that could not have been predicted in advance.
At Excel London, our purpose is Connecting Lives. It reflects a simple but important belief: that when people come together in the right environment, the impact can extend far beyond the event itself. Businesses find new markets. Industries exchange ideas. Partnerships are formed. Careers are shaped. Communities benefit.
We call this curated serendipity - carefully designed events to bring the right people, sectors and ideas together - but where the most valuable outcomes happen whilst waiting for a coffee or an early evening drink.
In an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world, human interaction matters more than ever. Technology has transformed the way we communicate, but it has not replaced the value of meeting face to face.
For businesses looking to grow internationally, those moments of connection are often where ambition becomes action, which is why live events have such an important role to play in the UK-US growth story.
The relationship between our nations is one of the world’s most important economic partnerships. Strengthening that relationship requires more than policy, trade agreements and investment strategies. It requires platforms where people can meet, understand one another, explore ideas and turn shared ambition into commercial opportunity.
At their best, events do exactly that. They bring decision-makers together, create the conditions for trust, and allow businesses to showcase expertise, products and ideas.
For the UK, this matters. We have a strong global reputation for creativity, innovation, business leadership and world-class hospitality. London, in particular, remains one of the most attractive destinations in the world for international events - not only because of its history and culture, but because of its connectivity, infrastructure, talent and ability to convene global audiences.
At Excel, we see this every day. Our venue welcomes more than four million visitors each year across over 400 events, with over 40,000 companies exhibiting annually; from major exhibitions and international congresses to corporate events, product launches, sporting events and immersive experiences. Each one brings people together with purpose. Each one has the potential to create connections that generate value far beyond the show floor.
Those events bring people to London, fill hotels and restaurants, support jobs and contribute significant economic value to the city and the wider UK. They also showcase London as a place where global industries meet, ideas are exchanged and business gets done.
That is why continued investment in event infrastructure is so important. Over the past few years, Excel has undergone one of the most significant periods of investment in its history, including a wider £350m programme across the venue and campus. Most notably, we have completed a 25,000sqm expansion of our International Convention Centre, strengthening Excel’s position as the largest fully integrated convention and exhibition centre in Europe.
This investment, is not simply about adding space. It is about creating the conditions for events to grow, for organisers to have confidence, and for London to continue competing on the global stage.
The expectations of organisers, exhibitors and visitors have changed significantly. Major venues are no longer passive suppliers of space. They are increasingly expected to provide flexible infrastructure, high-quality technology, seamless transport connectivity, delicious food and engaging hospitality, sustainable solutions and a destination experience beyond the event itself.
I discussed this with CNN last year at World Travel Market, when we spoke about the evolving role of venues and what makes London competitive as a global events destination. Scale matters, but for international organisers who could go anywhere in the world, what you can do to help that event succeed, grow and deliver value for its audience is what really matters.
This is especially relevant in the hugely competitive US market. North America is important for Excel and for London’s wider events economy. We continue to see strong interest from US organisers, particularly across sectors such as technology, healthcare and finance. In fact, 60% of our business is now from North America with the likes of Oracle, Gartner, Amazon, Google and Salesforce all favouring London for their flagship European events.
As venues, our role is to make those moments possible and what has shaped our wider evolution. Alongside our ICC expansion, we have continued to invest in the wider destination, including our waterfront and the development of Immerse LDN, London’s largest immersive entertainment district. This reflects a broader shift in the industry: the most successful venues are those that can support the whole experience, not just the event itself.
The Great Together LA trade mission is a timely reminder that growth is built through relationships - and that some of the most valuable relationships begin with an unexpected connection.
For Excel, our continued investment reflects confidence in that future. It reflects confidence in London, in the UK events industry and in the ability of live experiences to drive trade, investment and long-term growth.
The world is unrecognisable from 500 years ago when that meeting in France took place after years of planning, the building of a city of golden tents, an armed guard of 4,000 soldiers and a month of feasting.
The next few days in LA might not offer the conger eels, swans and porpoises that were on the menu back then, but the spirit of those meetings – to connect, engage and share cultural experiences will be the same all these centuries later, because when it comes to business, being face to face will always matter.
