Mike's Blog
Westfield welcomes the BT Visit London Awards  Whilst most of the country were out celebrating the discovery of Guy Fawkes sitting on twenty barrels of gunpowder in a cellar under the Houses of Parliament, London’s tourism and events industry came together at Westfield Shopping Centre to celebrate the 2009 Visit London Awards, sponsored by BT. Staging an awards ceremony in the heart of the capital’s newest retail centre, with the shops remaining open until mid-way through the awards, was always going to draw a crowd.
But what if guests disappeared during the pre-awards drinks reception to grab a bargain? Had we been asked to don black-tie just so store security could recognise and return us to our seats should the urge to begin our Christmas shopping early grow to strong? And what would have happened if one of the actual shoppers that stopped to peer down on us from the balconies above had suffered a fit of excitement at the mere sight of host Neil Fox, outstanding achievement award winner Tony Hadley or cater Rhubarb’s amazing sticky toffee pudding?
I suspect that, at times, the 700 guests gathered at tables in a basement mezzanine area at the heart of Westfield, probably felt a little exposed to an over excited housewife throwing her La Senza purchase off the balcony in the direction of Foxy.
Heavens forbid, a depressed shopaholic X-Factor fan should have decided that this was the perfect moment to end it all and, in the same final breath, extract revenge for Britain’s Got The Pop Factor….And Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice.
Thankfully however, the shoppers on the balcony above simply looked on with mild curiosity as London’s attractions, people and businesses were rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
This was my first visit to Westfield. It’s a truly modern and first-class retail complex and made for a uniquely fitting setting for the annual leisure and business tourism awards. I can’t wait for Westfield Stratford to open closer to my doorstep in 2011.
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2009 Visit London Awards. The full list is outlined below:
Outstanding Achievement Award Tony Hadley, lead singer of Spandau Ballet Visitor Attraction of the Year Gold: National Maritime Museum Best Tourism Experience Gold: National Maritime Museum for International Year of Astronomy 2009 at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Best Consumer Event of the Year Gold: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival Best Corporate Event of the Year Gold: ExCeL London for The London Summit; Growth, Stability & Jobs Business Venue of the Year Gold: ExCeL London Small Hotel/B&B of the Year Gold: Bingham Large Hotel of the Year Gold: Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel Budget Accommodation of the Year Gold: Generator Hostel London Outstanding Customer Service Award Gold: The Operations team at The Cavendish Hotel London Sports Tourism Award Sustainable Tourism Award Gold: Cavendish Conference Venues Accessible Tourism Award Gold: St Martin-in-the-Fields Best Gastronomic Experience Gold: Bingham Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year Gold: Natural History Museum for Darwin Exhibition - People's Choice Awards - London Evening Standard's Best Family Fun London Evening Standard's Best London for Free Experience Kiss 100's Hottest Music Event Magic 105.4's London Hero |
Mike Fletcher
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