Corporate event management: Association of Event Organisers hits back at Boris Johnson over Tube cut

Date: 04/10/2011

Karim Halwagi, chief executive officer, of the Association of Event Organisers has written a strongly worded letter to London mayor, Boris Johnson, after he announced plans to axe weekday Tube services to Kensington (Olympia).

The overhaul of the District Line is to come into force in December with corporate event management up in arms that East London is being favoured over West London as the 2012 Olympics draw closer.

Mr Halwagi says the move will seriously undermine the exhibition and events industry in West London, which is a historic and economically important part of the area.

Each year the District Line transports 73 per cent of the Olympia's visitors from Earl's Court to the venue, totalling 803,000 people

There is concern that without the transport link both event management and exhibition visitors may stay away.

The Association of Event Organisers is run by its members through an elected council, working groups and fulltime staff.

Mr Halwagi said: "We are very angry and don’t feel that Boris Johnson has given the issue the proper consideration it merits."
 

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