London, ON Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	65
Total Sleeping Rooms	14,500
Average Hotel Room Rate	CAD $115
Average Daily Meal Cost	CAD $94
Average Weekly Car Rental	CAD $223

London, ON Meeting Planning Overview

With its vast green space and numerous historic structures, London boasts the same world-class amenities of larger metropolitan cities but with a distinctly more relaxed feel. Located in southwestern Ontario, the city is less than a two-hour drive from both Toronto and Detroit. In fact, it is within one day's drive of over 150 million North Americans. Also accessible by air, the London International Airport is expanding its reach. In recent years, it has opened a new terminal and added more direct flights to destinations in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

A wealth of meeting and event venues await once inside the city. The London Convention Centre boasts over 6,500 square meters of exhibit space. From five salons and boardrooms to an elegant column-free ballroom, the centre features numerous flexible rooms for banquets, meetings, tradeshows and more. Its downtown location also places the center within walking distance of thousands of hotel rooms, including those of the attached Hilton London Ontario.

The Western Fair Entertainment Centre is another purpose-built option for meetings and events in London. Boasting numerous impressive spaces of nearly 40,370 square meters combined, the Western Fair is ideal for a range of events, from large-scale conferences to intimate receptions. With on-site catering and free wireless Internet, the fairgrounds are more than capable of making any affair run smoothly.

Aside from its larger facilities, London has much to offer in the way of unique, exciting venues. Add punch to a presentation for 150 to over 800 guests at the Grand Theatre, one of only nine Category A theaters in Canada. Museum London, the city's premiere art and history showcase, offers over 750 square meters of meeting space among its galleries and cafe. Or, combine savory cuisine and well-equipped spaces by hosting a dinner or reception at one of London's award-winning restaurants. With an ambiance that evokes an outdoor courtyard in Europe, Aroma restaurant invites up to 200 guests to enjoy its innovative Mediterranean fare.

London's great offerings place it on par with larger metropolitan cities such as Toronto and Montreal. Unlike these bustling capitals, however, London comes at a more affordable price. In fact, hotel room rates in the city average C$100.17, compared to Toronto's rate of C$167.16 per night. With its first-class facilities and affordable price point, it's no surprise that organizations such as the Independent Meeting Planners Association of Canada, Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, and Canadian Golf Superintendents Association have all chosen London to host their events.

London's economy is based largely in insurance, information technology, and the production of locomotive and military vehicles. The headquarters of the Canadian division of 3M is located in London, and the city is also home to one of the country's largest insurance providers, London Life. The University of ern Ontario, one of the country's largest and most well-respected post-secondary education institutes, is also based in London.

About London, ON / Additional Info

Known as Forest City, London is located in southwestern Ontario at the forks of the Thames River. Originally inhabited by Neutral and Odawa/Ojibwa tribes over 10,000 years ago, the region was discovered by European settlers in the 18th century. So captivated by its picturesque setting, they nominated London to be the capital city of Upper Canada. Though Toronto eventually secured the spot, London steadily grew, propelled by the emerging Great Western Railway in the 19th century.

Today, London is the 10th largest metropolitan area in Canada with just over 457,000 residents. Visitors continue to admire its strikingly green and spacious landscape that stretches into the heart of downtown. Known as Forest City, London has made it a mandate to preserve as much natural space as possible. As a result, over 200 parks are scattered throughout the city today. Run, walk or bike the 30 kilometers of trails at Springbank Park, the largest park in the city. Or, stop by 15-acre Victoria Park, host to a number of special events and festivals including the famed Sunfest global arts celebration.

The great outdoors are not limited to simply London's parks and pathways. Visitors can take advantage of its green spaces at many popular attractions. The Bellamere Winery is an idyllic 67-acre compound of orchards, vineyards and farmland. Here, visitors can take a private winery tour, browse the fresh produce and baked treats at the on-site market, or enjoy a relaxing picnic with one of Bellamere's hand-crafted wines. Covent Garden Market, one of the city's most unique and popular landmarks, is another great spot to enjoy the fresh air. Stroll through vendors offering anything from fresh meats and cheese to fine jewelry and handicrafts.

In a city that has taken such great care of its outdoors, it comes as no surprise that London is equally dedicated to the preservation of its historic attractions. In fact, the city maintains over 100 heritage properties. One of the most notable such structures is Eldon House, the city's oldest residence. Catch a glimpse into London life in the 19th and 20th centuries by touring the home's period furnishings and antiques. Or, explore the 46-acre grounds of Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Here, visitors can journey back to colonial times by exploring 30 replica and original heritage buildings from around southern Ontario. Keeping both its landscape and history vibrant, guests to London have never found it easier to, as its motto goes, "discover London's spirit."

London, ON Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

London Convention Centre

Hotel at Convention Center? No

Airport(s):

London International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
50
Population
457,720
Restaurants
325
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
13.00%
Currency
Canadian Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
15%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English, French

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near London, ON

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Hamilton, ON	130 mi	1 hr 28 min	n/a	N/A
Toronto, ON	196 mi	2 hr 10 min	43 min	CAD $285+
Detroit, MI	209 mi	2 hr 18 min	56 min	CAD $331+
Buffalo, NY	234 mi	2 hr 35 min	4 hr 55 min	CAD $407+
Cleveland, OH	480 mi	5+ hrs	3 hr 59 min	CAD $407+
Ottawa, ON	633 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 15 min	CAD $417+
New York, NY	844 mi	5+ hrs	3 hr 45 min	CAD $234+

London, ON Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	29	29	39	54	67	77	81	79	72	58	44	33
Avg. Low (°F)	15	12	22	33	44	53	58	55	50	39	30	20
Rec. High (°F)	62	59	79	87	94	99	102	106	98	86	76	62
Rec. Low (°F)	-26	-27	-19	-	23	30	35	34	26	14	-5	-22
Rainfall (in)	4.0	3.5	2.8	2.9	2.8	3.1	3.2	2.8	3.0	2.9	3.7	3.5

Due to its proximity to the Great Lakes, London experiences a humid continental climate of hot summers and cold winters. Summer daytime highs average 24°C, though humidity often makes the air feel much warmer. Winters are generally cold and wet with an average of 200 centimeters of snow per year. Temperatures from December to February vary between -9°C and -3°C.

London is known for having frequent thunderstorms, more each year than any other city in Canada. The best time to visit London is early spring, as temperatures are still mild but the heavier precipitation of summer has yet to move in.

Meeting Planning in London, ON

London Convention Centre

Located in the heart of the city on York Street, the beautiful London Convention Centre is truly an architectural masterpiece. Rich maple details, brushed steel accents, imported marble tiling and decorative carpeting all create a welcoming environment. Only minutes away from the airport and VIA rail station, the centre is also well-placed within walking distance of several restaurants and entertainment venues. Seven hotels offering over 1,000 guest rooms are also nearby. In fact, the Hilton London Ontario, the largest hotel in the city, is attached to the centre via a climate controlled walkway.

The London Convention Centre offers over 6,500 square meters of exhibit space in total. The main floor features five salons and boardrooms, all capable of accommodating eight to 500 people. The second floor offers a 3,065-square-meter, column-free Grand Ballroom, which can be broken down into up to eight sections for accommodating posh events of any scale. Both the main and second levels have spacious foyers available for use as reception areas.

Several amenities complement the London Convention Centre's elegant rooms. With a reputation for outstanding service and quality food, the in-house catering services at the centre can create customized meals for any event. Outdoor as well as underground parking is available in the centre's lot. The theater, salons and ballroom are equipped with an in-house sound system; wireless Internet services are also available.

In 2007, the London Convention Centre began its "think green" initiative, implementing a variety of programs to reduce waste and increase recycling efforts. Dedicated to protecting the environment, the centre installed low-energy light bulbs, purchased only paper products made from 100 percent recycled materials, and donated leftover food items to charities in the city as parts of the initiative. As a result, the London Convention Centre has thus far increased its recycled waste from 55.8 percent to 79.8 percent in one year, recycled over 12 tons of waste and garbage, and donated over 220 kilograms of fruits and vegetables.

With all it has to offer, the London Convention Centre has been making waves on the meetings and events scene. The centre is selected continuously for more and more events each year, hosting over 450 events in 2007.

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London, ON Meeting Venue Spotlight

Budweiser Gardens

99 Dundas Street
London, ON

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The Western Fair Entertainment Centre

The Western Fair hosts hundreds of meetings, tradeshows and events throughout the year in its impressive array of facilities. The 5,295-square-meter Progress Building can accommodate up to 2,500 people, while the 2,230-square-meter Canada Building is capable of hosting up to 1,000 guests. Other spaces include the recently-renovated Carousel Room, 1,357-square-meter Special Events Building and 836-square-meter West Annex, which links the Progress and Canada buildings.

The two largest facilities at the fairgrounds are the Agriplex and Sports Centre. The Sports Centre features a multi-purpose meeting room, a 1,500-seat Olympic-size arena and a concession area. The newest addition to the Western Fair, the 14,864-square-meter Agriplex boasts a 300-seat amphitheater, a 1,500-seat show arena and a 420-stall livestock pavilion, among other spaces. Connected via an underground tunnel and pedestrian overpass, the Agriplex is easily reachable from other parts of the fairgrounds.

All facilities are air conditioned and offer specialized audio-visual equipment is available upon request. The in-house catering department at Western Fair offers a wide variety of choices including buffets, formal plate service for breakfast, lunch and dinner functions as well as light and late-night snack services. The Western Fair now also provides a free wireless Internet hotspot to its guests.

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London, ON Airport Information

London International Airport (YXU)

Approximate taxi fare: $20-26

Ranked as the 12th busiest passenger airport in Canada, London International Airport is easily accessible just north of highway 401 along Oxford Street. The London Convention Centre, only 11 kilometers away, is less than a 20-minute drive from the airport.

London International is serviced by six airlines and tour operators. Daily flights travel to Canadian and U.S. cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Detroit, Calgary, Winnipeg as well as various vacation destinations in Mexico. Travelers to other international destinations typically fly into Toronto, where they connect to London by a short 40-minute flight. By car, the airport is less than a two-hour drive away from both Toronto and Detroit.

Prompted by growth in the area, increased passenger traffic and the addition of Westjet into the London market, London International Airport completed a terminal renovation and expansion in 2003. In a joint venture with the city of London, the airport continues to develop the Skyway Industrial Park, a 300-acre hub of business activity adjacent to the airport with excellent access to the 400 series highways that connect Southern Ontario.

Whether a cup of coffee or a full dinner, travelers can enjoy dining options at the airport such as Tim Hortons and Grille Works Eatery and Bar. Wireless internet is available throughout the terminal. Short-term and long-term parking is available on the west side of the airport, opposite to the Airport Terminal Building.

Airlines carriers serving London International Airport

Air Canada Jazz
Northwest Airlink

WestJet Airlines
Sunwing Vacations

Transat Holidays

London, ON Train Information

London VIA Rail Station

VIA Rail's London station is located along the popular and busy York Street, less than half a kilometer from the London Convention Centre. VIA Rail operates daily connections between Toronto and London.

London, ON Public Transportation

London Transit Bus Line

London Transit carries more than 17 million passengers each year on its fleet of 187 buses. With 2,100 stops throughout the city, buses generally operate daily from 5 AM to 7:30 PM with some routes offering extended hours of operation. Buses operate on a reduced schedule on weekends and holidays.

Rental Cars

London International Airport is served by National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis. Rental car counters are located adjacent to the arrivals gate.

Taxis

Checker and U-Need-A Cab service all areas of the city including the airport. Rates are C$3 for the first 70 meters and C$0.25 for each additional 152 meters. Average fare from the airport to the convention center is C$24.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Hamilton, ON	130 mi	1 hr 28 min	n/a	N/A
Toronto, ON	196 mi	2 hr 10 min	43 min	CAD $285+
Detroit, MI	209 mi	2 hr 18 min	56 min	CAD $331+
Buffalo, NY	234 mi	2 hr 35 min	4 hr 55 min	CAD $407+
Cleveland, OH	480 mi	5+ hrs	3 hr 59 min	CAD $407+
Ottawa, ON	633 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 15 min	CAD $417+
New York, NY	844 mi	5+ hrs	3 hr 45 min	CAD $234+