Here's TTGmice's weekly round-up of MICE developments outside of Asia-Pacific.
Olympia London opens rooftop space
As part of a £700 million (US$918.4 million) overhaul of Olympia London, a rooftop space, named Pergola Olympia, opened at the end of last year. It is the first time the 132-year-old exhibition centre has built a venue on its roof.
Set five storeys up and surrounded by botanical gardens, the space features three restaurants and a bar. The fully-enclosed space – to protect against the British elements – boasts floor-to-ceiling glass and is a a year-round networking and socialising space for up to 500 people.
This latest announcement is part of plans to overhaul the Olympia. Besides the new rooftop bar, there are plans for a 1,500-seat theatre, another performing arts venue, a cinema and two hotels.
Airbnb embeds itself further in business events space
Airbnb has moved further into the business events space with the acquisition of Denmark’s Gaest venue booking platform.
Founded in 2015, the Aarhus start-up offers venue booking options by the hour or daily increments. The Gaest service has listings for some 3,000 venues from hotels to co-working spaces and other rooms will remain operational on its own platform initially at least, although Airbnb has not said whether it will keep the Gaest brand name.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is indicative that Airbnb is expanding into services for the business market.
Last April, Airbnb also launched a tool for meeting planners and group travellers to show Airbnb properties near an event.
Caesars Entertainment to open first US non-gaming hotel
Caesars Entertainment has announced plans to open Caesars Republic Scottsdale, the corporation’s first non-gaming hotel in the US.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale in Arizona will be located adjacent to the Scottsdale Fashion Square, and will be a four-star hotel. The 11-storey glass structure will have 266 rooms will stand at intersection of North Goldwater and East Highland Avenue.
On the second floor, there will be five breakout rooms able to accommodate 40 people or opened out for events up to 200. The second-floor executive board room is capable of seating 16 at a permanent table. There will also be a 650m2 column-free ballroom that is divisible into four and accommodate banquets up to 500. The ballroom can also be opened out onto an adjacent lawn, suitable for outdoor events for up to 600 people.
