Key to the success of a world-class conference is a world-class venue and the BTS is planning to deliver both in its bid to host the World Tunnel Congress (WTC) in 2019 in London.
London is often referred to as a capital of the world and its modern, purpose-built International Conference Centre (ICC) at the ExCeL complex on the banks of the River Thames is the venue proposed for the Congress and its associated industry exhibition. The centre is ideally suited to meet the requirements of the WTC. ExCeL was one of the sites that hosted events for the 2012 London Olympics and this part of the city benefited from significant investment as a result. The venue and its suitability will be further enhanced with the additional connectivity that Crossrail will bring when it opens in 2018. A Crossrail station on the doorstep of the ExCeL complex will provide high speed services to central London and from Heathrow in the west. At the heart of the ICC is a purpose built exhibition hall that will accommodate - in one place and under one roof - an extensive range of exhibition stand options and the ability to create a hub of activity for the duration of the Congress. The inclusion of feature areas, catering, networking lounges, poster display areas and demonstration theatres will ensure that there is a vibrancy throughout the congress venue. The exhibition hall will also provide a comfortable and central environment for peer-to-peer engagement and opportunities for networking and conducting business.
All activities of a WTC 2019 in London are planned to revolve around the exhibition as its hub. Location of the hall adjacent to the registration area, opposite the main auditorium, and close to session rooms will ensure that attendees will gravitate back to the exhibition area and to the networking areas it will provide. All coffee breaks and the catering for all the lunches are to be located in the exhibition hall, with a programme of social events and receptions providing extra attractions into the exhibition area.
The BTS believes the suitability of the venue and the space being offered is an important strength of the London WTC2019 bid. Creating an environment that promotes and facilitates for networking and stakeholder-engagement is regarded by professional delegates and exhibitors as an essential component for deciding to attend the WTC event each year. “When I attend a World Tunnelling Congress, the accessibility of the destination and the ease of navigating the venue and the exhibition stands are key factors for me”, said Roger Bridge, Chairman of BTS. “I want to be sure that I have the ability to meet my international colleagues in an environment that is conducive for networking and I believe that our offering in London for WTC 2019 does just that.”
The BTS is an associated society of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the UK Member Nation representative on the General Assembly of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITS). In January 2016, the BTS submitted a bid to host the World Tunnel Congress (WTC) and the ITA General Assembly in 2019 in London. The vote for the event’s host city and society will be held at the WTC event of 2016 in April in San Francisco.
BTS has more than 800 individual members and more than 100 corporate members. Current Chairman is Roger Bridge of Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK and Deputy Chairman is Mark Leggett of consulting engineer Mott MacDonald. Chair and Deputy Chair of the WTC2019 bid are Damian McGirr, a past Chairman of the BTS and the UK Member Nation representative at the ITA General Assembly, and Jonathan Baber, Animateur of the ITA Working Group 11 on Immersed and Floating Tunnels. For more details contact Damian McGirr or Jonathan Baber at bts@britishtunnelling.org.uk and visit the BTS website https://www.britishtunnelling.org.uk/ 08/16.
