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Tuesday 7 April 2020

While the world is facing a lot of fear and uncertainty right now, the need for community spirit has brought out the best in many people. Venue Search London are taking a look at some of the heartwarming and positive projects several London event venues have launched to give something back. 

ExCel London

No one could fail to mention the heroic efforts that have gone into transforming London’s largest conference venue into the Nightingale Hospital. While the UK is on lockdown, what better way to give back and aid the fight against COVID-19 than to utilise a space like ExCel London that would otherwise stand empty for several months.

The temporary hospital hopes to initially provide up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen for some of those most seriously affected by the virus. The capacity will then continue to increase should it be required with a potential for up to 4,000 beds. The hospital will be staffed by nurses, doctors and clinicians from across the health service, aided by a number of military medics and will help to greatly ease the pressure facing our hospitals at this time. While we hope the venue will not need to reach its full capacity during this crisis, we can be ever grateful that it’s there to support us. 
Even better, the ExCel has scrapped all fees for the use of the venue during this time, meaning the NHS can hold onto vital funds to help defeat the virus. 

 

Claridge’s London

Part of The Maybourne Group, Claridge’s, who usually retail their bedrooms from £650 a night, are opening up their hotel to accommodate London NHS workers at the front line who are unable to live at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having closed for the first time in 200 years, the established hotel will provide breakfast and dinner to those staying, with the possibility for the others in the group, The Connaught and The Berkeley, to follow suit in the coming weeks.
Care workers on the frontline, some of them volunteers, are taking huge risks to their own health at the time and deserve nothing less than the luxury being offered to them. 

 

IHG Hotels

Together with the Mayor of London, IHG Hotels have stepped up to offer 300 bedrooms across their London hotels as part of a trial to help shelter vulnerable people known to local homeless charities in the capital for up to 12 weeks.
We know that, as a result of lockdown, the majority of people are staying away from London and therefore donations to the most vulnerable in society have dried up. The homeless are significantly more likely to suffer with underlying health conditions and have limited access to the hygiene facilities we so often take for granted so VSL are delighted to hear that IHG are pioneering the way in coming to the aid of London’s less fortunate. 
The group includes the likes of Intercontinental, Kimpton and Holiday Inn among other brands, making it one of London’s largest hotel providers.

Chelsea FC and Millennium Hotels

After hearing the plight of many NHS staff unable to go home during the crisis, Chelsea FC owner Roman Ambramovich and Chairman Bruce Buck got in touch with the NHS to see how they could help. It was decided that the Millennium Hotel on site would provide accommodation for our vital health workers at the frontline and the cost would be covered by Roman Abramovich himself. The initial offer is for two months and will be reviewed again should this need to be extended and the  number of rooms provided will depend on demand with the potential for the entire hotel to be given over to the trust

Maintaining the health and well-being of our NHS staff is vital at this time when long and unrelenting shifts leave them susceptible to illness themselves. We’re so thankful for the venues stepping up to ensure our key workers are kept healthy, strong and rested! 

Next time we will be taking a look at the many Suppliers we work with in the UK that have stepped up to help out during the crisis. 

For more information on any of the above venues please get in touch with Venue Search London on hello@venuesearchlondon.com, call us on 0207 870 9305 or complete our online application form.