Hotel focus
The Stratford: at the heart of East London’ s sports and culture hub evolution
EAST LONDON HOTEL, THE STRATFORD, JOINED THE MARRIOTT AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION IN 2024, AND IS PLACING THE AREA’ S UNIQUE SPORTING EVENTS HERITAGE FRONT OF MIND WHEN MARKETING
T he Stratford sits at the heart
of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, on the site of the former London 2012 Athletes’ Village. Sport is not a backdrop here: it’ s part of everyday life. The hotel is surrounded by world class venues including London Stadium, the Copper Box Arena, the London Aquatics Centre and Lee Valley VeloPark, all of which remain in active use for elite competition, training and public participation.
Stratford continues to attract sports teams, federations, sponsors and performance led corporate groups, largely thanks to the Olympic legacy which created a permanent cluster of venues designed for long term use rather than temporary spectacle. Excellent transport links and growing hotel capacity help to attract sports teams, federations and performance focused corporate groups looking for a base that supports training, meetings and recovery in one place.
Unlike many former host cities, Stratford’ s Olympic venues were designed with a clear post Games purpose. Today they host international fixtures, community sport and major live events, meaning global sporting travel is driven by current calendars and demand, not nostalgia.
The area provides world class facilities for a wide range of disciplines, including football, basketball, swimming, cycling, netball, hockey, athletics, tennis, and boxing.
The Stratford hotel has forged local sponsorships and long term partnerships
that contribute to the growth and visibility of sport in the region. Ongoing partnerships include:
• London Pulse – Shirt sponsors.
• Major League Baseball( MLB) – The Stratford has served as the official home for MLB teams during their London events.
• London Lions – Main sponsors, including sponsorship at the Copper Box Arena( CBA).
• Ultimate Tennis Showdown( UTS) – Official Partner and event sponsor.
• GB Swimming – The Stratford is the official home of the national swimming team during major London competitions.
• Special Olympics – Official Partner, supporting athletes and events. This concentration of sport, culture and entertainment is all within walking distance of the Olympic Park and cultural anchors such as ABBA Voyage, Sadler’ s Wells East and the upcoming V & A East, plus major retail at Westfield Stratford City. For business events, this mix adds genuine value – delegates increasingly want destinations that offer memorable experiences beyond the meeting room.
In 2026, decision making is increasingly driven by how quickly and easily people can get together. Stratford is one of London’ s most connected transport hubs, with the Elizabeth line, Underground, Overground, DLR and National Rail all converging in one place. This provides fast access to the City, West End and major airports, making Stratford a practical choice for both UK based and international groups.
The Stratford hotel hosts corporate events of all scales and maintains strong working relationships with key organisations headquartered within the Stratford area, and is also consistently selected by companies operating across the City of London, Canary Wharf, and Excel London. The area also boasts design led architecture, with The Stratford designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and interiors by Space Copenhagen.
As with the Excel London projet, now The Stratford is part of a wider ecosystem rather than a standalone venue and it aligns with major events and calendars to help event organisers tap into the area’ s broader momentum. n
n https:// www. thestratford. com / hotel /
ISSUE 142 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 25