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Olympia: Redefining the future of exhibitions
EW spoke to Nick Graham, director- exhibitions at Olympia Events, in London, about how Olympia’ s evolution into a global destination is redefining the future of exhibitions and events while honouring 140 years of remarkable experiences
EW – Olympia has been home to exhibitions for almost 140 years, and now it’ s transforming into a world-class destination. How do exhibitions fit into this new chapter for the venue? Exhibitions are absolutely central to our story; they always have and always will be. For over a century, Olympia has been bringing people together through exhibitions, and that tradition continues to shape who we are today. What’ s exciting is that our transformation only strengthens that role. By investing in our heritage halls, adding brand-new infrastructure,
" Rather than exhibitions being seen as just a daytime activity, they will act as the centrepiece of a wider range of face-to-face engagements”
Left: Nick Graham and creating a destination with hotels, restaurants, entertainment and a new International Convention Centre( ICC), we’ re giving event organisers an even stronger platform to connect and do business, all while creating memorable experiences.
EW – What benefits will exhibition organisers see from the investment across the estate? The investment is about giving organisers the best possible environment to deliver successful events and allow them to thrive. The £ 2 million refurbishment of The National Hall is a great example; it’ s a space with incredible character, but it’ s now been upgraded with the roof being completely re-glazed and the whole building repainted. This not only improves the already impressive aesthetic, preserving the unique heritage of this century-old building, but also enhances safety and performance features to meet today’ s needs. Across the estate, we’ re reimagining F & B and investing in tech to ensure that we can adapt to the diverse range of exhibitions we host and provide best-in-class facilities.
EW – How will the wider Olympia destination, with its new hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, enhance the exhibition experience for organisers, exhibitors and visitors? This is one of the most transformative aspects of the redevelopment. For the first time, organisers, alongside their exhibitors and attendees, will be able to do business, connect, relax and play all in one ecosystem, extending their opportunities to engage. Rather than exhibitions being seen as just a daytime activity, they will act as the centrepiece of a wider range of face-to-face engagements; curated by organisers, supported by onsite hotels, one-ofa-kind restaurants and bars, and world-class cultural attractions.
56 Issue 5 2025 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk