London has been named the number one conference destination for the fourth year running according to the Conference & Incentive Travel Reader Poll 2008C&IT editor Yasmin Arrigo said: "Once again our readers have commended London for its dynamic infrastructure and array of backdrops for creative events."
Barcelona, Manchester, Las Vegas, Berlin and Dubai followed London - which received three times as many votes as its nearest rival. Celtic Manor was crowned top UK conference hotel.
"The current Euro exchange rates may act in London's favour, giving event planners a further reason to choose the capital," said Arrigo.
In comparison to the 2007 poll, London is the only destination to hold on to its spot in the top five. Birmingham, Athens and Edinburgh have dropped out of the top five altogether and Dubai has fallen from third place to joint fifth with Berlin, instead topping the incentive destination category in the same poll.
Barcelona storms into second, proving it's a strong all-round option. Manchester, which continues to invest heavily in its conference infrastructure and played host to the Labour Party this year, moves into the number three spot. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, with its 136,000 hotel rooms and 900,000m2 of convention and meeting space, creeps in at four.
Over 300 event professionals voted in the annual poll, which sees C&IT readers vote for their favourite destinations and suppliers.
The results of the poll can be found at: http://www.citmagazine.comsearch/870715/Reader-poll-winners-are/