by Pádraic Gilligan, co-founder, SoolNua Consulting

Ambling around London on a Saturday in mid-November, I’m struck again by the odd, lingering consequences of Covid and climate change. We northern Europeans have lost the run of ourselves entirely, sipping expensive espressos outdoors and chatting away on pavements like it’s Paris in late spring rather than Marylebone in November.

There’s still a decent flock of people moving through that twilight zone between the last of the summer wine and the first of the Christmas cheer. But Christmas in London, like practically everywhere else, now arrives early and unapologetically. The lights are up, and over on Berkeley Square the seasonal spectacular at the storied Annabel’s is getting its final touches.

The shops are buzzy and upbeat. As the love of my life settles into some retail therapy in Sézane on Marylebone High Street, I find myself in a quiet corner listening to the swirl of languages around me, while young, impossibly stylish store assistants — mainly French — deliver that effortless sprezzatura that seems to come naturally to them.

But that’s London, for you: everyone is here, has been here, or is on their way. As Dr Johnson famously said, “When you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.” I was back here to moderate an industry panel for my great friends at Hilton and used the weekend to reacquaint myself with a city that never stops evolving.

Tier-one cities are permanently in demand, and the availability of around 20,000 luxury rooms in London — with 775 added in 2024 and 2025 alone — hardly dents rate, which frequently and frighteningly moves into four-digit territory. The Hilton on Park Lane, a true legacy property, marked its 60th anniversary with a seamless refurbishment that marries mid-century glamour with unobtrusive modern tech. We stayed there for the weekend enjoying impeccable service, a wonderful breakfast buffet, and that sense of London heritage that no amount of new build can replicate.

Across town, meanwhile, The Chancery Rosewood offers a complete reinvention of the former US Embassy, originally designed by American-Finnish architect Eero Saarinen (of TWA Terminal fame – ironically, also a hotel!). Now it’s home to 144 truly extraordinary suites, seven outlets — including Carbone’s — and a curated art collection of over 700 pieces.

Thanks to my great friend Barbara Jamison of the London Convention Bureau and to our host-with-the-most at The Chancery, the indomitable Irantzu Gaffuri, we found ourselves ushered to that much-coveted perch at the Eagle Bar — the kind of table you don’t ask for but somehow, through the benevolence of the hospitality gods, simply receive. It was the perfect vantage point to take in the energy of the room, savour a beautifully made drink and appreciate, once again, how London does classic elegance with a contemporary wink.

Barbara also arranged for us to experience “Small Car Big City,” a wonderfully unpretentious spin around London in a classic Mini Cooper. Our driver, Nick — a gabby, erudite cabby from Clerkenwell — came armed with stories for every turn in the road, including the irresistible (but sadly untrue) tale of the fabulously wealthy 2nd Duke of Westminster and his supposed infatuation with Coco Chanel, which allegedly resulted in her interlocking Cs appearing on Westminster’s streetlamps. A great yarn, even if entirely apocryphal.

Barbara also arranged for a private viewing at Spencer House, ancestral home of Princess Diana. Now fully restored to its original 18^th century glory thanks to the bounty of Jacob Rothschild, the house can be rented for high end receptions and Gala dinners offering a Downtown Abbeyesque experience in the heart of St James.

London’s fine-dining scene continues to impress, with almost 85 Michelin-starred venues — a number surpassed only by Paris and comfortably ahead of gastronomic heavyweights like Rome, Brussels, Lisbon and Copenhagen. We sidestepped the star-chasing, though, opting for ROVI, one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s two restaurants in the city (he also runs four delis). The Chef’s Set Menu with wine pairings delivered nine predominantly vegetarian courses, all anchored by a central grill and live-fire cooking that gave every dish a grounded, smoky depth.

We pre-booked the wide ranging Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain and then spent so long in the Turner and Pre-Raphaelite rooms that we ran out of time … but that’s London!

Walking the city reminded me why London remains one of the safest and strongest propositions in our industry. It’s not just the airlift, hotel inventory or infrastructure — though all are exceptional. It’s the density and immediacy of experience: the seamless blend of heritage and modernity, the narrative richness of its streets, and the ability for delegates to step out of a meeting and into world-class culture, cuisine or creativity within minutes.

For incentive travel, London consistently delivers the outcomes clients value most: emotional impact, personal enrichment and the kind of memorable moments that anchor loyalty and reward. In a world where audiences want authenticity and excellence side by side, London continues to set the standard.