The morning began with a presentation from HOLBA’s Chief Executive, Ros Morgan, who shared key findings from their latest Real Estate Insights Report. This was followed by an inspiring talk from Bo Bernhard, who brought a global perspective to the Experience Economy, highlighting its astonishing £11.3 trillion value – 14% of the world economy – and its immense potential as 50% of humanity enters the middle class for the first time in history. Laura Citron OBE, from London & Partners then shared insights, identifying the Experience Economy as a key driver of the city’s growth over the next decade.

The event also featured a dynamic panel discussion, expertly chaired by Anna van Praagh, Chief Content Officer at The London Standard. The panel included industry leaders Simon Thomas (The Hippodrome Casino), Tom Lionetti-Maguire (Little Lion Entertainment) Richard Ellwood (The Crown Estate) and Sana Ali Aamir (Fever) who explored the opportunities and challenges to driving growth within the Experience Economy in the West End and beyond. Their diverse perspectives – from landlords and creators to technology innovators – shed light on the transformative potential of this sector.

At Criterion Capital, as multigenerational landlords and long-term investors in the area, we are uniquely positioned to curate our portfolio to align with the evolving needs of modern visitors. With an agile business model and the ability to take a long-term view across our West End estate, we are well-placed to adapt to changing trends and capitalise on the growth of the Experience Economy. The insights from this session inspire us as we look ahead to the opportunities this sector offers, and we are excited to see the findings of the soon-to-be-released London Growth Plan and how it will shape the future of the West End.