It’s easy to forget, having escaped the confines of London to explore cities as rich in history and culture as Paris, Rome or Istanbul, that these are also global players in the worlds of finance and commerce. It is, of course, natural to allow your eyes to slide past the anonymous office blocks in search of the next monument, statue or tourist attraction. After all, who really wants to be reminded of their bulging inbox and looming deadlines when they’re on holiday?
Paradoxically, one industry that is keenly aware of these city’s business potential is hospitality. Tourist travel is, in most parts of the world, seasonal – so what props up a five-star establishment when the kids are back in school and the cover has been pulled over the outdoor pool? Conferences, events, meetings and the lucrative restaurant and room spend that comes with them. And should you be able to tap into both the business and pleasure markets? Then you’re on to a real winner.
And yet it still comes as…