RBC Place London can host a board meeting for 10 or a convention for 4,000, with more than 85,000 square feet of flexible event space in downtown London, Ontario. The venue presents itself as the largest convention center in Southwestern Ontario, and it has taken meetings, trade shows, galas and weddings since it opened in 1993.
Seminars and company events
The building is laid out for conferences of every size. The main floor holds up to 14 breakout rooms for workshops, committee sessions and smaller meetings. The second floor carries more than 33,000 square feet of ballroom and foyer space for plenary sessions, exhibitions and banquets. Each year the venue runs Christmas at Our Place, a shared holiday gala aimed at small and mid-sized businesses, groups and associations that would rather not plan a party of their own. Audio visual services are handled on site through Encore Canada, and exhibitor forms and a supplier list are available for trade shows. Floor plans are produced with a 3D event designer, so organizers can check a layout at eye level or from above before they sign off.
Weddings and receptions
The ballrooms are also used for wedding receptions, and the venue's photo gallery shows banquet setups in both the main ballroom and the King Street Ballroom. The in-house culinary team builds the menu with the couple, and the Encore Terrace can take an outdoor drinks reception in the warmer months.
Rooms and capacities
The venue lists more than 85,000 square feet of event space in total. The King Street Ballroom and its foyer add 16,500 square feet and are linked to the main building by an elevated pedway. The Encore Terrace, on the north side of the property, takes up to 500 guests for organized events. Capacities for each room are published in occupancy charts on the floor plans page, and a virtual tour is available.
Accommodation
RBC Place London has no bedrooms of its own. The DoubleTree by Hilton London is connected to the second floor by the same pedway, so delegates staying there can reach their sessions without going outside, which matters in an Ontario winter.
Catering
Catering is in-house. Executive Chef David Van Eldik and Executive Sous-Chef Kent Phillips, both Certified Chefs de Cuisine, lead a team that writes breakfast, lunch, reception, dinner and holiday menus and adapts them to the budget. Many dishes can be prepared vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free, and the kitchen works with suppliers committed to sourcing within a 100-mile radius.
History and setting
The venue reports more than 2.8 million delegates over the past two decades, with October among its busiest months. It sits on the northeast corner of York and Wellington Streets in the downtown core and states that it works to reduce waste and energy use across its events.
Getting there
The address is 300 York Street. The VIA Rail station is about five minutes away and London International Airport about 15 minutes. An underground garage on site has 305 spaces, including accessible spots and EV charging stations.
