The document summarizes research conducted to plan travel and accommodation for a business conference in London from March 26-27. It recommends taking the train from Swansea to London Paddington for £80, staying at the Novotel near the Excel Centre for £213, and using the underground for £12. The total estimated cost is £305.

1. Business conference in London
Introduction
Travel
Survey evidence
Hotels
Underground tickets
Expenses
Summary
Recommendations
Table
Pie chart
Appendix
Introduction
My taskwas to researchandchoose travel and accommodationformymanagerfor a two day
conference inLondononthe 26th
and 27th
of March. I will alsohave tocalculate fuel andfoodcosts
on average forthe three days,as well astravel time anddistance. Youwill require travel there and
back, a hotel forthree days,as well asplacesto go for meals,withanallowance of £100 a day.
Travel
I carriedout my researchstartingwithcoachprices,searchingonline andusingthe NationalExpress
website toobtainmyinformation.IusedDiigotosave,store and annotate the informationthatI
required. Ialsoneededtotake intoconsiderationthat youwould have totake the tube or a taxi to
the hotel or ExCel Centre.
There wouldbe an approximate taxi fare of £30 from VictoriabusstationtoExCel or a £5.80 fee for
a paper ticketforzones1 – 4, withthree change over’s,or£12 for a day’stravel pass.The easier
journeywouldbe byLondontaxi;howeverthe cheaperoptionwouldbe viathe tube.
This methodof travel wouldrequirebookinganopenreturn,whichcostsapproximately£80 onthe
Wednesdaybeforethe conference.Thismeansthere wouldbe norushandstressof traintimes,and
once the conference hasfinishedonthe Friday thatthere isalsoplentyof time to returnto Swansea.
I thenresearched cartravel.I found tenlocal garages and comparedpetrol anddiesel prices,aswell
as comparinga 5 door FordMondeoand a Peugeot407. The Ford isa petrol engine andthe Peugeot
isa diesel,meaningthatthe Fordwouldtypicallybe cheaper.The average costtofill upthe Ford
wouldbe £17.55 and forthe Peugeotwouldbe £19.20. I wouldalsohave totake into consideration
Londontrafficand parking.
Due to convenience,travel viathe FordMondeowouldbe the bestoption,as youcan leave at
whatevertime issuitableanditwouldbe more costefficient.However,Itooka surveyof 10 people
and 7 of those 10 statedthat they’drathertravel toLondonby trainthan by car. Due to this
evidence,Ibelieve majority rules;therefore youwilltravel bytrain. Thisinformationcanbe foundon
the nextpage withthe survey.

2. Survey Evidence
I gainedthisinformationbyasking10colleaguestheirpreferredmethodof transportshouldthey
have to go to London.Beloware the resultsina table andin a chart.
0
2
4
6
8
Train Coach Car Other
Survey To Show Preferred
Method of Travel

3. Hotels
NextI had to research3 hotels aroundLondontowork outwhere the mostsuitable accommodation
wouldbe. I chose to researchNovotel,HotelIbisandHotel Russell.
Both Hotel IbisandNovotel are withinwalkingdistance of the ExCel Centre where the meetingwill
be held,withNovotel beingdirectlyoppositethe centre andHotel Ibisbeinganapproximately5
minute walkawayfromthe centre.
Above:Distance fromHotel IbistoExCel Centre.
Below:Distance fromNovotel toExCel Centre.

4. Hotel Russell,however,isapproximately 30minutesawayfromthe ExCel Centre bytaxi,and
approximately40-50 minutesbytrain.However,itisthe closesthotel toatube station,makingit
easyto travel there andback.
The travel time betweenSwanseaandeachof the hotelsisapproximatelythe same,dependingon
traffic. The roomsalso have verysimilarfeatures.

5. Novotel
Novotel isa4 star hotel offering accommodationfor£71 per night,totalling£213 for the three days;
howeverbreakfastcostsare at a set£15.45. I would therefore encourage eatingbreakfast
elsewhere.The roomitself offersaqueensizedbed,aworkdesk,alaptopsafe,Wi-Fi and
broadband.
Hotel Ibis
Hotel Ibisisa two star hotel whichalso offersfairlycheap accommodationfor£75 per night,£225
for the three days.Unlike Novotel,Hotel Ibisincludesacomplimentarybreakfastbuffet.The room
alsooffersa queensizedbed,workdeskandWi-Fi.

6. Hotel Russell
Hotel Russell isalsoa4 star hotel,howeverisconsiderablymore expensive at£174 per nightand
£522 for the three days.Hotel Russell alsohasbreakfastavailableat£19.50 for full Englishand
£14.99 for Continental.Your£100 foodallowance will coverthiscost.The roomat Hotel Russell
offersa double bed,aworkdesk, Wi-Fi anda laptopsafe. Itis,however,muchfurtherawayfrom
the ExCel Centre thanHotel Ibisor Novotel.
Below:Distance fromHotel toExCel Centre.

7. I have alsoincludedatable comparingall of the hotelsimportantfactorssuchas price and distance
fromthe ExCel Centre.Thiscanbe seenbelow.
Underground travel
To travel fromPaddingtonstationtothe hotel of choice, youwouldeitherhave totake a taxi or a
tube.The tube is more cost effective asapaper ticketwouldcost £5.80 for a single journeyviaany
route,or £12 fora dayticket, whereasLondontaxi’scancostapproximately£30due to the mileage.
I wouldrecommendtakingaday ticket;therefore atube ticketwouldhave tobe boughtforeach
day,costing£36 intotal forthe three days.
Expenses
Travel expenseswillbe coveredonthis tripandyou will be givenanallowance of £100 perday for
food. I have researchedrestaurants inthe surroundingarea,none of whichgooverthe budget,
regardlessof whichrestaurant youwouldattend. These restaurantsare:
 The So! Bar & Restaurant
 FineburgerCo.
 Bollywood Brasserie
 Airline Cafe
 Fox Bar & Restaurant
 DocklandsBar & Grill
 ChozenNoodle
Hotel Cost per
Night
Cost for
Three
Nights
Rating Distance from
ExCel
Cost of
Breakfast
Room
Hotel Russell £174 £522 4 star 7.5 miles(30
mins)
£19.50 for
full English,
£14.99 for
Continental
 Double bed
 Work desk
 Wi-Fi
 Laptop safe
 En suite
bathroom
Hotel Ibis
London
Excel
Docklands
£75 £225 2 star 0.02 miles(4
mins)
Free,self
serve
buffet
 Queensizedbed
 En suite
bathroom
 Wi-Fi
 Work desk
Novotel
London
Excel
£71 £213 4 star 0.02 miles(1min) £15.45 set
rate
breakfast.
 Queensizedbed
 En suite
bathroom
 Work desk
 Wi-Fi and
broadband
 Laptop safe

9. Conclusion
In conclusion, Novotel isthe mostsuitablehotel forthisoccasion beingthe closesttothe exhibition
centre,as well asthe cheapestingeneral cost.I’dalsosuggesttakingatrain fromSwanseato
LondonPaddington asopposedtotakinga Ford Mondeoas originallysuggesteddue tomajority
preference. FromLondonPaddingtonIwouldadvisetakingthe tube tothe hotel viaBakerloo,
Jubilee andDLR. Withthe choicesmade,the total costof the trip,not includingfood allowance,
comesto £305, makingitthe most cost effective.Thistripwouldtake approximatelyfourhours.
Travel - Train fromSwanseatoLondon Paddington £80
Hotel - Novotel £213
UndergroundPass £12
Foodallowance £100
Total £405
20%
52%
3%
25%
Travel
Hotel
Underground
Food

10. Appendix
Travel
Coach Travel
http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/Landing/route.aspx?from=Swansea&to=London
http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/Landing/route.aspx?from=Swansea&to=London
http://coach.nationalexpress.com/nxbooking/journey-list
Car Travel
http://your.asda.com/petrol
http://www.whatgas.com/petrol-prices/nearest-petrol.html#.VO25R3ysWao
http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/ford/mondeo/hatchback/review
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/peugeot/407/used-peugeot-407-1-6-hdi-se-5dr-manor-
park-fpa-201504293037619?logcode=p
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/peugeot/407?expired-ad=true&atcidi=exp
Train/Tube Travel
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/?gclid=CNTFmvSHnsUCFSEXwwodgGcAFQ
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares.pdf
https://www.diigo.com/item/pdf/56f5g/53nx
http://www.clarksbury.com/cdl/maps/tube99.jpg
Below:tube costs

11. Below:Distance fromSwanseatoExCel London
Taxi Fare
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/taxi-fares
Hotels
Hotel Russell:
 http://www.hotelrusselllondon.co.uk/
 http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338-d193051-Reviews-Hotel_Russell-
London_England.html
 Distance mapsviaGoogle Maps.
 http://www.hotelrusselllondon.co.uk/rooms/ (image)

12. Hotel Ibis:
 http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-3655-ibis-london-excel-docklands/index.shtml
 http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338-d289185-Reviews-
Ibis_London_Excel_Docklands-London_England.html
 Distance mapsviaGoogle Maps.
 http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-3655-ibis-london-excel-docklands/index.shtml (image)
Novotel:
 http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3656-novotel-london-excel/index.shtml
 http://www.ebookers.com/hotels/United_Kingdom/London/Novotel_London_Excel.h70970
/
 Distance mapsviaGoogle Maps.
 http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3656-novotel-london-excel/index.shtml(image)
Petrol Prices
http://www.whatgas.com/petrol-prices/nearest-petrol.html#.VO25R3ysWao
Pricesmayhave changedovertime,see table below for pricesattime of report.
Station Petrol per litre Diesel perlitre
AsdaSwansea £1.08 £1.15
Sainsbury’sSwansea £1.11 £1.20
Burrowsservice stations £1.07 £1.11
Shell Sketty £1.31 £1.19
Broadwayservice station £1.32 £1.39
Esso service station £1.22 £1.15
Morrison’sSwansea £1.06 £1.19
417-505 Pengrenth Rd £1.03 £1.10
D&D Autogas £1.41 £1.42
TescoFforestfach £1.04 £1.11
Average £1.17 £1.20

13. Restaurants
Novotel:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d291617-r135290983-
Novotel_London_ExCeL-London_England.html
£15.45 setrate breakfast.
ChozenNoodle:
http://www.chozen.co.uk/#sushi
http://www.chozen.co.uk/#hotsoups
http://www.chozen.co.uk/
Foodfor approximately£10.
DocklandsBar & Grill:
http://www.docklandsbarandgrill.co.uk/dbg-menu-march-2015/file
http://www.docklandsbarandgrill.co.uk/
Dinnerforapproximately£15.
Lunch forapproximately£10.
Fox bar & Restaurant:
http://www.foxbars.com/excel
http://www.foxbars.com/excel-restaurant/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d1388992-Reviews-Fox_Excel-
London_England.html
Dinnerforapproximately £20.
Lunch forapproximately£10.
Bollywood Brasserie:
http://www.bollywoodbrasserie.co.uk/
http://www.bollywoodbrasserie.co.uk/menu.html
Foodfor between£12.95 - £19.95.
FineburgerCo.:
http://www.fineburger.co.uk/
http://www.fineburger.co.uk/_pdf/Fineburger-Co-Menu.pdf
Foodfor approximately£15.
The So! Bar & Restaurant:
http://www.thesobar.co.uk/our-menu/
Full course meal forunder£40.
Airline Cafe:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d3696376-Reviews-Airline_Cafe_Diner-
London_England.html
http://www.airlinecafe.co.uk/
Breakfastforapproximately£5.