Tracy Halliwell MBE has stepped down as director of tourism and events at London & Partners, closing a twenty-year chapter in which she became one of the most recognisable figures in the British business events industry. Halliwell confirmed the move in a post on LinkedIn, framing it as an “unexpected but amazing opportunity” that followed what she called a “mini restructure” at the agency. She was careful to stress that the team behind the capital’s events activity remains intact.
“For those I haven’t spoken to, I decided to take an unexpected but amazing opportunity to step down from my role following a mini restructure, but all the team are still in place, so anything you need from London the gang’s all there,” she wrote.
She thanked colleagues, clients and industry partners for their support, and signalled that her attachment to the destination will outlast her job title. “Keep flying the flag, and I’ll remain as one of your greatest Ambassadors.”
A restructure in the background
The timing is not incidental. Barely three months earlier, in June, London & Partners acknowledged that it needed to find savings across the organisation, including “some reductions to activity and changes to team structures and roles”, after changes to its funding and delivery requirements. The agency said its priority would be to protect the areas most critical to London’s long-term growth, its partners and its future sustainability, while continuing to invest in technology transformation to improve efficiency and impact.
Those adjustments followed the launch of a new three-year strategy in autumn 2025. London & Partners is primarily funded by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority, supplemented by partner income and commercial ventures — a model that leaves it exposed when public budgets tighten.
From sales floor to convention bureau
Halliwell arrived at London & Partners after nearly two decades in senior sales and marketing roles across tourism and hospitality. She went on to head the London Convention Bureau, working with international clients, venues and industry partners to position the city for major congresses and corporate events. In 2014 she was awarded an MBE for services to business tourism.
Strong demand, thinner resources
For all the financial pressure, the destination’s numbers have held up. London was named Europe’s top meetings destination by Cvent for the fourth consecutive year in 2026, and London & Partners has said it expects to welcome close to 80,000 delegates to the capital during the year, with international conference bidding continuing.
Halliwell has not named her next move, though her post hinted at advisory or consultancy work: “hopefully we’ll work together in other capacities for years to come.”
Her exit ends one of the longest-serving senior leadership tenures in London’s business events sector — and it comes precisely as the city celebrates record international interest while absorbing a period of restructuring and reduced public funding.
