Tuesday 04 November 2025.

Tuesday 04 November 2025...I went to three events tonight ... 2pm to 5.45pm . WORLD TRAVEL MARKET returns to Excel , East London. Opening day of this massive three day event . Join over 5,000 buyers from around the globe alongside 4,000+ leading travel brands and 46,000+ travel professionals — all united by one purpose: to drive travel forward. Over 5000 attendees on each of the three days . ----------- Very busy and buzzy here, with people everywhere. I saw a couple of well known faces here , who must have been giving talks... Actor RICHARD E GRANT and holiday expert SIMON CALDER. Many countries have staff in traditional dress , and are performing traditional dance. Amazingly the most impressive looking stand was the country from last night's event , Dominican Republic. The country had had huge investment the past few years. Oddly , it borders with one of the poorer countries...Haiti. The obvious reason is, of course, the dictatorship under Duvalier. Due to his human rights abuses, most of Haiti's wealthy class fled to the US, Canada, France, and Francophone Africa. This contributed to the current poverty in two ways. First, as the wealthy owned most of the wealth (by definition), this wealth left with them. Second, the wealthy tended to be educated, meaning that nearly all of Haiti's doctors, engineers, scientists, etc no longer live in the country. With such a lack of educated people, it was considerably more difficult to rebound after Baby Doc's reign ended. Many stands have complimentary drinks and canapes and snacks in the afternoon. Things to avoid. Do not put anything in the cloakroom , as the queue I saw at 5pm was crazily long. then 6.45pm to 9pm. Private View - Saatchi Gallery , Kings Road , Chelsea , London SW3. The Long Now celebrates 40 years of Saatchi Gallery, uniting landmark works and bold new commissions that affirm its enduring influence on contemporary culture. Celebrating four decades of ground-breaking contemporary art, Saatchi Gallery will open their landmark exhibition, The Long Now on 5 November 2025, supported by De Beers London. This expansive group show will showcase new works by iconic artists closely associated with the Gallery’s dynamic history, alongside fresh voices from a new generation. Spanning two floors and nine major exhibition spaces, the exhibition will feature special commissions, installations, painting and sculpture. It will also include Richard Wilson’s seminal installation, 20:50, a defining piece of British contemporary art originally presented in 1987. A massive crowd of around 500 folks. Familiar names from the art world, including JAKE CHAPMAN. MIKE SKINNER - The Streets was here. DANIEL LISMORE in full OTT attire was here. Also here was actor SEAN PERTWEE A female DJ is playing tunes in one of the rooms. Complimentary Telmont champers and beers for all the guests. There was an afterparty for this at Koko , but the theatre event looked better. then 9.45pm to 12.00pm. OTHELLO - press night party - Haymarket Hotel , London SW1. Othello starring David Harewood, Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald. Tom Morris’ contemporary revival runs at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 17 January. I have been to many theatre parties at this venue , but this was certainly the biggest and most lavish . Must be around 500 guests here, as for the first time they are using the restaurant area as well as the main covered swimming pool area . All the cast are here. I get a photo with DAVID HAREWOOD and TOBY JONES . Toby Jones told me that during the day Alan Bates had been awarded £4million due to the Post Office Horizon scandal. There is a string quartet playing in the restaurant. There is a female DJ in the main room. The MAC make-up girls are in the corner , giving female guests full facial makeovers . There is a fun photo booth. Complimentary Nyetimber English Sparking Wines, wines, lagers, Guinness , bowel foods , cones of fish n chips, canapes and an ice-cream cart . All guests got a goodie bag of cosmetics items. We left at midnight , but it was due to finish at 1am -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Monday 03 November 2025...I went to two events tonight .. 6pm to 7.15pm. ASIAN ART IN LONDON - private view - Eskanazi , 10 Clifford Street ,Mayfair, London W1. Over 100 guests at this gallery with a great location , between Cork Street and New Bond Street . Many lovely art and sculpture items on display . Complimentary Fourny & Fils champers for all guests. then 7.30pm to 11pm. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ROADSHOW - Peninsula Hotel , 1 Grosvenor Place, Belgravia , London SW1. Always nice to be at one of London's fanciest five star luxury hotels where rooms cost over £1000 a night. They have those Japanese heated toilet seats here. Around 200 guests are here. This was one of the pre events for World Travel Market at Excel where this Tues, Wed , Thurs of this week all the countries from around the world are showcasing their holiday destinations. At 7.30pm we have complimentary Peninsula champers and canapes. At 8.15pm we are seated at tables for the presentation. A huge screen is showing us the luxury hotels in Miches, Punta Cava and St Regis. Certainly looks very nice compared to a gloomy London. Lots of facts and figures on their tourist industry. We have headphones for translation as some of the presentations were in Spanish. At 9pm we have a complimentary three course meal with wines and beers. My mains was Hertfordshire Beef Fillet with sides. There was a business card raffle where five guests won nice prizes. All guests got a goodie bag on departure. A very enjoyable evening.

Posted 4th November 2025