| London is the most expensive place to stay in | | | | for the first time and therefore wants their |
| Europe, according to a recent survey, and | | | | experience of the city to be a positive one. |
| that news has emerged at the same time as | | | | She added: |
| tourism minister Margaret Hodge has warned | | | | |
| that hotels in the capital must shape up in | | | | "Hosting the 2012 Olympics is a huge |
| order to be ready for the 2012 Olympics. | | | | opportunity for London and the UK tourism |
| | | | industry. In five years London will welcome |
| The average cost of staying in a London hotel | | | | millions of first-time visitors and we will |
| has leapt by a staggering 12% since April, | | | | want them to come back time and again - |
| and now averages £119 per night across the | | | | hopefully bringing their family and friends. |
| capital. Although not as expensive as New | | | | It's all about creating a lasting and |
| York or the world's most expensive place for | | | | positive legacy for the capital." |
| a one-night stay, Moscow, the rates are | | | | |
| remarkably high considering that two-thirds | | | | But, the government doesn't expect the |
| of all London hotels are unrated. The figures | | | | capital's hotels to do it all by themselves. |
| show that even relatively meagre two-star | | | | A recently unveiled multi-agency strategy |
| accommodation in London averages £88 per | | | | entitled: "Winning - A Tourism Strategy for |
| night and guests have to typically stump up | | | | 2012 and Beyond" has been drawn up by the |
| £109 to stay in three-star rated hotels. | | | | Department for Culture, Media and Sport aided |
| | | | by Visit Britain, Visit London, and an |
| Tourism minister Hodge is worried that the | | | | assortment of Regional Development Agencies, |
| combination of highly priced accommodation | | | | aiming to give positive advice and limited |
| and the large percentage of non-rated hotels | | | | financial assistance to the hotel industry |
| will damage the reputation of the city, and | | | | throughout London and the UK. |
| is keen for the hotel industry to get itself | | | | |
| in order. She said: "If the tourist industry | | | | Now that the gauntlet has been thrown down |
| is to reap the potential £2.1 billion from | | | | for hotels in London to make significant |
| the 2012 Olympic Games, then 85% of London's | | | | improvements, it is important that they |
| hotels must be accredited before then." | | | | respond positively if they are to fulfil the |
| | | | government's aim of making the 2012 Olympic |
| Hodge is concerned that many people attending | | | | Games the start of a lasting legacy. |
| the 2012 Olympics will be coming to London | | | | |