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Mercure London Paddington gets planning approval

Mercure London Paddington gets planning approval

A leading Asian entrepreneur’s company has secured planning approval for Mercure London’s Paddington hotel in central London.

Koolesh Shah’s London Town Group, a hotels and residential property company, said the project would “redefine the concept of hospitality”.

The four-star hotel is close to Paddington Station which serves as a hub for train travel and has a rail link to Heathrow, too.

“The hotel will be a responsible steward of the environment,” LTG said.

Shah acknowledged the support the group received in getting the planning approval on its “visionary project”.

“London Town Group are immensely grateful for the support and encouragement received along the planning journey and would like to express their gratitude to partners, and stakeholders who believe in the vision,” the entrepreneur said.

Shah founded the LTG in 1988 with a single budget brand hotel in Earl’s Court in London, and expanded with properties in prime locations in London and the Midlands.

The group consists of four main brands - London Town Hotels, S-Cube technology, Flexibookings.com, and Energist.io.

Shah, who won the Philanthropy Award at the Asian Business Awards 2022, runs the Koolesh Shah Foundation which has donated to a wide variety of charities in the UK and Africa.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

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Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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