Guide targets London's gay tourist market
The London Tourist Board (LTB) has launched its first Gay & Lesbian London guide as part of a major campaign to target the "pink" tourist pound.
With London having the largest gay scene in Europe, the LTB estimates its value to the tourism market to be almost £1b per year, about 10% of London's total tourism revenue.
The guide, aimed at tourists from Europe and the USA, features a section on gay-friendly hotels which lists 20 hotels, including the Marriott County Hall, the Great Eastern hotel and One Aldwych.
All hotels are part of a listing put together by Rainbow Holidays, which writes to companies asking if they would be happy to accommodate same-sex couples.
"Most of the hotel chains are included, but we have to be careful because while the head office will say one thing, individual managers might say another," said Jason Pollock, marketing consultant for Rainbow Holidays.