Leading figures from Britain’s tourism industry including ETOA and GWR gathered to discuss Paddington’s evolving role as a major tourism hub for London. The event ‘Spotlight on Paddington’ marked the official dedication of the new GWR Tower Wing at Hilton London Paddington.
With over 60 million visitors passing through Paddington Station every year, set to increase with the launch of Crossrail in 2018, the area is poised for a significant increase in domestic and international tourism in the coming years. The opening of the GWR Tower Wing is a milestone in the area’s continual improvements including accessibility and public realm to ensure that Paddington plays its role in supporting London’s ‘visitor pressure point’ of the West End.
Mark Roth, General Manager, Hilton London Paddington, says “For over 14 years, Hilton London Paddington has been a ‘home from home’ for millions of visitors from across the globe keen to take in the sights of London. In recent years, there has been an increased demand for premium hotel experiences from international guests beyond the traditional enclave of the West End. The introduction of the new 56 premium rooms are allowing us to cater to the evolving preferences of a new generation of visitor to the city, and bring a new concept to Paddington’s premium hospitality market. In this way, we are continuing Brunel’s legacy by ensuring Paddington remains London’s gateway not only to the South West, but also to the world with the opening of the GWR Tower Wing.”
Nick Greenfield, Head of Tour Operator Relations, ETOA says, “A major appeal of London is that there is always something new to discover, somewhere else to go. While first-time visitors might naturally gravitate to the major sights, there are so many more people in search of new experiences and especially those that Londoners themselves enjoy. Paddington is already on the map but with exciting new developments such as the GWR Tower Wing and the continuing development of the Basin, there is every opportunity in the future for more people to choose Paddington as a neighbourhood they want to see and stay in.”
David Garner, Partnerships Manager, Great Western Railway says, “We are currently in a modern era of global trade and connectivity, and are continually inspired by Brunel’s vision for travel and the gateway to great adventures. Brunel strived to offer a seamless travel experience worthy of the smartphone age by offering a direct ticket from London to New York. Today, the GWR is proud to have partnered with some of the world’s leading airlines to offer this same experience in a modern way. A ticket from Chengdu to the Cotswolds – who would have thought? Brunel, that’s who!”