With the global spotlight shining on the capital ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the new agency – London & Partners – will bring together the current work of the capital’s key promotional agencies – Visit London, Think London and Study London, which were previously responsible for attracting tourism, inward investment and international students.

London currently welcomes almost 25 million visitors, creates over 6,100 jobs through inward investment and attracts 105,000 international students every year. London & Partners will pool the extensive knowledge and expertise from the previous agencies under one roof and deliver a single strategy for the promotion of London with one voice and mission.

Promoting leisure and business tourism, foreign direct investment and business growth as well as attracting major events, conferences, meetings and overseas students is crucial, especially with the city gearing up for a series of global events including the Royal Wedding, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the world’s largest ever sporting event, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Working with both the private sector and specialist organisations, London & Partners will promote the capital both domestically and internationally. The new agency will continue to work closely with other London organisations such as Transport for London and Film London to highlight the capital’s transport initiatives and the film and the production industries which attract both investment and leisure visitors.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

‘London is an extraordinary place of opportunity and without doubt the best big city to visit, study and invest in. We have some of the world’s greatest cultural attractions from our theatres to museums, some of the finest universities and colleges, and we offer unrivalled choice for those seeking to invest. London is also a city which is undergoing transformation as we deliver new transport links and vastly improved public spaces. Together these initiatives are improving the city’s quality of life and making it a better place to live, work and visit.

‘With so many landmark events on the horizon, from the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee, this is a really exciting time for us to promote London with a single voice. We have an incredible story to tell and by harnessing our resources under one roof I believe we can become an even stronger magnet for tourists, students and investors in the coming decades.’

London & Partners will be led by interim chair Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas and interim CEO Danny Lopez. The agency currently has staff in six key global locations and work is underway to identify synergies that will support the promotional activity for the whole organisation.

Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas said:

‘I am delighted to be part of this new initiative for London. As a city, we already lead the way for visitors, businesses and education and now we have the opportunity to develop our strengths even further. London & Partners will be able to champion everything that makes the capital so dynamic and secure its future as a leading global city.’

Grant Hearn, Executive Chairman Travelodge and board member of London & Partners said:

‘London & Partners will represent a significant portion of the capital’s economy.  Foreign direct investment, business growth, tourism, and higher education in the coming years are set to increase – and the new agency will be poised to capture this growth and make it work for London’.