Image: BHA is worried over the visitor numbers to London

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) is working with the Mayor's office, London and Partners, Visit Britain and Visit England to drive visitors back to London during and after the Olympic Games period.

BHA's research shows that London restaurants are experiencing a decline in sales for the week beginning 23 July of 40 per cent on average - in some cases by more than 60 per cent. The decline has continued into this week.

In a statement, the association said: "The Games have totally disrupted normal booking patterns and there is now doubt whether hotel occupancy during August this year will even match that of a normal August.

"There is very little corporate demand and demand by leisure travellers to London, outside the Olympic Games, is very weak.

"It is apparent that visitors to the Games are not acting like normal tourists, where visiting restaurants, attractions and shopping is a typical activity."

Following a meeting with the Mayor's office yesterday (1 August), the BHA said it had already secured some immediate actions to help the capital's hospitality industry recover.

These include releasing some of the Olympic Lanes for normal traffic; a major change in the Transport for London messaging to reduce the amount of 'avoid' messages; and a "Late Summer Deals" campaign run by VisitBritain throughout the UK and Europe via its visitor app and visitlondon.com.

BHA is also pressing the London authorities for removal of the Congestion Charge for the remainder of the Games period.