Some of the world's largest hotel companies have written to London mayor Boris Johnson, slamming his plans to introduce a levy on hotel developments in order to fund the Crossrail project.

In a bid to raise £600m to contribute to the £16bn Crossrail scheme - which aims to run from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf via the West End and City of London - Johnson has proposed a ‘tax’ on future hotel developments of £60 per sq m in Central London and £82 per sq m on the Isle of Dogs.

Predictably, this has not been well received by the industry. In a letter signed by companies including International Hotels Group, Wyndham Hotels and Travelodge, it was put in no uncertain terms that the plan would jeopardise the future growth of the hotel industry.

The letter said: "This is a serious mistake and we strongly urge you to reconsider you position. Given your previous strong support to the tourism industry in London, we hope you see the folly of introducing this tax and choose not to press ahead with its implementation."

Whitbread's chief executive Alan Parker had his say too, sending a letter that stated: "Imposing this levy will act as a disincentive for Premier Inn and other hotel providers and will reduce the quality of hotels in the city.

"While I fully appreciate the value of Crossrail to London, funding it by a levy on the hotel industry will be counter-productive and may do long term damage to the city's tourist industry."

Lastly, the chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, Bob Cotton, sent another letter, saying: "We believe that your proposal to include new hotel developments in central London and the Isle of Dogs in the range of uses from which Crossrail contributions will be sought will put the future growth of the capital's hotel industry at risk."

The Greater London Authority - who initially recommended that the levy only include office developments, but later expanded it to include retail and hotels - will make its final recommendations to Johnson within three weeks.