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Al Faisal Holding Company, one of Qatar’s largest conglomerates, said on Wednesday it was behind the purchase of a top London hotel. Through its subsidiary Al Rayan Tourism & Investment Company (ARTIC), it said it has exchanged contracts with Northern Irish developer McAleer & Rushe to acquire the W London Hotel, Leicester Square for close to £200m ($313m). Launched in January, the Starwood-operated 192-bedroom hotel is on the corner of Leicester Square, the internationally famous and highly popular pedestrianised square of London’s West End. In addition to the hotel, the ten-storey, 90ft glazed building houses one of the most exclusive branded apartment schemes in London, featuring 11 luxury duplex branded W Residencies. The development is also home to Mars’ 35,000 sq ft M&M’s World store, the first in Europe.
