Travelodge opens its first new-build, budget-luxe hotels in London Docklands and in the North of England – Hexham
The hotel chain also announces that it is actively looking for more hotel sites in London and in the North East of England.
This summer, Travelodge officially opened its first new-build, budget-luxe hotels at London Docklands and in the north of England, in the picturesque town, Hexham – which is one of the gateways to the heart of Hadrian’s Wall. With the opening of these two hotels, Travelodge now operates 597 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain.
Earlier this year, Travelodge announced it was evolving its core brand product to a new, budget-luxe, premium look and feel design – whilst maintaining its great value price proposition. This new design has been created on the success of the group’s budget chic hotel format, TravelodgePLUS, with feedback from the company’s largest consumer study – which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Key findings revealed that modern travellers crave style, choice and little homely touches to make it easier to work, rest and relax both inside and outside of the room.
London Docklands Travelodge, is located by East India DLR station and is the group’s 78th hotel in the Capital, positioning Travelodge as one of London’s biggest hotel chains (With hotels in 31 out of the 33 London Boroughs).
The 350-room London Docklands Travelodge features scenic views of the O2, The Thames and Canary Wharf. It is also the most sustainable Travelodge hotel with a BREEAM Excellent rating, an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A and a number of sustainable features which includes solar panels on the roof, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. It is also the group’s 22nd Local Authorities lease-wrapper deal partnership, with the landlord being Barking & Dagenham Council.
London Docklands Travelodge hotel was officially opened by Travelodge Chief Executive, Jo Boydell and UKHospitality Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls. At the hotel opening ceremony, the group announced that London remains a key growth area and that they are actively looking for 127 hotel sites across the Capital to open a Travelodge hotel. This potential investment could represent an investment of nearly £3 billion for third party investors and create over 6,000 new jobs.
Hexham Travelodge is the group’s first new-build, budget-luxe hotel to open in the north of England, It is the second hotel the group has opened in the North East region within the last seven months. In December 2021, the hotel chain opened the first budget hotel at Europe’s biggest business park, Newcastle Cobalt Business Park.
At the Hexham Travelodge official opening ceremony, the hotel chain announced that the North East remains a key growth area and they are actively looking for a further 16 hotel sites across the region. This expansion programme could represent an investment of around £160 million for third party investors and create 400 new jobs.
The 16 North East target sites, where Travelodge is actively looking to open a hotel include nine growing towns which currently don’t have a Travelodge hotel. These locations include: Beverley, Bridlington, Headingley, Grimsby/Cleethorpes, Knaresborough/Wetherby, Northallerton, Ripon, South Shields and Thirsk.
The group is also looking to expand its portfolio in the following established North East markets which includes:
- Finding a suitable site to open a second Travelodge hotel in Barnsley, Chesterfield, Durham and Middlesbrough
- Finding a suitable site to add a third Travelodge hotel site in Wakefield
- Finding a suitable site to add a fourth hotel in Sheffield
- Finding a suitable site to add a fifth hotel in Leeds
Hexham Travelodge, a 69 room hotel is the town’s first branded hotel and the group’s 23rd property in the North East. The hotel represents a multi-million investment for the landlord. It is located in the town centre, close to the railway station and has created 27 new jobs within the community.
The new Travelodge budget-luxe design features
A new hub of the hotel – a redesigned, elegant reception
The new reception area has been designed in a warm timeless classic style featuring a decorative panel design, soft low LED lighting, stylish leather bench seating and wooden style flooring. The new colour palette includes the new warm Travelodge signature navy blue shade complemented against a palette of fresh tranquil neutral shades – creating a big warm welcome from Travelodge.
The next generation, multi-dimensional Travelodge room
The new, chic Travelodge room offers everything a business or leisure guest needs for a comfortable, relaxing stay and most importantly a good night’s sleep. The room has been smartly decorated to create a multi-dimensional space, by utilising the new, luxurious, signature-Travelodge, navy blue colour for the R&R (Resting and Relaxing) section of the room and a serene colour palette for the functional and energising side of the room where you need to work and get ready.
The bespoke, luxurious, king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed remains the king of the room and is dressed with crisp white bed linen, which includes a cosy 10.5 tog duvet and comfy pillows. The bed sits within a light box bed frame that emanates a soft, warm glow to aid relaxation and features bedside reading lights and USB charging points. Located above the bed is a bespoke piece of artwork commissioned by Travelodge, which has been inspired by classic lullabies, with clever use of playful and discoverable elements to help you drift off to sleep.
The en-suite bathroom also features a new, brilliant white, complementary design and décor, with complimentary hand, hair and body wash.
Other key features of the new room include:
- A spacious desk and a stylish desk chair
- A cosy statement armchair where you can kick back and curl up to read your book or watch TV
- Blackout curtains to create a dark space for a good night’s sleep
- Complimentary tea & coffee making facilities
- A TV with Freeview
- LED lighting in the room and bathroom
- Complimentary WIFI for 30 mins £3 for 24 hours
A stylish on-site restaurant with a statement bar called the ‘Bar Café’
The stylish Bar Café features a well-designed space for guests to work, relax and socialise. The restaurant features a contemporary design, with key statement features and a warm, relaxing ambiance. The restaurant offers distinctive zones designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travellers. These include counter seating with built-in USB and laptop power for those working outside the room, dining zones with intimate booths and dining benches for groups. Situated in the heart of the Bar Café is a stylish statement bar, which offers a selection of wines, popular spirits and a range of ales.
