Travelodge expands Dorset presence

The budget hotel chain explained that this expansion was led by growing demand for value accommodation in the county, which already holds seven of the brand’s properties.

“Dorset is an important market for us. The county is a tourism powerhouse. Its visitor numbers are growing year on year and it is attracting visitors from all corners of the globe. To support the great work that is happening to attract more visitors to Dorset, we are looking for two more sites in the county to build more Travelodge hotels; so that we can offer more good value rooms to consumers,” said  Lynn Bailey, Christchurch Travelodge hotel manager.

Travelodge invested £4m into its new 68-room hotel in Christchurch, including the creation of 12 jobs. All rooms feature the brand’s new king-size ‘Dreamer’ beds, and rates start from £29. It is also the first hotel to have a set of truckle beds instead of sofa beds for children and extra adults.

“The hotel (…) has been designed in the new Travelodge contemporary brand style. By offering good value rooms, we will attract more visitors to Christchurch which will give the local economy an additional boost of £1.2m, as our research shows that a Travelodge customer will spend on average £36 in local businesses when staying over. The hotel has already got off to a flying start and we’re nearly sold out for the October half term,” Bailey added.

The two new openings in the county are expected to create an additional 30 jobs for the local community.

Travelodge has also invested over £250,000 in modernising three of its Dorset hotels – including Bournemouth, Bournemouth Seafront and Ringwood, as part of its £57m nationwide hotel modernisation programme​.

By the end of autumn, over 80 per cent of the company’s hotels will feature the brand’s new contemporary design.

Travelodge recently posted a £5.6m operating profit for 2013​​ – the first positive results since its near-collapse and financial restructuring in 2012.