With the opening of Ashford Town Centre Travelodge, the company now operates hotels close to the UK’s busiest 200 railway stations
Travelodge announces it is looking for ten more hotel sites near to railway stations in key commuter towns offering fast access to London.
This expansion would collectively represent an investment of £60 million and would create around 300 new jobs
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, has officially opened its 574th hotel close to Ashford International railway station. With this opening, Travelodge now operates hotels at key railway stations servicing HS1 and proposed HS2 routes – connecting the south and north of Britain.
With the opening of Ashford Town Centre Travelodge, the company now operates hotels close to the UK’s busiest 200 railway stations. The new 58-room Travelodge with an onsite restaurant called the Bar Café represents an investment of £5 million for the landlord, Ashford Borough Council. It is the closest hotel to Ashford International railway station, home to HS1 and offers rooms from £29. Travelodge also operates hotels at the other end of the HS1 line at St Pancras International railway station.
In addition, the budget hotel chain also operates hotels close to major railway stations at eight of Britain’s largest cities that will connect the south with the north via the proposed HS2 high speed line. This includes: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Every day four million passenger journeys start, end or pass through Britain’s railway stations[i]. With the rise of train travel, the national rail network has never been more important to the economic and social success of the UK economy. A key growth area are commuter towns which offer a fast train service (less than an hour) into London.
These commuter towns are growing at pace and attracting businesses of all sizes. They are also a magnet for savvy business and leisure travellers who are seeking low cost accommodation with easy access into the capital. To tap into this growing market, Travelodge has identified ten key commuter towns where it would like to open a hotel close to the railway station which offers a fast service into London. Locations include: Broxbourne, Gillingham (Kent), Haywards Heath, Maidstone, Reading, Shoreham, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Ware and Watford
Collectively this proposed railway expansion plan would represent an investment of £60 million for third party investors and create approximately 300 new jobs.
Tony O’Brien, Travelodge UK Property Director said: “We are delighted to open our 574th hotel by Ashford International railway station and cement our presence close to key railway stations that will connect the south and north of Britain via HS1 and HS2 routes. This hotel opening also means we now operate hotels close to the UK’s busiest 200 railway stations.”
“Our next stop is to open hotels by railway stations in key commuter towns across the south east that have a fast service into London. These towns are important business locations in their own right and are growing at pace and attracting businesses of all sizes. They are also a magnet for savvy travellers who are seeking low cost accommodation and don’t mind travelling into the capital. We are actively looking for sites in: Broxbourne, Gillingham (Kent), Haywards Heath, Maidstone, Reading, Shoreham, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Ware and Watford. Collectively this expansion would represent an investment of £60 million for third party investors and create around 300 new jobs.”
Wendy Spinks, Commercial Director at HS1 Ltd, said: “HS1 is continuing to drive regeneration throughout Kent by attracting new investment to local areas. The opening of Ashford Town Centre Travelodge will help serve the increase in leisure tourists and business commuters using the high speed services. ”
Ashford Town Centre Travelodge has been designed in the company’s latest contemporary brand design. The hotel offers a selection of rooms which include, family, double and accessible. All rooms feature the bespoke luxurious King Size Travelodge Dreamer bed which sits within a mood lighting surround with bedside USB ports and spacious shelves for charging devices. In addition, family rooms include two individual beds for children. (See notes to editors for more room features.)
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Travelodge Press Office
Tel: 01844 35 8703
Email: pressoffice@travelodge.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Ashford Town Centre Travelodge
Elwick Place, Elwick Road,
Ashford
TN23 1AE
Information about Ashford Town Centre Travelodge
To help ensure guests attain a good night’s sleep, all rooms features include
• a sleep inducing décor colour palette to create a warm and cosy ambiance
• energy efficient, LED lighting which provides a softer look and feel to the room
• a ‘Comfort Cooling’ system which enables guests to personalise their ideal room temperature
• soundproof Italian acoustic doors
• a 32-inch Freeview TV
• free in-room tea & coffee making facilities