Travelodge, one of the UK’s leading budget hotel chains, has officially opened its first hotel in Peterhead which is also the town’s first branded hotel.
The purpose built 63-room hotel which includes on-site car-parking is situated on Chapel Street, in the heart of the town. The hotel represents an investment of £4.5m for the landlord and has created 15 new jobs within the local community.
To celebrate Travelodge coming to Peterhead, the hotel chain teamed up with, The Buchan Observer, to offer one lucky reader, the opportunity of a lifetime of becoming a local VIP and to officially open Peterhead Travelodge.
To qualify, readers had to submit a poem about Travelodge coming to Peterhead and local resident, Lesley Carle, (aged 56) was selected as the overall winning author. Lesley joined The Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Hamish Vernal and Travelodge Regional Director, Beth Doleman for the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of Peterhead Travelodge.
A word from winning author, Lesley Carle
Lesley Carle said:
“I was over the moon when I was told my poem about Peterhead had won. It’s such an honour to be given this opportunity to open the town’s first branded hotel. I’m so proud of Peterhead, it’s where I was born and raised, and I am delighted that visitors to the area will be able to read my work whilst staying at the Travelodge.”
Lesley’s winning poem has been hung in the hotel reception area for all visitors to read whilst checking-in. Lesley has also won a family weekend break to London, which she is taking this summer when she goes to see Adele perform.
At the opening of Peterhead Travelodge, the hotel chain also announced that Scotland remains a key growth area, fuelled by businesses looking to reduce travel costs and with the new generation of independent leisure travellers. To support this growing demand, Travelodge is looking for 21 new sites across Scotland where it can potentially open a hotel. This expansion represents an investment of over £100m for third party investors and could create around 400 new jobs.
From the target list of 21 sites, nine locations could get their branded budget hotel. These locations include: Ardrossan, Aviemore, Galashiels, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Loch Lomond, Montrose, Oban and Pitlochry. The hotel giant is also looking to double its portfolio of hotels in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow with a further five hotels.
A word from Beth Doleman, Travelodge Regional Director
Beth Doleman said:
“The value hotel market continues to go from strength to strength in Scotland, boosted by ever more cost-conscious businesses looking to reduce travel costs and the growth in independent leisure travel. To meet this growing demand we are expanding into new markets and in some cases making history by opening the town’s first branded hotel, as we have done in Peterhead.”
“This is just the start, as we have identified 21 further locations where we would like to expand our network of hotels in Scotland. In ten of these locations, we could be the first to bring a branded budget hotel to the town. Together with the £7m we have already invested in upgrading all of our hotels in Scotland we continue the on-going transformation of Travelodge into a high quality, low cost brand for both business and leisure.”
Peterhead Travelodge is being managed by Karen Higgins, who has recruited her team locally to fill various positions within the hotel. Karen started her career in the leisure industry more than 20 years ago and during her career has worked in hotels in Jersey as well as in Scotland.
Peterhead is one of the first of the company’s hotel to feature the next generation of the company’s ‘Travelodgical’ contemporary room design. Together with the Travelodge Dreamer bed, this now includes new bedside USB charging points, new softer LED ceiling lighting, giving the room a warmer feel, a new Italian acoustic door, to help create better conditions for sleep, comfort cooling and Samsung 32 inch digital televisions.
Travelodge is opening new hotels throughout 2017.
For the latest openings check out our list of brand new Travelodge hotels.
Winning Poem by Lesley Carle:
Travelodge in Peterhead
Welcome Travelodge to Peterhead and about time too
It’ll help give Peterhead Tourist Industry the boost it’s due
Peterhead’s famous for Fishing and the Oil Industry
with a Harbour, two beaches and plenty to see.
There’s Arburthnot and the Old Prison Museum
and Peterhead Town Trail, if you fancy sightseeing
Not forgetting Buchanhaven’s Heritage Centre
and its quaint Harbour, now that’s worth a venture.
And where better to lay your head
than Travelodge, which is streets ahead
It’s child friendly and the costs are fair
with pleasant staff who’ll attend your every care.
So book Travelodge and put them to the test
whether passing through or local, come and try the best
It’ll be easier to reach soon, if travelling from afar
with Aberdeen’s new By-pass making it quicker by car.
So come on down to Travelodge on Chapel Street
You won’t be disappointed by their meet and greet.
Lesley Carle
