Today, the first Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield Council, Councillor John Hawkins was joined by celebrity Lucinda Rhodes-Flaherty, from Sky One's Dream Team and St Philip Howard R.C Primary school to officially open the first Travelodge Hotel in Hatfield.
The newly built 120-room hotel is located at Comet Square, Comet Way, Hatfield AL10 OXR. The £5.6 million investment has created 25 new jobs within the area and will offer rooms from £15*.
To celebrate the opening of Hatfield Travelodge, pupils from St. Philip Howard R.C Primary School were set a project of designing their Dream Bedroom. The Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Councillor John Hawkins selected the winning picture, which was drawn by James Godfrey aged 11 years.
As part of his prize, James won a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the Mayor, Councillor John Hawkins and Lucinda Rhodes-Flaherty to officially open Hatfield Travelodge. James also won a weekend stay at a UK Travelodge hotel of his choice for his family. The winning picture will be hung in the hotel reception area for customers to view. All participating children were awarded a goodie bag.
The Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield Council, Councillor John Hawkins said: "I am genuinely delighted and very excited to open Hatfield Travelodge. The council is flattered that such a prestigious company as Travelodge has chosen our borough to extend its chain. The expansion here marks a further step in the major regeneration of Hatfield. To have spent £5.6 million on this hotel illustrates that Travelodge, like many other businesses, has confidence in the future of our town and Hatfield will benefit greatly as a result. It will also provide much needed low-cost accommodation for visitors to the area and local residents."
Hatfield Travelodge will offer a choice of either Family, Double or Disabled access rooms. Each room provides a comfortable setting with en-suite bathroom, luxury king size bed, colour TV and free tea and coffee making facilities.
The new hotel also has a Bar Cafe which offers an all-you-can-eat hot cooked breakfast buffet at £6.50 per person (children eat for free**), all day snacks and a bar service in the evenings.
James Collins, Hatfield Travelodge Manager, said: "There is a big demand for budget accommodation within Hatfield and our new Travelodge hotel will help to fill this gap. Its central location is ideal for visiting business and leisure travelers. Local residents can also benefit by accommodating family and friends at the hotel to avoid the additional stress at home ideal for the festive season ahead. We offer a comfortable room from as little as £15, which is the smart choice for any type of stopover."
In the lead up to Christmas, Travelodge is opening 17 new hotels across the UK. Locations include: Peterborough, Stansted Airport Great Dunmow, Romford, Barnstaple, Ludlow, Hatfield, Kendal, Birmingham (city centre), Ayr, Manchester Trafford Park, Hereford, Camberley, Croydon, Watford, Birmingham Maypole and Sheffield (city centre). 400 new jobs will be created as a result of these new hotel openings. (Hatfield Travelodge is the second largest hotel to open within this group of 17 new hotel openings).
Image of Hatfield Travelodge opening and hotel building is available upon request - please call 01844 358 638
For further information please visit www.travelodge.co.uk.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Shakila Ahmed
PR Manager
Tel: 01844 358 638
Notes to editors:
Lucinda Rhodes-Flaherty, from Sky One's Dream Team is also the leading star at Broxbourne Civic Hall's Christmas Pantomime 'Cinderella'.
The Pantomime starts Saturday 9th December and will run till the 30th December.
Broxbourne Civic Hall, High Street, Hoddesdon. Theatre Box Office number is 01992 441946
*£15 room rate is an introductory opening offer. The room rates at Hatfield Travelodge will start from £26 per room per night.
**Up to two children ten years or under eat free of charge for each paying adult. Offer excludes Northern Ireland and Spain.
Travelodge has currently 284 hotels throughout the UK. These are conveniently located in most major UK city centres.
To book a Travelodge room just go to www.travelodge.co.uk or call: 08700 850 950.
Travelodge was the first budget hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985.