Travelodge, the UK's fastest growing hotel company, today announced a coastal town opening programme for 2007 which will help to regenerate traditional English seaside resorts.
Ten new hotels from the Isle of Wight to Blackpool will be opened to add 800 rooms to the Travelodge estate over the next twelve months. This represents a major part of the budget hotel chain's 2007 development target of 3,000 rooms.
Travelodge's Chief Executive, Grant Hearn said; "These English coastal resorts represent a real opportunity for us. Years of under-investment have left these areas with over-priced, tatty hotels and B&Bs that have not seen a paint brush since the Victorian times. Consumers are looking for low priced, quality accommodation and we will deliver just that.
"With improved local infrastructures and cleaner beaches, these resorts will start to see an increased level of visitors. The UK traveller is now considering what our country has to offer as a holiday destination, as higher taxes, security issues and a concern for the environment are turning them away from air travel."
In 2006, the UK coastal areas secured more EU Blue Flag awards than ever before. One hundred and thirty five beaches and 11 marinas were awarded Blue Flag status following significant work to deliver much cleaner water and beaches.
VisitBritain's latest visitor data shows that Blackpool was second only to London as the UK traveller's holiday destination of choice for 2005. Blackpool and the Isle of Wight welcomed a combined 3million visitors last year.
Travelodge's new coastal sites for 2007 include Blackpool, Margate, Isle of Wight, Eastbourne, Holyhead and Swansea. The new hotels will create 250 jobs and represent a total investment of £34m. Room rates will start from £26.
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For more information, please contact:
Greg Dawson
Director of Communications, Travelodge
01844 358 703