Today, the Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Janet Marshall and Grant Hearn, Travelodge Chief Executive officially opened the budget chains 300th hotel in Croydon town centre. At an investment cost of £9 million, Travelodge has regenerated, the former Norwich Union Insurance offices to create the 147 room hotel.
The new hotel located in Wellesley Road, Croydon has created 35 new jobs and will offer rooms from £15 per night.
Croydon Central Travelodge will be the first hotel in the chains estate to use wind turbines to generate its own energy. Six turbines are located on the roof of the building and will each produce approximately 3000 kilowatt hours of electricity per annum. This will generate enough renewable energy to illuminate a number of public areas within the hotel, including the Bar Cafe, ten corridors and lift lighting. It will also power the unique lighting design on the exterior of the hotel that contributes to the Croydon Council 'Skyline Project'.
Grant Hearn, Travelodge Chief Executive, said: "Travelodge is the UK's fastest growing budget hotel chain. By 2010 we aim to have 32,000 rooms within the UK. In order to achieve this aggressive growth target; we are looking at innovative ways of developing new hotels. Croydon Central Travelodge, our 300th hotel is a prime example of this.
"We have regenerated an old vacant office building block and created a new 147 room hotel in the heart of Croydon town centre, where we will offer visitors quality accommodation from just £15 a night."
The Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Janet Marshall said: "It's a great pleasure to welcome Croydon Central Travelodge to the town. Croydon is the hub for so many people, with central London being just 10mins away by train. Its a popular stayover for business and leisure travellers. Croydon Central Travelodge's £9 million investment and 35 new job creation will be a great asset for Croydon.
Croydon Travelodge will have a selection of family, double and disabled 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 hotel also has a Bar Cafe, which offers an all you can eat breakfast buffet at £6.50 per person. (Children under the age of 10 years eat for free) Evening meals and a bar service is also available.
As a lowcost operator, Travelodge is changing customer behaviour, with its aggressive pricing model and web strategy. Travelodge has a target of 32,000 rooms by 2010. This will be achieved via organic growth including new build properties and regenerating existing buildings. By the 2012 Olympics, Travelodge will be the biggest hotel brand in Central London ((within the North and South Circular), with a target of 7,000 rooms in the capital.
Travelodge has 30 hotel openings planned in 2007, which equates to one new hotel opening in every nine days. Locations include: Heathrow Terminals 4 and 5, Luton, Swindon, Glastonbury, London Euston, London City Road, Eastbourne, Holyhead, Blackpool, Redditch and Windsor