31st July 2023
Travelodge opens its fourth hotel in Ipswich and announces it is looking to double its hotel presence in Suffolk
Ipswich Central Travelodge is the town’s and Suffolk’s first budget-luxe Travelodge hotel
The group also announces it is looking to double its presence in Suffolk and is actively searching for a further nine sites across the county. This includes a fifth hotel in Ipswich
Travelodge’s Suffolk’s expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create 225 new jobs across the region
Travelodge, the UK’s first branded budget hotel chain, has opened its fourth hotel in Ipswich. next to Ipswich Town FC. This hotel is the town’s and the county’s first Travelodge budget-luxe hotel - which is the group’s new premium look and feel hotel design. Ipswich Central Travelodge was officially opened by Steve Bennett, Travelodge Chief Property and Development Officer and The Worshipful Mayor of Ipswich, Councilor Lynne Mortimer at an opening ceremony.
Ipswich Central Travelodge represents a multi-million investment for the landlord, The Burnley Group and has created 26 new jobs within the county. It is the group’s 598th Travelodge and seventh hotel in Suffolk.
At the opening ceremony, the group also announced that Suffolk and Ipswich is a key growth area for the business and they are looking to double their presence across the county. Travelodge is actively looking for a further nine hotel sites in Suffolk which includes a fifth hotel site in Ipswich. This expansion programme could represent a multi-million investment for third party investors and create 225 new jobs.
Locations include: Aldeburgh or Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Lowestoft, Martlesham, Newmarket, Southwold, Saxmundham and Sudbury.
For five of these towns it would be the first branded budget hotel which could greatly impact on their visitor numbers and boost the location economy. These locations include: Aldeburgh, Martlesham, Southwold, Saxmundham and Sudbury.
Ipswich Central Travelodge, a 100-room hotel features the group's new budget-luxe design and includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors.
It also offers a range of rooms including the popular premium economy SuperRooms. It also features an on-site restaurant called the Bar Cafe offering breakfast, dinner and a bar service. (See notes to editors for further information on the the Travelodge budget-luxe design)
The Travelodge budget-luxe design also includes a number of sustainable initiatives. This includes the new carpet being made from recycled fishing nets which are part of a project supporting clean ocean initiatives, tackling over 640k tonnes of discarded fishing nets currently impacting marine life. The carpet backing is also made of old plastic bottles. Every ten of these bottles which are recycled rather than being sent to landfill saves enough energy to power a laptop for 25 hours. The other features include low energy lighting, motion sensing controls and aerated showers and taps.
Rooms at Ipswich Central Travelodge are available from £38 at www.travelodge.co.uk.
Ipswich Central Travelodge is managed by William Bone, who has been with Travelodge for seven years and has overseen the opening of three new build Travelodge hotels which includes Maldon, Braintree and now Ipswich Central Travelodge.
Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer said: “We are delighted to open our fourth hotel in Ipswich and bring our new premium look and feel budget-luxe concept to the county. The hotel is ideally located for business and leisure travellers. It will also be very popular with Ipswich Town FC fans as we have rooms that overlook the stadium and our opening couldn’t have come at a better time with the club being promoted to the Championship.”
“This hotel opening also kick-starts our Suffolk expansion programme as we would like to double our hotel portfolio in the county in response to growing leisure and business travellers visiting the area for holidays, events and for business. At present there is a shortage of good quality and great value accommodation. Therefore to fulfil this growing demand we are actively looking for a further nine hotel sites, which includes a fifth location in Ipswich. This collective expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create 225 new jobs. It is also good news for local economies as our research shows that Travelodge customers spend on average double their room rate with local businesses during their stay, which can equate to an annual multi-million boost for the town..
For five of these target locations it would be the town’s first Travelodge hotel which would help attract new business and leisure visitors to the area. These locations include: Newmarket, Martlesham, Southwold, Sudbury, Aldeburgh, Felixstowe and Saxmundham. The other locations include a fifth hotel in Ipswich, and second hotels in Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft.”
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For further information, supporting images and VT please contact:
Alison McNulty, Travelodge PR Manager
E: Alison.mcnulty@travelodge.co.uk
M: 07442 345 980
Notes to Editors
The new Travelodge budget-luxe design has been created on the success of the group’s budget chic hotel format, TravelodgePLUS with feedback from the company’s largest consumer study - which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Key findings revealed that modern travellers crave style, choice and little homely touches to make it easier to work, rest and relax both inside and outside of the room.
The budget-luxe design includes a timeless classic, elegant style reception which is the hub of the hotel. A next generation room which has been smartly devised to create a multi-dimensional space by utilising the new luxurious signature Travelodge navy blue colour for the R&R (resting and relaxing) section of the room and a serene colour palette for the functional and energising side of the room to work and get ready. Plus a contemporary designed restaurant called the Bar Café - that features spaces for guests to work, relax and socialise.
The new Travelodge budget-luxe design features
A new hub of the hotel – a redesigned elegant reception
The new reception area has been designed in a warm timeless classic style featuring a decorative panel design, soft low LED lighting, stylish leather bench seating and wooden style flooring. The new colour palette includes the new warm Travelodge signature navy blue shade complemented against a palette of fresh tranquil neutral shades – creating a big warm welcome from Travelodge.
The next generation multi-dimensional Travelodge room
The new chic Travelodge room offers everything a business or leisure guest needs for a comfortable, relaxing stay and most importantly a good night’s sleep. The room has been smartly decorated to create a multi-dimensional space by utilising the new luxurious signature Travelodge navy blue colour for the R&R (Resting and Relaxing) section of the room and a serene colour palette for the functional and energising side of the room where you need to work and get ready.
The bespoke luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed remains the king of the room and is dressed with crisp white bed linen which includes a cosy 10.5 tog duvet and comfy pillows. The bed sits within a light box bed frame that emanates a soft, warm glow to aid relaxation and features bedside reading lights and USB charging points. Located above the bed is a bespoke piece of artwork commissioned by Travelodge which has been inspired by classic lullabies, with clever use of playful and discoverable elements to help you drift off to sleep.
The en-suite bathroom also features a new brilliant white complementary design and décor with complimentary hand, hair and body wash.
Other key features of the new room include:
●A spacious desk and a stylish desk chair
●A cosy statement armchair where you can kick back and curl up to read your book or watch TV
●Blackout curtains to create a dark space for a good night’s sleep
●Complimentary tea & coffee making facilities
●A TV with Freeview
●LED lighting in the room and bathroom
● Complimentary WIFI for 30 mins £3 for 24 hours
A stylish on-site restaurant with a statement bar called the ‘Bar Café’
The stylish Bar Café features a well-designed space for guests to work, relax and socialise. The restaurant features a contemporary design, with key statement features and a warm relaxing ambiance. The restaurant offers distinctive zones designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travellers. These include counter seating with built-in USB and laptop power for those working outside the room, dining zones with intimate booths and dining benches for groups. Situated in the heart of the Bar Café is a stylish statement bar which offers a selection of wines, popular spirits and a range of ales.