Today, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Rae Humberstone, and the Warden of Keble College, Sir Jonathan Phillips, joined Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive and Jo Boydell, Travelodge Chief Financial Officer (two University of Oxford alumni) – to officially open the Oxford Abingdon Road Travelodge.
The company’s 524th hotel is a purpose built, 83-room property which represents an investment value of £6.5 million and has created 23 new jobs. The hotel features Travelodge’s new contemporary design and becomes the latest Travelodge to feature a Bar Café. The hotel, which is adjacent to the city’s Redbridge Park and Ride site, is ideally located to serve both the city centre and its growing technology parks.
Travelodge currently operates six hotels across Oxfordshire which have been all been upgraded as part of the company’s £100m investment programme to deliver greater quality to its customers. All the company’s UK hotels now feature a new contemporary room design and include the bespoke luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed and separate beds for children at no extra cost in family rooms.
Travelodge is now embarked on an expansion drive to add hotels in up to a further 250 locations across the UK. Travelodge Chief Executive, Peter Gowers announced at the opening that the company is seeking to double its presence in Oxfordshire, with plans to open or secure further sites in key locations including: Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot, Witney, Banbury and Henley Upon Thames.
The proposed Oxfordshire expansion programme is expected to represent a total investment value of £40 million and to create 175 new jobs, offering a £10m boost to the local economy – with every Travelodge guest expected to spend double the amount with local businesses during their stay that they spend on their hotel room.
Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive said:
“Oxford is one of the most famous university cities in the world and a growing technology hub. Our new hotel adds a great value hotel option for visitors and extends our fast-growing network of city centre locations.”
“The area around Oxford is becoming an ever more desirable place to live and work. With rising demand for value hotels, especially from start-up small businesses and families on a tight travel budget, it’s a place we want to invest in. We are looking to double our portfolio in Oxfordshire, creating new jobs and bringing a further boost to the local economy.”
Sir Jonathan Phillips, the Warden of Keble College, said:
“I am delighted to open this valuable addition to the range of hotels in Oxford. Its excellent location and facilities would be attractive to many visitors to the City and the University.”’
The Oxford Abingdon Road Travelodge is managed by Dion Webster who lives in Wantage. Dion joins Travelodge after a 20 year career with the NHS which includes working for the ambulance services and managing the emergency services call center.
Dion Webster, Oxford Abingdon Road Travelodge Hotel Manager said:
“Our new hotel has got off to a flying start and we are enjoying high occupancy throughout the week with business customers, and at the weekend from leisure visitors. In particular people visiting family and friends studying at the city’s universities. Future bookings look very strong and our business customer base is growing at great pace as news of our opening travels far and wide.”
Oxford Abingdon Road Travelodge offers a range of rooms which includes: family, double and accessible. A Travelodge family room caters for either two adults and two children or three adults and features separate beds for children.
Each room has en-suite facilities with eco-friendly showers, in-room toiletries including liquid soap, a flat screen TV with 18 free digital channels, free tea and coffee making facilities, and free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes during every stay.