York’s first branded budget hotel chain – Travelodge – has opened its new flagship hotel at Layerthorpe. The company’s fifth hotel in the city also marks Travelodge being crowned York’s largest branded hotel provider in the city.
York Layerthorpe Travelodge is the company’s 547th hotel and its 34th hotel in Yorkshire.
This year Travelodge is also celebrating its 30th anniversary of trading in Yorkshire. The company opened its first Yorkshire Travelodge in Skipton in 1987.
York Layerthorpe is the company’s largest hotel in the city of York. The purpose-built, 128-room hotel with Bar Café and on-site car park is located in Layerthorpe, York YO31 7RE, and overlooks the River Foss.
This hotel represents an investment of £5 million for the landlord and has created 47 new jobs within the local community.
The hotel has been designed in the next generation of the company’s ‘Travelodgical’ contemporary room design. Together with the bespoke king size Travelodge Dreamer bed, this includes new bedside USB charging points, new softer LED ceiling lighting to give the room a warmer feel, comfort cooling system and a Samsung 32-inch digital television.
A champagne reception was held to celebrate the opening of York Layerthorpe Travelodge. Travelodge Property Director, Tony O Brien was joined by Local MP, Rachael Maskell; The Worshipful The Mayor of York, Councillor Barbara Boyce; and The Sherriff of York, Councillor Gill Brian.
At the opening event, Travelodge also announced that Yorkshire is a key growth area for the company and is looking for 12 new hotel sites across the county. Locations include: York, Monks Cross, Sheffield, Wakefield, Hull, Rotherham, Barnsley, Knaresborough, Bridlington, Headingley, Whitby, Wetherby, Northalleston / Thirsk.
This expansion programme will boost Travelodge’s portfolio to 46 hotels in Yorkshire and will potentially create a further 420 new jobs.
Tony O Brien, Travelodge Property Director said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating our 30th anniversary in Yorkshire by becoming the largest branded hotel provider in York with the opening of our fifth hotel in the city. York Layerthorpe Travelodge is our flagship hotel in York as it’s our largest property.
“Over the last three decades, Travelodge has become famous across the county for offering unbeatable value and making travel affordable for everyone, which has helped attract more business and leisure travellers to the area.
As we look to the future, Yorkshire is a key growth area for Travelodge. Following our one-million pound investment in upgrading the customer experience and raising quality levels across our Yorkshire hotels, we have seen a significant increase in sales; interestingly, with more business customers staying in our hotels than ever before.
The Yorkshire economy is growing at pace and with increasing visitor numbers to the area, there is still a shortage of good quality accommodation at a great value price. Therefore to meet this growing consumer demand we are looking for new hotel sites in the following locations: York, Monks Cross, Sheffield, Wakefield, Hull, Rotherham, Barnsley, Knaresborough, Bridlington, Headingley, Whitby, Wetherby, Northalleston / Thirsk. This expansion programme will boost Travelodge’s portfolio to 46 hotels in Yorkshire and create potentially 420 new jobs.”
The Right Honourable, Lord Mayor, Councillor Barbara Boyce said:
“I am delighted that Travelodge has come to York in this prime location. It’s a hot-spot for business travellers as well as just a short walk into town for tourists. As York continues on its journey to attract more businesses into the city, I believe the addition of this hotel will have a positive impact on the town by providing employment for local residents, affordable accommodation for visitors and generating extra spend in the wider local economy.”
Vilma Hellah, York Central Layerthorpe Travelodge Hotel Manager said: “My Yorkshire colleagues and I are absolutely delighted that the opening of York Layerthorpe also marks Travelodge being crowned York’s largest branded hotel provider. It such an honour and I never thought when I started with the company eleven years ago as a housekeeper that I would one day be managing a flagship hotel in York.
I am very proud to have built a fantastic team who are as passionate as myself about delivering great customer service. We worked around the clock to get the hotel ready in time for the summer holiday period and the hard work has certainly paid off. The hotel has got off to a flying start. With increasing visitor numbers, there is a desperate need within the city for good quality and great value accommodation. Our new hotel will help to attract new visitors to the area, which is great news for the local economy, as our research shows annually Travelodge customers will spend £2 million with local businesses during their stay.”