Today, local school, girl Bethany Cairn was awarded a once in a life-time prize as Travelodge officially opened Margate Westwood Travelodge - the first branded budget hotel to open in Ramsgate.
The 48-room hotel is a £1.9 million investment for the town and has created 15 new jobs. Situated at Westwood Cross Business Park, New Haine Road, Ramsgate, CT12 5GR, the new Travelodge will offer rooms from £15*.
In support of comic relief all guests at the official opening donned a clip-on red nose and 48 red helium-filled balloons were released into the sky. The balloon returned from the furthest destination will win a free night's stay at any of the hotel chain's UK hotels.
To celebrate the official opening of Margate Westwood Travelodge, pupils from Minster C of E Primary School were set a project of drawing their "Dream bedroom". The Chairman of Thanet District Council, Cllr Jeffery Kirkpatrick and the Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor Steve Ward selected the winning picture, drawn by Bethany Cairn aged 10 years.
Bethany won a weekend stay at a UK Travelodge hotel of her choice for her family and her picture will be hung in the hotel reception area. All ten finalists were awarded a goodie bag.
Catherine Chantry, Margate Westwood Travelodge's Manager, said: "There is a desperate need for low-cost accommodation within Ramsgate and our new Travelodge hotel will help to fill this demand. We are situated in the heart of the town which is an ideal location for business and leisure travellers who need quick and easy access to Ramsgate and its surrounding areas. Local residents can also benefit by accommodating family and friends at the hotel to avoid the additional stress at home, which is ideal for the summer season ahead. We offer a comfortable room from as little as £15, which is the smart choice for any type of stop-over".
Margate Westwood Travelodge will offer a choice of either Family, Double or 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.
For further information please visit: www.travelodge.co.uk
The Chairman of Thanet District Council, Councillor Jeffery Kirkpatrick, The Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor Steve Ward and MP for South Thanet, Dr Stephen Ladyman all attended the opening of Margate Westwood Travelodge.
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For further information please contact:
Shula Gillam, PR Executive T: 07863 342 317
Images of the opening and the hotel building are available on request.
Notes to editor
£15 room rate is an introductory opening offer; the leading rates at Margate Westwood Travelodge will start from £26 per room per night.
Travelodge is UK's fastest growing and most recognised budget hotel company: Travelodge has 310 hotels within the UK, Ireland and Spain (20,000 rooms in total). Over 6 million people stay with Travelodge every year.
Growth: Travelodge has a target of 32,000 rooms (150 new hotels) by 2010 - this means opening a new hotel every eight working days. This will be achieved via organic growth including new build properties and regenerating existing buildings. By the 2012 Olympics, Travelodge aims to 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 every nine days. Locations include: Heathrow Terminal 4 & 5, Luton, Swindon, Glastonbury, London Euston, London City Road, Eastbourne, Holyhead, Blackpool, Redditch and Windsor
Travelodge offers an online booking service at www.travelodge.co.uk and also via telephone on 08700 850 950. Competitively priced, Travelodge room rates start from just £26 per room, per night. (£26 room rates are subject to availability and can only be booked online).
Travelodge was the first budget brand to launch in the UK in 1985.