Today, Travelodge, the pioneers of the UK budget hotel sector, announce they are evolving their core brand product to a new budget-luxe premium look and feel design - whilst maintaining their great value price proposition.
This new 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.
In response to this consumer insight, the Travelodge interiors team have remodelled their core product with a new budget-luxe design that 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.
This is underpinned by the introduction of a new signature rich navy blue brand colour which pays homage to the first iconic Travelodge blue brand colour- chosen for its calming and uplifting qualities. In essence all the key essentials that matter to modern business and leisure travellers.
The new Travelodge 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 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
The group intends to roll out its new budget-luxe design across its UK estate and has kick-started this programme with a multi-million pound investment to upgrade 60 hotels this year in popular business and staycation destinations across the UK. Five of these hotels will be completed this month, including three hotels in London at Southwark, Vauxhall and Wembley as well as Southampton and Thame (Oxfordshire) close to Travelodge’s headquarters.
Craig Bonnar, Travelodge Chief Executive said: “Travelodge has been a trailblazer within the UK hotel sector since it opened the UK’s first budget hotel in 1985. Today we are once again evolving by launchinga new budget-luxe premium look and feel hotel design whilst maintaining our great value price proposition. This is our most radical transformation to date and has been created in response to ever increasing expectations from customers. Britain is now a nation of budget travellers, with more of us choosing to stay in budget hotels than any other hotel type and thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches really matter in today’s world when staying away for business or leisure.”
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 ambience. 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.
Psychologist Corinne Sweet said: Recent psychological research shows people’s tastes are changing and incorporating homely touches into décor and design is becoming essential to create a calming environment for wellbeing. The new Travelodge budget-luxe design fits the bill as the premium look and feel is a good mixture of high functionality, comfort and calmness which helps guests feel psychologically refreshed.”
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For further information please contact:
The Travelodge Press Office at pressoffice@travelodge.co.uk or by calling 01844 35 8703
Notes to editors
For supporting images of the Travelodge budget-luxe design, please contact the Travelodge Press Office on 01844 35 8703
About Travelodge
Travelodge is the UK’s first budget hotel chain and opened its first hotel in 1985 on the A38 Burton under Needwood. Today the UK’s second largest hotel chain operates 593 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain. Room rates start from £32 and can be booked at www.travelodge.co.uk