At the official opening of its second hotel in Harrogate, Travelodge, the UK’s biggest independent hotel chain is announcing expansion plans to boost its portfolio of 32 hotels in Yorkshire with a further 13 new properties.
This expansion programme of 13 new hotels represents an investment of £8 million and will create 300 new jobs across Yorkshire. Locations for the new sites include: Barnsley, Bradford, Brighouse, Bridlington, Halifax, Headingly, Huddersfield, Hull, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Whitby and two sites in York.
The hotel chain which has 522 properties across the UK is officially opening its second hotel in Harrogate today. The 70-room property which has a Bar Café is located within close proximity to Harrogate Conference Centre and represents an investment of £4.5millon and has created 20 new jobs.
The official opening ceremony for Harrogate West Park Travelodge is taking place at 1:00pm today where Travelodge’s Chief Operating Officer, Jon Hendry Pickup will be joined by The Worshipful, The Mayor of Harrogate Borough, Councillor Nigel Simms and Brian L Dunsby, Chief Executive, Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce.
Harrogate West Park Travelodge is being managed by Lorna Oliver, who celebrates 28 years with the company this year and is the company’s longest serving employee within the Yorkshire district. Lorna was one of the first employees to join the Yorkshire Travelodge team when the company opened its first hotel in Skipton in 1987.
Jon Hendry Pickup, Travelodge Chief Operating Officer said: “Yorkshire is a key growth area for Travelodge and we are delighted to be growing our business across the county. Not only are we opening our second hotel in Harrogate today, and announcing our expansion programme to open a further 13 new hotels across the country; we have also invested £6 million modernising our existing 31 hotels across Yorkshire in our new contemporary brand design. This investment also includes replacing all beds with a new upgraded luxurious king-size bespoke bed called the ‘Travelodge Dreamer’.
“Yorkshire is a vital hub for business and tourism, actively supported by the focus of the local authorities on developing infrastructure and cultural attractions to foster growth. Our second hotel opening in Harrogate, together with our modernisation investment and expansion programme positions us well in the county as the economy continues to strengthen.”
Brian L Dunsby, Chief Executive, Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce said: "Harrogate's economy depends largely on visitors, both business and leisure and therefore we welcome this new Travelodge right in the heart of the town centre."
Travelodge currently has 32 hotels in Yorkshire and employs 519 people and plans to boost its presence in the county to 45 properties and employ 819 staff members.
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