Today, Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest hotel chains officially opens the first hotel at intu Lakeside shopping centre - also home to the forthcoming Nickelodeon fun park. 

Thurrock Lakeside Travelodge is a purpose built, 74-room hotel with a bar, afé and on-site car-parking.

It has been designed in Travelodge’s new contemporary brand design and is situated overlooking Alexandra Lake at Lakeside shopping centre.

This hotel opening represents an investment of £7 million for the landlord, intu, and has created 21 new jobs.

It is Travelodge’s 550th hotel.

The hotel features the next generation of the company’s ‘Travelodgical’ contemporary room design.

Together with the bespoke king size Travelodge Dreamer bed, this upgrade 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.  

To mark the official opening of Thurrock Lakeside Travelodge a cocktail party is being held this evening where The Mayor of Thurrock, Councillor, Tunde Ojetola will join Travelodge Chief Operating Officer, Craig Bonnar to officially open the hotel.

At the event, Travelodge will also address its commitment for further growth in Essex and that it’s looking for a further 11 new hotel sites in the following locations: Basildon, Brentwood, Canvey Island, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping, Malden, Rayleigh, Southend-on-Sea and Waltham Abbey.

This expansion programme represents an investment of £88 million for third party investors and a job creation of 220 new jobs across the county.

It will also boost Travelodge’s portfolio of hotels in Essex to 26.

Craig Bonnar, Chief Operating Officer at Travelodge says: “We are delighted to be the first hotel brand to open at intu Lakeside shopping centre.

"This new hotel is a great representation of how Travelodge has evolved as a brand.

"Thurrock Lakeside Travelodge will provide great value accommodation and help attract nationwide visitors to the shopping centre and to the new Nickelodeon fun park scheduled to open next year.

"As we look to the future, Essex  remains a key growth area for Travelodge.

"Following our £2million investment in upgrading the customer experience and raising quality levels across our Essex hotels, we have seen a significant increase in sales; interestingly with more business customers staying in our hotels than ever before.

"However 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 11 new hotel sites across the county.

"This expansion represents an investment value of £88 million for third party investors and will create around 220 new jobs.”

Councillor Tunde Ojetola said:  “I am delighted that Travelodge has opened its second hotel in Thurrock which is in such a prime location.

"It is a hot-spot for business and leisure travellers and being on the doorstep of one of Europe’s biggest shopping centres intu Lakeside, Travelodge offers guests an exceptional experience.

“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 spend in the wider local community, it shows that Thurrock is open for business.”

Nicola Williamson, Hotel Manager, Thurrock Lakeside Travelodge says: “It is such an honour to be managing the first and only hotel at intu Lakeside.

"I am very proud to have built a fantastic team who are as passionate as myself about delivering great customer service.

"We have got off to a flying start and have been sold out since we opened.

"We are attracting visitors from all corners of the UK which is great news for the shopping centre and the local economy.

"We are now getting geared up for a busy Christmas period and for the opening of Nickelodeon Fun Park next year.”  

Travelodge opened its first hotel in Essex in 1986 in Brentwood and Thurrock Lakeside Travelodge is the company’s 15th hotel in Essex and second hotel in Thurrock.

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