Today, Scotland’s first budget hotel chain, Travelodge has officially opened its third hotel in Inverness. The company’s 43rd Scottish hotel is located in the heart of the city centre. It represents an investment of £5m for the landlord and has created 22 new jobs within the community.
Inverness City Centre Travelodge, the company’s 557th hotel, is located on Academy Street and has been built in a record time of 15 months. The 54-room Travelodge is the company’s first hotel in Inverness to feature a Bar Café offering a great value breakfast, dinner and bar menu.
The hotel has been styled in the company’s new upgraded contemporary brand design which has been influenced by feedback from business and leisure customers and features: a selection of room designs: family, double and accessible; softer LED ceiling lighting, complimentary tea & coffee making facilities; an unlimited breakfast menu at just £7.95 and an unlimited lighter breakfast at just £5.75 in the Bar Café; for each paying adult, two children eat for free; power shower as standard; Samsung 32 inch digital television; bespoke luxurious king-size ‘Travelodge Dreamer Bed’.
The hotel was officially opened today by The Provost of Inverness & Area, Councillor Helen Carmichael and Travelodge’s new UK Operations Director, Glaswegian Nigel Mackenzie.
Inverness City Centre Travelodge is being managed by Mark Carrington who has worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade. A very experienced manager, Mark managed Travelodge Inverness hotel since 2015, before taking on the new role in the flagship City Centre hotel.
Inverness City Centre Travelodge is the company’s fourth hotel in the Scottish Highlands. In addition, over the last 24 months, Travelodge has invested nearly £500,000 upgrading its other Highland hotels in the company’s new contemporary brand style.
Nigel Mackenzie, Travelodge UK Operations Director, said: “I am thrilled to be officially opening my first Travelodge in Inverness in my new role as UK Operations Director. This city is very special to me, as I have spent many years living in the city as well as exploring our wonderful Scottish Highlands with my family.”
He continued, “We are delighted to open our third hotel in Inverness and bring our great value Bar Café offering to the city. With year on year growing visitor numbers to Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, there is a desperate need for good quality and great value accommodation within the area. With the opening of Inverness City Centre Travelodge, we now operate four hotels across the Highlands and we are seeking a further hotel site in Aviemore.”
The Provost of Inverness & Area, Councillor Helen Carmichael said, 'I am delighted that Travelodge is continuing to invest in the City of Inverness, opening today its third hotel in such a prime location, and of course offering even more jobs for local people. As Inverness continues to grow and attract tourists, it is vital that the City can offer a wide range of good quality, budget accommodation. I hope this new hotel will encourage more people to come and spend time in Inverness before exploring the rest of the Highlands.”
Mark Carrington, Hotel Manager at Inverness City Centre Travelodge, said: “I am very proud to have built a fantastic team who are as passionate as me about delivering great customer service. Our new hotel has got off to a flying start and customers are loving the new look rooms, especially the Travelodge Dreamer bed. Customers are also enjoying our unlimited breakfast menu where children eat for free, especially those who are planning a day exploring Inverness.”
Mark continued: “Looking ahead, business on the books is very encouraging and we are set for a very busy 2018. This is great news for the local economy too, as research shows that our customers will spend £2 million with local businesses during their stay.”
