Today Travelodge has opened its fourth hotel in Newcastle in the Quayside area of the city. The new 120-room hotel with Bar Café and on-site car parking represents an investment of £11m for the landlord and has created 38 new jobs within the community.
The Newcastle Quayside Travelodge hotel is located at: Riverview Buildings Close, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3BE – and offers spectacular views of the River Tyne and the city’s famous seven bridges across Quayside. The hotel is part new build and part renovation of the old BT office building. The hotel has been constructed in record time of just 10 months – in time for Christmas trading.
Today the hotel team also welcomed VIP visitors from the North Pole, Mr & Mrs Santa Claus, who are taking a well-deserved break ahead of Santa’s world tour present drop. The famous couple met the team and were shown around the hotel and decided to stay in room 429 which offers panoramic floor to ceiling views of the River Tyne and seven of Newcastle’s famous bridges.
Newcastle Quayside Travelodge is the company’s 555th hotel and its ninth hotel in Tyne and Wear.
Nichola Stevens, Travelodge Regional Director North, said:
“We have been searching for the perfect location for our fourth Newcastle Travelodge for a long time and we are thrilled to have opened in such a prominent position as the Quayside. This new addition supports our great value offering to the two million visitors, the city welcomes annually. In addition it also demonstrates that we are very much in the market to acquire existing buildings and turn them into thriving hotels, creating jobs and supporting the local economy.”
“Newcastle Quayside Travelodge is our 555th hotel and our ninth Travelodge in Tyne and Wear. However with growing visitor numbers there is still a shortage of good quality accommodation at a great value price within the area. Therefore we are looking for a further seven more hotel sites in the North East region. Locations include two sites in the North and South Shields area, Darlington, Durham, Hexham, Middlesbrough and Stockton on Tees. This expansion represents an investment of £56 million for third party investors and a job creation of approximately 250 new jobs.”
Newcastle Quayside Travelodge is being managed by local girl, Vicky Stephenson, who joins the company with 15 years’ experience within the hospitality industry. Vicky’s team of 37 staff members have all been recruited locally.
Vicky Stephenson, Newcastle Quayside Travelodge Hotel Manager said: “I am so thrilled to be given the keys and management of this magnificent hotel that overlooks the River Tyne and Newcastle’s seven famous bridges. I have built a fantastic team who are as passionate as me about delivering great customer service. Together we have been working around the clock to get the hotel open in time for Christmas, as Travelodge is the spare room provider for many local residents who have family and friends visiting over the festive season. Also what a bonus that Mr and Mrs Santa Claus have checked into our hotel, it’s certainly starting to feel like Christmas at the Quayside Travelodge now.”