TRAVELODGE has officially opened its new £7.5 million hotel in Winchester city centre.

The 62-room Winchester Travelodge, with its entrance on Market Lane, is the company’s 583rd hotel and the 18th in Hampshire. It has created 15 jobs.

It is also the Travelodge’s second hotel in Hampshire to offer SuperRooms, the company’s premium economy room concept.

This new class of room is the first of its kind in the UK budget hotel market, and is designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to airline users. It dials up the comfort factor for business and leisure customers who want the extra choice of a more premium room (See notes to editors for further information on SuperRooms.)

The hotel also offers family, double and accessible rooms. Rates for a standard room start from £29 and can be booked at www.traveldoge.co.uk.

It was officially opened by Bryn Taylor, Travelodge regional director and Amman Sangha, district manager.

Mr Taylor said: “We are delighted to open the first of two hotels we are opening in Hampshire this year. We have officially opened Winchester Travelodge today and we are on schedule to open Gosport Travelodge at the end of the year. Both hotels are our first Travelodge’s in the area and collectively represent an investment of £13 for third party investors. They will also create 35 new jobs. These two additions will boost our portfolio in Hampshire to 19 hotels. This is also great news for the local economy as our research shows customers will spend double their room rate with local businesses during their stay which equates to a multi-million boost for the local economy.”

Winchester Travelodge is being managed by Daniel Potts who celebrates his five year work anniversary with Travelodge this year.

Mr Potts said: “To be given the keys to Winchester’s first Travelodge is the perfect way to celebrate my fifth work anniversary. I feel very privileged to be managing Winchester Travelodge and I am very proud to have built a fantastic team who are as passionate as me about delivering great customer service.

“Our hotel has got off to a flying start and with our central location close to the Cathedral we are the ideal cost effective base to explore Winchester and the surrounding areas. We are set for a busy year ahead and we are already seeing bookings for the Christmas market season. Our SuperRooms are a massive hit with both business and leisure customers as they love the extra creature comforts in the room and the kit kat is a firm favourite.”