Travelodge has opened a new hotel in Bicester.
The 53-room hotel is located close to designer outlet Bicester Village, and the second biggest attraction after Buckingham Palace for Chinese visitors.
The hotel opening boosts Travelodge’s portfolio to 530 properties. The hotel has enlisted Katy Wang, Chinese tutor at Oxford University, to teach the Bicester hotel team Chinese etiquette and welcome phrases in Mandarin.
The group is also trialling ‘noodle kettles’, a portable kettle that cooks noodles, and an Oriental snack box containing a packet of flavoured noodles, a bowl, chop sticks, green tea bag and a fortune cookie, available at reception for £3. Green tea has also been introduced in rooms.
On the opening, Travelodge Managing Director of Property Paul Harvey said:
“With Bicester Village welcoming a growing number of Chinese visitors and the strong demand that we are experiencing in web traffic from China, it's vital that we make our Chinese customers feel welcome. That's why we have introduced little things like a word or two in Mandarin and a way to enjoy familiar food in the comfort of their room. These little changes can make the world of difference to someone’s stay.”
The hotel follows the company’s new brand design, which features king-size Travelodge 'dreamer' beds and ‘sleep-inducing’ colour palettes.
Marisa Cannon
