Travelodge has opened its first hotel built using an innovative construction method involving shipping containers. The 120-room hotel, in Uxbridge, London, is made from 86 steel containers of two different sizes made and fitted out with fixtures and fittings in Shenzen, China. The placing together of the containers took 20 days.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge’s managing director, international and development, said: “The opening of Europe’s first hotel to be constructed from modified shipping containers shows Travelodge’s commitment to innovation and cost effectiveness. Customers will notice no difference in their room to a traditionally constructed hotel, yet they will benefit from the low prices we charge due to our desire to cut the cost of doing business.”

The company is also building a 307-room Heathrow hotel using the same technique, developed by the UK’s Verbus Systems.

www.travelodge.co.uk

8/19/2008 4:01:54 PM UTC