Hotel chain to create jobs with new properties in Edinburgh

Budget hotel chain Travelodge has announced that they plan to open two new hotels in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The move will see around 50 jobs created and will hopefully inject over £2.5m into the local economy.

The new properties, due to open in the coming months, are currently in the middle of a recruitment drive to fill posts including managers, receptionists, housekeepers, cleaners and bar staff.

The first property scheduled to open will be located on Queen Street. The hotel chain hopes to open hotel’s doors in March, creating job opportunities for 23 people. It is estimated the property will bring around £1.3m per year to the local economy.

The second hotel will be on the famous Princes Street, located above TopShop. Travelodge hope to have this hotel open in May, creating 27 jobs and injecting over £1.5m every year to the Scottish economy.

The opening of two new properties in Edinburgh are all part of Travelodge’s wider plans to grow the chain over the coming years.

Michelle Luxford, human resources director at Travelodge said "We have an aggressive growth plan in place, which includes opening 1,100 hotels by 2025. We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and committed individuals who want a long term career in hospitality."

Travelodge Chief Executive, Guy Parsons, also added “We are delighted to be opening even more new hotels and creating even more new jobs this year compared to 2011. Despite the ongoing tough economic climate, Travelodge is continuing to open hotels, which is exactly what the British economy needs right now.”

Edinburgh - City of dreams

Edinburgh's been well-served by the cinema industry over the years, with appearances in black and white films like the arthouse-y Bill Douglas trilogy , the popular Greyfriars Bobby - the True Story Of a Dog and newer stuff like A Woman In Winter and of course the all-time classic Trainspotting.

Another film depiction of Scotland's capital city arrived on the silver screen last week with the premier of Sylvain Chomet's new feature, "The Illusionist", a Jacques tati-scripted animation about a peripatetic prestidigitator and his Scottish travels.

By all accounts (I haven't seen it myself yet) The Illusionist is a jawdroppingly beautiful film. Chomet was apparently in love with Edinburgh's ever-changing sky, and decided to move the script's action from another European setting, to Edinburgh.

Judging by the film's reception so far, it's likely that it will further enhance Edinburgh's reputation for being one of the world's most attractive cities. I'll definitely be going along for a look anyway. Since I don't live in Edinburgh, it's good to visit it by watching films, although I will undoubtedly be getting an Edinburgh hotel room sorted out for the Festival Fringe, which is a yearly trip for me. The event sems to grow each year, from the slightly anarchic days of the 1980s to the well-oiled, slick machine it's now become.


Princes St, Edinburgh (facing west)

Hotel opening increases Edinburgh options

Edinburgh is now home of a newly opened Hotel. Opened on the 16th of March, the Apex Waterloo Place hotel is part of the Apex Hotels Group, the 190 year old building was the first ever purpose built hotel way back in 1819.

Many of the buildings original features have been kept in the grade A listed building and have been combined with a contemporary design that showcases the hotels fabulous architecture.

The Apex hotel now has a luxurious health centre that has a sauna, steam room, swimming pool and gym. The hotel also has a bar & restaurant and will also have corporate facilities available.

With this new hotel opening, the options for tourists and visitors for hotels in Edinburgh have never been better.