Wakemans checks out following £1million update at Travelodge head office

Having updated its offering to business and leisure travellers, including the introduction of the new SuperRooms concept, UK budget hotel group Travelodge turned its attention to improving its headquarters building.

National property and construction consultancy Wakemans has now completed a £1million project to refurbish Travelodge’s head office in Thame, Oxfordshire.

Appointed as principal designer/CDM advisor, Wakemans also provided contract administrator services on the six-month project, which involved external works and internal improvements to Travelodge’s administrative set-up to enhance the working environment for its dedicated staff.

Nigel Himpson, Divisional Director at Wakemans, said: “Since the offices remained operational throughout the works this project required careful programming. Staff were relocated temporarily to unaffected areas of the building and then moved back to refurbished floors as the works progressed to ensure as little disruption to their day-to-day work as possible.”

As well as roof repairs, the external works included repairs to exterior timber and brickwork and groundworks to the car park. Comprising a total refurbishment of the offices, the interior works involved the installation of new ceilings, floors and lighting and revisions to the office layouts along with a remodelled kitchen and breakout areas. The toilets were refurbished, a new reception has been created and there was extensive internal redecoration throughout along with M&E works to serve the new layouts.

Scott Rutherford, Travelodge, Technical Services Director, said: “Wakemans is a key Travelodge partner, supporting our development programme and existing hotel refurbishment initiatives. Therefore, Wakemans was the obvious choice to oversee our £1million head office refurbishment programme. The team worked around the clock to ensure all work was completed on schedule with minimum disturbance. The overall result is excellent and the Travelodge central office teams are very pleased with their new look office.”