KERRY SUPPORTERS - TRAVELODGE HOTEL OFFERING €39 ROOM RATE FOR DUBLIN-KERRY CLASH

To celebrate the mouth-watering GAA quarter final clash between Kerry and Dublin in Croke Park on Monday 3rd August, Travelodge Ireland has announced the introduction of a special quarter final room rate of €39 per room per night in its Travelodge hotel in Ballymun. Travelodge Ballymun is conveniently located next to the newly opened IKEA store and just a 5 minute Bus journey from Croke Park.


As Kerry-Dublin clashes are always hotly contested affairs, those who can’t face the return trip to Kerry on the Bank Holiday Monday and are in need of a good night’s sleep need look no further than Travelodge Ballymun. On top of an unbeatable room rate of €39, Travelodge Ballymun will also offer Kerry supporters a great night’s sleep, whether they are celebrating another historic victory over The Dubs or getting over the pain of defeat by one of their biggest rivals over the years.


I am from Kerry (Killarney) myself and this is a massive game for both Dublin and Kerry so it is only right that we offer all Kerry fans making the trip to Croke Park but not keen on travelling back to Kerry that same day a competitive room rate for a competitive game. I know what it is like to have to face the journey back to Kerry after a big game in Croke Park whether you’ve won or lost, so our €39 room rate is sure to appeal to a number of Kerry supporters who will not want to face August Bank Holiday traffic on Monday afternoon.”



For more information on Travelodge room rates, general availability and other offers, visit www.travelodge.ie or telephone the hotel directly on 01 842 2000

AVOIDING AIRPORT QUEUES TOP REASON FOR IRISH STAYCATION!

TRAVELODGE SURVEY REVEALS THE TOP 10 THINGS IRISH PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ON THEIR IRISH STAYCATION THIS SUMMER



Tuesday 28th July, 2009: Avoiding airport queues is top of the list for Irish people planning to holiday at home this summer with 21% looking forward to not having to negotiate airports more than anything else, according to the latest survey from leading budget hotel group, Travelodge. With 55% of Irish people planning to spend their summer holidays on a ‘staycation’ in Ireland this summer, according to a recent Travelodge survey, compared to 27% in 2008, Travelodge asked 1,000 guests across its 11 hotels throughout the country what they were most looking forward to on their holiday in Ireland this summer.

According to Travelodge’s research:
• 21% of Irish people holidaying in Ireland are delighted to be avoiding airport queues;
• 16% can’t wait to recharge their batteries with walks, fresh air and strolls on quiet beaches;
• 13% are looking forward to attending horse racing festivals and GAA matches;
• 12% are looking forward to enjoying a good pint of Guinness;
• 10% can’t wait to taste fresh Irish seafood;
• 8% are looking forward to just ‘having the craic’;
• 7% put socialising in a real Irish local pub at the top of their list;
• 7% also want to take in local music festivals more than anything else;
• 4% are optimistically looking forward to decent weather;
• 4% have the fresh smell of country air top of their list.

Commenting on the research findings, Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, Travelodge Ireland said, “With more Irish people set to holiday in Ireland this summer, we are not at all surprised that avoid busy airports is the biggest factor for many people. It is also interesting to see that it is the simple things they seem to be looking forward to most, like long walks, a good pint, music and sporting events, quality seafood and just enjoying the craic. There really is so much to enjoy throughout Ireland during the summer, regardless of whether we get sunny spells or scattered showers. It is great to see more people looking forward to an Irish holiday again and taking time out to discover some of what Ireland has to offer”.

Travelodge Ireland has rooms available for €29 per room per night or €203 for a full week. For more information on rooms and availability please visit www.travelodge.ie and all leading hotel booking websites.

IKEA DUBLIN - WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD!

TRAVELODGE MARKS IKEA OPENING WITH €39 ‘FLAT PACK’ RATE

FIRST 100 GUESTS TO PRESENT IKEA PURCHASE RECEIPT ON CHECK-IN TO RECEIVE FURTHER 15% OFF ROOM RATE

Monday 20th July, 2009: To celebrate the long-awaited opening of IKEA in Ballymun, leading budget hotel group, Travelodge Ireland has announced the introduction of a special ‘flat pack’ room rate of €39 per room per night in its neighbouring Travelodge hotel in Ballymun.

Travelodge Ballymun is also offering a further 15% off the room rate to the first 100 customers who present an IKEA purchase receipt on check-in at the hotel. Rooms are subject to availability.

Commenting on the opening of IKEA, Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, Travelodge stated “We are delighted to welcome our new neighbours, IKEA to Ballymun and our “flat pack“ rate offers unrivalled value to celebrate their arrival. With secure underground free car parking our Ballymun Travelodge is ideally located for those travelling to Dublin to avail of the great value available in IKEA”.

Travelodge first welcomed IKEA to Ballymun in 2008 when the furniture giants arrived in Dublin to work on the Ballymun site. Now with value-hungry customers expected to travel from all over Ireland to visit the new IKEA store, Travelodge is expecting an increase in occupancy, particularly with the great value on offer. The budget hotel group is also confident its new ‘flat pack’ will be a big hit with the type of customer likely tom visit IKEA’s first and only store in the Republic Of Ireland.

Seamus McGowan of Travelodge added, “The opening of IKEA is great for Ballymun and we look forward to supporting the store in their efforts to attract more visitors to the area. Travelodge and IKEA both share a commitment to offering great value to consumers which is why we fully expect to see an increase in room bookings as a direct result of people travelling from throughout the country to shop in the IKEA store. We are also confident IKEA’s many value conscious customers will respond positively to our ‘flat pack’ rate of €39 per room which offers great value in the current market".

For more information on Travelodge Ballymun’s ‘flat pack’ rate of €39 per room, general availability and other offers, visit www.travelodge.ie

TWICE AS MANY IRISH OPTING TO HOLIDAY IN IRELAND NOT ABROAD THIS SUMMER, NEW TRAVELODGE SURVEY REVEALS

21% to tour multiple areas
Galway (22%) and Dublin (18%) top destinations
23% believe Ireland now offers value in holidays
12% planning city breaks


Thursday 25th June, 2009: The number of Irish people planning to holiday in Ireland this summer has doubled compared to last year, according to a new survey by leading budget hotel group, Travelodge Ireland. A survey of 1,000 Irish guests in Travelodge’s 11 hotels throughout Ireland found that 55% of Irish people will spend their summer holidays on a ‘staycation’ in Ireland this summer, compared to 27% in 2008.

The downturn in the economy seems to be behind the doubling in the number planning a ‘staycation’ this summer with some 22% believing that there are good value deals available in Ireland so there is “no need to travel abroad”. Furthermore, as opposed to settling on one single destination, 21% of Irish holiday makers will spend their time touring “three or four” areas of the country on a mini tour.

Travelodge’s research also found that 14% of Irish travellers will be heading to the seaside (beach), 12% are planning city breaks, 5% will have adventure holidays featuring surfing and waterskiing and the same number will have a golf holiday.

So, where are the 55% of Irish people opting for a ‘staycation’ going this summer? 22% of Travelodge hotel guests surveyed confirmed Galway as their number one ‘staycation’ destination (including 4% who nominated Connemara), 18% will base themselves in Dublin and 15% will head to Kerry with 9% of these planning to base themselves in Killarney.

Among the reasons offered for holidaying in Ireland this summer, 22% believe that there are good value deals available in Ireland now so there is “no need to travel abroad”, 19% state that is because airports and foreign travel have become too much hassle and 16% state that airlines have too many hidden costs. Not surprisingly, 0% have decided to stay in Ireland for the weather alone, despite optimism that we are in for a good summer.
When asked what their biggest expenditure was likely to be during their holidays, 50% of participants pointed to accommodation, 16% expect dining out to be their biggest expense, 15% expected car rental to take up more of their budget than anything else and 8% expected to spend most on entertainment. 29% of guests said that they would spend between €200-€300 per week, 18% expect to spend €300-€400 per week, 19% estimate weekly expenditure of €400-€500 and 10% anticipate spending €500-600 each week.
The top 10 holiday destinations that Irish people will be visiting this summer, according to Travelodge guests surveyed are:
1. Galway (including Connemara)
2. Dublin
3. Kerry (including Killarney)
4. Cork (including West Cork)
5. Waterford (including Dunmore East)
6. Wexford
7. Donegal
8. Limerick/Clare (including The Burren)
9. Antrim Coast (including Belfast)
10. Sligo/Mayo

Interestingly, 32% of couples claim to make joint decisions about where to holiday with 17% of males and 13% of females claiming it is their decision and theirs only!
Commenting on the research findings, Seamus McGowan, Managing Director, Travelodge Ireland said, “it’s great to see more Irish people choosing to holiday in Ireland this summer and it is essential that we continue to offer value to make their stay worthwhile. If we do, consumers are more likely to consider spending holidays in Ireland, not just this year but in the future. It is also interesting to see more people choosing to base themselves in major cities such as Dublin, Cork or Galway and then touring three or four areas at a time as part of their holiday. We have noticed a growth in the number of people using our hotels as a base and spending more time out and about touring the local area and the surrounding counties”.

Travelodge Ireland has rooms available for €29 per room per night or €203 for a full week. For more information on rooms and availability please visit www.travelodge.ie and all leading hotel booking websites.

The survey was carried out by Travelodge Ireland among 1,000 hotel guests to gain further insight into their holiday plans for 2009.