Guests can ‘zip in and zip out’ of no-frills hotel
PREMIER Inn is launchings its new nofrills hotel chain in Cardiff next year.
The first ZIP by Premier Inn hotel will open with 138 rooms in Roath in early 2019.
The rooms are billed as “basics done brilliantly” and are around less than half the size of a standard Premier Inn room, at just 8.5 sq m.
They are designed by the company behind first class cabins for airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa and Swiss. This means that the space has been packed with features such as lightboxes, flexible bed formats and en-suite shower rooms.
Whitbread is launching the new hotel chain following its sale of the Costa Coffee brand to Coca Cola.
The company believes that Zip’s smaller room format will give it access to a broader range of buildings in towns and cities across the UK to provide accommodation for the price sensitive customer.
Whitbread has secured a second site, set to open in Southampton with 140 rooms, and is actively seeking further acquisitions in out-of-centre locations that suit the smaller room format.
Alison Brittain, CEO, Whitbread PLC said: “We believe there is a niche in an under-served market for ZIP. It offers us an exciting new platform for growth and will give us access to a broader customer base, attracting those guests who are on a particularly tight budget but still expect and deserve the basics done brilliantly.”
Ms Brittain says the new brand fits perfectly into their existing portfolio of Premier Inn and hub hotels, and will enable them to attract guests with a wide range of needs.
Se added: “From longer staycations at Premier Inn, to those seeking a designled experience in the heart of the city at hub by Premier Inn, and now ZIP by Premier Inn, catering to short-stay valueconscious guests who are looking to zip in and zip out!”
Premier Inn managing director Simon Jones said: “We are delighted to be opening our ZIP by Premier Inn in Cardiff and the team are hugely excited about welcoming our very first customers.
“In developing the concept, we have undertaken considerable research, including having had six ZIP rooms on sale to customers for many months. It’s clear through the research that people want the basics done brilliantly, such as a comfy bed and a power shower but they are happy to compromise on location or some extras if they are paying a fantastic price for their room.
“We will continue to learn from our customers as they experience the product and will evolve and innovate the concept as we open more ZIP hotels.”