Travelodge has begun construction on a 182-room hotel at the site of Cardiff’s forthcoming 16,500-seat national arena.
The venue, which will be operated by Live Nation, is part of the wider regeneration of Atlantic Wharf in Cardiff Bay. The hotel is being delivered by McLaren Construction as principal contractor.
The site will include parking provision and is around a five-minute walk from Cardiff Bay station, which connects to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central stations.
The hotel will feature Travelodge’s updated design with modern reception areas, next-generation rooms and an 85 Bar Café.
Tony O’Brien, UK development director at Travelodge, said the location would be a “flagship asset”, providing “affordable” accommodation for visitors to arena events and Cardiff more broadly.
Elliot Robertson, chief executive, said: “Working closely with Travelodge has ensured that the new Cardiff hotel will play an integral role in the regeneration of Atlantic Wharf.
“The vision for the redevelopment of the area was always to support the venue with accessible accommodation that would also be ideally positioned for other visitors to Cardiff, and enhance the night-time economy. With the works to deliver the hotel now underway we will see further economic benefits delivered to the community as the regeneration progresses.”
Cllr Huw Thomas, leader of the council, added: “Cardiff’s reputation for hosting prestigious events has firmly established the city on the global stage. We know there’s a growing need for modern hotel accommodation to support the increasing number of visitors to the Welsh capital. The new Travelodge hotel will help meet some of this demand and contribute to the regeneration of Atlantic Wharf, creating valuable jobs and opportunities for the local community.”
