TWO new Travelodges are set to open when coronavirus restrictions ease.

The hotels, in Faringdon and Witney, are among 17 new ones opening across the UK this year.

Travelodge now has nine hotels in Oxfordshire, with the latest two set to create 35 new jobs.

The Faringdon Travelodge in Henry Blake Way has 74 rooms, while the Witney Travelodge in Ducklington Lane has 63 rooms.

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Wesley Osborne, Travelodge district manager for Oxfordshire, said: “It’s great to mark coming out of lockdown with the announcement that we are extending our Oxfordshire network by opening a further two hotels in new local markets and becoming the county’s biggest branded hotel chain.

“These two new Travelodges are part of the 17 new hotels we are opening across the UK this year and will boost our Oxfordshire presence to nine hotels.

“It is very challenging opening two hotels in a pandemic but we are extremely proud to have built two fantastic hotel teams in Faringdon and Witney.”

Mr Osborne said there was a high number of applications to fill the 35 new jobs.

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“We were overwhelmed by the record number of high-calibre applications received,” he said.

“The teams are currently being trained in nearby Travelodge hotels and we will be working around the clock to get our two hotels ready for the summer season.

“This year is predicted to be the year of the staycation and we are now working around the clock to get all of our Oxfordshire hotels open by May 17 so that we can welcome back our leisure customers.”

The 17 new Travelodge hotels will create 360 new jobs across the UK, and take the hotel chain’s portfolio to 597 hotels.

It comes following an investment of £175 million from third-party investors.