Travelodge

Travelodge first approached Walker Modular in 2009 to investigate the company's bathroom pod innovations for its new hotel developments. Central to the contract was a bespoke Marine Grade Composite bathroom pod produced from a one-piece moulded design that was self-cleaning and required little or no maintenance.

A team of four specialists covered product design, technical development, project and service management. The first task was a pod manufactured as a true one-piece design that did not rely on a silicone jointing system, with a self-cleaning surface to reduce the morning turnaround cleaning regime.

Once the mould was agreed, the interior was upgraded using Ideal Standard fittings, and a bespoke granite effect wall panelling system — also self-cleaning — was developed to maintain the Travelodge look and feel. The moulds were manufactured and supply began in 2009 at a rate of 4,000 pods per year.

Travelodge dramatically cut the cleaning regime of its hotel bathrooms. Mould and discolouration were eliminated from the new bathrooms, offline rooms reduced substantially in the new hotel stock, and shower and bathroom leaks were eliminated.

Supplying 4,000 pods a year to a national hotel chain proved the one-piece composite pod at sustained volume, and remains one of the clearest demonstrations of Walker Modular's hotel sector track record.