BRISTOL AIRPORT HOTEL PLANS APPROVED

Plans for an on-site hotel at Bristol Airport were approved this evening (13 October) at a meeting of North Somerset Council’s South Area Committee. Work on the 251 room facility could now start as early as next year, with completion targeted for winter 2012/13. Bristol Airport is currently the ninth largest airport in the UK measured by passenger numbers, but is the only one of the top 15 airports in the country without on-site hotel accommodation. Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said: “An on-site hotel is essential if we are to achieve our ambition of becoming a world-class regional airport serving the South West. It has long been high on the list of facilities requested by our passengers, and I am delighted North Somerset Council has recognized the importance of providing this service for visitors to our region.” The location of the hotel, approximately 100 metres from the terminal building, was earmarked in the Airport’s plans to develop and enhance facilities over the next decade - proposals which were approved by North Somerset Council in May. An internationally recognized hotel brand will be selected over the course of the next few months, in partnership with the developer, Pedersen Airport Hotels. The on-site hotel will provide passengers departing early in the morning with a convenient location at which to break their journey with an overnight stay. This will make public transport more easily accessible to the 40 per cent of passengers on early morning flights who live over one hour’s journey from the Airport and are currently forced to travel at times when bus and rail services are less frequent. The hotel will also offer inbound visitors arriving on evening flights the option of convenient accommodation on their first night in the region before continuing their onward journey to destinations across the South West the following morning. The hotel development will generate 140 full-time equivalent jobs once completed. Ends For further information please contact: James Gore, Bristol Airport, 01275 475447 Jacqui Mills, Bristol Airport, 01275 473615