Pictured: Travelodge receptionist found bludgeoned to death in hotel foyer is named as single Spanish woman, 27, who had only worked at the company for three months

A hotel receptionist who was bludgeoned to death as she worked a night shift at a Travelodge has been named as Marta Vento.

Miss Vento, 27, originally from Valencia, Spain, died of head injuries after being beaten by a killer using a blunt instrument in the lobby area at the Travelodge in Bournemouth, Dorset. 

Colleagues found Miss Vento covered in blood and alerted emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.30am on December 9.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of her murder after he walked into Bournemouth police station to report the incident.

Miss Vento, 27, originally from Valencia, Spain, died of head injuries after being beaten by a killer using a blunt instrument in the lobby area at the Travelodge in Bournemouth, Dorset

Following questioning the suspect was detained under the mental health act for an initial 28 day period at a secure hospital.

An inquest into Miss Vento's death was today opened and adjourned by the Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin.

Ian Parry, senior coroner's officer, told the five minute hearing in Bournemouth: 'Police were called to the location following reports of an unresponsive female.

'Paramedics and police arrived and the paramedics confirmed her death at the scene.

Miss Vento's body will be released to her family so a funeral can be held

Travelodge Hotel on Christchurch Road in Dorset where Marta Vento, 27, was pronounced dead

'The death of Miss Vento is subject to an ongoing police investigation. 

'She was formally identified by way of fingerprint comparison.'

Ms Griffin said: 'I understand that Miss Vento was born on March 26, 1993 in Valencia and at the time of her death she was residing at an address on Derby Road in Bournemouth, Dorset.

'I also understand that she was a single lady and that she worked as a hotel receptionist.

'She died on December 9 at the Travelodge Hotel on Christchurch Road in Dorset. 

A man held over the 'murder' of Miss Vento in the hotel foyer of the Travelodge on Christchurch Road in Bournemouth has been sectioned under the mental health act

'A post-mortem examination was undertaken upon the body of Miss Vento on December 10 at Holly Tree Lodge in Boscombe.

'I understand that the provisional cause of death was recorded as multiple blunt force head injuries.'

Ms Griffin confirmed she had no objection to releasing Miss Vento's body to her family so a funeral can be held.

She adjourned the inquest until next May while the police investigation was carried out.

Horrified hotel workers said the young woman had been stabbed as she worked a night shift, according to her LinkedIn profile Miss Vento had worked as a night receptionist for Travelodge since September this year.

The 27-year-old had previously worked as an accounts administrator in Preston, Lancashire

Before that she had worked as an accounts administrator for waste management firm Recycling Lives based in Preston, Lancashire. 

A guest at the hotel said he left his room at 7.30am to find blood smeared across a wall and a member of staff who had found the woman calling 999. 

Paul Ford said: 'She was lying in a corner near the reception and the bar area. There was one of her colleagues leaning over her on the phone, he was in total shock.

'I asked him if she was dead and he nodded, he was asking me to keep away, it looked like she had been stabbed in the stomach. There was so much blood, over the walls and all over the floor.'

Speaking to the Sun, he added: 'One of my friends had been down for a cigarette at around 1am and had spoken to her then. She was on her own, covering the reception.' 

Police conduct investigations at the scene. At least eight guests are thought to have been questioned following the incident

The Travelodge closed to customers following the incident as forensic science experts combed rooms for clues

The wife of an electrician wrote on Facebook that he had been detained for questioning along with seven other guests.

Becci Pearce said: 'My Kev is at work at Bournemouth in Travelodge. Went to leave for work this morning and the poor woman from reception is dead, been stabbed.

'I feel sick, absolutely awful. There was a man leaning over her on the phone to the ambulance but he said she's stiff. She must of been there hours. Kev said there's blood everywhere.'

She added: 'I'm OK, just was shocked its awful like something from a movie. Someone has apparently been arrested so hopefully they can get out soon, there was blood trailing up all the stairs.'

In a statement, a spokesman for Travelodge said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear that a woman has died at Bournemouth Travelodge.

'Our thoughts and sincerest sympathy are with her family and our priority right now is to support the police with their investigation.

'As this is a live police investigation we cannot make any further comment at this stage.'