08 January 2010

Ã&#pound;115m budget hotel boom for Travelodge

Travelodge has unveiled a £115 million UK expansion plan for 2010 which will create 500 jobs.

The new positions will include all levels of staff and management with entry level roles including guest room cleaners, receptionists and bar café assistants.

The budget hotel chain plans to open 26 new hotels, adding more than 2,000 rooms.

New openings are planned for Edinburgh, London, Aberdeen, and Chichester.

Properties in Colwyn Bay and Morecambe will add to the chain’s 37 strong seaside portfolio.

The new 2010 hotels will take Travelodge to more than 400 UK properties representing over 30,000 rooms.

A switching by travellers from midmarket hotels to budget is reflected by Travelodge’s continued acquisition of existing hotels in 2010.

The budget chain’s opening programme includes six ‘going concern’ properties following the conversion of 10 hotels last year.

CEO Grant Hearn said: "Despite a very challenging market, we have chosen to invest and grow throughout the recession and for many more years to come.

"The prevailing economic climate has accelerated the forecasted structural change of the hotel market as consumers have chosen low cost, quality accommodation rather than over priced full service and mid market establishments."

The company now claims to be the biggest hotel brand in Edinburgh and has a strong presence in Manchester and Birmingham with eight and ten hotels respectively.

Travelodge also developed its pipeline in London to ensure that it will be the biggest hotel brand in the capital by the 2012 Olympics.

*New hotels are planned for: Aberdeen, Bromborough, Canterbury, Chester, Chichester, Colwyn Bay, Edinburgh (3 hotels), Horsham, Hull, Ipswich, Lancaster, London (2 hotels), Maidenhead, Maidstone, Morecambe, Newcastle under Lyme, Northhampton, Rugby, Wadebridge, and Wincanton.

by Phil Davies