Travelodge appoints new chief executive
Travelodge has appointed former InterContinental Hotels executive Peter Gowers as its new chief executive officer to succeed Grant Hearn.
Gowers, 41, will start on November 25.
He was most recently CEO of self-storage operator Safestore Holdings, but he previously held the role of chief executive, Asia-Pacific for IHG where he oversaw more than 250 hotels and 60,000 employees.
Prior to becoming CEO of Asia-Pacific, Gowers was chief marketing officer of IHG from 2005 to 2007, where he led the worldwide marketing and sales team.
He spent his early career at Bass PLC and has gained a broad experience in the leisure industry holding senior positions at IHG as well as its predecessor, Six Continents Hotels, said Travelodge.
The budget hotel chain chairman Brian Wallace said: "I am delighted to welcome Peter as the new CEO of Travelodge. Peter is a highly regarded senior executive, with extensive industry and market experience and expertise.
"His skills and knowledge will be a great asset in helping to further grow our business and to make Travelodge the best value hotel chain in the UK."
Outgoing CEO Grant Hearn will remain in the post for a further two weeks to assist the changeover. Wallace added: "Since joining Travelodge in 2003, Grant has done a tremendous job in more than doubling the size of the Company’s portfolio and establishing the brand as a household name with an exceptional digital presence.
"Grant has built a remarkable team that, led by Peter, will now take the business on to even greater levels of success driven by meeting and exceeding guest expectations. On a personal level, I am extremely grateful for Grant’s support since I became chairman earlier this year."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events