Travelodge quits BHA
Budget hotel chain Travelodge has resigned from the British Hospitality Association, saying it is better off lobbying on its own.
Guy Parsons, who takes over as Travelodge chief executive on July 1, said it was also inappropriate for the group to be part of the BHA when it might be snapping up other members’ businesses.
“We have an aggressive growth plan in place, which will more than double the size of Travelodge hotels over the next 10 years,†he said.
“We plan to do this by building new hotels and purchase existing struggling hotels and turning them into Travelodge properties.
“I think it’s entirely inappropriate that we should be part of the BHA at a time when we could be acquiring other members’ businesses.â€
He said Travelodge has a strong public relations team and was better off representing itself.
“The BHA is a traditional body which represents the full hospitality sector from B&Bs to large corporate organisations.
“We see an opportunity to transform the hotel industry in the UK, and believe that we can do this best by representing ourselves rather than lobbying via the BHA.
“The BHA has a role to play in representing the hospitality sector but we believe that our interests are now better served outside the organisation.
“We are an industry that punches below our weight. Therefore we will continue to work with other leading businesses within the industry, to ensure that the Government truly understands the tax and regulation barriers our sector faces.â€
A spokesman for the BHA said: “We’re sorry they’ve taken the decision, but the BHA will continue to represent the interests of the hospitality industry.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism