Budget hotel chain Travelodge expects to open 20 new hotels across the UK this year, mainly in business-focused rather than predominantly leisure destinations.
It said the expansion would leave it with 578 hotels in the UK, Spain and Ireland and create 550 new jobs.
The additional hotels are being developed by third party investors, with an approximate equivalent investment value of £240 million.
In addition, following the successful roll out of 1,000 SuperRooms, the company’s new premium economy concept in 2017, the group is investing in a further 400 SuperRooms.
These will be rolled out to seven more Travelodge hotels in London and regional cities such as Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and York. This investment will take the total to 1,400 SuperRooms.
Over the past five years, Travelodge has opened 78 new hotels which represents an approximate investment value of over £600 million for third party investors and created over 2,000 new jobs.
In addition, the group invested £100 million in a hotel modernisation programme, launching the premium economy, SuperRoom product, upgrading the food and beverage offering and improving digital platforms.
Travelodge said that as a result it had seen a rise in corporate and SME business customers, which now make up more than half of its overall sales. Consequently, it is now more focused on opening new hotels in key business locations, it said.
Travelodge’s largest-ever new build hotel will be in the City of London where it is opening a 395 property lose to the Gherkin.
The company’s new flagship hotel is expected to open this summer and will boost Travelodge’s London portfolio to over 70 hotels, making it one of the biggest budget hotel operators in the capital.
Other key business locations where Travelodge is opening a hotel this year include: London Acton, London Dagenham and the Port of Dover.
