Travelodge has announced that it will open 17 new hotels this year, and expand its Super Rooms and Travelodge Plus concepts.
The new openings will be launch in time for the summer season, and grow the group’s hotel network to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain.
As part of its expansion, the group will open its first hotels in the towns of Boston, Farringdon, Newark, Rochdale and Witney, while also expanding its presence in business cities such as London and Bristol. To meet the demand for staycations, the group will also open hotels in holiday locations such as Kendal in the Lake District, and Poole in Dorset.
The group’s ‘budget chic’ Travelodge Plus product, which launched in 2018, will be extended to two locations in London (Elephant and Castle, and Manor House) and the group’s first property in St Albans. Once opened, Travelodge will count 14 properties in its Travelodge Plus collection in the UK.
The group will also introduce its premium economy Super Room product to more locations across the UK, increasing its stock to over 2,000 rooms across 58 hotels. Travelodge launched its Super Rooms category in 2017, featuring more stylish décor and extra amenities including extra plug sockets, mood lighting, an armchair, and Lavazza coffee machines.
The 17 new hotels will be located at Boston (Lincolnshire), Bristol Avonmouth, Bristol Emersons Green, Farringdon (Oxfordshire), Kendal (Lake District), Leicester City Centre, London Elephant and Castle, London Manor House, London Peckham, Mansfield, Newark on Trent, Poole, Rochdale, Sandwich, St Albans, Walton on Thames, and Witney.
Of these, eight properties will feature the group’s bar café concept, meaning that over 200 hotels will now feature the on-site restaurant.
The hotels are being developed by third party investors, with an approximate investment value of £175 million. The expansion is set to create 360 jobs in the UK in the process.
Craig Bonnar, Travelodge Chief Executive, said:
“After a challenging 12 months, today’s announcement demonstrates the strength in the Travelodge brand and is a key step forward as we emerge out of lockdown. I am delighted to be able to say that the opening of our new Travelodge hotels across the UK is going to create 360 new jobs in hospitality and support 17 local economies. Our priority is now to officially reopen our remaining hotels in May, as we emerge from lockdown, welcome our customers back and continue to offer great value but now with even more choice, as we build an even bigger and better Travelodge brand.”
The group has today opened London Mile End Travelodge Plus and Portsmouth City Centre Travelodge Plus, two hotels that were developed last year but their openings postponed due to the lockdown.
