Travelodge looking to local councils to aid expansion plans

Budget hotel chain Travelodge is targeting local authorities as it seeks land to create 200 new hotels on over the next ten years.

The firm has written to 210 local authorities proposing partnership deals, which would see them provide surplus land for the development of a hotel to be funded by their own internal resource or via funding from the Public Works Loan Board or third party resources.

Upon completion of the hotel, the local authority would have the option to retain ownership or sell with Travelodge as the operator.

Over the last three years Travelodge, which operates 550 hotels throughout the UK, has secured seven partnership deals with hotels opening in locations such as Bicester, Dudley and Redhill.

Peter Gowers, chief executive at Travelodge, said: “More and more local authorities are under pressure to find ways to help regenerate their historic town centres and local communities. Adding a low-cost hotel like Travelodge is an increasingly attractive choice, as it draws visitors, creates jobs and helps boost the local economy.”

“Our customers are travelling more frequently and we are opening new hotels to ensure we are in locations where they want to be.

“We are looking for more sites to drive our expansion programme and today we are writing to more than 200 other local authorities, to invite them to consider how Travelodge can act as a catalyst to drive their local development agenda.”