Travelodge to Open 41 Hotels

LONDON, January 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Today the UK's fastest growing hotel company, Travelodge, has announced it will be opening 41 hotels (3610 rooms) this year and creating 1,000 new jobs across the UK.

These new properties, at an investment of £246 million, will boost the company's estate to 537 hotels and over 39,000 rooms.

Eleven of the new Travelodges opening this year are located in London - further cementing the company's position as the biggest hotelier in the capital. These 41 new hotel openings will create 880 new jobs across the country. In addition to these positions, Travelodge is also creating a further 120 new apprenticeship places on its successful Junior Management Programme (JuMP), which was launched last year.    

The bespoke scheme was developed to support Travelodge's aggressive growth strategy and to help Britain's unemployed youngsters back into work. It offers school leavers an alternative career choice to university. The fast-track management programme provides a real job, with the opportunity of on-the-job training throughout the business which is combined with further education, the opportunity to earn up to £30,000 and to become a hotel manager in three years, in stark contrast to a university education, which incurs an average debt of over £53,000* followed by the prospect of an overcrowded jobs market.

Guy Parsons, Travelodge Chief Executive said: "We are delighted to be opening even more new hotels and creating even more new jobs this year compared to 2011. Despite the ongoing tough economic climate, Travelodge is continuing to open hotels at a faster rate than anyone else and create much needed jobs, which is exactly what the British economy needs right now.

"The demand for good quality budget accommodation is growing at such pace across the country that we have added 146 new UK locations to our target requirements list. Therefore we can build more hotels in the locations where consumers need them. With our ability to be flexible and innovative in terms of the development schemes we can undertake, we are in a very strong position to achieve our growth target of having 1,000 hotels by 2020."

The ability of Travelodge to capitalise on the opportunities provided by its own strong trading position is greatly helped by its flexible development model. Last year, Travelodge announced its 'Metrolodge' strategy, which will see it taking smaller properties in sought-after locations and office buildings across the UK. Travelodge's success reflects the demand for budget hotels in prime central areas and historic UK holiday sites to support the growing Staycation trend.

Notes to Editors:

                         London Crystal      Camberley     London
    Kidderminster        Palace              Central       Greenwich West
                         Liverpool Central   Altrincham    Edinburgh Queen
    London Stratford     The Strand          Grafton Tower Street
    Lytham St Annes      Bradford Mill       Eastleigh     London
    House                Street              Central       Teddington
    Edinburgh Princes
    Street II            Loughborough        Cheshire Oaks Epsom Station
                                             Burton upon
    London Balham        Ipswich Central     Trent Central Tamworth
                                             Glossop       Llanelli
    London Excel Centre  London Enfield      Central       Scarlet Gate
    Hemel Hempstead      London Woolwich     London        Woking White
    Gateway              Powis Street        Clapham       Rose Court
                                             Sittingbourne
    Wincanton            Fort William        Central       London Sidcup
                         Liverpool 38        London        Wellington
    Aldershot            Exchange St         Bethnal Green Somerset
                                             Sunderland    Kings Lynn
    Darlington           Margate FC          Sunniside     Hardwick Road
    London Bromley

About Travelodge

The first budget hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985, Travelodge now operates over 490 hotels and over 35,400 rooms across the UK, Ireland (11) and Spain (4). Travelodge plans to grow its estate to 1,100 hotels and 100,000 rooms by 2025. Over 13 million people stayed with Travelodge last year and 90% of reservations are currently made online at http://www.travelodge.co.uk, where room rates start at £19 per night. The chain employs over 6,000 staff.

*The source for the predicted student debt figure comes from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14488312

Shakila Ahmed
Travelodge
+44(0)802-702-499

SOURCE Travelodge