Travelodge announces it expects to open 17 new hotels across the UK in 2021, creating 360 new jobs and growing its hotel network to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

These 17 new hotels are being developed by third party investors with an approximate investment value of £175 million. It is expected that most of these 17 hotels will be open and trading in time for the summer season.

As part of this expansion, the group is continuing the roll-out of Travelodge Plus, the group's 'budget chic' hotel format. Launched in 2018, this concept is designed around the needs of the budget traveller who wants that little bit more style and choice with little touches to make it easier to work and relax both inside and outside the room. This year, the group is opening a further three Travelodge Plus hotels, and boosting its collection to 14 properties in prime locations across the UK. This includes a further two Travelodge Plus hotels in London and the company's first property in St Albans.

In addition, in response to strong consumer demand, Travelodge is also taking its SuperRoom product to more locations across the UK this year via its new hotel openings programme. This will boost the group's stock to over 2,000 SuperRooms collectively across 58 hotels. The SuperRoom, is the group's premium economy room-type and was the first of its kind to be launched in the UK budget hotel market in 2017. It dials up the comfort factor and is designed for customers who want the choice of a more premium room.

Travelodge also continues to grow and extend its on-site restaurant business with eight of this year's new openings featuring the company's Bar Café concept. These new additions will boost the group's portfolio to over 200 hotels now featuring a Bar Café.

The 2021 UK expansion programme will see Travelodge enter new markets with the group opening its first hotel in the following towns: Boston, Farringdon, Newark, Rochdale and Witney.

The group is also expanding its network in key business locations including: two hotels in Bristol, two in London and strengthening its presence in Leicester.

Ahead of the key UK Staycation period, Travelodge is also opening hotels in popular holiday locations which include Kendal, in the heart of the Lake District and Poole, the quaint coastal town in Dorset.

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."

Travelodge is also officially opening two hotels today that were developed in 2020 but could not open due to the lockdown. This includes London Mile End Travelodge Plus and Portsmouth City Centre Travelodge Plus. Both hotels collectively represent an approximate investment of £37 million for third party investors and have created 55 new jobs.

Throughout the pandemic Travelodge has continued to operate a network of hotels from Plymouth to Elgin to provide accommodation for key/critical workers, NHS staff, business travellers (when business travel has been permitted) and also to support local authorities with vulnerable groups across the UK. Travelodge's number one priority is the safety of its customers and teams and earlier in 2020, the group created TravelodgeProtect+, a programme of cleaning and social distance measures in line with Government guidelines to keep its guests and teams safe.

The 17 Travelodge hotels expected to open in 2021 are listed below:

  1. Boston (Lincolnshire)
  2. Bristol Avonmouth
  3. Bristol Emersons Green
  4. Farringdon (Oxfordshire)
  5. Kendal (Lake District)
  6. Leicester city centre
  7. London Elephant & Castle (Travelodge Plus)
  8. London Manor House (Travelodge Plus)
  9. London Peckham
  10. Mansfield
  11. Newark on Trent
  12. Poole
  13. Rochdale
  14. Sandwich
  15. St Albans (Travelodge Plus)
  16. Walton on Thames
  17. Witney

About Travelodge

In 1985, Travelodge became the UK's first budget hotel brand when it opened its first hotel at Barton-under-Needwood. Today, we operate nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain and annually welcome over 21 million guests.

With rooms for £35 or less, Travelodge is the ideal base for all business and leisure trips and we aim to offer customers the location, value and quality to suit all their travel needs.

We are currently looking to expand our UK hotel network and we have identified a further 300 locations where we would like to open a Travelodge hotel.

Travelodge employs over 12,000 employees and is dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can learn more, earn more and belong.

www.travelodge.co.uk

The Travelodge Press Office
+44 1844 35 8703
Travelodge