Travelodge announces plans to more than double London presence

Budget hotel chain Travelodge has announced plans to more than double its presence in London, with the search on for 127 hotel sites across the capital.

The group recently opened its 177-bedroom London Wimbledon Central Travelodge in partnership with landlord Three Rivers District Council. Travelodge now operates 596 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

The Wimbledon Travelodge was the group's 79th hotel in the capital and, at the hotel opening ceremony, the group announced that London was a key growth area for Travelodge's development strategy, with a dedicated team in place to search for further sites. This would take it to 206 hotels and could represent an investment of nearly £3b for third-party investors.

Travelodge has secured four deals, with hotels under development in Beckenham, Bermondsey, Chiswick and Peckham, representing an investment of approximately £55m for third-party investors.

The new hotels will feature the group's on-site Bar Café concept and dedicated SuperRoom floors with the brand's premium economy rooms, and are expected to open next year.

Earlier this year, Travelodge announced it was evolving its core brand product to a new "budget-luxe" premium look and feel, while "maintaining its great value price proposition", off the success of its TravelodgePLUS format.

Karen Broughton, Travelodge chief sales and marketing officer, said there was a "shortage of good quality and low-cost accommodation" across London and the group was aiming to "fill this growing gap".