Travelodge invests £75m in Scotland expansion
The company is looking for ten new sites to complement its existing 40 hotels across Scotland.
Travelodge chief executive Peter Gowers said: “There is a big opportunity to further expand in Scotland. At present, the value hotel market in Scotland stands at 14 per cent, compared to 18 per cent in England and more than 30 per cent in the US. By 2030, the budget hotel sector could account for almost a quarter of the UK market, with a similar level of growth expected in Scotland.”
Modernisation efforts
Since moving into the Scottish market in 1986 with its first Stirling site, Travelodge has expanded beyond its traditional roadside locations into city centres and tourist hotspots. It is now the largest hotel operator in Edinburgh with 11 hotels.
Other locations include the fifth Travelodge in Aberdeen, as well as Oban, St Andrews, Peterhead, East Kilbride, Falkirk, Hamilton, Wishaw, Motherwell and North Ayrshire.
The firm has invested £4m in the last 12 months into refurbishing over half of its Scottish hotels with a contemporary look designed by Travelodge customers.
The modernisation includes revamping bedrooms to include the king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed, and refreshing bars and reception area designs.
The £4m Scottish investment is part of Travelodge’s UK-wide £57m refurbishment programme, aiming to modernise over 80 per cent of its rooms by autumn.
Scottish hotel growth
Times are good for the Scottish hotel sector, with record occupancy recorded in May (at 87.4 per cent in Glasgow) and financiers making funding available to help hoteliers capitalise on higher customer demand.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games starting on 23 July, Santander has committed and extra £70m for the Scottish hotel and leisure sectors, after lending £30m since the beginning of 2014.
