Travelodge completes £57m modernisation programme
Over 80 per cent of the brand’s hotels across the UK now feature the company’s new look designed by customers, including the king-size ‘Travelodge Dreamer Bed’ in all its 36,813 rooms.
Sales boost
Jon Hendry Pickup, Travelodge chief operating officer, said: "Our £57m modernisation programme is having a really positive impact on our customers as we build a new Travelodge. We've always had great prices and now that's reinforced with an excellent experience.
“We've experienced a significant boost in sales, and we are outperforming the market. Our corporate business has trebled and continues to grow at pace. We are seeing more Government departments, FTSE 100 and blue chip companies as well as SMEs switching to Travelodge every week.
“Customers tell us that they much prefer our new rooms, and that sentiment is reflected in our TripAdvisor scores and in the number of them who say they would recommend us to their friends and family."
New services
As part of the programme, Travelodge has also introduced free in-room toiletries, free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes and cut the price of internet to £3 for 24 hours.
Additionally, the sofa bed traditionally found in family rooms has been replaced with two truckle beds.
Rebrand
The brand embarked in a rebranding effort last March to rejuvenate its image, and launched its first TV advertising campaign in four years last May.
After a financial restructuring in 2012, Travelodge returned to operating profits last September, and announced the creation of 206 new jobs as part of six hotel openings by the end of the year.
Travelodge will now continue to modernise its remaining hotels in 2015.