Travelodge invests in £80m Yorkshire expansion
The move will create 300 new jobs across the county and grow the chains’ portfolio in the region from 32 to 45.
Locations are set to include Barnsley, Bradford, Brig House, Bridlington, Halifax, Headingly, Huddersfield, Hull, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Whitby and two sites in York.
While no timescale has been set for the expansion, a Travelodge spokesperson told BigHospitality the group was already actively looking for suitable sites.
The 522-strong chain has already invested heavily in the region, spending £6m on modernising its existing Yorkshire estate.
It also opened its second Harrogate hotel, a 70-room £4.5m property, today (4 September).
Jon Hendry Pickup, Travelodge chief operating officer said: “Yorkshire is a key growth area for Travelodge and we are delighted to be growing our business across the county.
“Yorkshire is a vital hub for business and tourism, actively supported by the focus of the local authorities on developing infrastructure and cultural attractions to foster growth. Our second hotel opening in Harrogate, together with our modernisation investment and expansion programme positions us well in the county as the economy continues to strengthen.”
The announcement follows strong half-year results for Travelodge, which saw profits rise £40m year-on-year to £261m for the six months ended 1 July.
The chain, which celebrated 30 years in business in June, is planning to open a further 150 UK hotels by 2022.
