Travelodge has targeted Berkshire councils to build four new hotels, boosting the economy and creating hundreds of jobs.

The leading hotel brand has targeted Reading, Sunningdale/Ascot, Windsor and Slough as part of its multi-million-pound expansion investment.

Travelodge currently operates nearly 600 hotels and is writing to 220 local authorities across Britain, including three in Berkshire, proposing a joint development partnership that can boost local economy and create jobs.

Travelodge Chief Property & Development Officer, Steve Bennett, said: “In the current climate, Local Authorities are under extreme pressure to invest in their economy and support regeneration projects. This is why we have written to three Local Authorities across Berkshire to offer our support as we have a requirement to add to our Berkshire portfolio with a further four Travelodge hotels across the region. Our research shows that, on average, Travelodge customers will spend at least double their room rate with local businesses during their stay; this can be an annual, multi-million pound boost into each local economy.”  

“Britain is now a nation of budget travellers, with more of us choosing to stay in budget hotels than any other hotel type and this trend is set to grow, which is why we are looking to expand our UK hotel network with a further 300 hotels. Adding a Travelodge hotel can be a catalyst to attract new businesses to support regeneration, bring vacant buildings back into economic use as well as attracting thousands of new overnight visitors to the area and revitalising High Streets.”  

In the letter to local authorities outlines the benefits of opening new hotels including local regeneration, attracting visitors, providing a solid long term source of income as well as creating jobs.

This expansion programme could represent an investment of around £3 billion for third party investors and create over 9,000 new jobs across the UK. 

Upon completion of the hotel development, local authorities have the choice of retain ownership of the hotel and receive an annual rent into the council’s budget or sell the hotel with Travelodge as its operator.