Travelodge reports strong recovery

TRAVELODGE has reported a strong recovery from the impact of the pandemic and expects to benefit from the growing number of “staycation” breaks.

The hotel chain reported a 1.8% increase in revenue in the last quarter of 2021 compared with 2019, to £185 million.

Revenue for the year was down by 23% compared with 2019, but Travelodge said trading had improved this year following the lifting of work from home guidance.

The company said it expects strong demand from leisure travellers, adding that 60 of its hotels are being upgraded this year.

Travelodge chairman Martin Robinson said: “The business continued to outperform the market for the seventh year in a row and enjoyed a record-breaking summer. In line with our growth plans, we opened a further 17 new hotels.

“Trading so far in 2022 has been extremely encouraging, despite a slow start amidst the Omicron restrictions in January, and we are excited to launch our new budget-luxe hotel design.

“This is our most radical brand transformation to date and has been created in response to Britain becoming a nation of budget travellers.”