Travelodge is targeting a £100 million, 36 site expansion programme in partnership with the UK's pub companies by 2015.

Already co-located with pub companies on 15 developments across the UK, Travelodge is now actively working with Greene King, JW Lees, Marston's, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) and JD Wetherspoons to find further development opportunities across the country.

In recognition of the recent upsurge in activity from the pub sector, Travelodge has for the first time devised a development strategy to partner up with a wide range of pub companies. By working together the hotel brand can capitalise upon the opportunities that the renewed development activity of the pub companies provides.

The expansion plans of the pub companies come on the back of consumers continuing to eat out despite the economic conditions.


Following the success of their food operations, listed below are some of the significant recent expansion announcements from the UK's pub companies:

• Greene King seeking to add 200 pubs to their estate by 2015 in order to reach 1,100 outlets. Pub brands include Hungry Horse and Belthaven, specialising in Scotland.
• Marston's saying that they will add to their 500 sites by opening 20 new pubs in 2011 and 25 in 2012. Their brands include Pitcher and Piano and their own Marston’s Inns.
• JD Wetherspoon committing to opening 50 new sites a year for the next decade.
• M&B stating that they will open 50 sites this year and 70 hotels in 2012. With 15 brands, including Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One, M&B currently has 1,600 restaurants and pubs in the UK.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge Managing Director for Development, said: "The pub companies have noticeably stepped up their development plans over recent months and in many parts of the country their target locations correspond with ours.

"We have been contacted by all the major players in the market and we are now pro-actively seeking out sites with them. A combined hotel/pub development is attractive to banks and funders, making the development process a lot quicker than it otherwise may be."

(CD)