LONDON: Travelodge is to expand into port locations as the UK’s ferry and cruise markets grow.
The newly-announced 14 hotels represent an investment of £84 million and will create 350 new jobs across the UK.
Paul Harvey, Travelodge’s property MD, said: “As a result of more Britons taking to the waves, we have also experienced a boom at Travelodge. Our port-based hotels have seen a 9 per cent rise in occupancy. We are looking for a further 14 new hotel sites at UK’s busiest Port locations. This includes another site in Southampton, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Harwich.”
Travelodge announced the news at the opening of its new Southampton West Quay hotel, which is located yards away from Southampton Port.
Southampton West Quay Travelodge is a 94-room property which represents an investment of £6m. The opening has boosted Travelodge’s presence in Southampton to three hotels.
James Cooper, CEO of Associated British Ports, said: “The UK’s ports are going through something of a renaissance at the moment with significant investments taking place across the country.
Today the UK is the number one cruise market in Europe and the second largest in the world. Figures from the Department for Transport show that the number of UK international sea passengers rose to 22.4 million in 2013.
