Travelodge checks in with the Innkeeper

BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge has acquired the leases of 52 Innkeeper's Lodges from restaurant and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers.

The deal, which includes hotels in Leeds, York and Keighley, will boost Travelodge's estate to 452 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

The 52 UK hotels, which include a number of grade two listed buildings, are adjacent to a Mitchells & Butlers restaurant and pub.

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Travelodge said it will seek to retain all 430 staff from Mitchells & Butlers and recruit a further 115 positions, which include 25 hotel manager roles and 90 hotel staff.

Travelodge has signed a 25-year lease on the properties and will embark on a 10m investment programme to convert the hotels to bring them in line with the Travelodge brand.

It is anticipated that the hotels will be fully operational under the Travelodge brand within four months.

Grant Hearn, executive chairman of Travelodge, said: "This innovative deal represents the whole of last year's growth in one move and highlights Travelodge's excellent position coming out of the recession."

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He added: "We have an aggressive growth plan in place and with this acquisition we are on track to more than double the size of Travelodge hotels over the next ten years.

"We hope to explore further opportunities like this deal with other similar businesses."