Travelodge is looking to expand into British port locations and is searching for 14 new hotel sites across the coast.
These sites represent an investment of £84m, and will be located in key port locations to capitalise on the UK’s cruise industry.
This was announced this morning at the opening of the new 94-bed Southampton West Quay hotel, Hampshire, which represents an investment of £6m and is its third site in Southampton.
According to the Department for Transport Statistics, the UK is the leading cruise market in Europe and the second largest in the world.
Travelodge currently has 516 hotels, 48 of which are located close by to Britain’s ports.
These assets have reported a 9% increase in occupancy over the last year, with passengers staying overnight prior to early ferry departures.
Paul Harvey, Travelodge managing director of property, said: “To support this growing holiday trend, 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.”
James Cooper, chief executive officer 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.
“One of the fastest-growing segments has been ferry traffic as people increasingly appreciate that ferries offer better value and less hassle than the alternatives.”
