Travelodge expanding Metro hotel chain

Date: 01/06/2011

Travelodge may need to purchase new non-geographic numbers as it is planning to expand its chain of Metro hotels.

These are smaller establishments and usually consist of between 20 and 40 rooms.

It is targeting some prime London locations and affluent areas of the city where the company would be unable to open larger premises due to space restrictions.

Chief executive of Travelodge Guy Parson said: "The Metro model will also allow us to expand in our top performing locations where there are few 60-plus room sites available."

Popular holiday locations and other major UK cities are also set to receive some of the smaller-style hotels.

Mr Parson added that hundreds of "development opportunities" will be opened up to the brand as a result of this scheme.

Some of the properties being considered for redevelopment include pubs, offices and old cinemas.

This comes after Travelodge recently acquired the lease for 52 Innkeeper's Lodges, making it the biggest transaction in the hotel sector since 2008 - something which means it could be purchasing a fair few non-geographic numbers.