The benefits of staying in a budget hotel are being felt by businesses across the UK as Travelodge reports a 45% year on year increase in revenue from business travellers.
From SME's to FTSE 100 companies, Travelodge is being inundated by bookings and requests to pitch for business from finance directors looking to make savings in their firms travel expenditure.
The 45% year on year increase represents a significant shift for Travelodge, which has historically been stronger in the leisure market.
To further highlight the savings that can be made from using Travelodge, the company has also written to the Finance Director's of all the FTSE 100 companies, offering them a free one night stay so they can sample the Travelodge offer*.
The savings that can be made from staying at a Travelodge are substantial. With the average executive staying 43 nights a year in hotels, by moving to the budget provider, savings of up to £8,000 per person can be made annually.**
With the impact of the credit crunch showing no sign of abating Travelodge fully expects to grow further its share of the business travel market.
Guy Parsons, Managing Director UK at Travelodge, said:
"With all hotel rooms looking the same when the lights are turned off, trimming the fat off the annual hotel bill must be one of the more logical decisions for a finance director to make.
"Many of the traditional business orientated hotels charge an enormous excess for facilities and room extras that customers simply do not use. I am confident that we are going to see a further increase in business bookings as firms realise they are spending a fortune unnecessarily".
--ends--
For further information please contact:
Nick Dines, Head of Corporate Communications
01844 358698
*The letter, sent today (Monday September 15th), reads:
Dear
Apologies for contacting you directly but here at Travelodge we appreciate a no nonsense approach to doing business.
With the economy proving ever more challenging I am sure you are looking at your balance sheet and P&L in a bid to keep your companys financials on course. If you are looking to cut business costs, had you considered your employees travel expenses?
Located in every major town and city in the UK, Travelodge is demonstrably cheaper than our competitors. With business people spending an average of 43 nights a year in hotels, by using Travelodge instead of more expensive hotel chains you can save up to £8,000 per person per year.
Travelodge is a no frills, low cost business. Your colleagues will not get a trouser press, luxurious spa or gym facilities, but they will get prices from as low as £19. Why should you pay for fancy extras that your colleagues are unlikely to use given the long hours that they are travelling and working?
If some of what I am saying makes sense then why not give us a try? I would be delighted to offer you a free night's stay at either London City Road, London Euston or London Southwark. To book a room please contact nick.dines@travelodge.co.uk with your choice of date and location. You can find all of our hotels on www.travelodge.co.uk.
I am sure that once you have stayed with us, you will realise that paying over the odds for the unnecessary extras that you get at 4* and 5* hotels is a cost you can comfortably remove.
All hotel rooms look the same when the lights are turned out, yet staying with us will result in a substantial saving for your business. Sleep on the decision and I am in no doubt that you will clearly see the benefit of switching to Travelodge.
Yours sincerely
Mark Kemp
Director of Revenue Management, Sales & Reservations
**The figure is based on comparing the price of a Travelodge room to three 4* and 5* competitors in Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and London on the night of September 24th. The number of nights in a hotel statistic comes from the Business Traveller Readers Survey 2008.