Travelodge has became the first major hotel mover in the smoking ban debate by declaring that they will be completely smoke free by January 2008.  The budget chains will make all public areas in their hotels smoke free by the beginning of July 2007 but go a step further by eradicating smoking from all rooms completely by the turn of the year.

Travelodge, serving over 6.5 million each year and operating 318 UK hotels have made the move following overwhelming feedback on the subject from both customers and staff. Research by budget chain revealed 92% of non-smoking customers and even 59% of smoking customers are in favour of banning smoking in public places.

The ‘Attitudes to Smoking’ study also suggested that customers are willing to vote with their sleep as three in four non smokers said that they would prefer to stay in a hotel with a 100% no-smoking policy.

Grant Hearn, Travelodge Chief Executive said; “We are always talking to our customers and staff about important social issues such as ‘no smoking’ and the response in favour of the ban has been extremely powerful.  Just 12% of our customers said that they were smokers and over half of those were supportive of smoke-free hotels.”

In addition all new Travelodge hotels opened from 1 July 2007 will have a 100% no smoking policy.

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