To secure its position as “First with Families,” Travelodge Hotels, Inc. will concentrate on growing through quality properties, customized hotel tiers and tailored room types at key locations throughout North America, declared Robert T. Foley, Travelodge president and chief executive officer, during the brand`s annual conference in Nashville today.
Travelodge declared itself “First with Families” after a study by D.K. Shifflet & Associates showed the brand is a top economy lodging choice among leisure travelers, garnering the largest brand percentage of families in this segment.

“Studies have shown that Travelodge is a brand in demand, especially with the leisure traveler,” Foley said. “In order to meet and exceed our guests` expectations, we must continue to develop the brand by adding quality properties and by listening to the voice of the traveling public.”

Travelodge has enjoyed its greatest success by focusing on traveling families and vacationing couples, and directed product innovations toward attracting and retaining these markets, Foley said. The Travelodge system, which currently includes more than 560 properties throughout North America, expects to open 60 hotels in the United States and Canada next year and 12 hotels in Mexico during the next five years.

Travelodge will also concentrate on further developing its product tiers. To accommodate the increasing number of leisure guests, the brand unveiled its newest tier, Travelodge World Resorts.SM Offering deluxe accommodations, these new hotels will target the top U.S. vacation and gateway destinations.

Addressing traveling families` frequent requests for larger guest rooms, Foley also announced a new room type for the system, Travelodge Family Rooms. These special rooms are Franchisees will have the option of converting larger guest rooms into Travelodge Family Rooms without incurring major renovation fees.

To serve the needs of budget travelers, Foley announced that Travelodge is re- energizing its budget tier, Thriftlodge, and will increase the number of Thriftlodge locations in North America. Thriftlodge offerings will focus on preferred amenities such as comfortable mattresses, extra pillows and fluffy towels all at a reasonable rate.

Outlining strategies for the brand`s growth, Foley announced that all North American locations will offer guests complimentary continental breakfast and High Speed Internet access by next year.

The brand launched a number of programs this year designed to improve quality systemwide including the Travelodge Quality Quest program, which rewards franchisees for maintaining top-quality hotels. Franchisees whose properties have achieved exceptional quality assurance scores for two consecutive inspections receive a royalty fee reduction for the next 12 months. Travelodge also is also offering low- interest loans for exterior fagade and interior improvements.

The first Travelodge hotel was introduced in 1939 in response to travelers` needs for homelike accommodations. Today, Travelodge Hotels, Inc. is a growing franchise system of more than 560 upper-economy Travelodge. and budget Thriftlodge. properties, offering nearly 46,000 guest rooms throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico.

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