Travelodge launches Popeyes partnership as it targets 300 new hotels
Travelodge has entered a sublet agreement with Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, as the hotel chain eyes a long-term target of 300 new sites.
The restaurant brand has already opened one of its first UK drive-through sites at the Northampton Upton Way Travelodge site.
Under the agreement, Popeyes has joined the Travelodge mixed-use development partnership portfolio, following in the footsteps of operators such as Starbucks, Subway, and McDonalds.
Other retailers the hotel chain has partnered with include supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, and Waitrose. Currently, over a third of Travelodge hotels are located within a mixed-use development scheme, alongside household retailers.
Travelodge said it is keen to further its development brand partnerships as part of its expansion plans, as it aims to open a further 300 hotels across the country. Of the locations where Travelodge is actively looking to open, 120 currently do not have a Travelodge hotel, whilst 50 sites do not currently have a branded budget hotel.
Steve Bennett, chief property and development officer at Travelodge, said: “We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to develop our estate and enhance the customer journey. We have experience of working with major retailers and hospitality companies to help maximise development opportunities to support local growth, job creation and regeneration. As pioneers of the budget hotel sector, we are delighted to enter a sublet agreement with Popeyes and to offer the first hotel drive-thru restaurant at our Northampton Upton Way Travelodge site.”
“As we look to the future, we have identified that we can grow our business with a further 300 hotels across the UK and we welcome the opportunity to continue to work with Popeyes as well as other major retailers and hospitality companies on mixed-development schemes.”