Budget hotel chain Travelodge says its first quarter revenues are up 3.5 percent to £205.5million due to resilient demand from business travellers and holiday makers.
Chief executive Jo Boydell added that although trading in April, the start of the second quarter, was impacted by the timing of bank holidays, poor weather and fewer events versus the same period last year, it has since recovered.
She said that its second quarter trading is now running in line with 2023 levels, and that it has seen strong forward bookings, particularly for events like the Edinburgh Festival, the British Grand Prix and golf’s The Open, where they are ahead of expectations.
Travelodge has invested in hotel refits and other upgrades, which Boydell said would serve it well as it comes into the crucial summer period: “These investments will drive growth and quality and are already supporting positive customer and commercial benefits.”
Elsewhere, transport caterer and Upper Crust owner SSP says its first half pre-tax profits have dipped, from £16million to £13million, due to a combination of disruption caused by closing sites for refurbishment work, rail strikes and writedowns. The fall in its profits came despite its revenues rising 15 percent to £1.5billion.
SSP operates a number of eateries and takeaways at rail stations and airports around the world, such as own brands like Upper Crust, Camden Food Co and Ritazza, as well as franchises like Burger King, M&S Food To Go and Starbucks.
