Travelodge to open 22 UK hotels by Christmas

Budget hotel group Travelodge is opening 22 properties in the UK before Christmas.

The £125m investment will add 1,949 rooms to Travelodge's offer and create 450 jobs.

Travelodge managing director for development Paul Harvey said the credit crunch was forcing clients to consider budget accommodation.

"We continue to seek and pursue new development and growth opportunities as we are looking to open a further 4,000 rooms in 2009," he said.

The group plans to expand its portfolio to 70,000 rooms by 2020.

Travelodge October openings:

• Hereford
• Devizes
• Stevenage
• Barking

November openings:

• Worthing seafront
• Wolverhampton

December openings:

• Middlesbrough
• Borenhamwood
• Stratford Upon Avon
• Chelmsford
• Torquay
• Ashbourne
• Stafford central
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach
• Blackpool Tower
• Cardiff Atlantic Wharf
• Pontypool
• Portmadog
• Caernarfon
• Heathrow central
• Tower of London
• Edinburgh