• This programme provides the flexibility of working in dual-locations during term-time and holiday periods plus the opportunity to upskill and and build a career path
  • New study reports that 40% of students are currently looking for employment to support their studies which is costing on average £19,000* per year
  • In addition to the 400 roles targeting students, Travelodge is also offering 75 roles including hotel management, head office and engineering positions

Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest hotel chains, has today launched a new dual-locations student recruitment programme that provides the flexibility of a role at a Travelodge close to the student’s university and in their hometown during the holiday periods. The group is offering over 400 positions to students - at a time when 40% of UK based students are looking for work- to help make ends meet.

With over 580 hotels across the country, there is a Travelodge close to all major UK universities giving students easy access to work close to their place of study during term-time and now the ability to transfer to a Travelodge hotel close to home during the academic holidays.

Available positions include Reception Team Member, Bar Cafe Team Member, Housekeeping Team Member and Linen Porter.

To support its new student recruitment programme, Travelodge, commissioned a study with 500 UK students to seek how they are managing to study in the current financial crisis. Key findings revealed that 85% of students reported that working is a necessity in order to get through university. Over half (55%) of students across the UK are currently working to make ends meet whilst studying. Whilst 40% are seeking employment.

The study also revealed that on average, students are spending over £19,000 to study at university (£9,250 for tuition fees and £10,000 to cover the cost of living). This equates to current monthly outgoings on living expenses such as rent, utility bills, groceries, and additional studying materials, of £635. The report also revealed that 57% of students are working are minimum of 16 hours per week to cover the cost of their expenses.

At Travelodge, students have the opportunity to earn around £10,000 per annum working an 18.5-hour week – with the programme offering students additional development opportunities to build their professional experience or future career in the hospitality industry. This includes access to Travelodge’s in-house management development programme – Aspire – and provision of a ‘work buddy’ to support them in their role.

There has never been a better time to join Travelodge, one of the UK’s biggest hotel brands, with our flexible dual-location student recruitment programme designed to support students so they can learn more and earn more in both term and holiday time.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals that have a passion to deliver excellent customer service and we can help students create a great career in a fast-growing global industry with a diverse range of opportunities upon graduation. Katharine Gourley, Travelodge, Director of People Operations

In addition to the 400 jobs targeting students, Travelodge is also looking to fill a further 75 roles across the business. These positions include 50 hotel management positions across Hotel Managers and Assistant Hotel Managers, Supervisors, Housekeeping Supervisors, and BarCafe Supervisors; alongside five roles in the company’s in-house maintenance department for Engineers. There are also 20 roles at the group’s head office in Thame across Revenue, Procurement, IT, Legal, Finance and Customer Services.

For further details on all positions at Travelodge and to apply, please visit: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/careers/.

The Travelodge student study was conducted by OnePoll in September 2023 with a sample group of 500 students who attend either university or college. The *£19,000 figure based on full time student loans as per https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/new-fulltime-students.

Travelodge Employee Benefits

Travelodge offers a great range of benefits, available to new joiners from their first day of employment. These benefits include:

  • 50% off Travelodge’s 580 UK hotels
  • Room discounts for family and friends
  • Work anniversary complimentary booking voucher
  • Pension scheme
  • Discounts at a range of retailers
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Life Assurance
  • Travelodge Wellbeing Programme - Better Me

The Travelodge wellbeing programme ‘Better Me’ recognises that true wellbeing is dependent on a number of elements and, through listening to its colleagues’ concerns, the company has responded with a wide range of successful initiatives to support financial, emotional, physical and work health. For further information on Travelodge employee benefits please visit: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/applicantPortal/benefits.

Travelodge Aspire Programme

Travelodge also operates a successful internal management development programme ‘Aspire’ which has helped thousands of colleagues to progress their career from an entry level position into management, building skills and experience.

To further support its colleagues, Travelodge has added two new levels to its Aspire programme, allowing colleagues to gain a nationally recognised qualification in hospitality that can be funded via its apprenticeship levy. The four-level comprehensive programme provides a clear pathway of development and career mapping for hotel and maintenance colleagues to progress from entry level roles through to Manager level, showing that Travelodge is a place where you can get in and get on, irrespective of background, or educational attainment.

About Travelodge

Founded in 1985, Travelodge is Britain's very first budget hotel chain and today is one of the largest budget hotel chains in the UK, with a portfolio of over 600 hotels and over 46,000 bedrooms across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

In Spain, Travelodge has an established profitable presence and as of April 2024, its portfolio doubled to 12 hotels, having recently acquired a further six properties. Travelodge has ambitious growth plans within this market and has identified the top 20 key locations where it would like to open additional hotels in Spain.

Welcoming over 22 million guests annually across the UK, Ireland and Spain, the majority of Travelodge hotels are located in major cities, towns and holiday hotspots as well as by airports and key business hubs. With 90% of its hotels rated 4* or above on

TripAdvisor, Travelodge is proud to offer guests across its diverse customer base a good value experience – whether they are travelling for business or leisure. In 2023, approximately 50% of rooms were sold for less than £60.

Whether out celebrating a birthday, going to a concert or sporting event, visiting friends and family, taking a business trip, working away from home, or taking a short break, we help people to go and do their thing by Being the Brilliant Base.

Travelodge continues to invest in its ongoing hotel refit programme which is expected to see 50% of the Travelodge room estate upgraded to its new design by the end of 2024. The brand is also continually evolving its quality offering to deliver a better experience for its diverse mix of business and leisure guests such as its new look Bar Cafe design, 85 Bar Café, which has been rolled out to selected UK hotels as part of the refit programme.

Travelodge is focussing on its environmental and social impact, with sustainability integral to its business strategy. It's Better Future sustainability plan aims to build a more sustainable future for its customers, colleagues and the planet, and it is underpinned by three core pillars: Inclusive – ensuring we are accessible, inclusive and well-priced to our customers and colleagues; Caring – creating a caring and healthy environment for our colleagues and customers and ensuring their wellbeing; and Conscious – Travelodge is conscious of its impact on the planet, taking into account the waste it produces, the energy and other resources it consumes and the carbon emissions it generates.

For further information visit travelodge.co.uk or the Travelodge Hotels Limited LinkedIn page.

The Travelodge Press Office
+44 1844 35 8703
Travelodge