Craig Bonnar steps down as chief executive of Travelodge

Craig Bonnar has stepped down as chief executive of Travelodge due to personal reasons, with former chief financial officer Jo Boydell replacing him in the role.

A spokesperson for Travelodge said Bonnar, who left the post this month, did a “fantastic job steering Travelodge out of the pandemic” and that the business was now trading ahead of the market.

Bonnar was confirmed as chef executive of the hotel chain in May 2021, having originally taken the post on a temporary basis following the departure of Peter Gowers in late 2020.

Speaking to The Caterer earlier this year, Bonnar said his aim had been to rebuild relationships with landlords after the chain underwent a controversial Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in 2020.

He said Travelodge was planning to open six hotels this year, including its 600th property, and had around 250-300 target locations across the UK.

Boydell joined Travelodge as chief financial officer in 2013. She was previously finance director at Mothercare and has held senior positions within Hilton Group and Ladbrokes.

Travelodge was the UK's first budget hotel chain and opened its debut hotel in 1985 on the A38 Burton under Needwood.

Today it is the UK's second largest hotel chain, operating 593 properties across the UK, Ireland, and Spain.