Jobs under threat at Travelodge

Eighty jobs are under threat at Travelodge as the company shakes up its management structure.

As part of its drive to cut £3m in costs, the budget hotel chain has begun redundancy negotiations with all of its cluster and area managers.

The cluster managers, who look after between one and four sites, and area managers, who oversee about 10 hotels each, will be replaced by a single layer of 19 UK district managers.

The simplified management structure will also see all Travelodge sites gain a general manager.

Currently, only larger sites have general managers while others have assistant managers who report directly to a cluster manager.

Travelodge director of communications Greg Dawson said: "These reviews are always going to be difficult, but we have to look at all areas of the business to remain as lean as we can."

He added the 80 cluster and area managers would be able to apply for one of the 19 district manager positions available, or alternatively would be offered a head office role or a job at one of the 40 new sites opening this year.

Dawson said there would be no further redundancies and denied the move was in preparation of a sale of the business.

By Tom Bill

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