A HOTEL chain wants to open at five new sites in Cumbria - and is urging councils to partner up with it.

Travelodge, which already has nine hotels in the county, is targeting new locations in Cumbria.

The company has written to three councils in Cumbria proposing a 'joint development partnership that can act as a catalyst to stimulate regeneration and facilitate further growth'.

The chain wants to open new hotels in Ambleside, Keswick, Whitehaven and Windermere.

It also says it wants to open generally in the Lake District.

Steve Bennett, Travelodge chief property and development officer said: “In the current climate, local authorities are under extreme pressure to invest in their economy and support regeneration projects.

"This is why we have written to three local authorities across Cumbria to offer our support as we have a requirement to open a further five Travelodge hotels across the region.

"Our target locations include the Lake District, Windermere and Ambleside.

"This expansion programme could represent a multi-million investment for third party investors and create 125 new jobs.

"In addition, our research shows that, on average, Travelodge customers will spend at least double their room rate with local businesses during their stay; this can be an annual, multi-million pound boost into each local economy.”  

The budget chain has written to Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and South Lakeland District Council, urging the authorities to join with it.

Mr Bennett said: “Britain is now a nation of budget travellers, with more of us choosing to stay in budget hotels than any other hotel type and this trend is set to grow, which is why we are looking to expand our UK hotel network with a further 300 hotels.

"Adding a Travelodge hotel can be a catalyst to attract new businesses to support regeneration, bring vacant buildings back into economic use as well as attracting thousands of new overnight visitors to the area and revitalising high streets."

Under the proposal, upon completion of the hotel development, local authorities would have the choice of either retaining ownership of the hotel and receiving an annual rent or selling it with Travelodge as its operator, a spokesman said.