Guide Note
Travelodge is a chain of hotels founded in 1939 by Scott King. The first motel was built in San Diego, California in 1940.
The Early Years
Travelodge's first motels were all located in Southern California. Its company headquarters were in El Cajon, California. Travelodge was designed to be a no frills brand whose primary target would be families with children. The amenities were simple but those that families would value, free TV and phones, swimming pool, coffee pots, carpet and comfortable beds. The other focus the company had was finding property that would be in or near the center of towns, so that they would be convenient to restaurants, theaters, points of interest and shopping.
Wyndham Worldwide
Wyndham Worldwide now franchises Travelodge properties in Northern California.
Some of the Travelodge properties are 100% smoke free, not just your room but all of the common areas as well. You can find out which properties are smoke free on their website. Also there are more then 250 properties that are pet friendly, but it is important to do an advance search on their website as policies vary from property to property. Travelodge's mascot is a bear called "Sleepy Bear" whose is dressed in a nightshirt, slippers and nightcap. Travelodge has recently begun offering light continental breakfasts called "Bear Bites" and in keeping with their bear mascot theme they have developed a milk and honey bathroom product line. Today Travelodge is considered an upper-economy brand but it caters more to families who are active and outdoor oriented. They participate in the world's largest travel reward program, TripRewards.
Fast Facts
- Founder: Scott King
- Founded: 1939
- Travelodge Hotels, Inc.
- President: Ken Greene
- Parent Company: Wyndham Worldwide
- Headquarters: Parsippany, N.J.
Time Line
- 1939: Scott King, founds Travelodge
- 1940: First motel opens in San Diego
- 1945: First economy lodging corp.
- 1964: First wheel chair accessible rooms
- 1997: CUC & HFS (Travelodge a brand of HFS) merger forming Cendant
- 2003: Tripreward program created as loyalty program
- 2006: Cendant rolls over their hospitality division to form Wyndham Worldwide
