Premier Lodge integration on track, claims Whitbread

Leisure group Whitbread said today it was on track to complete the integration of Premier Lodge by the end of March 2005.

Whitbread bought the Premier Lodge budget hotels chain from Spirit in July for £536m.

It is combining the 132 properties with its own Travel Inn chain to create a 450-strong network under the Premier Travel Inn banner.

Whitbread announced today that its had already rebranded 185 properties with more than 15,000 bedrooms in total.

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It had also installed new "back office" systems at the former Premier Lodges, and brought all 3,400 Premier Lodge staff into its payroll and HR systems. The integration process began on 1 September and was "on time and on budget", the company said. Ten hotels have been refurbished to bring them up to Travel Inn standards. Six brand new Premier Travel Inns have opened during the integration period and the company aims to add a further 1,500 bedrooms a year. Buy this week's *Caterer* magazine for more industry news and analysis