Travelodge launches budget hotel degree with London college

Travelodge has teamed up with Westminster Kingsway College to offer a foundation degree in budget hotel management.

The London college has designed the two-year foundation degree in response to the growth of the sector, which is now worth more than £1b.

The syllabus includes modules on human resources, food and beverage, public relations and marketing and looks at the difference between the budget and luxury end of the market.

Initially, Travelodge has enrolled 12 employees onto the course. They will be given study leave and support from the firm's learning and development team to graduate in 2010.

Travelodge's director of HR Chrisse Herbert said most of qualifications currently available were aimed at those wishing to work in luxury hotels and not suitable for the budget sector.

Herbert added: "Our growth plans will create over 10,000 jobs in the UK including 1,000 at managerial level. Our biggest challenge is finding the right people to work for us."

The news comes after the Government's new hospitality diploma scheme, which have been trumpeted as a way of tackling the industry's skills crisis, garnered strong support.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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