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TRAVELODGE LAUNCHES ACCOUNT CARD

TRAVELODGE IS STEPPING UP its efforts to win more corporate business with the launch last month of a Business Account card. The budget hotel operator, which has 369 hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain, with a further 30 in the pipeline this year, has until now been largely focused on the leisure market.

"Potential business clients have told us that they love our product and locations, but do not want to use pre-pay as leisure customers do," says a spokesman.

The card can be used to book rooms online, over the phone, through the group's travel trade desk, in hotels and also in Travelodge's bar/café. A statement of charges is sent out monthly, with a further 30 days for payment, providing up to eight weeks credit - two weeks more, it is claimed, than rival Premier Inn.

Invoices will be available in full online, cutting out the paperwork and speeding up the payment/reconciliation process. Additionally, bookers will also benefit, gaining 1p for every £1 spent, redeemable as Argos reward points.

Initial applications for the new Business Account card should be made online via www.travelodge.co.uk.