BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge has announced it is looking to open a hotel close to the SEC Centre.

It comes amid the company’s £100 million plan targeting the UK’s largest conference and event centres.

The opening in Glasgow would represent an investment of £7 million by third party investors and would create 30 new jobs in the city.

The announcement was made at the opening of Telford Travelodge, the company’s 567th hotel.

The UK events sector contributes £42 billion to the economy in terms of direct spend by event delegates, attendees and organisers.

This includes £19.9 billion spend for conferences and meetings and £11 billion for exhibitions and trade fairs.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge managing director of property said, despite Britain’s events sector is growing from strength to strength, there is a shortage of good-quality and low-cost accommodation close to major event venues such as the SEC.

He added: “Therefore, we have identified Glasgow as one of ten key UK conference and event destinations where we would like to open our seventh hotel in the city, close to the SEC.

“This expansion collectively represents an investment of £100 million for third party investors and a job creation of 300 jobs.”

“Our six Travelodge hotels in Glasgow are literally booked out as soon as event dates are released, and value-seeking attendees will travel as far as Stirling and Dumbarton to sleep while attending an event in Glasgow.”