Travelodge is one of the most popular budget hotel chains in the UK, operating more than 590 sites across the country and further afield in Ireland and Spain. But despite its roots dating back to 1985, when it became the first value hotel brand to launch in Britain, people have taken to social media to admit that they have only just realised what the logo means.
For years, the well-known hotel chain has used the same red and blue logo, which has been likened to an optical illusion.
While many people interpreted the image as a red sky set behind the rolling blue hills, TikTok users have taken to the app to explain that this is wrong.
One person who uses the handle @__chxrll shared the revelation in a recent video on her profile.
She said: “My dumb a*** thinking about how the Travelodge logo is a person sleeping. For years I thought it was HILLS.”
Despite appearing on billboards, TV adverts and on multiple websites, others joined the conversation to share that they had also been dumbfounded by the logo.
Another TikTok user named @mrcel07 posted a similar video to ask others: “How old were you when you realised the Travelodge logo is people sleeping under a duvet?”
After watching the video, one person commented: “Now I see it I can’t unsee it am 24 and I’ve only just found this out.”
Another person wrote: “I was today years old…! I thought it was mountains which makes no sense at all!”
Hundreds of people admitted that they also saw rolling hills or other landscapes in front of a deep red sunset.
However, on a closer look, it is easy to see the blue outline of a person sleeping with a duvet tucked up to their chin.
Underneath the head, is a plump pillow – much like what the hotel chain claims to offer in its 40,000 guest bedrooms.
But while Britons of all ages are finally realising the true meaning of the logo, some eagle-eyed travellers would notice that it hasn’t always been the same.
For the first six years of being established in Britain, the logo was identical to the one used in the US – which is where the company began.
Owned by the Forte Group, the original logo featured a navy blue background with white writing which read “Forte” on the top line and “Travelodge” underneath.
After being sold to Granada Hospitality in 1995, the new logo was launched in 2004 and remains the same to this day.
According to a 2023 Which survey, the chain lost the top spot to Premier Inn on the consumer watchdog’s “best large hotel chains in the UK” table.
In fact, it ranked 24th out of 28 competing hotels, based on customer scores for cleanliness, pricing, bed comfort, and other variables.
Travelodge scored just 63 percent among customers interviewed for the survey, with the average price of a room costing £78 per night.
The Which survey showed that it scored just two stars for cleanliness, and two stars for value for money.
Premier Inn, Sofitel, and Crowne Plaza took the top three spots on the list, with Village Hotel Club and Days Inn ranked closely behind.
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