Cendant Hotel Group Europe has announced that with four new hotels having opened since the beginning of the year it is well on target to meet its target of a portfolio of 60 properties by the end of 2004.

With the new openings – a Days Inn in Leicester, Days Hotel in Ruislip and both a Days Inn and a Days Hotel in Dublin - the company currently operates 31 sites under the two brands as well as the Days Serviced Apartments concept.

Later this month and in March, three more properties will be opened – in Sedgmoor, Warwick and Gretna Green. All three are being rebranded from Welcome Lodges by Welcome Break, the largest Days Inn franchisee in the UK.

“Days Inn is one of the UK’s fastest growing budget hotel chains,” said Belinda Atkins, director of operations, Cendant Hotel Group Europe.

“We are on target to achieve a total portfolio of 60 Days Inns, Days Hotels and Serviced Apartments by the end pf 2004, with a total portfolio of 90 anticipated to be open by the end of 2005.”

Franchise deals have also been signed for Days Inns in Haverhill, Sussex and Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to open in the third quarter of 2004.