A budget hotel operator has announced plans to create five new branches in the north.
Travelodge is in the early stages of looking for sites in Aviemore, Oban and Elgin.
The company is also planning to expand into the islands by opening new hotels in Kirkwall and Lerwick.
It is part of a major expansion by Travelodge, which yesterday announced plans to open 21 new hotels across Scotland.
The move is expected to create £100million worth of inward investment and more than 400 new jobs.
It would be the company’s first branches in Oban, Aviemore, Lerwick and Kirkhall.
Travelodge already operates a hotel in Elgin.
Craig Bonnar, Travelodge’s chief operating officer, said: “The value hotel market continues to go from strength to strength in Scotland, boosted by ever more cost-conscious businesses looking to reduce travel costs and the growth in independent leisure travel.
“To meet this growing demand, we have started the search to find 21 suitable sites across Scotland, where we can build a new Travelodge hotel.”
He added: “This expansion, together with the £7million we have already invested in upgrading all of our hotels in Scotland, will help continue the on-going transformation of Travelodge into a high quality, low cost brand for both business and leisure travellers.”
Both Oban and Aviemore have already been subject to interest from a rival budget hotel chain.
Premier Inn expect to open a hotel in Oban next year, while the same company are currently in the process of applying for planning permission to build a branch on Grampian Road in Aviemore.
Travelodge has also already announced plans to open a £4.4million hotel in the centre of Inverness.
The company revealed plans to convert Ballantyne House on Academy Street into a hotel last month.
The hotel will include 54 rooms as well as a new bar and cafe area.
The operator’s 79-bed hotel at Fairways was put up for sale with an asking price of £4million earlier this month.
