Westlake-based TravelCenters of America Inc. has entered into a franchise development agreement with IHOP® Restaurants, a subsidiary of Dine Brands Global Inc. The intent is to open up to 94 IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro-branded locations across the U.S. Currently, there are four IHOP restaurants already in TA’s travel center network, including one that opened this week in Jackson, Georgia.
The IHOP restaurants in the portfolio will be operated by the TA Restaurant Group, a division of TravelCenters of America.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with TravelCenters of America to open up to almost 100 new IHOP restaurants over the next five years in TA and Petro travel centers across the U.S.,” said IHOP President Jay Johns said in a statement. “The TA brand, a trusted hospitality leader in the industry and with consumers, shares the same values as IHOP when it comes to delivering an outstanding experience to guests on-the-go. We’re looking forward to serving the great-tasting, freshly made menu items we’re known for at breakfast, lunch and dinner, to the millions of guests who stop at TA and Petro locations each year.”
TravelCenters of America President and COO Barry Richards added: “When it comes to serving our customers, IHOP and TA's missions and cultures align. Adding such a highly regarded brand like IHOP to our restaurant group shows our commitment to bringing the best possible dining options to both professional drivers while they're away from home and to local families living in the communities we serve. An important part of our restaurant strategy is focusing on growing our partnerships with trusted brands like IHOP that appeal to broader audiences, and today’s agreement will enable us to accelerate that process."
The deal with TravelCenters of America marks the single-largest IHOP development deal in the brand’s 61-year history. Currently there are more than 1,700 IHOP restaurants in the U.S. and another 100+ restaurants globally.
