Yes it is shit isn't it @badger2005 ? I know several people who work for them, and they have a TERRIBLE time with angry customers who can't get a room because 'central reservations' have overbooked by 2 or 3. It's fine-ish if they can place you somewhere within say, a mile, but sometimes, there IS nowhere that close.
The Travelodge my friends work at does not have another one for 7 miles, and people book at theirs for a reason - because it's close to where they want to be/want to go! Like walking distance. They don't want to be ferried off somewhere 7+ miles away. It's infuriating. Some people don't have a car, and arrive by taxi, and even though the Travelodge pays for a taxi to the next nearest hotel, that still puts them quite far away from where they wanted to be.
Sometimes my friends will put them into the nearest hotel - any hotel, and if it costs more than the Travelodge room, then Travelodge have to make up the difference. But they do have to send people a few miles away sometimes.
It's stupid. Like if they do it with flights, it's annoying, but not quite so bad, because there is often another flight within an hour or two. But you can't get another room at the Travelodge you booked within a few hours. Rooms are paid for in advance, so they are not losing out if people don't come, and they have 2-3 empty rooms! Why they overbook just eludes me! It's grabby and shitty behaviour!
As has been said, best thing to do is check in as early as possible. It's mainly people coming after 9-10pm who are affected. Surprised all the rooms had gone by 5.45pm.
As has been said also though, I don't think it's just them. But it IS shitty behaviour! They do have to get you a room somewhere though, and would not leave you on the car park with your suitcases. Still not good enough though!