Premier Inn helps drive Whitbread sales
Whitbread has reported like-for-like sales growth of 4.3% and total sales growth of 12.5% , according to a trading statement for the 13 weeks to May 28, 2015.
The results were boosted by the group’s Premier Inn hotel brand, which reported a rise of 6.3% in like-for-like sales and an overall sales growth of 14.3% during the period.
Total occupancy at Premier Inn was down 0.1% to 80.6%, although this actually represented an increase in stays, since the number of rooms available rose by 8.2%. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) also grew by 6.1%.
Andy Harrison, chief executive, said: “Whitbread has begun the new financial year well, in line with expectations, with total sales growth for the first quarter of 12.5% and good like for like sales growth of 4.3%, driven by continued momentum in Premier Inn and Costa.”
Harrison added that 333 Premier Inn rooms were opened during the period with plans to open some 5,500 new rooms in the UK before the year end.
