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Whitbread has announced it is looking to expand Premier Inn’s portfolio of rooms, following increased revenue and profits in 2015.
Reporting on its trading update for the 53-week financial year ending 3 March 2016, the company saw total sales rise 12% year-on-year to £2.9bn as like-for-like sales grew 3%.
Underlying profit before tax for the company rose 11.9% to £546m, while underlying operating profit for its hotels and restaurants division saw an 11.3% increase to £447m.
The firm’s hotel chain, Premier Inn, performed particularly well, with total sales growth of 12.9% and an increase in like-for-like sales of 4.2%.
Chief executive of Whitbread, Alison Brittain, said the company is looking to reach 85,000 UK hotels rooms by 2020 – an increase on the 64,599 it already operates.
She said: “Both Premier Inn and Costa benefit from attractive market growth opportunities and we will continue to capitalise on these by developing our network and brand strength.
“The world around us is shifting, with rising customer expectations, an evolving competitor landscape, rapid technological developments and changing cost structures.
“In responding to this change, I am especially keen to reinforce our relentless focus on our customers and on innovation to develop our brand propositions ensuring we stay ahead and become more productive.”
