World4Traveler

Business travellers boost Premier Inn

Budget chain Premier Inn has been boosted by cost conscious business travellers, according to latest figures. Parent company Whitbread said total sales at Premier Inn rose by almost 18% in the six months to August 14. Like for like sales were up by 10.2%.

The chain outperformed the hotal market in the period, according to Whitbread, with growth driven by 7.6% more rooms and REVPAR increasing by 5.8%. "Strong demand has been maintained in the commercial market as corporate buyers are increasingly attracted to Premier Inn's value for money price and facilities," the company said.

The company opened 14 new hotels in the six months, adding 1,157 rooms, and said it remained on course to add more than 4,000 new rooms this year. Whitbread, which also runs pub restaurants and the Costa coffee shop chain, said it continued to be resilient in a period of consumer uncertainty.