Business Details
Leading Hospitality Solutions UK & Germany
Whitbread PLC stands as a cornerstone of the UK's hospitality sector, operating the nation's largest hotel brand, Premier Inn, alongside a portfolio of renowned restaurant chains. With a heritage dating back to 1742, we have evolved from a brewing pioneer to a vertically integrated hospitality leader, offering quality accommodation and dining experiences across the UK and Germany. Our unique business model combines property ownership, brand management, and operational expertise to deliver consistent growth and exceptional customer value. Committed to sustainability through our Force for Good programme, we focus on empowering people, strengthening communities, and responsible environmental stewardship.With over 34,000 employees and 850+ hotels, we maintain a customer-centric approach that balances affordability with comfort, supported by strategic investments in digital innovation and property development. Our expansion into Germany demonstrates our ability to replicate UK success internationally, while our restaurant brands ensure comprehensive hospitality solutions for millions of guests monthly.
Services
Hotel accommodation
Premier Inn stays
Restaurant dining
Corporate hospitality
Event hosting
Digital booking platform
Sustainability consulting
Hotel franchising
Property development
Brand licensing
Highlights and features
- We operate the UK's largest hotel network with 850+ Premier Inn properties
- Our vertically integrated model ensures consistent service quality and pricing control
- Sustainability leadership through our Force for Good programme since 2023
- Award-winning hospitality brand with 34,000 dedicated hospitality professionals
- Proven success replicating UK hotel model in German market since 2016
What people say
Consistent quality
Comfortable beds
Strategic locations
Value for money
Reliable service
Services
Premier Inn stays
Premier Inn offers comfortable, affordable hotel accommodation across the UK and Germany with over 850 locations. Each property features en-suite bathrooms, Freeview TV, and power showers, with options for family rooms and accessible facilities. Guests benefit from consistent quality standards maintained through our vertically integrated business model.
Restaurant dining
Our hospitality portfolio includes multiple restaurant brands serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to hotel guests and local communities. Menus feature hearty favourites, pub classics, and contemporary dishes using fresh ingredients, with special dietary requirements accommodated across most locations.
Digital booking platform
The Premier Inn website and app enable direct bookings with guaranteed best rates, offering 24/7 access to room reservations, special offers, and loyalty programme benefits. The platform features virtual tours, real-time availability, and flexible cancellation options for customer convenience.
Sustainability programme
Our Force for Good sustainability programme focuses on three pillars: Opportunity, Community, and Responsibility. This includes staff development initiatives, local community engagement projects, and environmental commitments covering energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing practices across all operations.
Corporate hospitality
We provide tailored hospitality solutions for business clients including conference facilities, meeting rooms, and group bookings. Our properties offer business-friendly amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, flexible event spaces, and corporate rate packages with dedicated account management support.
People
Dominic Paul
Chief Executive
Experienced hospitality executive with sector expertise in travel, leisure, and international brand development. Previously led Costa Coffee and Domino's Pizza Group, bringing extensive operational and commercial leadership to Whitbread PLC's strategic growth initiatives.
Hemant Patel
Chief Financial Officer
Finance director with retail and hospitality experience, including roles at Greene King and ASDA-Walmart. Recognised for financial strategy and operational efficiency improvements, holding an MBE for services to museums and heritage. Appointed in March 2022.
Christine Hodgson
Chair
Experienced FTSE 100 Chair with background in finance, technology, and sustainability. Former executive chair of Capgemini UK, bringing corporate governance expertise to Whitbread PLC's board. Appointed September 2025 with extensive international business leadership experience.
Erik Friemuth
Chief Executive Officer, Premier Inn Germany
Marketing expert with 20+ years' experience, previously Group CMO at TUI AG. Leading German expansion since January 2024, applying tourism industry knowledge to grow Premier Inn's presence in continental Europe's largest economy.
Rachel Howarth
Chief People Officer
Human resources leader with hospitality sector experience from SSP Group and Tesco. Responsible for global people strategy across 35 countries, focusing on talent development and organisational culture. Appointed July 2021 with military logistics background.
Questions
What sustainability initiatives does Whitbread PLC operate?
Our Force for Good programme focuses on three pillars: Opportunity (staff development), Community (local engagement), and Responsibility (environmental stewardship), with specific commitments on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and inclusive employment.
How many Premier Inn hotels are there in Germany?
As of 2025, we operate 63 Premier Inn hotels in Germany with 11,000+ rooms open and a further 9,000 rooms in the development pipeline, following our first Frankfurt opening in 2016.
What restaurant brands does Whitbread PLC own?
We operate multiple restaurant brands including Beefeater Grill, Brewers Fayre, Table Table, and several Premier Inn-branded dining concepts, offering pub classics, contemporary dishes, and breakfast options.
Can I book Premier Inn rooms online?
Yes, our direct booking platform offers 24/7 online reservations with guaranteed best rates, virtual tours, real-time availability, and flexible cancellation options through our website and mobile app.
What corporate social responsibility activities do you undertake?
Through our Thrive programme and charity partnerships like Great Ormond Street Hospital, we support community projects, disability employment initiatives, and local fundraising activities across our hotel network.
Do you offer business-friendly hotel facilities?
Yes, our corporate hospitality services include conference facilities, meeting rooms, group booking options, and business amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, with dedicated account management for regular clients.
Reviews (5)
Julie Sharpe
May 12, 2022
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Stayed at Southampton town center premier inn 1st may, room good did meal deal all was fine until we paid, because it came up as pending we were completely hounded by member of restaurant staff she wanted to look at our bank account on phone, kept telling her it was pending, even rang us when we were out for a walk then she came up to us at reception, we went to our room to go to bed she even came knocking on the door and wanted us to pay again. I've never come across anything like this, we've rung e.mailed and written but no one seems to care saying that the restaurant is nothing to do with premier inn
Stephen Ducker
May 09, 2022
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Whitbread & their companies Premier Inn and Beefeater do not even deserve one star. All their mission statements & promises have no substance. You would have great trouble finding a more unhelpful, unprofessional & just plain awful group of companies. The icing on the cake is the 'guest relations department'. An utterly unhelpful entity that will not take responsibility for their companies mistakes or failings.
Philip Lorimer-George
Mar 17, 2022
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I have stayed at a premier Inn over 1000 times for business.great room, great food and fantastic dedicated staff
Linda Bickerton
Jan 19, 2022
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Made a complaint about an atrocious special night out with my family being spoilt by the service, delays and forgotten orders. (When we finally left 4 of the group hadn't had their mains.) The original response came back thanking me for my feedback! Requested they review as a COCOMPLAINT. This is what I got as a reply ----- Further to your latest contact, we are sorry for any further disappointment caused.
Rest assured that we do appreciate and empathise with the reasons for your request. However, we advise guests to speak to the restaurant team at the time rather than later. The restaurant team would've resolved the issues at the time. We can confirm that this matter has been fully reviewed by our management team and the decision previously advised still stands. At this time, we can confirm that this is our final resolution in this matter and we will not be corresponding further. We now consider this case closed. If your considering a nice meal out keep clear of the Whitbread group.
Rest assured that we do appreciate and empathise with the reasons for your request. However, we advise guests to speak to the restaurant team at the time rather than later. The restaurant team would've resolved the issues at the time. We can confirm that this matter has been fully reviewed by our management team and the decision previously advised still stands. At this time, we can confirm that this is our final resolution in this matter and we will not be corresponding further. We now consider this case closed. If your considering a nice meal out keep clear of the Whitbread group.
Is It Rest Easy Or Rest In Peace For Whitbread
Jul 06, 2021
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I am very disappointed to leave this review, but Alison Brittain and the Whitbread Customer Service Team gave me little option. I recently wrote to Ms Brittain to advise her that based on my experience : a) Premier Inn appears to MIS-SELL rooms on their website b) Doesn't honour the widely publicised Good Night Guarantee and is therefore, most likely in BREACH OF CONTRACT. The issue in a nutshell, was I had requested and thought I had booked a Twin room.
On arrival at the hotel we were allocated a small double which made for a very uncomfortable and unpleasant night. To make matters worse Premier Inn then refused to honour their Good Night Guarantee, by giving a reason that was (a) not true and (b) not in the terms and conditions. Such a pity that Ms Brittain and Whitbread appear to have forgotten that good customer service makes great companies. While I have chosen to rest easy and not take the matter through the courts, Whitbread may want to review their approach to service before it's too late.
On arrival at the hotel we were allocated a small double which made for a very uncomfortable and unpleasant night. To make matters worse Premier Inn then refused to honour their Good Night Guarantee, by giving a reason that was (a) not true and (b) not in the terms and conditions. Such a pity that Ms Brittain and Whitbread appear to have forgotten that good customer service makes great companies. While I have chosen to rest easy and not take the matter through the courts, Whitbread may want to review their approach to service before it's too late.
