Whitbread, the owner of the Premier Inn hotel chain, says it expects a strong summer period as bookings for UK stays increase. Dominic Paul, the company’s boss, links the shift in travel demand to higher air fares, which he says are being driven by disruption in the context of the Iran war. In that environment, Paul suggests some Britons may choose to holiday in the UK rather than travel abroad.
Whitbread’s business is heavily concentrated in domestic accommodation. The company reports that nearly 90% of its revenue comes from the UK, where it operates the Premier Inn brand. The outlets reporting the comments emphasize that the forecast is tied to booking trends and the broader travel market, including the relative cost of flying versus staying in the UK.
The coverage presents Whitbread’s outlook as conditional on continued demand, with the company pointing to current booking strength and external factors affecting consumer travel choices.
