# Whitbread’s Premier Inn outperforms UK market

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/whitbreads-premier-inn-outperforms-uk-market/4121068698
- Published: 2022-06-15T08:18:36+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[Whitbread plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/whitbread-plc/wtb.l)**(
LON:WTB) has announced its Q1 trading update.

**Very strong trading ahead of expectations in the UK and Germany**

_Throughout this release percentage growth comparisons are made to either FY22, 
or to FY20, the last financial period before the onset of the COVID pandemic._

**Summary**

·      Continued market outperformance in the UK with Premier Inn total accommodation
sales 27.2pp ahead of the market^(1), driven by the strength of our commercial and
operational initiatives combined with the inherent strengths of our brand, scale
and direct distribution

·      Our UK hotels continue to perform well ahead of pre-COVID levels:

o  Total UK accommodation sales 235.6% ahead vs FY22 (31.0% ahead vs FY20)

o  UK LFL accommodation sales 221.6% ahead vs FY22 (21.3% ahead vs FY20)

·      UK food and beverage sales were 585.3% ahead vs FY22 (4.3% behind vs FY20)

·      Given a tight labour market and our focus on maintaining our market leading
position, we plan to invest additional costs of £20m – £30m in labour, refurbishments
and IT in FY23. However, our high levels of occupancy and continued strong sales
performance mean we remain confident in our continued margin recovery in the UK

·      Since the lifting of restrictions, the German hotel market has recovered 
more strongly than expected and Premier Inn occupancy levels were 64.7% in last 
four weeks of the quarter. The open estate now stands at 40 hotels

·      Replacement of existing debt facility with new £775m five-year revolving 
credit facility

**Q1 Financial Performance^(2)**

| _ _ | _Vs last year (FY22)_
UK | _Vs last year (FY22)_Germany_^(3)_ | _Vs last year (FY22)_Total | _Vs pre-pandemic (FY20)_UK | _Vs pre-pandemic (FY20)_Germany_^(3)_ | _Vs pre-pandemic (FY20)_Total | 
| Sales growth: | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | 
| _   Accommodation_ | 235.6% | 906.7% | 244.9% | 31.0% | 994.9% | 35.9% | 
| _   Food & beverage_ | 585.3% | 855.7% | 588.9% | (4.3)% | 929.7% | (2.7)% | 
| _   Total_ | 295.4% | 898.2% | 303.8% | 18.1% | 984.0% | 21.8% | 
| Like-for-like sales growth: |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
| _   Accommodation_ | 221.6% | 634.7% | 227.4% | 21.3% | 12.3% | 21.3% | 
| _   Food & beverage_ | 566.5% | 832.8% | 569.2% | (7.6)% | 10.7% | (7.5)% | 
| _   Total_ | 281.0% | 660.6% | 286.0% | 10.8% | 12.1% | 10.8% |

**Notes:**

1: STR data, full inventory basis, 4 March 2022 to 26 May 2022, M&E market excludes
Premier Inn

2: All quarters are 13 weeks: **FY23:** 4 March 2022 to 2 June 2022 **FY22**: 26
February 2021 to 27 May 2021, **FY20**: 1 March 2019 to 30 May 2019

3: LFL sales in Germany: **FY22**: 24 sites and **FY20**: 2 sites**

**Q1 performance and outlook**

Premier Inn UK has traded strongly during the first three months of FY23 and based
on improved visibility of the second quarter, where we are c.40% booked, we are 
increasingly confident of delivering a strong first half performance.  Whilst the
short-lead booking cycle for the majority of our customers means that our view of
the second half is not yet fully formed, based on our performance to-date and a 
number of lead indicators, we are confident of remaining ahead of the market for
the rest of the financial year.

This strong sales performance coupled with the continued decline of the independent
hotel sector means that we remain positive about our continued margin recovery in
the UK in FY23. However, labour supply remains tight across the hospitality sector
and assuming that consumer demand and occupancy remain strong, we expect some additional
costs due to targeted pay increases. We are also taking the opportunity to bring
forward our investment in refurbishments and maintenance projects as well as accelerate
some additional IT spend that will underpin our market leading position and drive
future earnings. Taken together, these factors are expected to increase total costs
by £20m – £30m in FY23.

UK total food and beverage sales have recovered well throughout FY22 and into FY23
and are approaching pre-COVID levels (FY20). We anticipate that the rollout of new
menus, combined with targeted marketing initiatives, will help drive an improvement
in sales as we move through the year. 

In Germany, trading over the last two months post the lifting of Government restrictions
has been ahead of our expectations. Our occupancy levels have increased, particularly
across our more mature hotels which are trading ahead of the market. Whilst we have
only traded during a restriction free period for a number of weeks, we are optimistic
that the full year outlook in Germany is improving and there is no change in our
view of the medium and long-term value creation opportunity for Premier Inn in Germany.

**New debt facility**

The Group is pleased to have signed a new £775m revolving credit facility (RCF),
replacing the previous £850m facility that was due to expire in September 2023. 
The new five-year facility, with two one year extension options, is a multi-currency
revolving credit facility and is provided by a syndicate of seven banks led by Banco
Santander, Barclays, NatWest and Bank of China. The RCF has variable interest rates
with GBP linked to SONIA and EUR being linked to EURIBOR.

> **Comment from Alison Brittain, Whitbread CEO:**
> “The strength of Premier Inn’s recovery in the UK continues to be ahead of expectations
> with a particularly strong Q1 performance that is well ahead of pre-pandemic levels
> and we continue to significantly outperform the market^(1).  This outperformance
> is driven by a number of factors, including our commercial and operational focus
> as well as the strength of our brand and operating model, our direct distribution,
> national coverage and accelerated independent supply contraction. 
> “In Germany, our open hotel estate now stands at 40 hotels, with a further 38 
> hotels in the pipeline. The quality and prime location of our hotels are proving
> highly attractive and are driving high customer scores. The trading performance
> of our more mature hotels in the two months post the lifting of COVID restrictions
> only reinforces our positive view of the significant opportunity in Germany.
> “This impressive Q1 performance together with improved visibility into Q2, gives
> us increased confidence in delivering a strong first half and remaining ahead 
> of the market for the rest of the year.”

_A live Q&A teleconference for investors and analysts will be hosted by Alison Brittain
and Hemant Patel at 8:00am BST on 15 June 2022. Details to join are noted below.
An on-demand version will be made available on the Group’s website: (_www.whitbread.
com/investors/results-reports-and-presentations_) later today._

**Q&A teleconference participant dial-in numbers:**

Start time – 8:00am BST

United Kingdom (Local): 020 3936 2999

All other locations: +44 203 936 2999

Participant Access Code: 034706

Share on: