Premier Inn owner Whitbread posts modest UK sales, reaffirms 2025 outlook

(Reuters) -Premier Inn owner Whitbread reported a modest increase in its total accommodation sales in the UK for a six-week period, and reaffirmed its full-year 2025 forecast, supported by strong sales in its German market.

Whitbread reported a 2% rise in total accommodation sales in the UK for the six-week period ended on Jan. 9. In Germany, total accommodation sales rose by 37%, with revenue per available room - an important hospitality metric - climbing 28% for the region.

Despite strong travel demand during the festive season, UK businesses are grappling with uncertainty due to significant payroll tax hikes introduced in finance minister Rachel Reeves' October budget.

(Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)