Premier Inn owner Whitbread announces pay rise for team members
Premier Inn owner Whitbread today, Wednesday, October 06, announces a pay increase for its UK-based hourly-paid team members following a buoyant summer for leisure guests across the hotel market.
The company is also recruiting 2,000 roles, including positions in housekeeping, reception and kitchens.
The news was shared with 30,000 employees of Whitbread’s hotel and restaurant business in a briefing this morning.
Managing Director Simon Ewins explained the rise has been driven in ‘thanks and gratitude’ for the ‘heroic’ work of the team in helping stand the business back up following the closure of most of its estate during lockdown and as a result of the strong summer demand seen across the hotel market, and that it would, ‘ help attract new talent.’
Simon continued: ‘The past 18 months have underscored the importance of the hospitality industry, not only to the UK economy but in the hearts and minds of British people and visitors from all over the world and so there’s never been a more rewarding time to work in hospitality. After many months without travel, the importance of being able to get away and enjoy a break with family and loved ones, as well as being able to travel for business, has perhaps never been held so dearly to our hearts’.
The news means all UK-based hourly-paid team members will have received a pay increase since this September and the new rates will be above the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage with minimum pay rates increasing by over 5%.
