Premier Inn, owned by Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), and Hotel Indigo, owned by Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC (LSE:IHG), have been ranked as some of the best hotel chains in the UK, according to research by Which?
Hub by Premier Inn, the hotelier’s smaller but more stylish brand, received the highest customer rating at 77%, with customers praising its “convenient” locations, cleanliness and comfortable beds.
Operating in a limited number of sites exclusive to Edinburgh and London, the Whitbread-owned chain provides compact rooms, some of which are windowless, with modern additions such as a lighting and temperature controller on the bedside wall.
Hotel Indigo, the boutique accommodation chain, also received a top ranking, having been celebrated for its “stylish” designs, with many of its 18 UK venues situated in historic buildings.
Customers were particularly impressed by the hotel’s “unusual and quirky” décor and unique atmosphere, with respondents only reacting negatively to the pricing of the stay, rating it three out of five stars for value for money.
Premier Inn ranked slightly lower at 75%, but still placed second overall, having impressed visitors with its customer service, value for money and room descriptions.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “With prices at many hotels rising further this year, finding good value, budget accommodation is increasingly difficult.
“For those looking for a reasonably priced stay, there are big differences between the best and worst chains, with the likes of Premier Inn and Wetherspoons distinguishing themselves from the pack”
JD Wetherspoon PLC (LSE:JDW) wowed visitors with its 85-a-night stays – one of the cheapest out of all providers.
In total, hotel prices have risen by 13% in 2023, ONS figures revealed, and close to 80% of chains have propped up their prices to more than £100 a night, Which? added.