UBS trims Whitbread price target as sluggish UK hotel market clouds near-term outlook

UBS has nudged down its price target on Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), the Premier Inn owner, from 3,605p to 3,575p and cut profit forecasts through to 2028, citing a lacklustre start to the year for UK hotel room rates and a growing list of economic headwinds facing the business. The Swiss bank said revenue per available room, a key industry performance metric known as RevPAR, had turned slightly negative since the start of 2026, weighed down by stalling interest rate cuts, inflationary pressure linked to the Middle East conflict and rising unemployment.