Whitbread has appointed Stuart Hookins as estates director for the UK and Ireland.
Hookins joins the business following Simon Hobbs’ decision to retire on 1 September 2026 after nearly 20 years at Whitbread. During his time with the business, Hobbs played a key role in Whitbread’s transformation from a diversified leisure company into a pure-play hotel business focused on Premier Inn.
He also helped shape initiatives to generate value from the company’s estate, including its asset intensification programme, the sale and leasebacks of select trading hotels and the active management of under-utilised land assets.
Hookins has more than 25 years of experience in senior property leadership and corporate finance roles and most recently served as group property director at Royal Mail Group. Prior to joining the Royal Mail, he spent 17 years at The Co-operative Group, progressing through a series of senior property roles before being appointed managing director of property.
In his new role, he takes over responsibility for one of the UK’s largest hospitality property portfolios, comprising more than 845 Premier Inn hotels and more than 86,000 trading bedrooms across the UK and Ireland.
Mark Anderson, MD for property and international at Whitbread, said: “Simon [Hobbs] has played a hugely important role in shaping and managing Whitbread’s property estate during his time with us. He has led the management and development of our hotel and restaurant portfolio, overseen significant transactions, and helped the business navigate significant challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic. His contribution to the company over nearly two decades has been exceptional, and he leaves a legacy to be proud of. I want to thank him for everything he has done for Whitbread and wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.
“As Simon prepares to step down, I’m pleased to welcome Stuart Hookins to Whitbread. Our property estate is one of Whitbread’s competitive strengths and as we continue to invest in growth and generate additional value from our portfolio, Stuart’s experience in leading large-scale property programmes and delivering value from major national estates will be an important asset to the business. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Hookins added: “Whitbread has one of the strongest and most distinctive property portfolios in the UK hospitality sector, underpinned by hugely successful hotel brands, a predominantly freehold estate and a clear long-term growth strategy. The opportunity to join Whitbread at such an important point was incredibly attractive. I look forward to working with colleagues across the business to maximise the value of the estate, support Premier Inn’s continued expansion and help deliver the ambitions set out in the company’s five-year plan.”
