Whitbread constructs and manages hundreds of properties across the UK for brands such as Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre and Costa Coffee. Timber plays a key part in many of those premises, especially newbuild Premier Inns, which are regularly of timber frame construction.
Last year it opened 23 new Premier Inns.
The company has a long-standing relationship with the STA and in recent years the two worked together on the issue of fire safety at construction sites. The Premier Inn construction team and its consultant partners helped develop the STA fire safety processes for building site work.
"Timber is at the heart of many of the properties we construct and operate," said Chris Foad, Whitbread’s head of construction and estate expansion. "Therefore we need to ensure the materials and services we use are of the highest quality, whilst being sustainably sourced and priced at a competitive rate."
"The association’s strict membership conditions, movement toward CE marking and investment in skills and training, mean we can build safe in the knowledge that quality is at the core of what we do."
There is huge potential in the deal. The additional 23 Premier Inns last year resulted in 3,364 new rooms. Plans call for an additional 11,500 new rooms and the budget last year for refurbishment and maintenance was £80m.
"Whitbread has used timber in construction of its properties for many years so this commitment to use only timber products and services from STA members is a great boost for the association and its members," said Andrew Carpenter, STA chief executive.
"This endorsement puts clear water between members and non-members, and is a reflection of the quality, assurance and peace
of mind which comes with using an STA member."
