Whitbread Sees 'Significant' Positive Impact from Hospitality Business Rates Freeze

04:20 AM EDT, 10/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Whitbread (WTB.L) expects a "significant" positive impact on its financial performance from the UK government's decision to freeze business rates for hospitality businesses in England for two years. Based on a preliminary estimate, the London-listed hospitality company's total business rate payments are expected to increase only between 7.5 million pounds sterling and 12.5 million pounds in 2028, compared with the previous consensus increase of 35 million pounds, according to a Thursday filing. For 2029, the company expects its business rates payments to be between 45 million pounds and 60 million pounds lower than previously anticipated.