NEWS FROM PREMIER INN

RECESSION SEES BUSINESS EXPENSE CLAIMS SOAR, HONEST

British workers are claiming more expenses than ever before during the recession, with claims predicted to total an extra £12.5 billion1 this year says a report released this week.

However, ‘Joe Public’ is overwhelmingly honest, with only 2 in 10 sneaking through personal items on their claims – the rise is due to workers ensuring every receipt is submitted, as we keep a closer eye on our pennies.

Premier Inn’s Business Expenses Index1 polled British workers on how their attitude claiming their expenses has changed over the last 12 months. It found one in four Brits is claiming more than ever before - an extra £576pa on average - as they’re increasingly conscious of claiming everything owed.

30% of workers also revealed they have become more concerned about paying out for expenses with personal cash or credit cards as they try to manage their own finances.

Meanwhile, claiming back business expenses is a time consuming job for employees, taking on average 12 hours a year to calculate - or £3.4billion a year in man hours across British businesses.

Premier Inn spokesperson, Luke Goggin says, “The cost of doing business - such as fuel, food and travel – is on the rise so Brits have become more conscious of doing their expense claims thoroughly and on time. British employees and employers need a way to manage expenses more easily. That’s why Premier Inn has created the Business Account Card, a great expense management system to help improve this.”

The Premier Inn Business Account Card makes it easy for business travellers to stay at any of the Premier Inn hotels nationwide. Business guests can use their Business Account Card to pay for accommodation, meals and meeting rooms, allowing company expenses to be handled easily and efficiently. It also allows for flexible management and control of their travel expenses, working like a charge card for customers to book, guarantee and pay for their accommodation, meals and meeting rooms.

Business expert Saira Khan, who is commenting on the Index, says “Anything that makes it easier to keep track is a great idea to ensure British businesses – or employees - aren’t losing money.”

PREMIER INN EXPENSES INDEX: KEY FACTS & FIGURES

Who’s claiming the most?
Regionally, it’s workers in the South West that most conscious of claiming what's theirs – claiming 51% more than last year. And, nationwide, workers in the media, leisure and sport industries have made the biggest increase in claims – 35% more than last year.

And for what?
Travel and accommodation ranked highest in the breakdown of what people are claiming on their business expenses, with a total of almost £1,000 per year (£83 per month) claimed back by employees. 37% of workers said the recession means they are travelling more in order to win business or get work.

Second to this was food and drink, coming in at almost £38 per month, followed by phone bills (£24 per month) and entertaining clients at £21. 2% of Brits even claim for a second home – at up to £250 per month.

In addition to the expected, Premier Inn’s Business Expenses Index also uncovered a selection of weird and wonderful claims Brits had to put through on their business expenses, including: the services of a camel, a number of sick buckets, two golden human statues and even an aeroplane.


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For further information please contact Frank PR 0207 693 6955
Luke Goggin and Saira Khan are both available for interview


Notes to Editors:
Premier Inn’s Business Expenses Index was research independently conducted by Ciao during April 2009, with a base of 1,000 people
1. Calculated on average additional expense claim of £576pa x number of UK workers (29,000,000, according to ONS 22 April 2009)
2. Average hourly wage (£13 according to ONS 14 November 2008) x 12 (average number of hours a year it takes to calculate business expenses) x number of UK employed (29,000,000, according to ONS 22 April 2009)

About Premier Inn…
Premier Inn, is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 576 budget hotels and more than 40,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn has won the following awards:
• Best Budget Hotel at the Business Traveller Awards 2008
• Leading Economy brand in the JD Power European Economy Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey 2008
• Most improved brand by the BDRC British Hotel Guest Survey 2008.
• Winner of the HolidayCheck Awards 2008
• Best Business Hotel Chain at the Business Travel World Awards 2008 and 2009
• Hotel and Leisure Award at the Customer satisfaction awards run by the Institute of Customer service.
For more information or to book a room at Premier Inn please visit www.premierinn.com