Whitbread PLC created the Whitbread Book Awards in 1971 in order to celebrate the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.  Since then, it has successfully developed into one of the foremost and most prestigious literary awards in the UK today.

Everyone at Whitbread is tremendously proud of the Whitbread Book Awards and what it has come to represent; an aspiration for writers based in Britain and Ireland, and a source of inspiration for everyone who loves reading.

Over the past few years Whitbread has undergone a period of significant change as it has transformed into the UK’s leading hospitality company, focused on budget hotels, restaurants and leisure clubs.  Whitbread, which itself is no longer a consumer-facing brand, operates leading brands in these three areas of the hospitality business.

 With the company having entered a new era, the Board has decided to review its sponsorship strategy.  It has concluded that now is an opportune time to find a new sponsor for this prestigious and highly successful award.  In seeking to do so, Whitbread’s number one priority is to find a like-minded organisation that shares our vision for this award and is committed to developing and nurturing it.

The Whitbread Book Awards is a unique and prestigious sponsorship opportunity that we are confident will attract many interested parties.

For further press information, please contact:

Anna Glover, Whitbread PLC   01582 844 439
Dionne Parker, Whitbread PLC  01582 844 346