Market wrap: Whitbread tops FTSE gains as hospitality sector prepares to reopen

Whitbread catapulted to the top of the FTSE 100’s risers as hospitality businesses gear up to reopen their doors tomorrow after months of lockdown. The company which owns Premier Inn and is one of the largest operators of hotels and restaurants in the UK, saw shares rise 1.62% to 2,387p. Whitbread was also one of the biggest winners in the FTSE 100 yesterday, rising 4.26%. Managing director of property and international Mark Anderson said that tomorrow marks “one of the most important days for our industry that I can remember”, and said that reopening the company’s national network of hotels and restaurants will be a “huge undertaking”. Elsewhere, AEW UK REIT enjoyed a 4.93% increase to 72.4p, and Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust nudged up 2.62% to 33.25p. The FTSE 100 ended the day down 1.33% at 6,157. The FTSE 250 inched down 0.38% to 17,302. To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette