Whitbread appoints two senior marketers

Leisure company Whitbread has appointed two senior marketers as it continues with the roll-out of two new restaurant brands.

The company has launched Tay Barn, an all-you-can-eat buffet being trialed at six sites, and a restaurant brand called Table Table, aimed at families, groups and couples. After a soft launch, it now operates at over 100 locations across the UK, and local marketing and new signage will be introduced to support the brand.

Marketing for both Table Table and Tay Barn is being overseen by Joanne Blake, who has joined Whitbread as head of marketing for both brands. She joins from Elliott People, a marketing agency specialising in leisure and hospitality.

Blake was formerly top marketer at Little Chef and was appointed as board-level marketing director at The People’s Restaurant, the group that acquired Little Chef in October 2005 (mw.co.uk, December 8, 2005).

She will report to Whitbread marketing director for hotels and restaurants Gerard Tempest. The former Premier Inn marketing chief was handed the new role earlier this year after a reshuffle (mw.co.uk, May 5). Premier Inns is owned by Whitbread.

Premier Inn head of brand marketing Catriona Lougher-Smith left the company at the same time, and will be replaced by Steve Conway, who joins as head of marketing for the hotel chain next month.

Conway was previously director of product development for the Discovery Channel EMEA region. After leaving Whitbread, Lougher-Smith joined car rental firm Europcar UK arm as consumer marketing director.

Premier Inn is running a press campaign promoting itself as an alternative to mid-range hotels for business travellers.