Disposal

Whitbread PLC
05 May 2005


5 May 2005


Whitbread completes hotels tranfer


Whitbread PLC announces that it has today completed the transfer of its
franchised Marriott hotels business to a newly formed 50/50 joint venture with
Marriott International.    As consideration for the transfer Whitbread has
received an initial payment of approximately £710m in cash and 50% of the joint
venture's ordinary and preferred share capital as well as deferred
consideration.  Whitbread expects total proceeds from the transaction of at
least £1billion.


As previously announced, a special dividend of 135p per ordinary share will be
paid on 20th May 2005 to shareholders on the register on 13th May 2005 and a
consolidation of the share capital will take effect so that shareholders on the
register at the close of business on 13th May 2005 will exchange seven existing
ordinary shares for six new ordinary shares.

For more information please contact:

Investor Relations:

Dan Waugh, Whitbread PLC      [phone];
                              [phone](m)

Press Contacts:

Anna Glover, Whitbread PLC    [phone]

Abigail Langan, Whitbread PLC [phone]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange