What Premier Inn looks for in candidates
Premier Inn, part of Whitbread, runs the UK's largest hotel brand around consistent, no-frills quality and reliable customer service, and interviewers look for candidates who are warm, dependable, and comfortable in a role that mixes guest interaction with practical, sometimes physical tasks depending on the position (reception, housekeeping, or food and beverage). Team flexibility across different hotel functions is often valued given how hotels operate around the clock.
Common questions and how to answer them
"Why do you want to work at Premier Inn?" Reference the brand's scale and consistency, or genuine interest in hospitality and guest service, rather than a generic hotel-industry answer. "How would you handle a guest complaint about their room?" Show a calm, empathetic approach: listening fully, apologising sincerely, and resolving the issue promptly, whether that means a room change or another practical fix. "Are you comfortable working shifts, including early mornings, evenings, or weekends?" Hotels run continuously, so honest, clear availability matters directly here.
How to prepare
Be ready to confirm your genuine shift availability, including any early, late, or weekend commitments, since hotel rotas depend on this heavily. Prepare a specific example of resolving a guest or customer issue calmly, and show flexibility across different tasks if applying for a general hotel role rather than a single fixed position.