Interim profits up by 18% at Jurys Doyle

Dublin-based Jurys Doyle Hotel Group has posted pre-tax profits up by 18% to €32.82m (£20.8m).

Turnover for the six months to 31 October 2000 was ahead by 18.7% at €130m (£82.4m).

Chief executive Pat McCann said: "We have succeeded in delivering a strong set of results which reflect our position in the Irish market and increasing presence in the UK.

"Overall, business in Britain has been very buoyant with room occupancies in line with the high levels achieved in the corresponding period last year.

"Our entire portfolio of ten hotels and Inns in the UK performed exceptionally well with good occupancy levels in our Kensington, Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow hotels.

"Our Inns at London, Manchester and Edinburgh performed exceptionally well with high occupancy and business levels ahead of expectations."

The group's three hotels in the USA also performed better than expected.

McCann said there was potential for expansion in the USA and the company was focusing its strategy on the East Coast.

He added: "We will continue to seek out and develop new city centre locations which enhance our geographic spread across Europe and the UK."

In September Jurys Doyle opened a new four-star, 170-bedroom hotel in Great Russell Street, central London, at a cost of £23m.

A newly built Jurys Inn in Croydon, south London, is scheduled to open in January 2002. The total cost, including land acquisition and construction, will be £15m.

Jurys Doyle said trading during November and December 2000 had remained strong and was ahead of the corresponding months in 1999.