Whitbread sales are up ahead of full-year figures

Whitbread has seen total sales rise by 4% in the 51 weeks to 22 February, promising further improvements in operating margins when it reports year-end results.

Its Marriott hotels, which saw like-for-like sales growth fall by 0.4% in the period, had, it said, outperformed the four-star hotel sector, achieving "significant" revenue per available room.

Whitbread's budget hotel brand, Travel Inn, saw sales growth of 6% during the period, with improved room rate and occupancy.

In pub-restaurants, Brewers Fayre saw strong sales performance, with growth of 3.8% in the 51 weeks. However, it said that the static performance of Beefeater sales, up by 0.6%, reflected the disruption caused by 51 restaurants being put up for sale.

Whitbread will report its full-year results on 30 April.