Hotel group Jurys Doyle said business in its Irish chains of four-star hotels was stagnant in the first half of the year but that its overseas and budget inns performed well.
Profit before tax fell to €22.1 million in the first six months of this year from €25.2 million during the same period of 2003.
Turnover increased by 9.1 per cent to €135 million, and gross profit increased by 12.8 per cent to €46.7 million.
Although occupancy levels were largely unchanged at its Irish hotels, Jurys said the continued weakness in conference and
business
travel resulted in a decline of 3 per cent in revenue per room.
By contrast, the British-based hotels reported solid growth in trading profits of 13 per cent led by very good profit growth in the three four-star hotels in London as
the
market experienced strong recovery in the first half of 2004.
Similarly, Jurys' three hotels in Washington DC had a very successful first half of 2004 with trading profits advancing by almost 30 per cent. However when translated into euro, the trading profit growth was reduced to 17 per cent.
The combined Jurys Inns Division in Ireland and Britain reported very strong growth in trading profits of 29 per cent in the first half of 2004.
In Ireland, the five Jurys Inns again achieved average occupancy levels above 80 per cent and reported modest gains in achieved room rate resulting in trading profit levels similar to the first half of 2003.
The inns dotted across Britain reported an impressive 41 per cent growth in trading profits.
Jurys declared an interim dividend of 8.40 cent per share. Dividend warrants will be posted on October 14th,
2004, to holders of ordinary shares at the close of business on the record date of September 17th, 2004.