Whitbread’s figures boost

Last updated 11:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008

WHITBREAD, the leisure group, announced a 7 per cent increase in like-for-like sales, for the 24 weeks to August 14, this morning.

The good results were boosted by a strong performance by the group’s budget hotel group Premier Inn. The group stated that like-for-like sales at the hotel chain had increased 10.2 per cent over the period, as the group continues to take advantage on individuals and businesses cutting travel budgets and downgrading to the budget hotel sector.

Elsewhere in the group, Whitbread’s relatively small Costa Coffee chain continues to expand rapidly. Whitbread’s share price rose over 6 per cent to 1188p in early trading.