Jurys' performance suffers as AGM reports poor trading in star hotels
But signs from its British and American operations were encouraging, shareholders at its annual general meeting were told. The group also said its Jurys Inn division, which operates three star "budget plus" inns in Britain and Ireland, was performing well.
Chairman Richard Hooper said he remained "cautiously optimistic" about the outlook for 2004, echoing comments made by chief executive Pat McCann when the group released its annual results in February. Mr Hooper said the group was experiencing "good business recovery" in many of its market segments and that the new Jurys Inns in Leeds and Chelsea had delivered encouraging early performances.
The group will open a new 225-bedroom four-star hotel in Boston in June and a Jurys Inn in Dublin's Parnell Street in August. Coupled with other inns opened this year, the group will add almost 700 bedrooms to the inns portfolio. It has also announced plans for a new 250 bedroom hotel in Nottingham that will open late next year.
Marketing and sales director Niall Geoghegan said overall occupancy levels in the first three months of the year were slightly up on last year's figure, with hotels in Britain and America delivering the biggest uplift. Mr Geoghegan said the effect of the new smoking ban on the group's Irish operations had been neutral so far. He added that foreign guests had been surprised when told of the smoking ban on arrival. Smoking is permitted in 20% of rooms in the group's hotels.
Mr Hooper told shareholders that the group had come through a difficult period for the hotel industry since September 2001 and said it was well equipped to take advantage of any upturn in demand. Mr Hooper said Jurys Doyle had taken brave steps to get its strategy right and that the future was "very bright". Jurys Doyle shares were down to €10.35 yesterday.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
