Jurys sees H1 trading profit ahead of last year

Jurys Doyle Hotel Group PLC said it expects its trading profits for the first half of the current year to be ahead of last year providing performance in the key months of September and October is in line with the company's expectations.

The company also announced the appointment of Richard Hooper as chairman, succeeding Walter Beatty who will retire on Aug 31.

In the text of a statement to today's AGM, the company said the trading environment remains challenging, particularly in the Dublin and London markets, which are still feeling the effects of last year's terrorist attacks in the US.

Jurys said the impact has mostly been concentrated in its 4 star hotels, where occupancies are broadly satisfactory but room yields remain lower.

It said trading in its 5 star Berkeley Court and Westbury hotels in Dublin is ahead of the first three months of last year, and the Jurys Inns portfolio of properties in Ireland and in the UK are performing ahead of last year.