Millennium lifted by profits rise

Hotels group Millennium & Copthorne today said a strong performance by its London sites helped more than double profits during a “pivotal” year.

M&C, whose profits slumped last year due to factors such as the Iraq war and the SARS outbreak, saw pre-tax profits before exceptionals rise to £55m (€79.9M) in the year to December 31, against £26.4m (€38.3M) last time.