De Vere offsets rise in bills

Hotels-to-leisure clubs chain De Vere today said it was managing to offset hikes in energy bills and business rates through higher sales.

In a statement before its annual meeting, De Vere, which runs 19 hotels around the UK as well as Greens health and fitness clubs and Village leisure clubs, said like-for-like sales were up 3.3% in the 18 weeks to January 29.