Jurys Doyle Hotel Group expects trading profits for the first half of 2002 to be ahead of last year if performance in September and October is in line with company expectations.
It said trading in its five-star Berkeley Court and Westbury hotels in Dublin is ahead of the first three months of last year, and that the Jurys Inns portfolio of properties in Ireland and in Britain are performing ahead of last year.
The company also announced the appointment of Mr Richard Hooper as chairman. He succeeds Mr Walter Beatty, who will retire on August 31st.
In a statement presented 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 United States.
Jurys Doyle said the impact has mostly been focused in its four-star hotels, where occupancies are broadly satisfactory but room yields remain lower.