Hotel and restaurant group Whitbread Plc (WTB.L) Tuesday reported growth in total sales and like for like sales for the first quarter, with a strong performance from the coffee chain Costa.
For the 13 weeks to May 30, group total sales advanced 13.8 percent, with like for like sales rising 3.1 percent.
Sales climbed 12.7 percent at the hotel chain Premier Inn and like for like sales grew 2.7 percent, despite strong comparatives in the London hotel market last year.
At Premier Inn, total room nights sold increased 10.9 percent to 3.7 million and revenue per available room or revpar grew 1.7 percent to 42.57 pounds.
In London, Premier Inn sales climbed 19.9 percent, while the increase was 11 percent in the UK Regions.
Sales at Restaurants grew 2.6 percent, while like for like sales remained flat, as unseasonably cold weather gave a tough start to the quarter.
Coffee chain Costa benefitted from the cold weather and total sales grew 24.8 percent and like for like sales advanced 8 percent.
The company opened 39 net new UK stores in the quarter, including 36 in UK Retail and three in Costa Enterprises.
Whitbread plans to open around 300 net new stores. The firm has raised its target to 750 Costa Express units in the full year.
Looking ahead, Andy Harrison, Chief Executive of Whitbread, said, "We see no change to market conditions. Our plans for profitable organic growth are well established which, combined with our strong focus on returns, should create further substantial shareholder value."
WTB.L is climbing 4.2 percent in early morning trade at 3,047.00 pence.
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