Hotels group Millennium & Copthorne has said its New York outlets boosted business as it made further progress in its profits recovery - although its first-quarter results failed to meet market expectations.
M&C, said the New York operations helped increase group profits before exceptionals for the three months to March 31 to £7.5 million from £4 million.
The group - which owns Copthorne hotels in Birmingham and Merry Hill - was hit last year by the war in Iraq and Sars. Like-for-like turnover increased by £3.9 million to £129.5 million.
Group revenue per available room jumped 15.2 per cent in the first four weeks of the second quarter, the company said, suggesting Surrey-based M&C had so far bucked the trend of declining consumer spending in the leisure sector.
"We are pleased to have signed eight new management contracts in the quarter, including a hotel in Bangkok and one in Sharm el-Sheikh," said chairman Kwek Leng Beng.
A deal was also signed for the management of a 200-bedroom four star Millennium Hotel in Southampton, which is due to open in 2007.
In London, revenue per available room increased by nine per cent, despite this year's unfavourable timing of Easter, which attracted less profitable leisure travellers rather than the usual business clientele.
First-quarter group revenue per available room rose 4.4 per cent.
