THISTLE Hotels has unveiled a 6% rise in like-for-like business during the first 16 weeks of this financial year, with the company's 24 Scottish establishments performing slightly ahead of the rest of the portfolio.
At yesterday's annual meeting, chairman Rodney Peel said turnover hit #87m during the first four months of the year, leading to a ''satisfactory increase'' in profitability during the period. Average room rates were ahead by 10%.
Thistle's Scottish hotels reportedly led the way in these advances, with establishments in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen all getting off to a strong start for the year. Only the Highland hotels in Aviemore, Braemar and Fort William experienced difficulties as low levels of snowfall kept skiers away.
New chief executive Ian Burke, who joined Thistle from Holiday Hospitality on April 20, is expected to announce shortly which of the company's hotels will be put up for sale.
Burke replaced former chief executive Robert Peel, who left the company in November and has since set up the AIM-quoted Peel Hotels.
The rationalisation programme is aimed at shedding some 30 provincial mid-market hotels.
Shares in Thistle closed 2.5p higher yesterday at 203.5p.
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