Jurys Doyle, the Dublin-based hotel group, has announced an 11% rise in pre-tax profits despite the impact of foot and mouth on regional tourism.

In the year to 30 April 2001, turnover was also strong, up 15 per cent.

Chief executive, Pat McCann, put the positive figures down to the strong city-centre bias in the company's portfolio: The impact of foot and mouth disease which although negative, was not significant due to our strategy of developing hotels and inns in geographically diverse, busy city centre locations. This ensures that we are not over exposed in any one geographic or segmental market.

On the back of the encouraging results, the company also announced plans to develop a 274-room Jurys Inn in Newcastle at a cost of £17.9m. The Inn will be located in a £45m mixed development of retail, office and residential space, the largest development programme in Newcastle since the Quays redevelopment.

McCann explained the group's plans for the Jurys Inn brand will include increased roll out: A central element of our corporate strategy is our intention to expand the Jurys Inn portfolio in the UK over the next four years.