With new hotel projects popping up like mushrooms the provision of high-class food and shelter - at a price - is clearly seen by the new arrivals as a business with a future. Old-timer Jurys has seen it all before, in good times and bad. Happily, now is a particularly good time with the economic boom creating the conditions for a return to the spendthrift days of unbridled corporate entertainment and rising tourist numbers adding a further gloss to earnings.

The Jurys hotel group this week delivered champagne annual results with pre-tax profits surging 41 per cent to £19.5 million, a particularly creditable achievement given the 24 per cent growth in turnover to £71. 4 million. Corporate business accounts for over 50 per cent of group business but income for general tourism is growing. According to managing director Peter Malone the current year has started where the last one left off with business during May and June " exceptionally good ". Average occupancy rates in the group's hotels are around 78 per cent .

Shareholders also receive some corporate hospitality with total dividends jumping 26 per cent to 5.88p, and solid earnings keeping the well-supported share price on a vertical course.