Jurys Doyle Hotel Group reported 2002 pre-tax profits of €38.3 million today in line with analyst forecasts but said trading conditions were uncertain.
Ireland's biggest hotel operator, giving results for eight months to the end of December as it switches to a calendar fiscal year, also reported an underlying increase of 5 per cent in dividend per share.
Revenues were slightly ahead of forecasts, at €183.8 million, with good profit growth from London hotels and a strong recovery in Washington.
Room-occupancy levels also remained high and the company's "budget-plus" inns produced good results, Jurys said.
Mr Pat McCann, chief executive, said the company had delivered a "good performance" for the period despite "a trading environment characterised by continued weakness in global economies".
In light of continued global uncertainty, "it is too early to give an indication of the outcome for the current year", Mr McCann added.
Mr Shane Matthews, analyst for NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin, said the results were in line with forecasts and added that the British business in particular "has been quite strong and the inns are driving the business for the moment".
Jurys operates hotels mostly in Britain and Ireland, with a small presence in the United States.