Hilton hotels in the UK faltered in the first six-months of the year, but a strong performance from its overseas properties helped counter the decline.

Interim figures to June 2005 showed profit in the UK and Ireland fell 22.6% to £30.1m – although allowing for property changes and disposals, underlying profit fell 17%.
 
Profit in Europe and Africa rose by 55% to £31.3m, by 34.9% to £8.5m in the Middle East and Africa and in the Americas by 43.4% to £10.9m.

As a result, group pre-tax profit was £192.1m, marginally up from £191.3m for the same period last year.

Healthy revenue per available room (revpar) growth was seen worldwide, with the exception of the UK market, which increased by only 2.1% compared with 8.4% across the group.

The group’s chief executive, David Michels said there was still a strong commitment to expanding the Hilton, Scandic and Conrad brands.

In the past six months Hilton has signed 16 franchise and management contracts for Hiltons in Argentina, China (Beijing) and the Bahamas.
 
He added the company’s disposal programme was making “good progress” after seven UK hotels completed for £79m, while a further 18 remain on the market.

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