WHITBREAD has hailed a buoyant hotel market after its Premier Inn division delivered impressive sales figures.

The firm said Premier's like-for-like sales increased 9.2 per cent in the 11 weeks to August 14,.

Bosses said it was helped by the improving economy and special events, such as the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Its coffee shop chain Costa also reported a strong summer, with sales rising 7.3 per cent on a same-store basis.

Across the group, which includes the restaurants Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, underlying sales were 6.8 per cent higher.

The group said Premier's growth was particularly strong in the UK regions, with revenues per available room up 10.1 per cent in the February to August period and occupancy at 82.9 per cent.

Across the estate, which features more than 57,000 rooms, total occupancy was at an all-time high of 87 per cent in the most recent 11-week period.

Whitbread plans to open a further 4,500 new Premier Inn rooms and five joint site restaurants along with 300 Costa stores.

Last year, The Northern Echo revealed Whitbread was part of a multi-million Darlington leisure complex development, which will include an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel.

The Feethams Leisure development, on the site of the town's former bus station, will have a nine-screen Vue cinema, with restaurant chains, including chicken outlet Nando’s, Italian eateries Bella Italia and Prezzo, and a Greene King pub, operating under its Hungry Horse brand, also opening their first branches in the town.

Yarm's Purple Pig and Lancashire-based Chinese Buffet complete the plans.

Up to 150 jobs will be created at the site, with more supported during construction.

A 65-week build schedule has been put in place by developers Terrace Hill, with Feethams Leisure set to be open to the public by Christmas next year.

Duncan McEwan, director of development at Terrace Hill, added: "We are looking forward to getting it started.

"It has been a long time coming.

"This is a great addition for Darlington and positive news for everybody.”