CHARDON Trading, the family-run hotel operator, has revealed a “remarkable” 2.3 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £2.5 million for the year to April 30, 2016.

Revenue for the year, which compares with a period that saw Scotland host the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, grew 2.4 per cent to £15.6m.

The Glasgow-based group, founded by its chief executive Maurice Taylor, operates the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Expresses Glasgow Theatreland hotels in West Nile Street, along with Holiday Inn outlets in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, and at Edinburgh Airport, Dunfermline and Perth.

It also operates the 40-year-old La Bonne Auberge brasserie in Glasgow.

Chardon’s managing director Nicola Taylor said the growth came amidst challenging trading conditions, adding: “These results are all the more remarkable when one considers the 2015 figures included the not inconsiderable impact the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup had on visitor numbers.”

Ms Taylor said the directors embraced current challenges and remained confident “the company will continue to maintain its high standards and will continue to deliver profitability in the current year”.

But she did sound a warning about the threat of losing access to labour from European Union countries in the Brexit negotiations

“Brexit is obviously a concern for everyone. It is nerve-wracking, but the English are the biggest tourists in Scotland so falling out with them would be even more frightening.”