Domestic operator Bourne Leisure was able to cash in on the ‘staycation’ trend last year with increased profits.
The parent company of Butlins, Haven and Warner saw pre-tax profits rise by 4.3% to £97.4 million in 2011, according to figures reported at the weekend.
The families behind the private company saw their dividends rise to almost £44 million on the back of improved profits and turnover, against £33 million the previous year.
Group turnover was up by 1.4% to £813.7 million on 2010’s level.
The company spent £104 million on its sites, including a new hotel for Butlins in Bognor Regis and improved swimming pools and entertainment complexes at its caravan parks.
Directors said the improvement was helped by increased margins, reduced interest on loans and repeat business with the company continuing to record high holidaymaker satisfaction levels.
As majority shareholders, the Cook, Harris and Allen families behind the UK’s biggest privately-owned holiday operator shared the majority of the multi-million pound dividends, the Sunday Times reported following recently filed accounts.
But much of the profits achieved since 2007 have been ploughed back into capital expenditure on its sites.