Whitbread sales growth weakens in soft hotel markets The group, which owns Costa Coffee shops and Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant chains, said like-for-like sales - those at outlets open for a year or more - rose 1.8pc in the 11 weeks to February 16. This compares with a rise of 2.4pc in the third quarter to December 1 and a first-half increase of 3.3pc. However, chief Executive Andy Harrison said he still expects to report "another full year of double digit earnings growth, in line with expectations" in April. Like-for-like sales at Premier Inn fell 0.9pc in the quarter, having been up 2.6pc in the third quarter, in a "soft hotel market in the UK" and with a divergence in performance between London and the regions. Costa Coffee shops continued to perform strongly. Like-for-like sales rose 6.2pc, against growth of 3.8pc in the previous quarter, as cash-strapped consumer refused to give up their daily caffeine boost in the face of a slowing economy and austerity measures. Whitbread has opened 359 new Costa shops, including 71 in China. Mr Harrison said that with around 10,000 Premier Inn rooms in the pipeline and its Costa growth plans, it expects to create a further 10,000 jobs in Britain over the next three years, on top of the 2,500 created this year. Total group sales rose 10.1pc over the 11 weeks and were up 11pc over the 50 weeks to February 16. Whitbread shares fell 2.8pc in early trading.