SOL MELIA has reported a 27.8% year-on-year increase in net profits to ”7.3m for the first six months of 2003. The Spanish hotel group said the improved results reflected a significant recovery in the market in May and June, with the resort market in Spain and the Caribbean rallying particularly strongly following the end of the Iraq war. Sol Melia added it had seen an ”outstanding” increase in sales through its website, with revenues jumping 261% to ”10.5m from ”2.5m last year. Bookings through the website now make up 15.2% of the group”s centralised sales. The company has only one UK property, the White House, close to Regents Park and near Great Portland Street Underground station in London, and a further 350 in 30 countries. http://www.solmelia.com