German hotels score summer boost

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World Cup football fans helped German hotels and caterers score a big rise in sales over the summer, official statistics have revealed.

Turnover was up 2.1% across the industry in June and July to 43bn euros ($54.6bn; £29bn), the Federal Statistics Office said.

The tournament proved a welcome boost for the industry which had seen sales fall for the previous five years.

Accor, which has 380 hotels in Germany, said expectations had been "surpassed".

The DEHOGA hotel and caterers association is now hoping that the Autumn will bring conferences and meetings, which had been delayed during the World Cup.

In the year to the end of July, sales at cafes and cafeterias were up 3.6%, but restaurants saw takings fall 1.8%.

Hotels saw a 2.6% rise in sales over the same period.