Whitbread (LSE: WTB), the owner of Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, announced their six monthly interim results, reporting that it had performed 'relatively well' through a difficult period in the leisure industry. The trading update was well received by investors as Whitbread's shares rose almost 4% this morning. During the period Total revenue was up 3.1% to £703.3 million, however like for like sales across the Group were down 2.7%. The sales performance led to a reduction in underlying profit before tax of £118.2m, which was 2.7% lower than last year.