The economic downturn has so far boosted sales at British leisure company Whitbread by attracting cost-conscious corporate clients to its relatively cheap hotels. But even this seemingly recession-resistant firm said the year ahead would be difficult. Shares of Whitbread (other-otc: WTCBF - news - people ) fell 4.2%, or 31.00 pence (44 cents), to 715.50 pence ($10.17) in morning trading in London, after the company, which owns a portfolio of hotels, pubs and coffee shops, said in a trading update that 2009 would be "challenging."

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