Laurel to sell Santa Fe and Forno Vivo chains
Laurel Pub Company, the high street bar operator controlled by Robert Tchenguiz, has put about 55 of its 400 pubs and restaurants up for sale, including the Santa Fe and Forno Vivo chains. – The Times, 25 February
Former Corus boss buys 19 of its hotels
Corus Hotels is selling 19 hotels to Washington Hotels for £116m. Washington Hotels, controlled by the Landesberg and Rosenberg families and Gallliard Homes, will in turn lease the hotels to Folio Hotels, which is run by Nicholas Crawley, the former Corus boss. – The Times, 25 February
Scotland to seek more international conference business
VisitScotland is aiming for a big increase in business tourism as it seeks to double annual income to £2b. The national tourism agency is putting money and resources behind an ambitious drive to grab a bigger slice of the international conference market. – Sunday Times (Scottish edition), 26 February