North America
Blum quits Burger King
Brad Blum, chief executive of the Burger King Corporation, has resigned from the company citing "strategic differences". Blum had been in the position for only 18 months. Burger King said it had started looking for a replacement and that it hoped to have made a decision on a new chief executive by 1 August. Chief financial officer John Chidsey is understood to be among the frontrunners for the position.
Asia
Starwood's Beijing deal
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced its 25th property in China. The group has signed an agreement with the Beijing Jin Hao Real Estate Company to open a 500-bedroom hotel in Beijing's financial district. The Westin Beijing Financial Street hotel is scheduled to open in 2006 and will also feature 216 residences, 2500sq m of meeting space and five restaurants.
Middle East
Dubai gets Traders
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Traders hotel (artist's impression above) in the Middle East. The four-star, 250-bedroom hotel opened in Deira, Dubai, earlier this month. The hotel also features 126sq m of meeting space, a 284sq m ballroom, three restaurants with seating for up to 185 people, a gym and spa facilities, including a Jacuzzi and massage rooms.
Europe
Two for Turkey
Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has opened its second hotel in Turkey. The Radisson SAS hotel, Ankara, features 212 bedrooms, a rooftop executive lounge, a Mediterranean restaurant, a caf‚-bar and 264sq m of conference facilities, including six meeting rooms.