USA
McDonald's improves chicken quality
McDonald's Corporation has called upon its worldwide suppliers to phase out the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in animals which risk the development of antibiotic-resistant germs in humans. The fast-food chain uses more than a million tonnes of chicken, beef and pork each year. Its European arm has already phased out the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in chicken feed.
Florida expansion for Le Méridien
Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts has announced the addition of Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs to its Americas portfolio. Formerly known as the Givenchy Resort & Spa, the 107-room and villas property is set in 14 acres of gardens and orchards. The hotel will be owned and operated by the Jack Parker Corporation, which bought the resort from LAX GL, an investment group controlled by Tarsadia Hotels of Costa Mesa, California.
EUROPE
Accor pulls out of Poland
French hotel chain Accor is to sell its 11 Ibis and Novotel hotels in Poland to domestic hotel group Orbis for €92m (£63.5m). The 11 hotels will still be operated under the Accor brand names under contract to Orbis. Accor has promised not to engage in competitive activities for eight years from the purchase date.
Bedrock comes to Majorca
Sol Meliá, the third-largest resort hotel chain in Europe, has opened its first Flintstones-themed hotel in the Sol Milanos-Pingüinos following a recent agreement with Warner Bros. The Sol-Flintstones theme will be extended to the Sol Antillas Barbados, also in Majorca, the Sol Falcó in Menorca and the Sol Príncipe Principito in Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol next year. Sol Meli has 350 hotels in 30 countries worldwide.
More hotels for Malta
Radisson SAS hotel group plans to open a $30m (£18m) hotel at Golden Bay, 10 miles north-west of Valletta in Malta. The five-star hotel is expected to open by spring 2005. Radisson SAS already manages a five-star hotel near Malta's main restaurant and clubbing area, Paceville. The Maltese government last month rejected calls for a moratorium on hotel development from existing hoteliers, who argued there was a risk of over-supply.
Luxury in Tuscany
A four-year, €30m (£20.8m) expansion and improvement programme has been completed at the Terme di Saturnia in southern Tuscany, Italy, providing 50 new bedrooms and a new health and fitness spa. The four-star, 140-room hotel, and 4,500sq m spa focus on therapies inspired by thermally heated and mineralised waters that flow constantly at 37°C from an underground spring. The hotel is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand.
AUSTRALIA
Accor expands in Oz
Accor is to build a Aus$6m (£2.44m) budget hotel at Sydney airport, it announced last week. The 118-room, eight-storey Formule 1 hotel will be built near the main gateway to the domestic and international terminals. Accor already has Formule 1 hotels at Melbourne and Brisbane airports and the group is currently looking at sites near Perth airport.