Essential news from around the world...
Marriott gains ground
Marriott, the US-based hotel group, has announced improved figures for 2002. Turnover increased to $8.44b (£5.21b) from $7.79b (£4.8b) in 2001. Profits hit $277m (£171m) in 2002, against $236m (£146m) the previous year. In the last 12 months Marriott has added 188 hotels and timeshare resorts, with a total of 31,605 bedrooms.
Yum! profits exceed expectations
Yum! Brands, which operates Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants, has revealed full-year profits up by 3% in 2002. Revenue rose to $776b (£479b) in 2002, against $695b (£429b) in 2001. The group took over restaurant chains Long John Silver's and A&W in the second quarter of the year and these contributed significantly to the growth.
Wyndham posts $500m loss
Wyndham International, the US-based hotel group, has announced a net loss of $500m (£309m) for 2002. Earnings before interest, tax and amortisation were $301.3m 2002 (£186m), down from $398.5m (£246.3m) in 2001, when adjusted to exclude the effects of disposals. The hotel group expects revenue per available room to be down by 1-2% during the first three months of 2003, but "flat to slightly positive" for the full year.
Aramark hits the mark
US-based Aramark Corporation has reported a 17% rise in sales in its combined food and support services divsion to $1.9b (£1.2b) during the three months to 27 December. This was due to a mixture of improved organic growth and recent acquisitions.
Asian Internet bookings rise
The number of hotel room nights booked through the Global Distribution System (GDS) in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 30% during the last three months of 2002, when compared with the same period last year, accarding to hotel booking software group Travelclick.
Fewer tourists for Hungary
Six million people booked into tourist accommodation in Hungary during 2002, 1% down on 2001, says the country's central statistics office. Revenues were $374.8m (£231.4), almost unchanged from 2001, and the average hotel occupancy rate was 45%.
Restaurant food is healthy, say Americans
Research by the restaurant industry in the USA has revealed that customers are satisfied with the nutrition and sizes of portions. A survey of 1,000 adults carried out in November 2002, showed that three-quarters of those questioned agreed menu items that were available were suitable for those on a diet. But only 56% said restaurants made it easy to choose the size of portion of food they wanted.
by Jason Blackwood