Prowse sells out of Lexington
Clare Prowse, managing director of Lexington Catering, has sold her 40% stake in the company to co-founder Mike Sunley for about £500,000. As a result of the deal, Sunley will become sole managing director of the London-based contract caterer with an 80% share. The restructure follows the loss of Lexington's £5.5m contract with T-Mobile in June, which saw half of the group's turnover wiped out. The group now has 10 contracts. Prowse said: "We've had four very successful years but I now feel it's time to pursue opportunities on my own."
Marriott's strong results
Marriott hotels announced strong third-quarter results last week, with revenue up 18% to $2.7b (£1.5b) year on year. Figures for the 12 weeks to 9 September showed that worldwide revenue per available room (revpar) increased by 9.2%, with average daily rate (ADR) up 8% and an overall 1.5% increase in occupancy. In North America, revpar for the company's 633 operated properties was up 8.8%. The group's full-service hotels, which include Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Ritz Carlton and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, saw revpar increase 9.2%. Internationally, revpar increased 13.7%, including an 11.8% increase in ADR and 1.3% increase in occupancy. Revpar in China was up 10.4%, while in Mexico it rose 11.7%.
Africa charity plea
The Send A Cow charity is urging hotels, restaurants and caterers to add a discretionary £1 per head to their bills in support of its National Supper Week, taking place on 24-30 November. It will use the funds to provide livestock and training in organic farming techniques for poor African farmers. For more details call 01225 874222 or visit www.sendacow.org.uk.
The Buttery off the market
Ian Fleming, owner of Glasgow's oldest restaurant, the Buttery, has succeeded Charan Gill as chairmain of the Glasgow Restaurateurs Association. Fleming, who put the Buttery on the market earlier this year after buying the Lake of Menteith hotel with celebrity chef Nick Nairn, has decided to keep the restaurant for at least another three years and is planning a major refurbishment of the premises.
Free guide to online booking
Restaurateurs are failing to make the best use of the internet to provide an efficient 24/7 booking service, claims the HCIMA. At a recent seminar it revealed that fewer than 5% of restaurant reservations are made online, when it belives the internet could account for 30% of bookings. The HCIMA has produced a free Guide to Website Development, which can be downloaded from its website on www.hcima.org.uk/seminars.