Marriott expands in India and other international news

Marriott expands in India
Marriott International is to open three hotels in Pune, India scheduled to open over the next three years. The 153-room Courtyard by Marriott West Pune, which is scheduled to open in 2008, will be part of a mixed-use project and will have a casual restaurant and bar, as well as a Grab & Go kiosk. The 250-room JW Marriott Hotel Pune, which is set to open in 2009, will include three restaurants, a lobby lounge and bar, and a pool bar. The 430-room Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Center is scheduled to open in 2010 and will an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a deli-pastry shop, an entertainment lounge and night club, as well as a pool bar. The Marriott International hotel portfolio in India currently includes six hotels, and the company has seven new properties under construction.

Subway set to open 340 outlets in the Middle East US fast-food sandwich chain Subway is to expand its presence in the Middle East by setting up 340 outlets over the next three years. The company said it plans to increase the number of its outlets in the region from 160 to more than 500 by 2010. Subway United Arab Emirates (UEA) director John S Chedid said: "Subway plans to increase its presence substantially across the UAE and the Middle East. In the UAE alone, Subway registered a 24% increase in sales in 2005 and the 2006 figure is sure to be better. In comparison to demand our expansion is quite modest."

High prices in Switzerland is damaging tourism
Switzerland's hotel industry association, Hotelleriesuisse, has warned that the country's high prices are damaging its tourism industry. The association called for some wide-ranging deregulation and liberalisation measures, including an opening of the market to foreign competition. In a bid to drive down prices, Hotelsuisse also asked the government to lower VAT, a liberalisation of the Swiss labour market and a free-trade agreement with the European Union for the agriculture and food sector.

Jumerirah to open first resort in Bermuda Jumerirah is to extend its presence in the Americas with the opening of its first resort in Bermuda. The Jumeirah Southlands resort is to open in mid-2008 and will be situated on 37 acres of Bermuda's South Shore. It will include 300 balcony suites, including 17 two-story suites built into beach cliffs, as well as five restaurants and bars, a nightclub and outdoor entertainment space, spa, a number of pools, an executive conference center and an equestrian centre. There will also be a collection of luxury boutiques on-property. Approximately half the accommodations will be offered for fractional Vacation Residence ownership.

Domino's to spend $700k opening Malay outlets Pizza chain Domino's plans to spend around US$700,000 (£360,000) to open at least five new outlets in the South-East Asian country of Malaysia this year. The move, which will bring the company's total outlets to 38, will focus on building outlets in areas where Domino's already has a presence. Domino's existing 33 stores are located in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Baru and Seremban. Of these 33 outlets, 30 are delivery premises while the remaining three are restaurants. Domino's US-based master franchise holder in Malaysia is Dommal Food Services.

By Kerstin Kühn

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