Essential news from around the world…
Profits up at NH Hoteles
Profits at Spanish hotel group NH Hoteles increased by 4.9% to €85.7m (£58.3m) in the 12 months to 31 December 2002. NH said the increase was thanks to the inclusion of hotels it bought from German hotel chain Astron in 2001, its Mexican hotels and new openings. Turnover during the period increased by 22% to €930m (£632.5m).
Hilton-CNL partnership buys five hotels
US-based Hilton Hotels Corporation and CNL Hospitality Properties have bought five hotels through the partnership they announced last December. The pair have bought the 437-bedroom Hilton Rye Town in Rye Brook, New York, the 630-bedroom Doubletree Crystal City and 267-bedroom Embassy Suites Crystal City, both in Arlington, Virginia, the 174-bedroom Embassy Suites Orlando Airport in Florida and the 257-bedroom Embassy Suites Santa Clara in California, for about $249m (£157m). The hotels will be managed by Hilton.
French restaurant group to continue despite suicide
French restaurant company Groupe Loiseau said it would carry on trading despite the death of its founder Bernard Loiseau earlier this week. It is believed that Loiseau shot himself because his restaurant was downgraded in French culinary bible GaultMillau. The group, which has three restaurants, said it would continue to run the restaurants in the “Loiseau spirit” and would only close them on the day of Loiseau’s funeral.
Orbis to buy local rival
Polish hotel group Orbis will complete its purchase of local hotel chain Hekon from French hotel group Accor by the end of April. The group is expected to pay about 300m Polish zloty (£45.6m) for the 17-strong group.
Sol Melià gets Sheraton hotel
Spanish hotel group Sol Melià has reached an agreement with Brazilian property company Minamo to lease the 245-bedroom Mofarrej hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The hotel, previously operated by Sheraton, will be run under the Gran Melià flag from 1 May. Sol Melià operates 22 hotels in Brazil and expects to open a further eight over the next three years.
Radisson gets its first sniff of Cologne
Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has opened its first hotel in Cologne, Germany. The 393-bedroom hotel is the first of three hotels the group is opening in Germany over the next two years. It will also open hotels in Berlin and Hamburg.
Buffalo Grill turnover scorched
French steakhouse chain Buffalo Grill has reported a 28.9% fall in turnover in January, compared with the same period in 2002. During the whole of 2002, turnover fell by 40%, compared with a year earlier. Buffalo Grill operates more than 250 restaurants in France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
US government pledges $50m support for tourism
The US government has pledged $50m (£31.6m) to support incoming tourism to the country. The money will be used to reverse the 30% decline in the USA’s market share of world tourism that has occurred over the past ten years.