ASIA
Marriott eyes up India for expansion
Ramada International Hotels and Resorts, part of Marriott International, has ranked India among its top six new growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
The hotel group says it plans to target at least 20 properties in India for possible franchise agreements. Further countries considered ripe for expansion by Marriott International are China and Japan.
Bickson moves up at Indian Hotels
Raymond Bickson has been appointed managing director of Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), the operator of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Bickson takes over from Krishna Kumar, who becomes non-executive director and vice chairman of the board of IHCL.
Bickson joined IHCL last year as chief operating officer of the Taj Luxury Hotels division. He was previously general manager of the Mark, in New York.
IHCL is India's largest hotel company. It owns and or operates 54 hotels in India and a further 13 hotels outside the country.
MIDDLE EAST
New Israeli hotel
The Dan Panorama Tel Aviv hotel in Israel has reopened after a four-month, $1m (£600,000) refurbishment. The 500-bedroom hotel has upgraded all 144 standard rooms to a five-star standard and added four guest-rooms to meet the official national standards for disabled visitors.
The Dan Panorama Tel Aviv is a member of the Dan Hotels Corporation, the largest deluxe hotel chain in Israel, with 13 hotels.
Art+Tech comes to Kuwait
Following the management takeover of the Ritz Kuwait, Le Méridien plans to launch its Art+Tech concept in the hotel by the end of the year. The 70-room boutique hotel is owned by the A'amal Hotels Company and will be Le Méridien's first design-led property in the Middle East.
AUSTRALASIA
Australian hotel market still depressed
The Australian hotel industry remains depressed, according to the Australian Hotels Association's May occupancy survey. Hotel occupancies remained consistent with April, at about 65%. Average room rates are also static, at about $135 (£54). The figures, based on more than 1.8 million room nights, showed a 7% fall in occupancies in March and a 14% drop against February.
EUROPE
Mövenpick teams up with Mickey Mouse
Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts (MH&R) has signed a management contract for a new themed hotel in the Val de France, the new hotel district of the Disneyland Resort, Paris.
Mövenpick Dream Castle Hotel, the first MH&R facility in France, is currently under construction. The Swiss hotel group has signed a contact with leaseholders Thomas Cook AG and Dertour for the management of the 400-room hotel, which is scheduled to open in June 2004. The hotel will target a predominantly German-speaking clientele.
Rica goes to Sweden
Norwegian hotel operator Rica Hotels has announced signing of a partnership agreement with Hotel Oscar Statt in Arvika, Sweden, this week. The agreement is part of Rica Hotels' expansion into Sweden and means that the Oscar Statt will now be marketed as a Rica Partner Hotel.