UK
Macdonald reports nervousness on trading
Scotland-based Macdonald Hotels will report lower-than-expected profits in the six months to 4 April. Chairman Frank O'Callaghan said trading had been difficult in the last few months and there was a "distinct nervousness" throughout the hotel sector. Total revenue per available room increased by 2% in the four months since 3 October 2002 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Spring opening for Leicester city centre
Plans for a 92-bedroom hotel at the heart of a £7.5m revamp of Leicester's city centre have been announced. The hotel will be run by the Travelodge chain, and is due to open in spring of next year. It will be one of the city's largest hotels.
Kent sees Holiday Inn reopen
Centre Island Hotels, which owns five hotels, has reopened the Holiday Inn in Ashford, Kent, following a £2m refurbishment. The 91-bedroom hotel was bought by the group last year, marking its first venture outside Merseyside. The company has employed 20 extra staff.
Europe
Le Méridien to manage third Moroccan hotel
Hotel company Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to manage a five-star, 120-bedroom hotel in Casablanca, Morocco. The Le Méridien Villa d'Anfa hotel is being built and will open in early 2004. Le Méridien also operates the 182-bedroom Mansour Méridien hotel in Casablanca and the 277-bedroom Le Méridien N'Fis hotel in Marrakech.
Profits tumble at Orbis
Polish hotel group Orbis has reported a 40% fall in net profits to 31m Polish zloty (£5m) in the year to 31 December 2002. Turnover fell by 10% to 608m Polish zloty (£98.3m). Orbis said the declining figures were caused by Poland's two-year-long economic slowdown. French hotel company Accor has a 29% share in the group.
German buy boosts sales at NH Hoteles
Spanish hotel group NH Hoteles has recorded a 22% increase in turnover to g867m (£582m) in the 12 months to 31 December 2002. The results included g133m (£89.3m) of sales from Astron, the German hotel group it bought in February 2002 for £79m.
USA
McDonald's sales continue to slide
Fast-food giant McDonald's has seen business worsen in January, with sales from restaurants open for more than 13 months falling by 2.4% compared with the same period a year earlier. Sales at all McDonald's restaurants worldwide increased by 5% to $3.3b (£2b), compared with January 2002, but new openings are likely to have boosted sales.
Rest of the world
Franchisees right for Choice
Choice Hotels International, whose brands include Comfort Inn and Clarion, has seen profits more than triple in the 12 months to the end of 2002 to $60.8m (£38m). Turnover increased by 7.1% to $365.6m (£228.6m). Increased revenue from its franchisees was one reason for the increases.
Name change for Great Eagle Hong Kong
Hong Kong-based Langham Hotels International is renaming its 487-bedroom Great Eagle hotel in Hong Kong the Langham Hotel Hong Kong. The change will take place on 1 October. The Great Eagle, which is in Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, has recently completed a US$35m (£22m) refurbishment.