in brief

auction record

The Victor Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, has been sold at auction for IR£3.7m, a figure claimed by Gunne Estate Agents to be the highest achieved at auction for an Irish hotel.

The 68-bedroom property, which for the past 30 years has been owned by the Cummins family, was acquired by Ken Fetherston, owner of the Punch Bowl pub in Booterstown, Dublin.

michels lecture

David Michels, chief executive of Stakis, will speak on the subject "Hotels - an industry or an art?" when he delivers the second Savoy Lecture on 31 January.

The event, attended by food minister Angela Browning, is being organised by the Catering Arena. Details from Naomi Arnold on 01753 663305.

cashless eating

Northumberland Contracting is the latest school meals provider to opt for a cashless payment system. The direct service organisation will use a Tracs system developed by GTi Electronics Group for use by 24,000 pupils at 60 schools. There will be a phased installation during 1996.

travel spend up

Expenditure on business travel was up 7% last year compared with 1994, according to statistics from charge card group Diners Club. Hotel spend was 6% ahead while restaurant spend advanced by 3%.

bolton henrys

Premier House has opened a Henrys café-bar in the centre of Bolton, following completion of a £780,000 development of the town's old court house. Fifty jobs have been created.