Worldwide briefing
Essential news from around the world…
Marriott expands in Hawaii
Marriott International has bought the 1,304 Hawaiian Regent hotel in Waikiki for $125m (£89m). It will be re-branded the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and will take Marriott's total number of rooms in Waikiki to 2,000.
Ramada sign German deal
Ramada International Hotels & Resorts and Treff Hotels of Germany and Switzerland have agreed to co-brand 80 Treff hotels totalling 12,600 rooms. The deal will also result in an extra 50 hotels in the next five years.
Consortium grows in Asia
Small Luxury Hotels of the World has taken on two new members in India. The 106-bedroom Amarvilas Hotel, which overlooks the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the 18-bedroom Manor in New Delhi. The consortium now has six members in India.
Swedish hotel sale
Scandic Hotels have agreed the sale of five hotels to rival Swedish chains. Elite Hotels of Sweden is taking sites in Jonkoping, Vaxjo and Lulea and MJN Hostell is buying the Grand Hotel in Halmstad and the Hotel Galaxen in Borlange.
California hotel shortage
The shortage of available hotel space in Silicon Valley, California, has meant crucial conventions worth $10m have been cancelled at the San Jose McEnery Convention centre. The city currently has 6,330 rooms with another 1,000 planned in the next two years.
