Worldwide briefing
05 March 2001
Essential news from around the world… Accor eyes Nikko hotel French hotel company Accor, together with financial backers, is in talks to buy the 764-bedroom Hotel Nikko in Paris. Press reports have suggested a sale price of about €115m (£73m) but a spokeswoman for Accor said it was much lower. Sol Meliá boost Spain-based hotel group Sol Meliá has reported a 35% increase in sales for the year 2000 to €891.9m (£565m). Net profit rose by 26% to €118.7m (£75.2m). Revenue per available room was up by 19%. The group had 337 hotels at the end of the year. Games lift Sydney Average room rates in Sydney, Australia, were up by 14.8% during 2000 as a direct result of the increase in demand during the Olympic Games. But the number of new hotels built for the games is likely to lead to pressure on room rates and occupancy levels during 2001, says consultants Arthur Andersen. Melbourne Marriott Marriott International is to manage the 185-bedroom Rockman's Regency Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. It will be renamed the Melbourne Marriott following a refurbishment later this year. Bass landmark The Holiday Inn Thessaloniki in Greece will be the 500th property for Bass Hotels & Resorts in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The hotel opens in April. Brazilian Choice Choice Atlantica Hotels, part of Choice Hotels International, has opened the 80-bedroom Comfort Hotel Ilha do Leite in the city of Recife in north-eastern Brazil.
