Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world…

Internet all clear

The European Commission has given the go-ahead to two Internet joint ventures between French hotel company Accor and British chains Forte and Hilton. The ventures were an on-line travel agency and a new global distribution system for managing hotel bookings. The joint ventures would not give the companies a monopoly, the commission ruled.

Marriott hat-trick

Marriott International has won three new management contracts. It will run a new 280-bedroom Renaissance Hotel in Tianjin, China, an 83-unit Marriott Executive Apartment hotel in Dalian, China, and a 471-bedroom resort hotel being built on the Caribbean island of St Kitts.

Ducasse heads south

Three-Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse is planning to open a restaurant in Carthage, Tunisia. A spokeswoman for Ducasse said he already had a site for the restaurant, but declined to reveal further details.

Italian job

Hilton International is to manage the five-star, 370-bedroom Sorrento Palace hotel on the Bay of Naples, Italy. It will be rebranded as a Hilton after refurbishment. The hotel's facilities include six restaurants and a 1,700-seat conference centre.

Seasonal cheer

Four Seasons Hotels has reported profits up by 19.2% to Cdn$103.1m (£46.2m) during 2000. Sales rose by 25.2% to Cdn$347.5m (£156m). The company has 51 hotels in 23 countries, mainly under the Four Seasons and Regent brand names.