Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world… BSE hits McDonald's profits Hamburger giant McDonald's saw profits fall by 16% to $378.3m during the first three months of 2001. It blamed the drop partly on concerns about BSE among consumers in Europe. Mussels on the menu? France-based mussels-and-chips restaurant chain Leon de Bruxelles could be taken over following a dramatic drop in profits. It made a net loss of €12.1m in 2000, compared with a €2.4m profit in 1999. The company, which has 33 restaurants, has put a €3m recovery plan in place but says it cannot fund the plan itself and is in talks with financiers. Marriott warns on US economy Hotel company Marriott International has reported a 29% profits jump to $121m in the three months to 23 March. But it warned that the US economic slowdown meant that profits for 2001 were likely to fall below market expectations. Radisson to manage Galway hotel Radisson Hotels has signed a management agreement for its second hotel in Ireland. The 210-bedroom hotel is in Galway city centre and will include over 700sq m of conference and function space. Sodexho sales rise Contract caterer Sodexho saw sales rise by 14% to €6b during the six months to 28 February. "Organic" sales growth accounted for 8.3% growth, acquisitions for 0.7%, and changes in currency exchange rates for 5%. In the UK and Ireland, sales were up by 11.8%. Scandic expansion continues Scandic Hotels is to open a newly built hotel in the Sydhavnen district of Copenhagen, Denmark, in summer 2002. It will have 280 bedrooms, conference facilities, a restaurant, bar and café. Dan is people's choice Dan Hotels has been voted "most preferred" nationwide hotel chain in Israel in a poll conducted by a national newspaper.