Worldwide briefing

US occupancy falls

Occupancy rates fell in the USA in July by 3.6 percentage points to 68.5%, with average room rates down by 1.1% to $84.64 (£58.08), according to market research company Smith Travel Research. For the year to date, occupancies in the USA have fallen by two percentage points to 62.9%, with room rates up by 1.8% to $87.28 (£58.89).

Einstein on campus New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel has entered into an agreement with contract caterer Sodexho to open Einstein Bros kiosks on college campuses across the USA. The kiosks will offer sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as Einstein's traditional coffee and bagels. Kiosks have already opened on campuses in Milwaukee and Denver.

Coffee in store

KarstadtQuelle, the German department store and mail-order chain, has entered into a joint venture with US coffee company Starbucks to open coffee shops in Germany.

Benihana share sale Miami-based Benihana, the Japanese-style restaurant chain, is selling 750,000 class-A shares, worth about $9.5m (£6.5m). It plans to use the money to reduce debt and build and buy new restaurants.

New Zealand growth CDL Hotels New Zealand, which operates the Millennium & Copthorne brands in New Zealand, has announced a 7% increase in turnover to NZ$52.6m (£15.7m) for the six months to 30 June. Average occupancy was up by 9%, with revpar up by 7% on last year.