Worldwide briefing
Nickel-plated deal
French contract catering group Sodexho Alliance has secured a €20m (£12.4m) contract to provide catering services for 2,500 workers of Canadian nickel company Inco Inc during the construction of a nickel mine in Goro, New Caledonia.
Accor down under
French hotel group Accor is taking its Sofitel name to Sydney, Australia. The 431-bedroom Sofitel Wentworth Sydney will be launched in mid-2003. Accor will assume management in June this year and will operate it under the Wentworth name until a refurbishment costing Aus$30m (£11m) is completed in 2003.
Tricon snaps up two
US-based Tricon Global Restaurants, the fast-food group that owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is buying Long John Silver's and A&W All American Food restaurants from restaurant group Yorkshire Global Restaurants for $320m (£225m). The group will change its name to Yum! Brands Inc subject to shareholder approval at its annual meeting in May.
Grecotel Opening
Greek hotel group Grecotel opened its 16th hotel, the 95-bedroom Grand Hotel Egnatia in Alexandroupolis, northern Greece, earlier this month. The company invested more than €5.9m (£3.6m) in the hotel.
Manhattan Move
Hotel consortium Best Western opened the 83-bedroom Best Western Convention Center in Manhattan, New York, last week. It is owned by Unigroup Hotel LLC.
