Worldwide briefing

Turnover down

Turnover at US-based Morton's Restaurant Group fell by 3.6% to $118.9m (£75.6m) in the six months to 30 June, compared with $123.3m (£78.4m) for the same period in 2001. Net profit was up by 92.8% to $2.3m (£1.5m), compared with $1.2m (£763,000) a year earlier.

Increased choice

Net profit at hotel franchisor Choice Hotels International increased by almost 14% to $23.9m (£15.2m) in the first six months of 2002, compared with $21m (£13.3m) for the same period in 2001. Revenue per available room fell by 6.2% to $30.77 (£19.56), compared with $32.82 (£20.86) a year earlier.

Upping the stake

French hotel company Accor has been granted permission to increase its stake in Polish hotel group Orbis to 50%.

Sofitel to Canada

Sofitel, the high-class hotel chain owned by French hotel group Accor, is opening its first hotel in Canada. The 258-bedroom Sofitel Montr‚al will open in September. The hotel also features a 120-seat restaurant and a terrace with seating for up to 60 people.

Revenues set to dip

Manhattan room revenues are expected to fall by 4.2% this year. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, a minor increase in occupancy, up by 0.7 percentage points to 74%, for the year, will be offset by price-cutting. The average Manhattan hotel room is expected to sell for $187 (£119) this year, compared with $197 (£125) in 2001.