Worldwide briefing

Dublin Wagamama

Wagamama, the Japanese noodle restaurant with three London outlets , has signed its first overseas franchise agreement. Captain America's Cookhouse will open Wagamamas across Ireland, starting in Dublin, with another four to follow over the next six years.

Renaissance china

Marriott International has introduced its Courtyard brand to five Renaissance hotels in China. It is also running a new 294-room New World Courtyard hotel in Beijing and a new 317-bedroom Marriott hotel in Shanghai.

Prima signs three

Prima Hotels, which represents small to medium four- and five-star hotels, has signed up three new members - the Mercer in New York; Vista Palace hotel in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the South of France; and the Marbella Resort hotel in Chile.

20-year venture

The Shangri-La hotel, Hangzhou, has won a 20-year extension to its joint venture contract. Shangri-La has run the property in China for the past 14 years.

Polo reprieve

The Marco Polo, Singapore, has been given a year's reprieve. Plans to close it and convert it into residential condominiums by January 1999 have been deferred to the end of 1999.