Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world…

Mandarin Oriental, the owner of London's Hyde Park hotel, has agreed to buy the Rafael Group for $142.5m (£90.2m). Rafael operates six luxury hotels and resorts in Europe and the USA. The agreement is subject to shareholder approval but Jardine Strategic Holdings which has a 55% stake in Mandarin has already agreed to the acquisition.

Scandic Hotels is to buy Swedish hotel group Provobis, which has 16 hotels of four-star quality. Scandic's offer values the company at SK600m (£43.3m). The deal, which is subject to shareholder approval, is expected to be completed in June. Scandic is the Nordic region's largest hotel company with 133 hotels in 10 countries.

Troubled restaurant group Rainforest Café has postponed a shareholders meeting to vote on a takeover bid from Landry's Seafood Restaurants. Earlier this month the group's chairman and chief executive Lyle Berman warned that up to eight restaurants could close this year because of poor trading (Caterer 13 April, page 8). It is understood that that Rainforest has requested more time after one of the shareholders circulated information opposing the proposed takeover.

Hyatt International is focussing its expansion plans on India and Nepal. The group, which has just one franchised hotel in Delhi, plans to open six further hotels in Bombay, Calcutta and Kathmandu. It also opens its third hotel in Canada in June. The 355-bedroom Hyatt Regency Calgary in Alberta is owned by property firm, Balboa Land Investments and managed by Hyatt.

Le Méridien is to open its fourth hotel in India next month. The group, owned by Granada, has signed a management contract to run the 243-bedroom Le Royal Méridien in Chennai. The new property was part of a $40m (£25.3m) investment by Indian property developer Appu Hotels. The contract is expected to run for over 10 years.