Worldwide briefing

Stamford double

Stamford Hotels and Resorts has bought the 106-bedroom Ritz-Carlton hotel and the 314-bedroom Sheraton Airport hotel, both in Sydney, Australia. They will be renamed the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay and the Stamford Sydney Airport.

Quicker clicks

More than seven out of 10 hotels in the USA are looking to introduce high-speed Internet access into bedrooms because guests want connections to be as fast as those in their own offices, says a report from analyst Cahners In-stat.

Change at taco bell

Taco Bell has poached an executive from Wendy's burger chain to be its new president in the USA. Emil Brolick, formerly senior vice-president of new product marketing and strategic planning at Wendy's, replaces Peter Waller, who has left to pursue outside interests. Taco Bell, part of Tricon Global Restaurants, suffered a 6% drop in same store sales in the second quarter of this year.

Explosion hits hotel

Three people have been killed in a suspected gas explosion at a hotel in Thedinghausen, near Bremen, Germany.

Olympic pay rise

Hotel workers in Sydney, Australia, are pushing for an Aus$7.25 (£2.80) an hour pay increase for working during the Olympic Games.

Chicago hopes

Extended Stay America has opened its 17th new property this year, a 140-bedroom hotel near Chicago. It is the company's 379th.