Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world…

Starwood profits up

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has posted a 19% rise in sales to $1.15b during the three months to the end of June. Profits from continuing operations were up by 34% to $114m. Revenue per available room increased by 8.6% compared with the same period last year.

Olympics bonus row in Sydney

Talks between Australia's Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union and the Accor hotel chain over bonus payments for working during the Olympic Games have broken down. Accor offered an extra AS$3 (£1.20) an hour, said the union. It wants AS$7.25 (£2.90), which would add up to about AS$550 (£215) per worker during the Olympics.

Sol Meliá eyes Tryp hotels

Spanish hotel group Sol Meliá has denied it is close to acquiring 50-strong rival Hoteles Tryp for about 270m euros (£166m). A spokeswoman said the two had held exploratory talks but were not in negotiations. The addition of the Tryp portfolio would, however, be of interest to Sol Meliá as it sought to consolidate its position in the Spanish market, she said.

Méridien's Kinda Town

Le Méridien has exchanged contracts to acquire a new, 17-storey, 311-bedroom hotel being built in Chicago, USA. The hotel is due to open in spring 2001. Facilities will include an 88-seat restaurant.

Inter-Continental adds two

Bass Hotels & Resorts has opened Inter-Continental Hotels in Nicaragua and on Israel's West Bank. The Inter-Continental Metro Centro Managua has 157-bedrooms and the Hotel Inter-Continental Jericho 184-bedrooms.