Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world…

Galway hotels "exploit foreign staff"

Irish trade union SIPTU has accused a number of hotels in Galway city of exploiting foreign casual workers. Branch secretary Michael Kilcoyne said he had received several complaints from overseas hotel staff who were being paid less than the IR£4.40 minimum wage and were provided with substandard accommodation and meals.

Radisson expands in Middle East

International hotel chain Radisson SAS has announced two new ventures in the Middle East. It has taken over the management of the 246-bedroom Diplomat hotel in Manama, Bahrain, which was previously run by Le Méridien. It is also opening a 320-bedroom hotel at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt next March.

Benihana heads for Turkey

Japanese restaurant group Benihana has signed a agreement to open several outlets in Turkey. The first is expected to open in Istanbul by the middle of next year.

Marriott opens in Peru

Marriott has opened a hotel in Lima, Peru. The 300-bedroom Marriott Hotel & Stellaris Casino is the company's first property in Peru and its sixth in South America.

Orient Express makes stock market debut

Shares in Orient Express Hotels, which runs 26 luxury hotels worldwide including the Cipriani in Venice, Italy, have begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Italians get more Choice

Choice Hotels has added three new hotels in Italy, bringing its total to 17. The new properties are: the 126-bedroom Quality Hotel Saccardi, in Verona; the 57-bedroom Quality Hotel Pasteur, in Milan; and the 80-bedroom Comfort Hotel Amadeus, also in Milan.

Scandic sales up

Sweden-based Scandic Hotels achieved sales of £190m in the six months to 30 June, compared with £186m last year. Occupancy and room rates in its Nordic-region hotels were almost static at 60.3% and £54 respectively. Elsewhere, occupancy levels climbed by 3% to 64.7% and average room rate by 2% to £47.