Marriott adds two hotels in Shanghai and other international hotel news

Marriott adds two hotels in Shanghai
Marriott International is to expand its presence in China with the opening of two hotels in Shanghai by 2009. These include the 330-room JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou and the 330-room Courtyard by Marriott Hangzhou City Centre. Both hotels will be part of an 80,000 sq m complex located in the heart of the city's central business district and will be connected by a palladium that will house conference space, restaurants and lounges, and other public facilities. The JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou will include a number of restaurants as well as a lobby lounge and entertainment bar, a spa and fitness centre with indoor swimming pool and conference facilities including a 950 sq ballroom. The Courtyard by Marriott Hangzhou City Centre will feature an executive floor and lounge, a business centre with access to the JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou's meeting space, restaurants and lounges, health club and spa.

Dolce International appoints global sales manager
Dolce International has appointed Valerie Germain as global sales manager. Germain joins the company from Société des Bains de Mer Hotels & Resort, Monte-Carlo, Monaco, where she spent nearly three years as the group sales coordinator for the UK and Ireland. Philippe Attia, senior vice-president operations Europe of Dolce International said: "With transport links like Eurostar putting our Dolce Hotel, resort and conference destinations throughout Europe on the doorstep of the UK business traveller, the UK outbound market is more important to us now more than ever before."

India and China new target market for US food chains The fast-growing economies of India and China have overtaken the UK and mainland Europe as the natural path for global expansion by the giant US restaurant brands, according to a report published by foodservice analysts Horizons. The report suggested change of focus from Europe to Asia as the new prime target for investment by US restaurant chains is being driven by the fact that both India and China have previously had little exposure to branded restaurant concepts. Horizons managing director Peter Backman said: "Western manufactured imported goods are relatively expensive in India and China, but it's cheap to import a restaurant brand when the food and labour is sourced from within. Europe is now seen as a mature market by US-based restaurant brands while India and China are seen as untouched."

Mövenpick to open hotel in OmanMövenpick Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Orascom Hotels & Developments for the management of a 5-star hotel and leisure complex to be built in Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman by 2010. The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Salalah, one of the hotels scheduled to open in the complex is scheduled to open in 2009 and is located in the southern Omani province of Dhofar, close to the border with Yemen. The project is to be built in a tropical garden and around artificial lagoons directly on the Arabian Sea. The project will include an 18-hole golf course, a marina, several hotels, restaurants, 550 villas and 600 apartments as well as retail outlets.

Sodexho teams up with Magic Johnson Contract caterer Sodexho's subsidiary, Retail Brand Group, is working with ex-basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson to develop three restaurant concepts that will trade on Johnson's sports and business success. The three concepts under discussion include a sports bar; a Magic Johnson Marketplace; and a food court sandwich shop, which would be based on Sodexho's previously developed Subconnection sandwich-shop model. Sodexho has said that it has not decided which concept will come to market first, but expects one to open by autumn 2007.

Separately, Sodexho has appointed George Chavel as president and chief executive of its North American operations. Chavel, who has been promoted from his previous role of head of Sodexho's health care division, will replace Richard Macedonia, who is retiring in September.

By Kerstin Kühn

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