Gordon Ramsay Nightmares business taken off the market in USA – and other international hotel news

Gordon Ramsay Nightmares business taken off the market in USA
The owners of a restaurant that was featured on Gordon Ramsay's show Kitchen Nightmares in the USA, have taken the restaurant off the market. John Ittenbach, one of the owners of J Willy's Barbeque House, has notified the property agent handling the sale to take it off the market. Ittenbach wants to find someone to buy into the business instead and said: "If there is anyone out there who wants to be in the restaurant business, this is the ‘chance of a lifetime', Willy's partners are willing to give up their shares of the company and all their rights to the commercially bottled BBQ sauce to the right investor." Ittenbach has until June to find an investor to buy out the other owners, or the business will be placed up for sale again.

Ritz Carlton launches the first of a new brand in Thailand
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is launching the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand, with the first being launched in Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand, which will open in 2009. Future developments will include Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos and the United Arab Emirates. The Phulay Bay reserve will be located on the shore of the Andaman Sea and was designed by Thai architect Lek Bunnag and uses contemporary Thai styling in the buildings. Accommodation includes ocean views, private plunge pools, outdoor baths and showers.

Hilton to launch the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund Shanghai
Hilton Hotels has signed an agreement with Shanghai New Union Building Co to manage the Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai. The hotel will be located in the heritage building on the Bund in Shanghai and is scheduled to open in 2011. The hotel is the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in the region, and signals the growth and development of the Hilton Family of Brands' luxury offering in Asia Pacific. The 266-room Waldorf Astoria On The Bund Shanghai will comprise two buildings. The main entrance at the heritage building will be located at No 2 on the Bund which housed the infamous Shanghai Club, an exclusive Gentlemen's Club in the 1920s. This building will be connected by a courtyard to a new-build modern tower located behind the Bund on Sichuan Road. The hotel will also comprise four restaurants, two bars, a patisserie and a lobby lounge.

Compass acquires Kimco
Catering company Compass Group has bought the North American KIMCO Corporation from the Tarson family. KIMCO provides predominately caretaking soft services to commercial and industrial customers across North America. Compass has paid US$75m (£49m), subject to an additional US$15m (£9.9m) performance related payment. Compass Group's annual turnover last year was approaching £11b and the caterer operates across business and industry, defence, offshore and remote sites, healthcare, education and the sports & leisure sectors.

By Gemma Sharkey

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