Sheraton enters Czech Republic and other international hotel news

Sheraton enters Czech Republic
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is to launch its Sheraton brand into the Czech Republic with the opening of the Sheraton Prague Charles Square next autumn. The 160-room hotel, which will be located in the current Golden Gate hotel, will reopen after extensive renovation and expansion. Sheraton Prague Charles Square will be housed in four contiguous buildings overlooking a central courtyard, located on the border of the cultural and historical centre of the Old Town of Prague. Close attractions include the Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge.

Equity Inns buys eight hotels across US US hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) Equity Inns has acquired a portfolio of eight hotels from InterMountain Management for approximately $90.5m (£45m). The hotels include four Residence Inn by Marriott properties, which are located in Spokane, Washington, Shreveport, Louisiana, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Kansas City, Missouri; two Courtyard by Marriott hotels, in Reno, Nevada and Shreveport, Louisiana; a Fairfield Inn and Suites located in Reno, Nevada, and a Fairfield Inn in Shreveport, Louisiana. InterMountain will continue to manage these properties under a three-year performance-based management contract.

Irish hotel group adds three properties Ireland's largest independent hotel group Manor House Hotels and Irish Country Hotels has added three new properties to its portfolio. The company has acquired the newly renovated Lough Rynn Castle in Mohill, and the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, both in County Leitrim, as well as the Errigal Country House Hotel in Cootehill, County Cavan. The company, which is made up of the Manor House Hotels and Irish Country Hotels brands, now includes 66 properties in its collection. Lough Rynn Castle will join the Manor House Hotels brand, while Errigal Country House Hotel and The Bush Hotel will join the Irish Country Hotels brand.

IHG US appoints vice-president of brand managementInterContinental Hotels Group has appointed John Merkin to the role of senior vice-president of brand management for the Holiday Inn brands in the Americas. Merkin will be in charge of the overall strategic direction for the Holiday Inn family of brands, which includes Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express and will oversee the development of brand communication strategies, tactical marketing promotions, revenue management and new product development. He has been promoted from his previous role of vice-president of franchise operations in North America.

Starbucks enters Russian market Coffee chain Starbucks is to enter the Russian market with the opening of its first outlet in the Mega Mall north of Moscow later this month. The company's entrance comes after a number of years of difficulties in the market as it registered its trademark in Russia in 1997, but lost its right to the brand five years later. That ruling was overturned last year, allowing Starbucks to enter the market now. The group's local partner in Russia will be MH Alshaya, a Kuwaiti retailer that operates coffee shops in several countries outside its domestic market.

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.