Worldwide briefing
Essential news from around the world…
Wyndham to sell four hotels for $69.6m Wyndham International has agreed to sell four Wyndham-branded hotels to partnerships of the Thayer Lodging Group venture capital group for $69.6m (£38.9m) in a deal expected to close in October. Wyndham will continue to manage the 250-bedroom Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Centre in Georgia, the 242-bedroom Wyndham Lisle in Illinois, the 408-bedroom Wyndham Miami Airport, and the 311-bedroom Wyndham Colorado Springs.
Raffles to rehire sacked staff in Cambodian hotels
Luxury hotel operator Raffles has struck a deal with unions and agreed to re-hire most of the 300 Cambodian workers fired after striking in April over the distribution of service charges. The management of the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor in Siem Reap and the Raffles Hotel de Royal in Phnomh Penh have also agreed to pay the reinstated staff 75% of their salaries from the date of the strike.
Starwood appoints ex-Coca Cola boss to succeed founder
Accor reopens Sydney's historic Wentworth hotel under the Sofitel brand French hotel giant Accor has reopened the historic Wentworth hotel in Sydney as the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney following a $60m (£23.6m) refurbishment of the 436-bedroom property. The Wentworth name dates back to the 1850s and the property in Phillip Street, with its distinctive horseshoe-shaped exterior, was opened by Qantas in 1966 as Australia's first international hotel. Accor took over its management in 2000.
European hotel recovery slows down in June The rise in hotel occupancy rates across Europe slowed down in July, rising by just 0.5 points to 68.2%, says a new report from MKG Consulting. Average daily rates increased by 1% to â¬86.5 (£59.10) and revenue per available room (revpar) grew by 1.7% to â¬59 (£40.30). Two-star hotels enjoyed the biggest boost to revpar but budget hotels saw occupancy levels fall.
Golden Tulip makes first foray into Romania
Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts has signed a franchise deal for its first Romanian hotel. Owner Subchi Tanus expects to open the 83-bedroom new-build property this December as the four-star Golden Tulip Bucharest. The four-star hotel will include a restaurant, a bar and four conference rooms for up to 60 delegates
Best Western gains two new members in Canada and USA
Best Western International - a consortium of 2,300 independently-owned hotels in the US, Canada, and Caribbean - has welcomed two new-build newcomers to its fold. The new members are the 42-bedroom Sioux Lookout in Ontario and the 48-bedroom Bricktown Lodge in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Rocco Forte to build 15th hotel in Munich
Rocco Forte Hotels is to open a five-star, 160-bedroom hotel in the heart of Munich in the spring of 2007. The new-build hotel - the group's fifteenth - will cost $87.1m (£48.6m) and will include a restaurant with two private dining rooms; a bar; a health centre with gym, sauna, swimming pool and treatment rooms; and eight meeting rooms, including a ballroom that will hold 400 people.
by Angela Frewin