Wozza empire the victim of poor management decisions, says administrators

Wozza empire the victim of poor management decisions, says administrators
Read the full article in the Sunday Times >>

Verdict due in Wetherspoon property fraud trial A court decision in a property fraud case brought by pub operator JD Wetherspoon could shake up the commercial property market and open the door for more legal cases from other operators. Wetherspoon has accused its former property adviser, Van de Berg, of fraud during the 16 years in which it procured more than 600 sites for the group, earning around £14m. Wetherspoon says Van de Berg breached a contract of exclusivity by helping third parties profit at its expense. Wetherspoon, which listed thirteen examples in its claim, said Van de Berg had advised it to take leases when freeholds had been available and had typically arranged a buyer for the properties before leasing them to the pub operator. Middlesex-based Van de Berg denies the accusations. The court verdict, due on Tuesday, will decide whether or not Van de Berg is liable, with any compensation being settled in second trial. - 5 April, Read the full article in the Independent on Sunday >>

Eurozone hotels offering enticements to British holidaymakers
Eurozone hotels are having to offer value-added incentives to entice back cash-strapped British tourists, who have been hard hit by the recession and the falling value of the pound against the euro. "A lot of the hotels are offering a night free if you stay seven nights - or offering complimentary half board, your breakfast and evening dinner - just to try and compensate for people maybe not having so much money in their pocket," said Andy Rowden from independent Middlesex-based travel agents Kitts Travel. According to research by the Association of British Travel Agents, bookings to Eurozone countries have dropped by 15% year-on-year, while market research GFK Ascent MI said overall holiday bookings were 12% lower than a year ago. - 5 April, Read the full article on BBC News >>

Fire-gutted heritage hotel may become flats A Welsh heritage hotel gutted in an arson attack could be converted into apartments as the decline in tourism makes its survival as a hotel unlikely. The listed Grange hotel in Rhyl has been empty and partly vandalised since it was set on fire by arsonists in March 2008. However, Denbighshire council rejected an earlier proposal to turn the hotel into apartments, which had been submitted before the fire. "We want to save as much of the building as possible - it's part of Rhyl's heritage," said John Holden, partner at JPH Architects, which has been handed the demolition and refurbishment project. "There was some resistance into changing the function of the building but we believe that it wouldn't survive as a hotel given the decline in the tourism industry. Holden said the plans could involve 28 apartments or a mixed development including holiday and short-term lettings. - 5 April, Read the full article on BBC News >>

By Angela Frewin

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