News in brief
Hurricane victims in hotels
The US government is spending $11m (£6.2m) a night on putting up Hurricane Katrina evacuees in hotels, according to a report in the New York Times. In a bid to meet President George Bush's mid-October deadline to get victims out of temporary shelters, the Federal Emergency and Management Agency has given the green light to a forced migration that has placed nearly 600,000 people in hotels and is estimated to cost at least $425m (£220m) by next month.
Wetherspoon's award JD Wetherspoon has become the first pub company to receive Age Positive Employer Status in recognition of its policy of employing a mixed-age workforce. Wetherspoon's, which employs 16,000 staff at more than 600 pubs in the UK, described the award from the Department for Work and Pensions as a huge compliment. Stephen Timms, the minister for pension reform, said: "The pub sector often suffers from retention problems, so managers can only gain by opening up their recruitment to people of different ages."
Golf competition at the Grove The world's best golfers will descend on the Grove near Watford next year when it hosts the prestigious 2006 American Express World Golf championships. The 72-hole event will see 64 of the world's leading golfers, such as reigning US Masters Champion Tiger Woods, competing at the Hertfordshire hotel's golf course.
Excellence awards date The Caterer Group's Excellence in Food and Drink Awards will be held at the Dorchester hotel, London, on 25 November. Now in their third year, the awards, in association with food supplier 3663, recognise outstanding quality in new and established food and drink products. The 11 prizes will be judged by a panel of operators, chefs and product developers.
