Snippets

Peninsula Hotels Recovering From SARS

Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels, operator of the luxury peninsula chain, has reported profits up more than eightfold for the six months to June 30. Net profits rose to HK$198 million (£13.9 million), from HK$21 million (£1.47 million) a year earlier when the group was hit by the effects of the SARS outbreak.

Two New Hotels For Starwood

The 59-bedroom Hotel Convento do Espinheiro in Evora, Portugal, is to join Starwood Hotels' Luxury Collection. The hotel is part of a 15th-century convent currently being renovated. Starwood has also announced plans for a new 225-bedroom W hotel at Hoboken in New Jersey, USA, at a waterfront site with views to Manhattan.

Strategic Buys California Hotel

Hotel property investment firm Strategic Hotel Capital is to buy the 261-bedroom Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, California, for US$124.4 million (£68 million).

Four Atlanta Hotels Sold For US$ 26 Million

US real estate investment trust Ashford Hospitality Trust has bought four hotels, with 365 bedrooms between them, from Day Hospitality Group for US$25.9 million (£14.2 million). Day Hospitality Group will continue to operate the hotels, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sales Boost For Burger Giant

McDonald's Corporation, the fast-food giant, has reported a 10 per cent uplift in sales during the three months to the end of June. Revenues increased to US$4.7 billion (£2.6 billion) while net profits were up by 25 per cent to US$590 million (£323 million).

Kerzner Chosen For Moroccan Venture

Resort and casino developer Kerzner International has been chosen by the government of Morocco to build and run a proposed US$230 million (£126 million) resort casino near El Jadida, about 50 miles south-west of Casablanca on the country's Atlantic coast. The complex will include a 600-bedroom hotel.

JW Marriott HK Awarded

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong has won the 8th Gold Key Award 2004 presented by the Meetings & Conventions (M&C) magazine. Celebrating its 27th year, the annual award is bestowed upon the world's finest meeting properties. All winners of this award of excellence were nominated and selected by the readers of M&C, who based their votes on the overall professionalism and quality of the property. This year, the readers honoured 183 domestic and 25 international hotels and resorts as Gold Key winners.

Personalised Vietnam Travel Services By Ana Mandara

Vietnam’s hospitality pioneer - Ana Mandara Resort & Six Senses Spa - has established the Ana Mandara Travel Service to provide the best possible experiences for visitors. Ana Mandara Travel Services have created a modular concept that allows each tour to be customised to specific requirements. These tailor-made itineraries make the most of precious vacation time and may include features such as cultural interests, educational, physical activities and simply relaxing.