Best Western moves in Latin America: Best Western Hotels & Resorts assumed direct responsibility for the Best Western brand in Mexico and Central and South America, totaling 100 Best Western branded properties across Mexico, South America and Central America. Best Western will now operate on a property direct relationship (“PDR”) with Best Western branded hotels in Mexico, all of which remain independently owned and operated. The newly appointed managing director of Best Western Hotels & Resorts – Mexico & Central America, Elizabeth Becerra, has been tasked with the transition.
SLS Brickell sold: The Related Group reportedly sold the hotel component of SLS Brickell in Miami for US$43 million, according to a Real Deal report citing property records. PRH 1300 Hotel LLC and PRH 1300 Shared LLC sold the 124-key hotel to Brickell Miami LLC, a Delaware company managed by Francois Faber of Fiduciaire Fernand Faber, an accounting and tax firm based in Luxembourg. The deal breaks down to about US$347,000 per room. The buyer also signed a management agreement with SBE.
Judge blocks NYC Airbnb law: A federal judge blocked a New York City law that would have required home-sharing services to regularly disclose information about listings and hosts. The law would have gone into effect in February. Airbnb and HomeAway sued, claiming the law was unconstitutional. The injunction blocks the law from taking effect pending resolution of that litigation.
Read more in the New York Times (registration)
Benefiting Trump D.C.? The Old Post Office Tower next to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., will reopen by Friday thanks to federal funding, according to a report. The tower was closed to visitors due to the December 22 government shutdown, but the General Services Administration, which owns the building, allocated money for its reopening. GSA agreed in 2013 to lease the Old Post Office Building to the Trump Organization for 60 years, so the company could renovate the city’s former main General Post Office and turn it into a hotel. Under the agreement, however, the Trump Organization is responsible for the tower. New Jersey Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell denounced the Trump administration on Twitter, accusing it of improperly using tax dollars to benefit the president’s business.
Read the Washington Examiner report