America’s Best expands in China: America’s Best Franchising Inc. signed Golden Wisdom Management Consulting as a licensee for the brands Palms Hotels & Resorts, Parkside Hotels & Resorts and Budgetel Inns & Suites in China in a 45-year agreement.
Read more at America’s Best Franchising Inc.
Cristal expanding into Pakistan: United Arab Emirates hotel operator Cristal Group Holdings announced on Wednesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with real estate company Rufi Group to open at least 10 hotels from budget to luxury in Pakistan over the next five years.
Read more at The Express Tribune
Host Hotels posts triple profits: Host Hotels & Resorts, a U.S. REIT had quarterly profit triple as it brought in US$62 million at 9 cents a share in the second quarter of 2011 compared to US$13 million at 2 cents a share during the same period last year.
Global Hotel Alliance enters Italy: Global Hotel Alliance, an alliance of independent hotel brands, announced on Tuesday that the Lungarno Collection has entered the alliance. These are the first Italian hotels to join.
IHG launches Windows mobile app: InterContinental Hotels Group announced the launch of a Priority Club Reward application for the Windows Phone 7 operating system. The new app provides customers with the functionality to find and book hotel rooms, check rates and view or cancel reservations for all seven of IHG’s brands.
Read more at InterContinental Hotels Group
Kansas City Hyatt going Sheraton: The Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri announced on Tuesday that it will switch brands to become the Sheraton Crown Center with the same owner. Over the next three years US$18 million will be invested in property improvements.
Read more at The Kansas City Star