“No”-tel California: The owner of a Mexican hotel being sued by the Eagles for using the name Hotel California has called for the case to be dismissed. Hotel California Baja, the company which runs the Todos Santos hotel in Baja California, said the band long ago waived its trademark rights, having waited four decades to assert them since releasing the song Hotel California in 1976.
Starwood check-in: Starwood Preferred Guest has launched SPG Mobile Check-In for members at 22 hotels in the United States. More hotels will begin offering this feature exclusively on the SPG Mobile app with the global rollout completed by the end of 2017.
Swire: Swire Hotels has confirmed the expansion of its “House Collective” to Shanghai, with its upcoming property at the HKRI Taikoo Hui mixed-use development taking the mantle “The Middle House.” The property, wset to open at the end of this year, is the fourth in the series.
American Express Hilton deal: American Express has won the rights to become the exclusive issuer of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. credit cards, according to executives from both companies.
More from the Wall Street Journal
Riu Plaza: The RIU hotel chain has reached an agreement with the Baraka Group to purchase the Madrid-based ‘Edificio España’ outright and subsequently carry out the necessary refurbishments to turn it into the first Riu Plaza, a 650-room hotel.
American Hotel Income Properties REIT: American Hotel Income Properties REIT acquired 18 premium branded Marriott and Hilton hotels containing 2,187 guestrooms and located in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania for approximately US$407.4 million, including brand-mandated property improvement plans.
China Yuchai: China Yuchai International announced today that HL Global Enterprises Limited, which China Yuchai has a 48.9% shareholding interest in, has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement for the disposal of HLGE’s entire shareholding interest in a subsidiary holding its hotel properties in China. The purchaser is an affiliate of Jingrui Holdings Limited.