Hotel Equities to manage La Quinta properties in Florida: Hotel Equities signed a management agreement for four La Quinta Inn & Suites-branded hotels in Tampa. The four properties have a total of 265 guestrooms, and include La Quinta Inn & Suites Clearwater South, La Quinta Inn & Suites St. Petersburg Northeast, La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa Central and La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa South.
Hilton to expand in Colombia: Hilton Worldwide signed a management agreement with Megaterra Colombia S.A. for a new, 250-room Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in Cartagena. The hotel’s anticipated opening is December 31, 2015.
Chatham acquires SpringHill Suites in Georgia: Chatham Lodging Trust purchased the 160-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Savannah Downtown/Historic District for US$39.8 million.
Read more at The Wall Street Journal
Japan lawmakers submit bill to legalize casinos: Japan’s ruling party submitted a bill to parliament to legalize casinos, moving the nation closer to becoming the world’s second largest gaming market.
Pacifica transitions Best Western property in California: Pacifica Hotels de-flagged and renamed the 128-room Best Western Plus Blue Sea Lounge to the independently branded Blue Sea Beach Hotel. The property will also undergo a US$5 million renovation to be completed by 2014.
Carlson Rezidor to expand in Saudi Arabia: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group will open the 168-room Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh Olaya and the 160-room Radisson Blu Resort Jizan in 2016.
Read more at Business Traveller
Pan Pacific to expand in Australia: Pan Pacific Hotels Group will open the 281-room Parkroyal Melbourne in 2016. The hotel is the company’s second Parkroyal-branded property in Melbourne.
Read more at Travel Daily Asia
Dusit Fudu to expand in China: Dusit Fudu Hotel Management signed a management agreement with Yunnan Jingdian Real Estate Group for the 72-villa Dusit Devarana Dianchi Lake Kunming resort. The property is scheduled to open in 2016.