Jurys signs 3-hotel franchise deal with Hilton: Jurys Inn Group signed a franchise deal with Hilton Worldwide for three hotels located in England. Under the new agreement, Jurys Inn’s Chelsea and Islington hotels in London will be rebranded as DoubleTree by Hilton, while a hotel located near London Heathrow Airport will become Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow in December 2014. Jurys Inn will invest approximately £20 million (US$32 million) in the planned rebranding, incorporating the current capital investment program in the Chelsea and Islington hotels. The three hotels will continue to be owned and operated by Jurys Inn.
Minor buys stake in Maldives hotel: Minor International acquired a 50% stake in the 86-room Niyama.
Bob Drury passes away: Robert “Bob” Drury, part owner of Drury Southwest, passed away on Thursday. He was 81 years old.
Read more at Southeast Missourian
Thomas Cook plans second wave of cuts: Thomas Cook announced another round of cost-cutting measures.
Read more at the Yorkshire Post
McKillen resumes court battle with Barclay bros.: Paddy McKillen is back in High Court with his case against the Barclay brothers for ownership of the London hotels Claridge’s, Berkeley and Connaught.
Read more at the Irish Independent
IHG CEO joins UK PM for China trade mission: IHG CEO Richard Solomons joined U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron on a trade mission to China as IHG announced plans to recruit another 110,000 staff to support its growth, which involves doubling the number of hotels in China in the next three to five years.