Westin to expand in Texas: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced on Thursday that it signed an agreement with White Lodging Services Corp. to open the 326-room The Westin Austin Downtown in spring 2015.
Read more at the Austin American-Statesman
AmEx announces travel layoffs: American Express announced that it will cut 5,400 jobs primarily in its travel services.
HEI buys Dallas hotel: HEI Hotels & Resorts announced that it bought the 170-room Luxe Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa, which it will reflag under Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s Le Méridien brand.
Read more at The Dallas Morning News
Novotel to expand in Saudi Arabia: Accor signed a deal to open the 143-room Novotel Jeddah.
Commercial real estate transactions up: Global real estate investment volumes in the fourth quarter of 2012 rallied, with US$141 billion transacted over the quarter to lift the year’s total preliminary volume to US$436 billion, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
Read more at Jones Lang LaSalle
2 Scotland airport hotels announced: ABZ Development has submitted plans to build two 140-room Novotel-branded and 112-room Ibis-branded hotels adjacent to Aberdeen International Airport.
Hard Rock joins fray for Massachusetts development: Hard Rock International submitted an application and a $400,000 non-refundable application fee to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for the development of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England, to be located in West Springfield.