Starwood expands Le Méridien brand in Europe: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that Le Méridien will open in Rome, marking the brand’s re-entry into Italy. Owned and managed by the Toti Group, Le Méridien Visconti Rome is scheduled to debut by the end of 2016, following an extensive renovation and conversion from the independent Visconti Palace Hotel.
Read more on Starwood’s website
Starwood to accelerate Sheraton growth in Asia Pacific: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced accelerated growth plans for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts for Asia Pacific. Following the most recent designation of Sheraton Grand Macao, Cotai Central in January, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion of Sheraton Grand by adding three properties to the premier tier: Sheraton Grand Shanghai Pudong Hotel & Residences, Sheraton Grand Guangzhou Huadu Resort and Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel. Sheraton also revealed plans to open more than 20 properties in the region by mid-2017, supporting the brand’s Sheraton 2020 goal of adding 150 new hotels by 2020.
Soho House announces Manchester plans: Soho House announced plans to open a property in Manchester, England. The private members club would move in to Old Granada Studios. Planning permission was granted in October for the Levitt Bernstein Associates designed hotel, which will include 150 bedrooms and the city’s first rooftop swimming pool.
Read more at Manchester Evening News
Ascott, Dongfu Investment form strategic alliance: The Ascott Limited formed a strategic alliance with Dongfu Investment Development Corporation – a real estate subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Company, China’s largest state-owned construction and infrastructure builder. Through the partnership, Ascott will have the first right to manage apartments currently under development as well as future projects to be built by Dongfu Investment.
Read more at The Straits Times
Crestline adds two hotels in Washington: Crestline Hotels & Resorts added two hotels in Washington: the 84-guestroom Fairfield Inn & Suites Spokane Downtown, and the 144-guestroom Fairfield Inn & Suites Seattle Bellevue/Redmond. Crestline now manages hotels in 28 US states and the District of Columbia.
Read more at Crestline’s website
Swiss-Belhotel to debut in Al Khobar: Swiss-Belhotel International will open its first property in the Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, by the end of 2016. Swiss-Belhotel Al Khobar will include 100 guestrooms and feature, two F&B outlets and retail shops for rent.
Read more at the Gulf News Journal
Twin Cities hotels sold: Garrison Investment Group sold a six-hotel portfolio in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, to Arch Street Capital Advisors for US$56 million. The deal includes the 126-room SpringHill Suites and 106-room TownePlace Suites in St. Louis Park, the 119-room SpringHill Suites and 103-room TownePlace Suites in Eden Prairie, and the 105-room SpringHill Suites and 94-room TownePlace Suites in Eagan.
Read more at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Erin Andrews stalking lawsuit goes to court: Erin Andrews is seeking US$75 million in damages from the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, alleging that the hotel was negligent in allowing Michael David Barrett to reserve the room next to hers, rig her room’s peephole with a camera and record video of Andrews changing clothes. The civil trial begins today in Nashville. Andrews currently is a Fox Sports personality but was working for ESPN at the time of the incident in 2008.
Read more at The Washington Post
Sentencing hearing for Cay Clubs owner: Fred Clark, the former chief of Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas, will learn his sentence today at the Key West federal courthouse. Maximum combined sentences carry a potential 200 years behind bars for the convicted band-fraud defendant. Federal authorities say Cay Clubs was a US$300 million Ponzi scheme.