Former von Essen hotel sold: The 46-room The Royal Crescent Hotel, a former von Essen property located in Bath, U.K., has been bought by Topland Group for a reported £18 million (US$28 million).
Okura expands in Japan: Okura Hotels & Resorts has flagged a hotel in Sasebo City, Japan, which has been rebranded as Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch.
US eases Burma sanctions: The U.S. again eased additional sanctions on Burma and the State Department said it may continue with “targeted easing” of tourism sanctions.
Western Australia uneven performance: Western Australia saw an uneven hotel performance from October to December 2011 with occupancy at 80% in Perth but only 62.9% in the state’s northwest region.
Atlantic City revenue down 7.4%: Casino revenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was down 7.4% year-on-year in 2011.
Read more at Bloomberg Businessweek
Apollo-Driftwood JV buys North Carolina hotel: Apollo Global Management and Driftwood Hospitality Management via joint venture bought the 249-room Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport hotel for US$16.5 million from GE Capital Real Estate.
Read more at the Triangle Business Journal
Bank of America sues Brown brothers: Bank of America filed a federal lawsuit against hotel developers Michael and Steven Roberts for US$34 million.
Read more at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch