HA Daily
Hampton opens in Birmingham
Hilton has opened its largest Hampton Inn outside the USA, in British second city Birmingham. The 285 room hotel is the brand’s tenth opening in the UK.
US investors head for Europe
Agent CBRE Hotels has detected a “sea change” in US investor interest in European hotels. With a lack of home market deals, funds are now looking at opportunities across the continent, according to the agent’s EMEA head Derek Gammage.
Marriott signs to enter Ethiopia
Marriott has signed an agreement with Ethiopian developer Sunshine Construction to manage two developments in Addis Ababa. An executive apartment block and Courtyard by Marriott will open in 2014 and 2015.
Choice plans dual brand hotels
Choice Hotels has unveiled plans to develop buildings combining its Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites brands. The jointly branded developments promise lower running costs and better returns for landlords.
The more interesting side of
The more interesting side of this story, especially for Australian hotel operators, is that the owner purpored to terminate the hotel management agreement with Hyatt last Tuesday and evicted the hotel general manager that day and by Tuesday night Hyatt had obtained an injunction against the owner restaining the owner from taking any further action pending trial of Hyatts case and the general manager had been reinstated in control of the hotel. This means that Hyatt were able to convince the Australian judge that damages would not be an adequste remedy for termination of the hotel management contract, that is that it may be specifically enforceable, and in the normal course Hyatt would have been required to give an undertaking as to damages which the owner suffers pending trial by reason of the injunction.