Wyndham Worldwide Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

China Holdings, Inc. Announces Contracting Perkins Eastman Architect for Its Master Planning of 100 Sq Km Land “China Vegas”: A New World Resort City

Irish Cut Beer Prices After Left ‘High and Dry’ by Pound Slide

Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Hugh McGee is cutting the price of Guinness by about 20 percent at his bars and hotels in the Irish town of Letterkenny to keep customers coming across the border from Northern Ireland after the euro’s surge against the pound.

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€460m gamble on Ireland's Las Vegas

It's certainly a Quirkey idea: a resort encompassing a huge casino, hotel, world-class racecourse and 02-style concert arena (with retractable roof) all built around a perfect replica of the White House.
And to top it off, businessman Richard Quirke (aka Dr Quirkey, owner of Dublin-based amusement arcades) revealed yesterday that he wants to build this €460m, 800-acre pleasure palace not in Las Vegas but near Two-Mile Borris.

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DineEquity sees improvement at Applebee's, shrs up

LOS ANGELES, Oct 27 (Reuters) - DineEquity Inc (DIN.N) posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit and said October sales had improved at its struggling Applebee's restaurants. Shares rose 5 percent.
Quarterly revenue missed analysts' estimates, but the company said it was confident it would meet its full-year same-store sales targets as its Applebee's and IHOP chains benefit from new marketing and menu changes. DineEquity also reassured investors about its ability to pay down debt

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STR Global posts September 2009 results for Asia/Pacific region

LONDON—Hotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced mixed results when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics for September 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global.
In year-over-year measurements, the Asia/Pacific region’s occupancy rose 1.4 percent to 62.3 percent; average daily rate declined 7.7 percent to US$123.72; and revenue per available room fell 6.3 percent to US$77.12.
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STR Global posts September 2009 results for Europe

LONDON—The European hotel industry posted decreases in year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for September 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global.
Figures for occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room ranged from double-digit losses to double-digit gains, depending on the market and the currency used for comparison.

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STR Global posts Middle East/Africa September 2009 results

LONDON—The Middle East/Africa region reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key measurements reported in U.S. dollars for September 2009, according to data compiled by STR Global.
The region’s occupancy dropped 8.2 percent to 56.9 percent; average daily rate increased 1.5 percent to US$140.66; and revenue per available room decreased 6.9 percent to US$80.00.

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Kona Grill Reports Third Quarter Results

"Our third quarter results reflect today's challenging consumer environment. While our industry continues to go through one of the toughest times in recent memory, we are committed to operating our restaurants while remaining focused on our long term goals. We continue to make progress on several operational initiatives and remain focused on driving guest traffic and providing a memorable guest experience. We are focused on those items we can control, and we expect these efforts will ultimately materialize into top and bottom line results as the economy improves," said Mark L. Bartholomay, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Kona Grill.

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Pubs adding service charge put off customers

A new survey by Livebookings revealed that 22% are put off by being billed for bread they didn't ask for and 31% by only being able to book at limited times — for example at 7pm or 9pm.
However, 38% said they have not cut back on eating out but they are choosing to spend more wisely with 10% now visiting less expensive restaurants. Over half (56%) are fans of special discounted offers.

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Priceline launches iPhone app for hotel bidding

Bargain hunting iPhone owners can add a new weapon to their growing arsenal of travel applications: Priceline.com's just-released Hotel Negotiator app, which for the first time lets name-your-own-price users bid for and book hotel rooms on the fly.

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Casinos struggle in 3Q as gamblers save: Harrah's loses $1.6B, Wynn profit slides, shares drop

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gamblers are wagering less than a year ago, visiting casinos less often and holding back on extras when they do, continuing trends that left the industry struggling in the third quarter.

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Harrah’s Entertainment Reports Results for 2009 Third Quarter, First Nine Months

• Revenues decline 13.7 percent from 2008 third quarter
• Third-Quarter Property EBITDA declines 12.2 percent
• Impairment charge on intangible assets impacts results

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Panera profit beats view, shares up on outlook

LOS ANGELES, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. bakery-cafe operator Panera Bread Co (PNRA.O) posted quarterly profit that beat expectations, forecast 2010 earnings above analysts' view and said this quarter's sales were on the uptick, sending shares up nearly 5 percent

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Panera Bread Reports Q3 EPS of $0.61 (including $0.04 in net charges), up 35% over Q3 2008

HIGHLIGHTS
- Company-owned comparable sales (calendar basis) up 6.9% in the first 27 days of Q4 09
- Franchise comparable sales (calendar basis) up 6.3% in the first 27 days of Q4 09
- Q3 2009 Company-owned comparable bakery-cafe sales up 3.3% over Q3 2008
- Q3 2009 operating margin up 230 bps over Q3 2008
- Q3 2009 net income up 38% over Q3 2008
- Q4 2009 EPS target $0.85 to $0.87 (net of $0.05 of expected asset retirement expenses)
- FY 2010 EPS target set at $3.05 to $3.15 (up 14% to 18% versus target for FY 2009)

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Wynn Resorts Falls on 33% Drop in Third-Quarter Net

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Wynn Resorts Ltd., the casino company founded by Stephen Wynn, declined the most in five months in U.S. trading after reporting a 33 percent drop in third-quarter profit.
Wynn fell $6.94, or 11 percent, to $56.13 at 4 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the biggest intraday decline since April. It has gained 33 percent this year.

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Wynn Resorts, Limited Reports Third Quarter Results

On a US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) basis, net income for the quarter was $34.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to net income of $51.2 million, or $0.49 per diluted share in 2008. Adjusted net income in the third quarter of 2009 was $39.9 million, or $0.33 per diluted share (adjusted EPS)(2) compared to an adjusted net income of $64.3 million, or $0.62 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008.

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Some Chain Restaurants Gaining Traction

Thus far in Q3 2009 earnings season, most of the chain restaurants have delivered “good” earnings results: generally negative sales comp results, favorable commodity and other cost reductions and as a result meeting EPS expectations.

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Blackstone Group eyes cutting Hilton debt

Oct 28 (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group (BX.N) has opened discussions with lenders to slash up to $5 billion in debt held by its unit Hilton Hotels, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter

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Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2009 Results

Total revenue increased 25.1% to $132.7 million
Company-owned restaurant sales grew 26.0% to $120.3 million
Same-store sales increased 0.8% at company-owned restaurants and 1.9% at franchised restaurants
Net earnings increased 50.4% to $6.9 million from $4.6 million, and earnings per diluted share increased 52.0% to $0.38 from $0.25

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