Unionized employees at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel went on a one-day strike early Friday morning, the first full day of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Talks between the hotel and the union broke down late Thursday night, sending more than 900 workers onto the picket line early Friday morning.
Members of the union, Unite Here Local 75, have been without a contract since July 16, and say their "patience has run out with hotel owners who have dragged their heels" on contract negotiations, according to a statement released Friday. The union is protesting increasing workloads, shortened shifts and high injury rates. This strike follows one on Sept. 3 at the Hyatt-Regency where members of the same union, demanded laid-off workers be hired back.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Administrators put The Eton Group up for sale
KPMG, the Administrator for The Eton Group announced today that it has selected CBRE Hotels as the exclusive agent to sell the portfolio of 5 prestigious boutique and townhouse hotels. The hotels consist of
- Threadneedles, London
- The Colonade, London
- The Academy, London
- Quebec, Leeds
- The Glasshouse, Edinburgh
The properties comprise a total of 271 bedrooms and continue to trade, while in Administration, at levels which exceed those of 2009.
Craig Millward, Director of CBRE Hotels EMEA commented “This is an excellent opportunity to acquire the hotels unencumbered therefore offering a new owner flexibility in regard to integrating them into an existing group and in regard to re-branding. We expect there to be significant interest in these assets from operators and investors alike”.
- Threadneedles, London
- The Colonade, London
- The Academy, London
- Quebec, Leeds
- The Glasshouse, Edinburgh
The properties comprise a total of 271 bedrooms and continue to trade, while in Administration, at levels which exceed those of 2009.
Craig Millward, Director of CBRE Hotels EMEA commented “This is an excellent opportunity to acquire the hotels unencumbered therefore offering a new owner flexibility in regard to integrating them into an existing group and in regard to re-branding. We expect there to be significant interest in these assets from operators and investors alike”.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Los Angeles fast-food ban may become law
A quick-service restaurant ban is still under debate in Los Angeles. Southern California Public Radio reported the Los Angeles City Council committee unanimously approved a year-long ban on new QSRs in a 32-square-mile area, mostly in South Los Angeles.
An approval by the whole council and the signature of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is all that's needed to make the ban a law.
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An approval by the whole council and the signature of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is all that's needed to make the ban a law.
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Dominos online ordering systems boosts profits by 23%
Amazon.com sells everything from car parts and jewelry to groceries and golf clubs -- in addition to the books that first got it started -- so it's not surprising that the Internet titan is ranked first among e-tailers.
But the company that is the No. 4 e-tailer puts all its eggs in one crust, er, basket: Domino's.
The Ann Arbor-based chain's online ordering system has catapulted it to the forefront of Internet commerce, and it's giving the pizza seller a big advantage in the marketplace.
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But the company that is the No. 4 e-tailer puts all its eggs in one crust, er, basket: Domino's.
The Ann Arbor-based chain's online ordering system has catapulted it to the forefront of Internet commerce, and it's giving the pizza seller a big advantage in the marketplace.
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FelCor Lodging Trust purchases The Fairmont Copley Plaza for $98.5 million
Boston, MA CBRE Hotels acted as exclusive advisor to Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the sale of The Fairmont Copley Plaza, located on Copley Sq. in Back Bay. FelCor Lodging Trust Inc. has purchased a fee-simple interest in the famed hotel for $98.5 million and will implement a capital plan in excess of $20 million which includes an overall refreshing of guestrooms and public areas and the addition of a new fitness center.
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Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Franchise Unveils Eco-Friendly Beverage Menu
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC today announced the introduction of a new eco-friendly beverage menu available beginning this month at North American and Caribbean properties across the brand's portfolio. Properties also will be able to customize the menu to include local and regional selections and offer promotions that allow customers to contribute to the environment.
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When it comes to getting an operating license Bangkok hotels say Phuket
PHUKET : Hundreds of hotels in Phuket are operating without licences, claiming the cost of getting one is far too high.
Officials have set up a working group to close the unlicensed establishments, deputy governor Niwit Arunrat said yesterday.
Government figures show that Phuket has 702 hotels with 42,684 rooms _ but only 273 of these hotels are licensed.
Mr Niwit said the hotels operating without licences violated building control and environmental laws and did not pay taxes.
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Officials have set up a working group to close the unlicensed establishments, deputy governor Niwit Arunrat said yesterday.
Government figures show that Phuket has 702 hotels with 42,684 rooms _ but only 273 of these hotels are licensed.
Mr Niwit said the hotels operating without licences violated building control and environmental laws and did not pay taxes.
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HEI Hospitality warns customers of data breach
HEI Hospitality, owner and operator of upscale hotels operating under the Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and other monikers, has sent letters informing some 3,400 customers that their credit card data may have been compromised.
The warning stems from an intrusion into point of sale systems at several HEI properties earlier this year, which could have allowed card holder data being to be illegally accessed, the company said in the letter.
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The warning stems from an intrusion into point of sale systems at several HEI properties earlier this year, which could have allowed card holder data being to be illegally accessed, the company said in the letter.
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Burger King buyer names rail exec as future CEO
NEW YORK (AP) -- Burger King's soon-to-be new owners have named a former Latin American railroad executive to be CEO of the fast-food chain after the $3.26 billion deal goes through.
The appointment of Bernardo Hees by 3G Capital is a signal that the investment firm is serious about expanding the Burger King brand further into Latin America and elsewhere abroad.
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The appointment of Bernardo Hees by 3G Capital is a signal that the investment firm is serious about expanding the Burger King brand further into Latin America and elsewhere abroad.
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Groups return to South Florida hotels
Slowly, and often at the last minute, the group hotel business that has been a mainstay of South Florida's visitor industry is creeping back.
But corporate meetings look a little less grand than they did in the pre-recession era. Gone are lengthy affairs packed with golf mornings, spa afternoons and lobster-and-champagne dinners. In their place: shorter meetings arranged with an eye toward cost-cutting and charitable activities to soften the image.
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But corporate meetings look a little less grand than they did in the pre-recession era. Gone are lengthy affairs packed with golf mornings, spa afternoons and lobster-and-champagne dinners. In their place: shorter meetings arranged with an eye toward cost-cutting and charitable activities to soften the image.
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Hotels Lure Investors as Lodging Surpasses U.S. Offices, Retail
Hotel purchases are increasing faster than deals for office buildings, shopping centers or any other type of U.S. commercial property as rising occupancies and room rates boost the lodging industry.
Sales of hotels jumped 136 percent in the first half of 2010 from a year earlier, the biggest gain among five commercial real estate categories tracked by New York-based Real Capital Analytics Inc. Those deals were based on transactions of at least $5 million and exclude hotels attached to casinos.
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Sales of hotels jumped 136 percent in the first half of 2010 from a year earlier, the biggest gain among five commercial real estate categories tracked by New York-based Real Capital Analytics Inc. Those deals were based on transactions of at least $5 million and exclude hotels attached to casinos.
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Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Prezzo profit rises on new restaurant launches
Reuters) - British pizza restaurant chain Prezzo Plc (PRZ.L) reported a 21 percent rise in first-half adjusted pretax profit, helped by new restaurants launches and improved margins, and said it was confident for the rest of the year.
The company, which opened seven new restaurants during the first half, said current trading was in line with expectations.
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The company, which opened seven new restaurants during the first half, said current trading was in line with expectations.
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Dancing Shrimp Off the Menu at California Restaurant. Lepricons still there
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento restaurant agreed to stop serving live shrimp after an animal-rights group said the practice was cruel to the shellfish.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the restaurant, Nishiki Sushi, suggested squeezing lemon juice on the shrimps' exposed flesh so they would writhe as they were eaten. The dish is commonly referred to as "dancing shrimp" and is considered a delicacy in Japan.
PETA contacted the restaurant after receiving dozens of complaints about the practice.
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Chinese chain Country Style Cooking files IPO
NEW YORK — Quick service Chinese company Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co. Ltd. seeks to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering.
The company did not specify the number of shares or the price in the filing it made Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company, based in Yuzhong District of Chongqing in China's Sichuan province, has grown from nine restaurants in 2008 to 101 restaurants at the end of June. It operates all its own restaurants.
It said it plans to have more than 130 restaurants in China at the end of the year.
Revenues reached $72.9 million in 209 and were $48.1 million in the first half of this year.
The company did not specify the number of shares or the price in the filing it made Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company, based in Yuzhong District of Chongqing in China's Sichuan province, has grown from nine restaurants in 2008 to 101 restaurants at the end of June. It operates all its own restaurants.
It said it plans to have more than 130 restaurants in China at the end of the year.
Revenues reached $72.9 million in 209 and were $48.1 million in the first half of this year.
Restaurant bans screaming kids; Business Booms!
The restraunteur says she got sick of customers complaining about parents who couldn't control their kids during meals, treating the restaurant like their personal playground, misbehaving and squawking.
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