hospitalitystyle.com

(July 2010) posted on Mon Jul 19, 2010 EDT

Industry news for the week of July 19, 2010

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HIRINGS/PROMOTIONS

ZweigWhite, an architectural/engineering consulting firm, has appointed Ed Friedrichs as chairman. Friedrichs is the former ceo of Gensler.

Dave Goebel has been named president and ceo of Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas, which currently has 99 units in nine states. Goebel is a Mr. Goodcents franchisee and former president and ceo Applebee's International.

Loews Hotels has hired David Wiener as regional vice president of sales and marketing.

Red Lion Hotels Corp. has hired Pam Scott as director of corporate communications.

Stacey McMahan has been appointed the Architecture for Humanity (AFH) Sustainable Design Fellow by the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Institute of Architects. McMahan, a partner/principal and Green Studio director at Koch Hazard Architects, will work directly with community members at the Architecture for Humanity's Rebuilding Center based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

OPENINGS/RENOVATIONS/BRAND NEWS

Hilton Worldwide has opened the Doubletree by Hilton, Olbia-Sardinia, its first hotel on the Italian island. The new-build, 124-key hotel is operated by Proma srl, under a franchise agreement with Hilton.

Thomas Keller Restaurant Group plans to open a second Bouchon Bakery in New York. The 4,000-sq.-ft. locale, to be designed by Adam Tihany, is slated to open next spring in Rockefeller Center.

Davidson Hotel Co. has signed a long-term contract to manage the four-star L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. The 372-room property, the 40th hotel in Davidson's portfolio, is owned by The JBG Cos.

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas has opened a 55,000 sq.-ft. expansion of its gaming floor. The first phase of the expansion includes 400 additional slot, video poker and video keno machines, a newly designed race book, an expanded poker room and a multi-function entertainment area named the Grandview Lounge. The project's second phase involves the addition of a Steak 'n Shake restaurant, and future plans call for the addition of a Japanese sushi-teppanyaki restaurant.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. has opened its first restaurant in Jacksonville, Fla., and second locale in San Antonio, Texas.

Noble Investment Group has acquired the 126-room Holiday Inn Charleston Historic District in Charleston, S.C., along with an adjacent land parcel that it plans to use for 50 added guest rooms and another 2,500 sq. ft. of meeting space. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. After completing the additions and renovating the existing hotel, Noble will rebrand the property as a Courtyard by Marriott in 2011.

The Renaissance Washington, D.C,. Downtown Hotel has completed a multi-million dollar renovation of its lobby. The updated space was created by Dallas-based Looney & Associates. The 21-year-old hotel is owned by Sunstone Hotels.

Bistro Babusan has opened its first restaurant, in The Village at Fairview retail complex in suburban Dallas. The Asian fusion concept is a joint venture between Al Bhakta, president and ceo of Genghis Grill Franchise Concepts LP, and Mark Brezinski, founder of Bengal Coast Restaurants LP.

The Riese Organization has opened its 10th T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in New York, at 34 Union Square East and 16th Street.

Kimpton's oceanfront Vero Beach Hotel & Spa in Florida has received the Environmental Certification-Silver from Green Seal.

AWARDS

Bulbrite has received a Gold ADEX Award for Design Excellence for its GU24 Twist & Lock Compact Fluorescent Lamps.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

WAC Lighting has opened its new office in Shanghai, China. The company's Chinese sales and marketing program will be led by Zengkai Dai, president of WAC Lighting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.