hospitalitystyle.com

(April 2011) posted on Mon Apr 25, 2011 EDT

Industry news for the week of April 25, 2011

HIRINGS/PROMOTIONS

Rezidor Hotel Group’s board has extended president and ceo Kurt Ritter’s employment agreement, which was set to expire in February 2012, until 2015.

Penn National Gaming hired Jay Snowden as senior vice president of regional operations. Snowden previously worked for Caesars Entertainment.

SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts hired David Philp as senior vice president investment and portfolio management. Philip was formerly executive vice president for a private investment firm where he oversaw the development of a boutique hotel collection. 

The Veggie Grill restaurant chain hired Greg Dollarhyde as ceo. Dollarhyde was previously chairman and ceo of the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant concept, Zoes Kitchen

OPENINGS/RENOVATIONS/BRAND NEWS

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened the 160-key Holiday Inn San Jose Escazu in Costa Rica.

The 85-villa Koloa Landing Poipu Beach Wyndham Grand Resort opened in Hawaii. 

The Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel opened Nook, an addition to the hotel’s Bar Uncommon. The new room can be used for private parties and seats up to 12.

The Dariotis Group opened a 330-seat Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant in Redwood City, Calif. 

Zoes Kitchen opened a 160-seat restaurant at Annapolis Town Center in Maryland. 

MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS/ACQUISITIONS

A joint venture between Florida-based InSite Group and London-based Cube Capital acquired the 251-room Continental Oceanfront South Beach Hotel for $61 million.

Hersha Hospitality Trust purchased the 112-key Holiday Inn Express Wall Street and the 81-key Hampton Inn Financial District for $69.1 million. The company also closed on its previously announced acquisition of the 152-key Capitol Hill Suites in Washington, D.C. for $47.5 million.

GR Hospitality Group will manage the 137-key Savannah Garden Hotel & Suites in Georgia. This is the Tennessee-based hotel management company’s second property.