Marriott grows in the Caribbean: Marriott International will open its seventh hotel in the Caribbean. The Courtyard by Marriott Kingston in Jamaica is scheduled to open later in 2015.
Read more at Marriott’s website
Omni adds mobile hold feature: Omni Hotels & Resorts is now offering a courtesy hold functionality for reservations made through mobile devices. The new feature allows guests to hold a reservation at the quoted rate for 24 hours.
Expedia launches U.S. Spanish site: Expedia.com has introduced a Spanish-language version of its U.S. point-of-sale website.
Scout develops in New York and Belize: Scout Hotel & Resort Management will develop Barton Hill Hotel & Spa in Lewiston, New York, and the resort portion of Mahogany Bay Village in Belize.
Hotel booking websites under scrutiny: Sen. Chuck Grassely (R-Iowa) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the business practices of several hotel reservations websites.
Read Grassley’s letter to the FTC
Sahara denies Grosvenor bid: Sahara has dismissed reports that it is participating in an auction for the Grosvenor House in London.
Strategic announces credit facility and loan: Strategic Hotels & Resorts has closed on a new US$750 million unsecured credit facility with an accordion feature allowing for additional borrowing capacity up to US$1 billion. Strategic also closed a US$115 million term loan secured by the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in California.