By Linda Humphrey
BOSTON -- The ITT Luxury Collection boosted its U.S. portfolio
to 12 properties by winning management contracts on the four hotels
abandoned by Ritz-Carlton, Dan Weadock, ITT Sheraton's president
and chief executive officer, said.
"We draw a lot of our Luxury Collection customers from outside
the U.S., so this is a big advantage for us," he said.
The chain plans to bring back many of the 200 managers the
Ritz-Carlton had spirited out of the four hotels Aug. 2, Weadock
said.
ITT already has swapped the hotels' crown-and-lion Ritz
amenities for those bearing its own four horses logo, although the
Ritz emblem will linger a bit longer on the doorknobs, he said.
Currently signed to a one-year contract, ITT plans to sign a
long-term contract for the hotels soon, according to Weadock.