Oneworld carriers agree to shed slots
To secure antitrust immunity for their proposed transatlantic joint venture, Oneworld Alliance members American, British Airways and Iberia are willing to relinquish takeoff and landing slots at London Heathrow or London Gatwick for routes to Boston, New York, Dallas and Miami, the European Commission said. Previously the airlines had indicated they would resist slot divestiture, but U.S. and European regulators have been insisting on the redistribution of London slots to other airlines on key routes to help ensure competition as a condition to granting antitrust immunity to the Oneworld carriers.
Extended Stay to exit bankruptcy
Extended Stay Inc. filed a reorganization plan, saying it intends to emerge from bankruptcy in June. The plan calls for investment firms Centerbridge Partners and Paulson & Co. to assume a 22.5% stake in the company for $450 million. It also calls for creditors holding $4.1 billion in Extended Stay's mortgage debt to receive new notes totaling $2.5 billion plus a 55% stake in the company. The South Carolina firm filed for Chapter 11 protection last summer, saying it was overleveraged after Lightstone bought the group of nearly 700 hotels near the peak of the market in 2007 from the Blackstone Group for $8 billion.
Princess expands Europe roster in '11
Princess Cruises will base seven ships in Europe in 2011, its largest European deployment to date. The lineup includes 42 itineraries and more than 135 ports, five for the first time: Arhus, Denmark; Motril, Spain; Sete, France; Ayios Nikolaos on the island of Crete; and Antwerp, Belgium.
DOT to delay rule on posting delays
The Transportation Department proposed giving airlines until June 14 to comply with a new rule that they publish flight delay information on their websites. The original effective date was April 29, but airlines asked for a 90-day extension, saying they need more time to reprogram their systems. The DOT proposal is for 45 days.
Jury backs worker in Starwood case
A federal jury in Manhattan found that Starwood wrongly retaliated against a baker at the Westin New York Times Square who had filed discrimination claims against the hotel, and awarded the plaintiff $1 million in damages for his emotional distress and pain and suffering, and $2 million in punitive damages. The employee, Moises Mendez, an immigrant from Ecuador, said the hotel installed a hidden camera near his workstation in the hotel kitchen shortly after he filed complaints of unlawful discrimination against minorities with the hotel's human resources department.
W. Palm Beach OKs convention hotel
The Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners approved development of a 400-room Palm Beach County Convention Center Hotel in West Palm Beach, Fla. The hotel will be developed as a Hilton by Related Companies, a New York-based firm that built the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle in Manhattan and CityPlace, the $600 million retail and entertainment center in West Palm Beach. Palm Beach County will now begin financing discussion and contract negotiations with Related Companies, which is expected to take four to six months.
Friends & Colleagues
Gloria Guevara has been appointed Mexico's new secretary of tourism. Guevara replaces Rodolfo Elizondo, who held the position since 2003, serving under two administrations. Prior to joining President Felipe Calderon's Cabinet, Guevara served as CEO of Sabre's Mexico division. • • • The Curacao Tourist Board named Andre Rojer as marketing manager, North America. Rojer has been with the tourist board for five years as marketing coordinator for the Northeastern U.S. and in sales and marketing in the Miami office. • • • Starwood Hotels & Resorts named Vasant Prabhu vice chairman. Prabhu also serves as the company's CFO. He came to Starwood in 2003 from Safeway. • • • W Hotels Worldwide has appointed Amanda Ross as its first global fashion director. Ross' 20-year career has included a stint as market director for Harper's Bazaar. She currently combines editorial work in publications such as Harper's, Russian L'Officiel and Town & Country with style consulting for film, TV and retail interiors. • • • Disney Destinations appointed Kevin Lansberry senior vice president of worldwide travel operations. Lansberry joined Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in 1986 and has served as vice president of planning and analysis for Disneyland and vice president of Disney's Animal Kingdom park. • • • Millennium Hotels & Resorts expanded its North American team with two executive appointments: Dee Doak was named director of sales and marketing for the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, and Lu Sadler was appointed director of sales and marketing for the Millennium Hotel Durham in North Carolina. Doak most recently served as director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sadler has led sales initiatives for properties with Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental and numerous independent resorts on the East Coast.