EDISON, NJ—Real estate executives convened at a NAIOP conference here on Tuesday offered high praise to the benefits that have come from last year's passage of the Economic Opportunity Act.

LAUREL, MD—Sotherly Hotels has entered into a 10-year franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide to rebrand the Holiday Inn Hotel Laurel West to the DoubleTree by Hilton Laurel.

BETHSDA, MD—The Lycée Rochambeau, French International School has begun a search for what will likely be a site for a larger consolidated campus.

YONKERS, NY—Developer Martin Ginsburg was joined by a host of city officials, including Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, on Tuesday to turn the first dirt on his firm's more than $100-million River Tides at Greystone apartment project here.

NEW YORK CITY—A strong office leasing market fueled by a surging economy sparked a decline in office vacancies in Manhattan in the third quarter and the highest office rental rates since year-end 2008.

THOMSON, GA—An affiliate of New York City-based Lexington Realty Trust has reached a development agreement with Red Rock Developments, LLC of Columbia, SC to build a new manufacturing and warehouse facility here.

ORLANDO, FL—The Phillips Village and East Towne Center shopping centers here have changed hands.

NEW YORK CITY—At a press conference staged at the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Flushing, Queens with Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined plans to modernize and revitalize LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International, Republic and Stewart International airports.