DALLAS-The hotelier sticks to the plan to hand off 23 hotels by month's end to a private investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs and affiliates of Highgate Holdings Inc. The deal's technically done although there are two more closings penciled for Q2.

NEW YORK CITY-Dubai Investment Group and locally based the Milestone Group acquire a $1-billion portfolio of multifamily properties throughout the US.

TAMPA, FL-Robert C. O'Leary, former director of Southeast franchise development at Choice Hotels International, becomes vice president of the Plasencia Group's Sun Hospitality division where he will focus on investment advisory and disposition services for mid-market properties under $12 million.

ORLANDO-Job and population growth are fueling the strongest multifamily leasing and sales market here in five years, according to a new analysis by the local office of CB Richard Ellis Inc. Occupancy is at 96.4%, up from 95.7% in third quarter 2004. Average monthly rents are $790, up from $774.