Hotels

ATLANTA-The locally based American arm of British-based Six Continents PLC is putting the former Tishman Hotel Corp. executive in charge of Six Continents' growth and development of all company brands in the western states. Watkins will be based in Phoenix.

LOS ANGELES-Juergen Bartels, CEO of the London-based Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, told a small crowd gathered in the Garden Room of his Le Meridien at Beverly Hills that the independent luxury hotel group has its sights set on becoming the number-one brand in the international hotel trade by 2004.

DENVER-Sage Hospitality Resources president, chief executive officer and co-founder Walter Isenberg replaces Coors Brewing Co. vice president of public affairs Al Timothy as chairman of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

ORLANDO-The executive vice president for sales and travel operations at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and his colleagues at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, are racing the clock to rejuvenate the area's sagging hospitality industry.

LOS ANGELES-The district's bid for the hotel, valued at more than $76.5 million, had been thrown into limbo by a higher offer from privately held Casden Properties. But bankruptcy judge now says the deal can move forward, after Casden can't hammer out other terms with the seller.

MIAMI BEACH, FL-Condominium owners relinquished title to individual units in the six-story, 50,000-sf property in exchange for an equity stake, clearing the way for a Dec. 19 auction.

ANAHEIM, CA-Standard & Poor's says sudden drop in travel to this tourism Mecca could jeopardize the city's ability to pay municipal bondholders. Move is latest sign that impact of last month's terrorist attacks is rippling across nation's economy.

TACOMA, WA-City officials are inching closer to negotiating a purchase and sale agreement for a new hotel on the Greater Tacoma Convention Center site.