27.02.2008 Zabeel to Buy U.S. Properties After Mortgage Slump Zabeel Investments, the Dubai-based private equity and property developer managing $5 billion, plans to buy real estate in the U.S. after a mortgage crisis pushed prices lower, its executive chairman said. 18.02.2008 Office Rents Gained 14% Globally in 2007, Led by Finance Firms Office rents rose an average of 14 percent worldwide in 2007 as demand grew from banks and brokerages in the U.S., U.K. and Asia. In the 10 most expensive office markets rents increased 40 percent last year, Cushman & Wakefield Inc., the world's largest closely held real estate brokerage, said today in a statement. Singapore moved into the global top 10 for the first time, with occupancy costs hitting an average of about $130 a square foot. 11.02.2008 British Land Has Third-Quarter Loss as Values Slump British Land Co., Europe's largest real estate company by assets, reported a 1.32 billion-pound ($2.59 billion) loss for the fiscal third quarter after its U.K. offices and shopping malls slumped in value. The loss in the three months ended Dec. 31, equivalent to 257 pence a share, compared with a profit of 1.5 billion pounds, or 285 pence, a year earlier, according to a statement today. British Land, London's biggest office landlord, said the worst of the price declines may be over. 06.02.2008 Skyscraper Deaths Prompt New York to Plan New Rules New York City officials say they will recommend tougher high-rise safety laws today after a surge in construction worker deaths and injuries during a record building boom. The number of fatalities on projects of 15 stories or more rose to five last year from one in 2006, and injuries increased 63 percent, to 52, according to the New York City Buildings Department. The city's building code defines structures of at least 15 levels as high-rises, said New York Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster. Spending on construction climbed 7 percent over 2006 to $26.2 billion last year, according to the New York Building Congress, a trade organization. 06.02.2008 Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Announces Grand Hyatt Frankfurt, Germany Affiliates of Global Hyatt Corporation today announced the signing of an agreement with Vivico Real Estate GmbH to operate a new 405-room Grand Hyatt in Frankfurt. Slated to open in 2011, the hotel will be part of a 541-foot (165 meter) tower featuring a modern and stylish design. It will be part of the 'Europaviertel' in Frankfurt, currently being developed as Germany's largest urban development project. 30.01.2008 Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds 74 Hotels to its Global Portfolio in 2007 Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced strong growth and financial results for 2007, adding a total of 74 hotels to its five brands globally and achieving record systemwide revenues of nearly $7 billion, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. The year was highlighted by major global initiatives including a significant new investment in the Rezidor Hotel Group which operates four of the company's brands in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Carlson now owns 41.7 per cent of Rezidor. 30.01.2008 McDonald's to Double India Stores; Expand in China McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant company, plans to this year double its stores in India and open 125 outlets in China to tap growing demand for fast food in Asia. 28.01.2008 Leading Commercial Real Estate Economist to Direct Industry’s Premier Global Research Platform CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) today announced that Raymond Torto, Ph. D., one of commercial real estate’s most renowned economists and forecasters, has been named the company’s Global Chief Economist. In this newly created position, Dr. Torto will direct CBRE’s worldwide team of commercial real estate market analysts and will serve as the firm’s primary spokesperson on macro economic issues and the global commercial real estate market.