Sunday, October 6, 2013

Wyndham Hotel Group and Grand City Hotels Sign Austria’s First Wyndham Grand


Wyndham Grand Hotel, Salzburg, Austria

BERLIN, Germany - Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,410 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN) announced the signing of 17 hotels representing over 2,300 rooms across Germany and Austria in association with Grand City Hotels. 

Rui Barros
Adding to the agreement signed by the two companies in February this year to re-brand 43 hotels, the strategic alliance now extends to 60 hotels and over 7,500 rooms across four countries under the Wyndham Grand® (seven properties), Wyndham® (six), Wyndham Garden® (17), TRYP by Wyndham® (21) and Days Inn® (nine) flags.

The latest signings include the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts-branded property in Austria, a Wyndham Grand hotel in Salzburg, and 16 hotels throughout Germany, including five which opened Sept. 30  in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Cologne. 

The expansion takes the total number of Wyndham Hotel Group properties open in Germany to 89. 

“We are thrilled to expand our offering in Germany and Austria through our ongoing collaboration with Grand City Hotels,” said Rui Barros, Wyndham Hotel Group’s senior vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Christian Windfuhr
“With 89 hotels across Germany under brands spanning upper-upscale to budget, we now offer travelers in the country unrivalled choice and diversity under one umbrella.”

Christian Windfuhr, chief executive officer, Grand City Hotels, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the partnership.

“Adding a further 17 hotels to our alliance with Wyndham Hotel Group is a meaningful continuation of our strategic goal to bundle our franchise relations with a partner who has a strong presence in potential source markets and who can move business into our hotels through a very effective worldwide sales and reservation system,” he said.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Roz Money
Director of Brand Marketing, EMEA
Wyndham Hotel Group
The Triangle, Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 0LG, United Kingdom
+44 (0) 20 8762 6600

Sabine Dächert
max PR
Berliner Strasse 17
D-61348 Bad Homburg, Germany
+49 (6172) 12 33 52


Cuhaci & Peterson Architects completes design of new LA Fitness Facility in Southeast Orlando, FL


LA Fitness gym, Goldenrod Road and Hoffner Avenue, Baldwin Park, Southeast Orlando, FL

Lonnie Peterson
 ORLANDO, FL --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, completed design a new LA Fitness on Goldenrod Road and Hoffner Avenue in Southeast Orlando.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the LA Fitness will have 38,000 square feet of space and is currently under construction.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com


Emerson International negotiates two leases totaling more than 15,000 square feet of Class A office space in Altamonte Springs, FL


Centerpointe Office Park, 220 East Central Parkway, Altamonte Springs, FL

Altamonte Springs, FL--- Emerson International recently closed on two office lease agreements that total more than 15,000 square feet of space in the Centerpointe II office building located at 220 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs.

Kenneth Koch
Kenneth Koch, director of leasing, negotiated both lease agreements representing Emerson International, landlord and developer.

Quinstreet Inc., A, Calif. company that ranks as one of the largest Internet marketing services companies in the world, is moving its Orlando area office into a 9,015-square foot suite in Centerpointe II.   Todd Davis of Colliers International represented Quinstreet.

Travel Holdings, Inc., a global tour and travel broker, expanded its premises at Centerpointe II by 6,207 square feet and now occupies a total of 34,747 square feet. Travel Holdings’ Orlando regional headquarters operates in 13 languages.

Todd Davis
The Emerson International portfolio of office properties totals more than 1.2 million square feet of Class A space in Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs and Longwood.

Koch said Emerson’s portfolio is currently 82 percent occupied, a major increase over the 76 percent occupancy reported on January 1.

“We are seeing a significant uptick in leasing activity throughout the portfolio which spreads across the Orlando region and all market segments,” Koch said.

“We attribute much of our occupancy growth to the improving economy both nationally and locally with a positive response to capital improvements made to properties throughout the Orlando portfolio,” Koch said.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com


Emerson International reports new long-term lease agreement for 2,200 square feet of space at 2600 Maitland Center, Maitland, FL


2600 Maiatland Center, Maitland, FL

Zac Starleu
Altamonte Springs, FL--- Emerson International reported it closed on a new long-term lease agreement for 2,200 square feet of Class A office space at 2600 Maitland Center.

Zac Starkey, leasing associate at Emerson International, negotiated the lease agreement representing landlord Emerson International.

Miles Architectural Group is the new tenant.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com


NAI Realvest Negotiates $2.6 Million Sale of Restaurant Property with operating Logan’s Roadhouse in Southwest Orlando, FL


Logan's Roadhouse restaurant, 3060 West Sand Lake Road, Southwest Orlando, FL


Mez Birdie
ORLANDO, FL – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a $2,630,303 sale price for the 8,000 square foot restaurant property at 3060 W. Sand Lake Rd. in Southwest Orlando.  

 Mez Birdie CCIM, director of retail and investment services at NAI Realvest and investment associate Chris Butera negotiated the sale representing the seller IA Orlando Sand Lake Outlot, LLC based in Oakbrook, Ill.  

Chris Butera
The restaurant building, which is occupied by an operating Logan’s Roadhouse, was purchased by JB Income Realty Orlando, LP.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com


NAI Realvest negotiates $1.2 Million+ sale price for Office Building on East Colonial in Orlando, FL


615--617 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL


ORLANDO, FL – NAI Realvest recently negotiated the $1,212,500 sale price for the 20,984 square foot office building located at 615-617 E. Colonial Drive, between Mills and Magnolia Avenues near downtown Orlando.

Mary Frances West
 Mary Frances West, CCIM senior broker-associate at NAI Realvest represented the seller, Osburn Henning Properties, Inc. of Orlando. 

 NEKA, LLC purchased the property and plans to renovate the building for a law practice and other tenants. 

 West said the building is actually three buildings that were combined into one.  The oldest building was built in 1957 and the newest in 1985.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com


Aqua Boracay by yoo Wins Recognition at Inaugural Philippines Property Awards


Aqua Boracay by yoo residential resort, Philippines

Marco Biggiogero

PHILIPPINES – Aqua Boracay Group today announced that Aqua Boracay by yoo, the five-star residential resort in the Philippines, garnered “Highly Commended: Best Condo Development (Resort)” recognition by the Philippines Property Awards. 

The prestigious award was given by a respected group of judges representing the development, hospitality and design industries in Philippines and South East Asia.

“We are delighted to receive this prominent recognition from our industry,” says Marco Biggiogero, Chairman and co-founder of the Aqua Boracay Group.  “As Boracay’s first branded resort residence, Aqua Boracay by yoo is helping to define this up-and-coming area, while setting a high standard for exceptional quality and lifestyle.

 For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Hwee Peng Yeo
Director of Asian Markets
Glodow Nead Communications
Level 21, Centennial Tower
3 Temasek Avenue
Singapore 039190
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US CMBS Delinquency Rate Declines Sharply, Continuing Year-Long Trend


  
NEW YORK, NY - Trepp, LLC, the leading provider of information, analytics and technology to the CMBS, commercial real estate, and banking markets, released its September 2013 US CMBS Delinquency Report today (available at http://www.trepp.com/knowledge/research).

 The delinquency rate for US commercial real estate loans in CMBS fell for the fourth consecutive month to 8.14%. The September delinquency rate marks a 24-basis-point decline since August’s reading, and an improvement of 185 basis points from one year ago. This month’s level is the lowest Trepp delinquency rate in three years, since July 2010.

 There were $1.7 billion in new delinquencies in September; a sharp decline from the $2.5 billion August total. There are currently $44 billion in delinquent US CMBS loans, excluding loans that are past their balloon date but current on their interest payments.

 For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Great Ink Communications
Eric Gerard, Lindsay Church
212-741-2977

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Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Announces Conversion Rate Adjustment for 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2015




NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY) (“Annaly” or the “Company”) announced an adjustment to the conversion rate for 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2015 (the "Notes").

The adjustment to the conversion rate for the Notes is being made pursuant to the governing indenture for the Notes in light of the Company's previously announced third quarter 2013 common stock cash dividend of $0.35 per common share.

The new conversion price for the Notes is $12.9246 per common share, effective September 27, 2013.

The conversion price for the Notes was previously $13.3111 per common share. The new conversion rate for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes is 77.3716 of the Company’s common shares.

The conversion rate for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes was previously 75.1250 of the Company’s common shares.

 Notice of the conversion rate adjustment was delivered to security holders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the trustee, in accordance with the terms of the governing indenture for the Notes.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:


Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
Investor Relations, 888-8Annaly


Housing Market Remains Strong Even as Prices Moderate, ZipRealty Reports

  



EMERYVILLE, CA– ZipRealty, Inc. (http://www.ziprealty.com) (NASDAQ: ZIPR), the nation’s most prominent online technology-powered real estate brokerage firm and real estate marketing solutions provider, has released its latest Housing Trends Report for the month of August.

Lanny Baker
The key trends that have defined the residential real estate market in 2013 are still very much in place at the end of August, according to ZipRealty’s latest analysis of market conditions in 24 major metropolitan areas.

 Inventory is tighter, houses are selling faster, pending sales volume is stronger, and median sales prices are up strongly when compared to one year ago.

 “Over the past 45 days, we have observed moderating prices in the fastest-growing locales, while sales prices are accelerating now in markets that had been lagging earlier,” says ZipRealty CEO and President Lanny Baker.

 “Taken as a whole, the real estate market may be moving toward a broader, more consistent positive trend line as we head toward the final third of the year.”

Median sales prices in the 24 markets surveyed by ZipRealty were up 15.9% annually to just over $275,000 in August 2013 compared to $238,000 last year.

Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix, which have consistently ranked at the top in terms of price growth, remained at the top in August, with median prices anywhere from 23% to 38% higher than last year.

Inventory is running below last year’s levels at 379,000 homes as of Aug. 31, 2013, compared to 450,000 one year ago, a 16% decline.

While the volume of new listings was 9% higher in August 2013 than in August 2012, the pace of new pending sales was 17% higher year-over-year, leading to continued tightness in available supply.

  For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Stacey Corso
510.735.2667

Stevens Calls for End to Government Shutdown


The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
           
David H. Stevens

 Washington, D.C. – David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), issued the following statement in reaction to the government shutdown and its affect on the housing market.

 “The federal government shutdown will have a growing impact on the housing market the longer it continues. If this shutdown is temporary, the ones affected most will be out of work federal employees. However the longer it goes, the greater impact it will have on borrowers, the housing market and the national economy.

“Lenders processing loans that need tax transcripts, social security number verification, or FHA home loans face longer delays and reduced functionality from HUD, IRS, and the Social Security Administration.
  
 Different loan programs have different requirements, and these disruptions impact lenders in different ways, leading to confusion and fear among borrowers about whether they will be able to close on a home purchase or refinance.  There are significant impacts on multifamily lenders, as well.  Rental housing properties awaiting FHA financing cannot move forward.


“The furloughs can disrupt time-sensitive mortgage transaction deals by interfering with borrower lock agreements and causing interest rate disparities from the time of closing to the time the loan is securitized.

“For these reasons there must be a resolution so that borrowers and lenders are able to return to business as usual.”

 For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Rob Van Raaphorst
(202) 557-2799