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Industry news industry news Around the Industry Hospitality Louvre Hôtels Louvre Hôtels Group plans to ramp up its successful expansion drive by opening 80 to 85 new properties around the world in 2013. Its growth plan initially will focus on Brazil, China, India and Russia. Aimbridge Hospitality Aimbridge Hospitality has tapped Wyndham Hotel Group and Choice Hotels International to reflag 102 of 103 hotels that recently came under its management. Wyndham will rebrand 56 hotels under its Baymont Inn & Suites, Howard Johnson and Days Inn brands. Choice Hotels will convert 46 properties under its Quality Inn, Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge brands. Sandals Resorts International Sandals Resorts International plans to further expand its international portfolio in 2013 and beyond. Within the next 18 months it plans to hit 6,000 rooms through acquisitions and builds. The company also plans to continue investing in upgrades to existing properties. Skye Hospitality Skye Hospitality has agreed to sell a portfolio of 10 hotels in the Baltimore area to MCR Development. The hotel portfolio comprises 1,294 rooms. The properties are operated under various brands by Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide. Retail Gap Gap has sealed a deal to acquire high-end fashion chain Intermix, which operates some 30 boutiques in the United States and Canada. The deal may mean faster growth for Intermix, and will allow Gap to benefit from the smaller retailer's relationships with brands such as Herve Leger, Yves Saint Laurent and Rag & Bone. Vitamin Shoppe Vitamin Shoppe will acquire Super Supplements for about $50 million in cash, giving the New Jersey-based company a bigger presence on the West Coast. Vitamin Shoppe's roster includes 17 stores in the Northwest, while Super Supplements operates 31 shops in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Spanx Spanx is expanding its body-shaping women's undergarment business to dedicated mall stores in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The move allows for the display of more Spanx items, including Manx, the company's line for men – than department-store space permits. The first store, a 1,200-square-foot boutique, opened this past November in McLean, Va., followed by one in King of Prussia, Pa. A third store is scheduled for Paramus, N.J. Restaurants 7-Eleven 7-Eleven plans to open more urban prototype stores across downtown Miami. The 1,800-square-foot concept stores feature a sophisticated design, with discreet signage, butcher-shop-style tiles or wood on the interior walls and architectural pendant lights. 7-Eleven also operates these concept stores in other major cities, including New York and Chicago. Burger 21 Burger 21 has signed franchise agreements with six different entities in six states in 2013 to develop a total of 11 restaurants as part of its aggressive growth strategy. LongHorn Steakhouse LongHorn Steakhouse plans to add four to six locations in the Phoenix area during the next two years. Giraffas Brazil-based Giraffas is a 350-unit quickservice burger chain that aims to win customers away from foreign rivals by appealing to national pride, but its strategy in the United States involves going fast-casual. The chain, which operates three eateries in the Miami market, plans to end the year with between eight and 12, and expects to start franchising in 2014. Fatburger West Coast burger chain Fatburger inked a deal with The Riese Organization to bring the brand to New York City and surrounding areas. The first Fatburger location will open in the Murray Hill neighborhood in spring 2013. Bonefish Grill Bloomin' Brands will open its first Bonefish Grill in March in South Windsor, Conn. It will be the first of four locations to open in Connecticut. The other locations will be in Newington, Canton and Norwalk. Specific opening dates have not been determined. 16 CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation — january : february 2013