Aston parent Gaylord Entertainment Co. of Nashville, Tenn., last month announced an agreement to buy the 716-room hotel from New York firm Leucadia National Corp. for $107 million.

As part of the deal, Gaylord said it would seek a partner for the purchase arranged in part to retain Aston's management contract for the Kalakaua Avenue property.

Deutsche Bank's DB Real Estate Opportunities Group will own 80.1 percent of the hotel under the agreement. Gaylord expects its investment will be $5 million to $7 million if the deal closes as expected.

American Airlines expands food sales program

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines has expanded by about 25 percent a program that sells $3 snack boxes or $5 sandwiches, offering the option in coach cabins on 750 U.S. flights to meet customer demand.

American, the world's largest airline, began charging for sandwiches and snacks in the main cabin of U.S. flights on Feb. 1, hoping to save an annual $30 million. The airline hasn't served hot food on domestic flights since 2001. American added snack boxes to 150 more flights last month, the Fort Worth, Texas- based carrier said today.

U.S. airlines ended hot meal service on most flights after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to lower costs and increase security. Since then, several carriers have introduced or tested buy-on-board options in coach. Continental Airlines Inc. continues to offer hot main-cabin meals on some U.S. flights.

Hawaiian Airlines names cargo program director

Hawaiian Airlines has named a veteran airline industry executive as senior director of cargo sales and service.

Rick Fall will be responsible for all aspects of Hawaiian's cargo program, with a particular focus on developing new revenue opportunities within the Hawaiian Islands and between Hawai'i and destinations in the western U.S., South Pacific and Australia.