The Daily Edition of Franchise Business News

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced that Legacy Properties West in Durango, Colo., is the newest member of its luxury real estate network and will operate as Legacy Properties West Sotheby's International Realty.

Hertz (NYSE:HTZ), the world's largest general use airport car rental brand, and the Official Car and Equipment Rental Partner of The Greenbrier Classic, will honor our nation's military heroes at this year's PGA TOUR event, July 1-7, 2013.

Dickey’s Barbecue opened in Mountain View in April and has become a local favorite. This new location will hold a grand opening event on Friday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where customers will enjoy $1 Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches.

The Miracle-Ear Children’s Foundation has been transformed to the Miracle-Ear Foundation to further empower underserved Americans with hearing loss.

9Round Fitness & Kickboxing expands its reach in the kickboxing community as it opens its latest fitness franchises offering kickboxing circuit workouts with no class times in Greenville, SC.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) and KAJ Hospitality today celebrate the groundbreaking of a new four-story, 103-room hotel, which will be connected to the future 15,000-square-foot conference center in West Fargo, North Dakota.

Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE: CHSP) (the “Trust”) and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) (“Hyatt”) announced today that the Trust has acquired the fee simple interest in the Hyatt Santa Barbara and two adjoining properties.

GRILLiT, Inc. (OTC: GRLT) (the "Company") today announced that it is postponing the record date for its previously announced common stock dividend. Instead of June 28, 2013, the record date for the stock dividend will be July 15, 2013.

Ranked by most properties sold, RE/MAX residential specialists led all competitors among the top 1,000 real estate agents in the nation.

Dickey’s Barbecue, the nation’s fastest growing restaurant concept, just sold its 500th franchise. The Dallas-based franchise currently has 312 locations open with another 200 in development.

Taft attorneys Frank J. Deveau and David L. Guevara, Ph.D., have authored a new book titled The Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defense: A Guide for Lawyers.

The Alamo Drafthouse and Badass Digest are proud to announce the new Birth.Movies.Death. monthly magazine, available online starting June 27th.

LED Source®, the leading North American LED lighting solutions provider, will be hosting a free webinar to present their franchise opportunity on Wednesday, July 24th at 11:00am ET.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world’s largest hotel companies, today announced the opening of the 122-room Holiday Inn® Hotel Guayaquil Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

EXIT Realty Martin & Associates by the local community, the real estate brokerage recently sponsored Oklahoma State Equine Assisted Therapy (OSEAT) to host 36 children from the American Cancer Society's day camp portion of "Camp Live A Dream"...

Chocolate and peanut butter have been a match made in treat heaven. Now, Culver's and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have teamed up to deliver a decadent experience that is truly out of this world.

Dickey’s multi-unit owner, John Thomson, is at it again! Thomson is opening his fourteenth Dickey’s location.

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXRH) announced today that Kathy Widmer has accepted a position on the company's Board of Directors. This increases the size of the board from six to seven members.

Not only is SPIN! ® adding stone hearth-roasted pineapple to its long list of toppings, the local Neapolitan pizzeria is partnering with Kansas City icons Gates Bar-B-Q and the Roasterie to make pineapple pizza magic with its new BBQ di Pollo...

Sales professionals affiliated with franchisees and company-owned offices of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) earned 332 spots (33 percent) on the 2013 REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal Top Thousand report released today.

Great American Cookies® is sweetening up this summer and inviting customers to make this 4th of July a "Doozie" to remember! Nothing says summer time like two delicious cookies encompassing sweet white or fudge icing in a variety of flavors.

PrideStaff, a national staffing organization, and Rx relief, the nation's leading pharmacy recruitment firm, are pleased to announce the launch of two new Talent Network career sites.

At Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint, build-your-own-pizzas play the starring role, but this summer, there’s a new leading lady: Create-Your-Own-Salads.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Canada today announces its commitment to support flood-damaged Southern Alberta communities with a national initiative this Canada Day long weekend.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Lynchburg is throwing a grand opening celebration this Friday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This smokin’ hot location will be serving mouthwatering Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches for just one dollar.

Jackson-area residents have another option for purchasing used cars now that a new J.D. Byrider location is open at 5719 I-55 N. Frontage Road.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that it will release the Company's second quarter financial results prior to market open on Thursday, July 25, followed by a conference call at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

When it comes to creativity, one would be hard-pressed to find a group of students and staff members more innovative than the folks at Rainbow Academy®.

IKOR (www.ikorusa.com) announced today that Mindy Legler Jones has been honored for her work in Advocacy in Medicine with an award from the Fort Worth Business Press.

Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is excited to announce the 2013 Franchisees of the Year, a duo that continues to stand out among the pizza pack.

Toppers Pizza, an eclectic franchise pizza delivery brand, is excited to announce Chris Schneider as the 2013 Manager of the Year, a man who has proved his dedication to and passion for the brand time and time again.

Frozen Peaks International LLC, a leading New Jersey-based self-serve frozen yogurt corporation, announced today the launch of FP Pops™, the company’s ground-breaking froyo on a stick product.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that its Four Points by Sheraton brand continues its rapid expansion across Canada with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport.

Hilton Worldwide today announced the opening of its 4,000th hotel, Hilton Shijiazhuang in the Hebei province of China. It now has 35 hotels operating in Greater China and a pipeline in this region of more than 120 hotels with more than 42,000 rooms.

Carlson Rezidor, one of the ten largest hotel groups worldwide and one of the leading hotel operators on the African continent, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Kigali in Rwanda.

Teriyaki Experience is pleased to announce their newest opening in the Cambridge ONroute Service Centre, on the west bound side of Highway 401.

IKOR, a growing network of healthcare and financial advocacy and guardianship offices, opened a new branch here yesterday to help ensure the proper care of seniors and the disabled throughout Franklin County.

Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM today announced a unique set of incentives for developers interested in building or converting a new Country Inns & Suites hotel with its new generation design specifications.

Big can, big flavor, big news ... what else would you expect when one of pro-basketball's biggest stars (literally and otherwise) Shaquille O'Neal gets his own soda namesake – Soda Shaq.

ColorTyme, Inc., the nation’s first franchisor of independently owned-and-operated rent-to-own stores, announced today it has been ranked No. 3 on the list of “50 Top Franchises for Veterans” by the World Franchising Network.

Homewood Suites by Hilton, the international brand of upscale, all-suite, residential-style hotels, is partnering with Ball Up, a premier streetball company, as the official host hotel for the 2013 Ball Up Streetball Classic Tour.

MOOYAH, a fast-casual, “better burger,” fries and shakes chain, announced a focused growth plan targeted on New Jersey.

Sbarro (www.sbarro.com) announced today that it has expanded its partnership agreement with White Planet Restaurants (WPR), led by Sriram Rajagopal and Gopal Rajagopalan, to significantly deepen the company's presence in South India.

Smashburger, America's fastest growing "better burger" restaurant, is rapidly expanding and has selected Sherwood Park as its third Canadian location.

Zippy Shell USA, LLC today announced that it is continuing its rapid expansion throughout the United States, offering mobile storage and moving services with the recent sale of a franchise location in West Cleveland.

Bill.com, the leader in integrated bill payment, invoicing and cash flow management solutions for businesses, has been awarded gold for the 2013 Tech Awards Circle in the SMB software category for its new banking platform.

The Meat House, more commonly known as the modern revival of the neighborhood butcher and grocer, announces the appointment of Douglas Tate as Chief Financial Officer.

ServiceMaster Fire, Water and Mold Restoration Eustis, FL has decided to expand their online marketing strategy with RestorationMaster™.

Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW) today announced its ongoing initiative to make its websites, mobile applications and print information more accessible and inclusive for its members and subscribers with visual impairments.

Batteries Plus Bulbs has joined forces with Habitat for Humanity to provide lighting to the organization's home building projects across the country.

Jacksonville-based Woody’s Bar-B-Q® currently has a slew of authentic Southern barbecue franchises in Florida, Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with more to follow shortly in Georgia.

ANY LAB TEST NOW®, one of the nation's fastest-growing retail franchising opportunities that provides direct access to lab testing services, has opened its newest location in the Chicago metropolitan area.

European Wax Center Chicago North Southport is proud to announce a new promotion for waxing in Chicago, Illinois. Now, first time guests to European Wax Center can receive complimentary body waxing.

Dickey’s Barbecue opens its doors in Issaquah on Thursday, June 27 at 11 a.m. and continues the party through Saturday, June 29.

ONE Sotheby’s International Realty announced today that it recently represented the seller in the sale of one of Fisher Island’s largest penthouses, totaling 7,924 square feet, for $9.85 million.

Summer just got even more #Awesummer at 7-Eleven® stores with the addition of Wednesday dollar deals on the retailer's popular Chillers Iced Coffee caffeinated cold beverage treat.

The article describes the value of private label insurance programs to protect against risk exposures in franchise concepts.

Frank and Ruth Mercurio, owners of We Olive, California’s premier retailer of artisan olive oil, announce the company’s sponsorship of the 10th Annual Paso Robles Olive Festival.

Beef Jerky Outlet is opening a new store in Springfield, Missouri on Thursday, June 27.

AlphaGraphics, Inc., a global leader in marketing and print communications solutions, announced today it has been ranked in Quick Printing's 2013 Top 100 list for the fifth consecutive year.

Franchise owners Stephanie and Preston Reeves are eager to open their second Dickey’s location in West Virginia. The new location in Sophia will open at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 27 and will hold a three day event to celebrate.

Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) announced the appointments of Jessica M. Bibliowicz and Fiona P. Dias to its Board of Directors, effective today.

More than 50% of small businesses say that business is better than it was a year ago, according to a survey by Direct Capital, a leading national provider of working capital loans, equipment leasing and franchise financing.

Flippers Pizzeria is celebrating Independence Day this year by honoring all service men and women in Central Florida.

The TapSnap phototainment franchise went nationwide this June, having launched in nearly 50 regions across North America over the previous three months.

Kinderdance International Inc. has been steadily expanding since its founding in 1979. And NOW announces the expansion of their first franchise in Qatar awarded to Sandhya Mahadevan and Sini Rajeeve.

CHORE Masterssm, the leader in franchised property concierge services, is pleased to announce their company initiative to ensure that 20% of the company’s franchise ownership be granted exclusively to military personnel and veterans by end of...

At the conclusion of a four-day retreat on the banks of Lake Oconee, ColorTyme closed its 2013 Summer Retreat in grand fashion with a final night event lakeside at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.

- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Rifle is throwing a grand opening celebration this Friday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This smokin’ hot location will be serving mouthwatering Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches for just one dollar.