Running with the big dogs: Microsoft has selected Sparkhound Inc. to join the Windows Azure Circle Program, an exclusive group of managed partners who support Microsoft’s Cloud platform. To become a partner, managed partners must demonstrate a strong partner relationship with Microsoft, have depth of experience and commit to develop solutions with the Windows Azure platform. Since the launch of Windows Azure in 2010, Sparkhound, based in Baton Rouge, has led several Windows Azure projects, including all aspects of the design, development, implementation and support. Sparkhound was also one of the first companies to deliver and demonstrate an application showing the power of Windows Azure on Windows Phone 7 and Silverlight. Sparkhound will lead additional Windows Azure projects in 2012 as more businesses look for virtual hosting, storage and Web solutions.
A new day: Magnuson Hotels, the world’s largest independent hotel group, announced today the complete rebranding of the former Days Inn at 9919 Gwenadele Avenue, just off Interstate 12 at the Airline Highway exit. The 125-room hotel will now be known as Magnuson Hotel–Baton Rouge. “We didn’t like the way our previous brand represented us,” owner Raj Patel says. “We simply weren’t receiving the attention we needed in our market, and are looking forward to a fresh start with Magnuson Hotels.” Over the past eight years, Magnuson Hotels has become the world’s largest independent hotel group, representing nearly 2,000 U.K. and North American hotels with assets in excess of $5.5 billion.
Another crack at it: Another Broken Egg Café will open the doors of its new location at 2531 Citiplace Court on Dec. 12, marking a return to the Baton Rouge market after a hiatus more than a year long. The space is next to Jason’s Deli and was formerly occupied by Harold’s. Another Broken Egg had two Baton Rouge restaurants about three years ago. However, it closed its O’Neal Lane location because of slow weekday sales, and its Old Hammond restaurant was rebranded, then forced to close after the franchisee was sued for violating a non-compete clause and allegedly using trade secrets. The new restaurant will be owned and operated by local development group, Double R Restaurant Group, which has no affiliation to the previous owner and currently has plans to expand Another Broken Egg Café to North Carolina with five locations. The restaurant will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
