Airlines' revenue from fees up 42%

NEW YORK » The government confirmed yesterday what many travelers already suspected: U.S. airlines made a lot more money in fees last year.

The Department of Transportation said revenue from so-called ancillary fees rose 42 percent to $7.8 billion in 2009. The biggest chunk came from checked-baggage fees, which were introduced in 2008.

Other fees included reservation changes, pet travel and mileage sales.

Delta collected the most revenue from fees at $1.65 billion.

In the last three months of the year, revenue from airline fees rose 18 percent to at least $1.9 billion. Bag fees totaled $736 million in the October-to-December period.

Dave & Buster's is sold for $570M

DALLAS » The private equity firm that owns the restaurant and entertainment company Dave & Buster's Inc. will sell it to Oak Hill Capital Partners in a deal worth $570 million.

Dave & Buster's, which has a Hawaii location at Ward Entertainment Center, announced the deal yesterday with seller Wellspring Capital Management and buyer Oak Hill—which also owns The Container Store and TravelCenters of America.

The deal, which gives Dave & Buster's current managers a stake, is to close this quarter.

Wellspring bought Dave & Buster's in 2006 in a deal worth $375 million, including the assumption of debt. Since then the company has added 10 locations and now runs 56 venues in 24 states and Canada.

Oak Hill Capital believes Dave & Buster's joint offering—of food and entertainment such as video games—means it can be expanded across North America and elsewhere, partner Tyler Wolfram said in a news release.

Jefferies & Co. Inc. was the only financial adviser to Dave & Buster's, and JP Morgan Securities Inc. was the sole adviser to Oak Hill.

Labor Department aids hotel workers

Workers at the Hotel Hana Maui, who will lose their jobs later his month when the hotel sale to Denver-based Amstar Group LLC closes, got assistance from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The department's rapid-response team provided workers with information yesterday to help them find new jobs and apply for benefits.

Approximately 200 hotel workers, some of whom are represented by the Unite Here! Local 5 union, were notified in January that they could lose their jobs as a result of the asset sale. Workers will be laid off by Ohana when the deal closes and will have to reapply for jobs with the new management company, Green Tea LLC.

“;Our Department is working to ensure that the soon-to-be former Hotel Hana Maui workers are given every possible opportunity to find meaningful employment and to have the ability to provide for themselves and their families during this difficult time of transition,”; said DLIR Director Darwin L.D. Ching.

Avoiding-foreclosure seminar offered

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties and the nonprofit Hawaii Homeownership Center will host a free seminar on how President Barack Obama's new housing program can help homeowners save money or their home.

The “;Keeping Your Home and Avoiding Foreclosure”; seminar will be held May 29 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hawaii Homeownership Center.

Speaking at the seminar are Dennis Oshiro, executive director of Hawaii Homeownership Center; Guy K. Inouye, Homeownership counselor; Scott Saiki, attorney at law; Joanna Spofford, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties Realtor associate; and Donald Spafford, bankruptcy attorney.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties at 947-8110 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

ON THE MOVE

Carlsmith Ball has added two attorneys to the firm:

» Ruth K. Oh as counsel. She has 17 years' experience, including as a partner with Kobayashi, Sugita and Goda; associate with Gardere & Wynne in Dallas; and associate with Cades, Schutte, Fleming & Wright in Honolulu.

» Christian K. Adams as senior associate. He was previously with Cades Schutte.

Prudential Locations has hired the following new real estate agents:

» Kaiulani “;Kai”; Brown was previously an agent with Pro-Sites Inc. and also worked for Hawaiian Electric Co. and Pacific Gas & Electric.

» Stacey Waiwaiole was previously an agent for Hawaii Realty Professionals as well as an oral surgical assistant for 16 years.

» Meiyen Amy Wang was previously an agent for Abe Lee Realty as well as for Century 21 All Professionals.

» Jo Ann Wilson was previously an agent for Abe Lee Realty as well as having 18 years of administration and human resources management experience.

American Fast Freight has promoted Jim Wyant to director of sales in Western Region from regional sales manager in Rancho Dominguez, Calif. He has more than 20 years' experience in offshore domestic and motor carrier sales.