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Tobago to Host Second Annual Jazz ExperienceThe second annual Tobago Jazz Experience will be held April 22 to 25. This year, the four-day festival features headline performances from Chaka Khan and Erykah Badu as well as the island’s jazz musicians as they perform and show their skills on a range of instruments that include the steelpan, drums, saxophone and the guitar.
St. Kitts Displays its Warmth at The New York Times Travel ShowWhile most of the New York metropolitan area was blanketed in snow, there was only sunshine and warm Kittitian hospitality at the St. Kitts booth! The island participated in the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center again this year from February 26-28, 2010, enticing attendees to get out of the cold and feel the warmth of St. Kitts.
Vieques Island’s W Retreat to Open Ducasse’s miX RestaurantChef Alain Ducasse is opening his first restaurant in the Caribbean, miX on the beach, the signature restaurant at the new W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island located eight miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. The restaurant, which opens March 25, will offer a menu prepared with the finest technique, exploring Latino-Caribbean flavors with an artful French twist. | | |
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Ritz-Carlton to Open in ArubaThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, and the government of Aruba announced plans to open the Ritz-Carlton Aruba, an exclusive 320-room oceanfront resort situated on Palm Beach. | | |
Support for Small Hotels in Jamaica Still Strongby Alphea Saunders Small hotels represent a third, or just under 10,000 of Jamaica’s hotel room stock, and despite the all inclusive concept, have contributed significantly to the growth of the hospitality sector over many years.
American Eagle to Introduce First Class on CRJ-700 JetsAmerican Eagle Airlines is going to offer first-class service on its CRJ-700 jets starting July 2. There will be nine first-class seats in the section. It will be available from its Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) hubs.
Hyatt Hotels Reports Narrowing of Quarterly LossesHyatt Hotels Corporation reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2009, reporting a loss of $12 million, or $0.07 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a loss of $142 million, or $1.11 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. |
Carnival Cruise to Raise Summer Prices Up to 5 PercentCarnival Corp & Plc’s flagship unit Carnival Cruise Lines said it will increase its prices by up to 5 percent for all summer sailings, following strong wave-season bookings at the cruise operator. The wave season, traditionally the busiest booking period for the cruise industry, runs from about mid-January through early spring. |
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Luxury Link Launches Family Getaway Travel SiteLuxury Link has launched a family travel site, www.FamilyGetaway.com. The site has more than 100 properties worldwide and more than 200 exclusive family travel packages. Inventory includes global hotel collections, boutique properties, villas, all-inclusives, historic properties and three- to five-star properties in popular family destinations such as California, Florida, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
WestJet, Amadeus Sign Enhanced Content AgreementAmadeus and WestJet have signed a multi-year global distribution agreement that gives Amadeus agents worldwide have access to the airline’s content and enhanced, real-time data. The agreement upgrades an existing contract with Amadeus. | |
Missed Targets Force Review of Tourism Productby Wangui Maina Tourism in Coast province, the main attraction for visitors to Kenya over the years, is at a crossroads as a monotonous product range, declining charter frequency and beach boys put off potential visitors.
CHI Hotels & Resort Opens New Regional Sales Offices in Germany, EgyptAs part of its continuing expansion, CHI Hotels & Resorts, exclusive operators of the Corinthia Hotels Brand worldwide and of the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), announced the opening of two new Regional Sales Offices in Germany and a third one in Cairo, Egypt. | |
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Curacao Tourist Board Names André Rojer Marketing Manager, North AmericaThe Curacao Tourist Board named André Rojer, a Curacao native, to the post of marketing manager, North America. Rojer has worked with the Curacao Tourist Board for more than five years, having previously served as the marketing coordinator in the Northeast Curacao Tourist Board office and prior to that as the sales and marketing representative in the Miami office. 
STC Bringing Even More Synergy between CTO, ACSby Yndiana Montes & Bill Milligan This May will see Barbados hosting the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). There is growing interest in the STC, as its importance in promoting and maintaining tourism and its environmental impact on the islands becomes a Caribbean priority. Delegates on this beautiful Island will be exposed to international leaders in their fields who will share their ideas and experiences and practical ways of utilizing them.
Wynn Resorts Reports 31.7 Percent Increase in Quarterly RevenueWynn Resorts, Limited has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2009. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $809.3 million, compared to $614.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, a 31.7 percent increase.
Three Crew Members Killed when Costa Europa Strikes PierCosta Crociere said three crew members were killed when the Costa Europa struck a pier while docking in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, early Feb. 26. Three passengers and one other crew member were injured and taken to the hospital. The ship sustained damage on its right side, reportedly a six-foot gash, according to overseas media reports, but was safely docked.
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