Though the U.S. State Department is urging Americans to avoid travel to Chile, the fact is that many of the country’s major tourist attractions—Patagonia, the Atacame desert, Easter Island—escaped with little or no damage after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake Saturday.

CARICOM (Caribbean Community) member countries are making life more tolerable for the earthquake victims of Haiti by adopting a town outside of the capital city of Port-au-Prince and providing much-needed health services for the affected Haitians.

Puerto Vallarta recently welcomed the Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa, a collection of 42 rooms, suites and penthouses. It is perched above a beach, with stunning views of the destination’s famous ocean arches and the jungles of the Sierra Madre.

Under the title, “Cancun and the Treasures of the Caribbean,” the Cancun Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is launching its integral 2010 marketing campaign, the main theme of which incorporates surrounding islands and destinations.

Delta, the world’s largest airline, will launch its non-stop service to Grenada earlier than planned, as the island moves to beef up its efforts to lure more international flights to the destination.

A chartered Boeing 747-400F flew to neighboring Santo Domingo from the United Arab Emirates last Friday (19 February) on behalf of the United Nations World Food Program. The aircraft carried 14 Land Cruiser pick-up vehicles, loaded bumper-to-bumper on the main deck, together with generators and toilets. All relief supplies came from the International Humanitarian City in Dubai.

Chef 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.

The Arikok National Park of Aruba unveiled a new visitor’s centre after its three-year makeover. The centre includes headquarters for the nearly 40 rangers who patrol the park and a souvenir shop for visitors.

The reconstruction effort by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Regional Tourism Interests to develop Haiti’s tourism sector will be guided by Jamaica’s Master Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Tourism Industry.

The Spanish hotel company Sol Meliá, the largest hotel chain in Spain, has entered a partnership with the frequent flyer program “Miles & More” that allows customers of both companies to receive the benefits of both of their loyalty programs from March 1 on.