Report: Caribbean hotel plans will stall due to visitor drop

October 15th, 2009 Venezuela begins takeover of Hilton-run hotelCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government began taking over management of a Hilton-run hotel on Venezuela's Margarita Island on Wednesday. Tourism Minister Pedro Morejon said a 20-year concession granted to the company has expired and the government "has taken legitimate control of an asset that belongs to all the people of Venezuela." Chavez issued a decree last week ordering the "forced acquisition" of the Margarita Hilton & Suites and its marina, though news of the edict did not surface until Tuesday.

September 30th, 2009 13 Cuban migrants caught off Mexico's coastCANCUN, Mexico — Mexican authorities have detained 13 U.S.-bound Cuban migrants whose makeshift boat reached the country's Caribbean coast after an engine failed. Cancun police spokesman Esteban Romero says hotel security guards spotted the group early Tuesday.

September 15th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - A luxury hotel in the Mexican Caribbean resort city of Cancun is offering guests the opportunity to help poor Mayan communities in Quintana Roo state during their vacations. The "Lazos Mayas" (Maya Ties) project seeks to expand a volunteer programme to guests, who "each day show more interest in becoming involved in the destinations they visit", said representatives of the Ritz-Carlton Cancun Hotel, one of the most luxurious properties in the Mexican Caribbean.

August 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - East India Hotels (EIH), the flagship company of hospitality major Oberoi Group, is setting up two hotels in the Gulf region, one at Abu Dhabi and the other in Oman, while its property in Dubai is progressing well, the group said in a statement Thursday. The company, which reported a 21.53 percent drop in its net profit to Rs.170.44 crore in 2008-09, said plans for consolidation and expansion were on track.

August 20th, 2009 KOLKATA - East India Hotels (EIH), the flagship company of hospitality major Oberoi Group, will likely have a capital expenditure of Rs.250 crore till 2011, a top company official said here Thursday. "We planned to spend Rs.350 crore till 2011, out of which we have already spent Rs.100 crore.

August 17th, 2009 Governments cancel all Ana tropical storm watchesMIAMI — The National Hurricane Center in Miami says all tropical storm watches have been discontinued for Ana as the storm dissipates while it moves through the Caribbean. Several governments of Caribbean nations had issued watches as the storm approached.

August 10th, 2009 L.A. landmark Hotel Bel-Air closing for makeoverLOS ANGELES —The Hotel Bel-Air, which has served Hollywood stars since the 1940s, is closing for a glamorous makeover. Hotel spokeswoman Alisha Mahon says the Los Angeles landmark will close at the end of September for a two-year upgrade that includes building villas and spa facilities.

July 9th, 2009 Iconic Waikiki hotel closesHONOLULU — The Y-shaped Ilikai hotel that has graced the Waikiki skyline for nearly five decades and hosted everyone from U.S. presidents to Elvis Presley is closing.

June 29th, 2009 Starwood announces plans for luxury Bermuda hotelHAMILTON, Bermuda — A U.S. hotel and leisure company announced plans Monday to build a luxury hotel in Bermuda, where the vital tourism sector has been hit hard by the global economic crisis.

June 25th, 2009 Singapore's Resorts World cuts visitors forecastSINGAPORE — Singapore's Resorts World, which plans to open Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park early next year, has slashed its 2010 visitor forecasts in the face of a global economic downturn. The resort, which will also feature four hotels and a casino when it opens in the first quarter, expects to see as few as 12 million visitors next year, down from an initial forecast in 2007 of 15 million, Resorts World spokeswoman Krist Boo said Thursday.

June 15th, 2009 Smokies breaking ground for new visitor centerGATLINBURG, Tenn. — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is rounding out a weekend of celebrating the park's 75th anniversary with a lasting reminder.

May 9th, 2009 Amy Winehouse cuts short comeback gig in CaribbeanLONDON — Amy Winehouse was forced to cut short a comeback gig in St. Lucia because of heavy rain.

April 23rd, 2009 Caribbean islands report major drops in tourismSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Five Caribbean countries are reporting double-digit drops in tourist visits as the global economic slowdown wreaks havoc on the region's top industry. Statistics released this week by the Caribbean Tourism Organization show Anguilla taking the worst hit with a decline of 18.8 percent.

April 23rd, 2009 Royal Caribbean books 1Q loss but beats forecastsNEW YORK — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., battered by a sharp and prolonged drop in vacation spending, said Thursday it lost less in the first quarter than expected as bookings stabilized and cruise costs declined more than anticipated. Travelers responding to aggressive discounts boosted bookings close to the date of departure, and the company plans to keep offering the deals.

April 23rd, 2009 Royal predicts better 2009 profit than expectedMIAMI — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. offered a brighter forecast than expected for its 2009 earnings on Thursday, saying its bookings are stabilizing and cost-cutting efforts are taking hold.