Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said Thursday that its fourth-quarter earnings tumbled 98 percent, missing Wall Street’s expectations, as cruise bookings fell and the company’s fuel costs were higher than expected.

Eurostar achieved a 10.9 percent increase in ticket sales and a 10.3 percent growth in passenger numbers in 2008, despite the Channel Tunnel fire.

Gambling may have spiked over the holidays, but overall, hotel- casino revenue is forecasted to decline 2.9 percent by December 2009 as rising unemployment figures further erode household earnings.

The Best Western brand delivered a record-setting $1.16 billion in reservations revenue to its hotels in fiscal year 2008. During 2009, Best Western will focus on enhancing its property-level customer care training program, “I Care,” to increase guest satisfaction scores, reduce customer complaints, and grab market share during the soft economy of the coming year.

The Best Western brand delivered a record-setting $1.16 billion in reservations revenue to its hotels in fiscal year 2008. During 2009, Best Western will focus on enhancing its property-level customer care training program, “I Care,” to increase guest satisfaction scores, reduce customer complaints, and grab market share during the soft economy of the coming year.

Internationally sourced passengers continue to fuel the cruise industry’s growth, with a 30 percent spike in non-North American cruisers through the third quarter of 2008, the Cruise Lines International Association said this week.