Mexicana de Aviacion has strengthened its relationship with PROS Revenue Management by licensing the PROS O&D revenue management solution. Sergio Allard, chief sales and marketing officer for Mexicana, said that the company has already experienced how effective revenue management can impact financial results and the airline is now looking to achieve even higher revenues by combining O&D revenue management solution with enhanced network management business processes provided by PROS.

Trade among members of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) is forecast to reach $74 billion this year, up 24 percent from 2004. An ALADI report shows that “during the first nine months of 2005, trade among association members remains steady, although at a more modest rate than in 2004, which was a historic year with 37 percent. Anyhow, the trade flow increase in this period is 26,5 percent which is significant”.

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo raised the forecast for economic growth in 2005 to 7 percent, a percentage point higher than the previous estimate, as exports of copper, gold and fishmeal surge. The pace of expansion will make Peru the world´s sixth- fastest growing emerging-market economy, Toledo told Lima-based radio station Radioprogramas last week.

Intercontinental Hotels Group has reported a nearly 15 percent fall in third-quarter operating profits. The group operating profit skidded from £102 million to £87 million, due to disposals of owned hotels. The group said its outlook for the full year was positive and promised more cash for shareholders.

Brazil´s central bank cut the benchmark lending rate to a nine-month low last week in a bid to shore up an economic expansion. The nine-member board led by central bank President Henrique Meirelles lowered the benchmark overnight rate by half a percentage point to 18.5 percent. The rate slash is the third since September, when industrial output rose at its slowest pace in more than two years.

Economic growth in much of Latin America and the Caribbean remains strong, reports the World Bank. In a new report released November 16, the bank said the strong growth reflects the region´s “supportive external conditions” and an improved “domestic policy environment.” Despite a more moderate rate of expansion, economic activity is well above the 2.5 average growth rate in the region of the preceding 20 years, the bank said.