Almond Resorts announced May 1 as the official date of the opening of its new Barbados property, Almond Casuarina. To welcome agents to the new resort, Almond is offering Team Almond agents a special introductory all-inclusive rate of just $50 per person per night.

RIU Palace Las Americas and RIU Palace Mexico in Mexico were awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating.

A little Caribbean news managed to sneak its way into Mexico trade show, Tianguis Turistico in Acapulco as Gabriel Monroy, sales manager for Palace Resorts, which has properties in Isla Mujeres and other regions of Mexico, told us about the expected opening of a new Punta Cana, Dominican Republic property.

In celebration of Mother’s Day (May 11), Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas is offering mothers a fifth night free-of-charge when a minimum of four nights are booked on the resort’s European Plan (EP) in any room category. In addition, moms will receive a $50 resort credit (one per room) good towards anything on-property including dining, gift shop purchases, water sports or scuba diving.

The Hotel El Cid Spa & Beach Resort, in Puerto Morales, Mexico, is offering the Maya Discovery Family Adventure Package, now through June 30, 2008. Offering discounts of up to 30 percent, the Maya Discovery Family Adventure features three expeditions for a total of $150 per person, including taxes, in addition to the all-inclusive rate, down from $215 per person for these excursions booked separately.

Berlin enjoyed the strongest growth in average room rate in February according to the latest HotStats survey of ten European Cities by TRI Hospitality Consulting.