The CTO has signed a cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) to work together to minimize the negative impact of disasters on the sustainable development of the Caribbean tourism industry. CDERA is a regional inter-governmental agency established in 1991 by an agreement of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM (the Caribbean Regional Community).

Italian local transport workers announced last week a 24-hour strike on November 24 that is expected to idle buses, trams and subways across the country. The Filt-Cgil union said minimum service will be guaranteed during rush hour. Other strikes slated for November include Meridiana pilots, ground staff at Milan’s Malpenz and Linate airports, rail workers in Abruzzo and airport personnel at Rome-airport Fiumicino terminal.

CheapCaribbean.com is including a $5 international phone card with reservations made on its website. The phone card is part of the company’s Free Your Mind Travel Protection Plan, which also provides the option of canceling or changing reservations one time for any reason, roundtrip airport transfers and a full Travel Guard insurance plan that includes hurricane coverage.

The Bahamas Supreme Court in Freeport ruled in favor of Discovery Land Co., a Scottsdale, Arizona-based developer, enabling it to resume construction on its Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club private residential community project on Great Guana Cay off the east coast of Abaco. Opponents of the development had cited environmental concerns to the seven-mile-long island and its 80 inhabitants.

Over the last year, TUI UK has focused on providing rich media across its websites, from broadband videos to high-resolution images, 360 IPIX images, customers reviews to maps mash up like Google Earth. “We firmly believe that content is king,” says Graham Donoghue, director of New Media, TUI UK. “Customers love to browse and be inspired and content plays a large part in this. We have focused heavily on rich content and tried out lots of different ideas in blogs, podcasts and mobile offerings.”

Divi Resorts has announced that Alvin Jemmott has been appointed General Manager of the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort in Barbados, effective November 1. Mr. Jemmott, a Barbadian, will focus on enhancing Divi Southwinds’ total guest experience and further developing the Resort’s distinctive amenities and activities.