THE Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT) is seeking to have the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Jamaica´s eastern end inscribed, which would place it on the world heritage list that currently boasts 812 properties. Marolyn Gentles, environmental education and community officer at the trust, made the disclosure at the recent Quao Day celebrations at the Moore Town Maroon Village, Portland.

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives is carrying its educational agenda to a higher level through a unique partnership with INSEAD –a graduate business school- in a dynamic presentation on change management, at the ACTE Global Education Conference in Barcelona, from October 22 to 24. INSEAD will be presenting a session titled, "Learning By Playing" For Change Management Competencies Development.

The Dominican Republic, which launched a $20 million beach cleaning and regeneration program earlier this year, will open the first two restored beaches on July 29 in Puerto Plata. The event will take place at Puerto Plata Beach and Long Beach and will be hosted by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez and Tourism Secretary Felix Jimenez.

The two-day strike called by pilots of Spanish airline Iberia last week grounded 240 flights amid the complaints and demands of affected passengers, according to EFE news wire. The greatest number of cancellations were for flights arriving or leaving Madrid´s Barajas Airport, the most important in Spain with some 1,300 flights scheduled daily.

Mendoza City mayor Julio Cobos announced Saturday that the presidents of Chile and Argentina, Michelle Bachelet and Nestor Kirchner, will meet in August to finalize the planning for a new trans-Andean train that will connect Santiago with Mendoza. The two countries have been in talks since 1999 to reopen the important trade route that closed 30 years ago because of a border dispute over the Beagle Canal.Mendoza City mayor Julio Cobos announced Saturday that the presidents of Chile and Argentina, Michelle Bachelet and Nestor Kirchner, will meet in August to finalize the planning for a new trans-Andean train that will connect Santiago with Mendoza.

Amadeus and Eurostar transformed their existing technology and distribution partnership into a global one. Eurostar, the high-speed rail service which links the U.K. with the Continent, is available at U.S. points of sale, and will become available in the U.K. in early 2007, with plans to broaden availability to additional markets, the companies said.