The 55-suites Sivory Punta Cana, which opened last December, was named to the 2006 Condé Nast Traveler Hot List of resorts. Sivory Punta Cana was the only property in the Dominican Republic to be named this year and one of only three selected from the Caribbean.

High fuel prices are expected to have a negative impact on summer travel and are accompanied by broader economic concerns for many Americans. The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) forecasts travel volume growth of less than 1 percent this year amid relatively soft travel intentions.

The International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) released last week the rankings of the world´s top countries and cities in 2005. These rankings cover meetings organized by international associations which take place on a regular basis and which rotate between a minimum of three countries.

Clarion Events, the UK´s largest independent exhibition organizer, has launched Condé Nast Traveler´s Luxury Travel Fair with British Airways, slated to take place from June 29 to July 2 at Olympia. The first fair of its kind in the UK will bring the very best and most unique travel experiences from around the world straight to the consumer. The fair will show all aspects of luxury travel. Exhibitors will include exclusive and boutique hotels, first class transport from yachts to private jets. Indulgent spa breaks, sporting holidays, luxury tour operators and specialist holidays from cooking to wildlife.

According to an official statement, with immediate effect Peter Rothwell will be responsible for all the core source markets of the company´s outbound operations across Western and Central Europe, in addition to the Northern Europe source market that he has been responsible for since October 2002. The tourism source markets have a combined turnover in excess of £10 billion. As chief operating officer, he will bundle resources in the various markets and find uniform solutions for the challenges of the national markets.

Two students from Mount Airy All Age School in Jamaica were rewarded last week for their creative writing by Beaches Sandy Bay Beach Resort at a special Teachers´ Day Luncheon hosted by the resort. The two kids, fifth-grader Vanessa Waite and six-grader Orane Foster, impressed the resort´s public relations manager Nathelie Taylor with their understanding and delivery of their pieces.