The Executive Director of the Grenada Grand Beach Resort, Daniel Nicholas, says his resort has now employed the services of a new private security company to provide better service following reports that two American citizens were robbed in the hotel compound. This incident prompted the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, to place the hotel off-limits for US citizens residing in Grenada, as well as those visiting the country on official business. The embassy said it was not satisfied that effective action had been taken to address security deficiencies.

Travel agents still have some time to get onboard with Apple Vacations´ annual Travel Agent Appreciation booking incentive whereby the operator is awarding 100 percent commission to two agents each week. According to Apple Vacations, 100 percent commission means the full base price of the trip will be awarded to the agent for booking certain hotel packages during that week.

Expedia is entering into a long-term technology partnership with Amadeus IT Group, a global leader in technology solutions for the travel and tourism industry. Connectivity with Amadeus is being activated in two phases: selected Expedia points of sale in Europe are currently booking select flight segments through Amadeus during the first phase, while the second phase will enable Expedia´s points of sale in the Asia-Pacific region to utilize Amadeus in the third quarter, 2006.

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, which has operated its program for high school students as a subset of the standard curriculum in a dozen schools here, will become a stand-alone high school in September. The academy will be the first high school in the U.S. focused on travel and hospitality. It will be housed in Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, which dates to the late 18th century.

The luxurious Casa del Mar Beach Golf & Spa Resort announced the appointment of Oscar A. Ornelas as General Manager. A veteran in the hospitality industry, Mr. Ornelas brings more than a decade of hotel management experience and a proven record of success to Casa del Mar. Mr. Ornelas has worked in various executive management positions for luxury hotels in Mexico including Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Los Cabos and Mazatlan, the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, the Villa del Palmar Resort in Los Cabos, and the Villa del Palmar Flamingos in Puerto Vallarta.

Late on day 10 of the budget impasse that crippled Puerto Rico since May 1, Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila and the leaders of Puerto Rico´s Senate and House of Representatives agreed to accept the recommendations of a special 4-member commission charged with formulating a plan to end the fiscal crisis. The agreement will allow Puerto Rico to borrow $740 million to pay government salaries through June 30.