China has announced it is investing $100 in two hotels in Fiji, through its biggest tour operator, China Travel Service. Additionally, China will establish a fund to encourage Chinese investments in the region and accord its alies approved tourism status, in conjunction with the first official visit by a Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao to the Pacific Islands.

Crescent Hospitality Corporation, a hotel and resort management and ownership company, announced it has named William F. Driscoll vice president of business development. In his new role, Mr. Driscoll will oversee the company´s business development strategy, which includes hotel management, investment and acquisition opportunities.

The Ministry of Tourism has announced that the French company interested in building eco-lodges in the Bahia de las Aguilas area, in the Dominican Republic, presented its project in Santo Domingo earlier this week, local newspaper Diario Listin reported. Bahia de las Aguilas is a stretch of virgin beach in the southwest of the country that has not been developed because it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Aviation authorities blocked a deal that would have thrown a lifeline to Varig, Brazil´s troubled flagship airline as employees held protests in the nation´s capital last week calling for a federal aid response. Brazil´s Civil Aviation Authority shot down a proposed deal that would have let a small local airline, Ocean Air, take over some of the unprofitable routes of Varig, the company´s press office said.

The commissioners of tourism of St. Maarten and St. Martin issued a joint denunciation of a recent attack against two American men, calling the attacks “barbaric and heinous.” New York journalists Dick Jefferson and Ryan Smith were attacked with tire irons outside a bar in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, by three men who had yelled anti-gay slurs.

Travel Impressions, the U.S. travel agency, is adding web access to its Customer Care Group which allows travel agents to submit post-travel communications to Travel Impressions on behalf of their clients at www.travelimpressions.com. According to Jane Graf, director of the Customer Care Division, “the launch of the customer care service via the internet is another step we are taking as we continue to enhance our customer service.”