Thefts of Bahamas ad campaigns in New York City subway is prompting the island-nation to offer riders complimentary copies of the advertisements. In response to the numerous thefts of The Islands Of The Bahamas´ new advertising signs, as well as Internet bloggers bantering about where to find, collect and “acquire” the rather unorthodox and artistic campaign, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is providing people with complimentary copies of the ads upon request.

Kuoni Destination Management has extended its business to Russia under a collaboration agreement that went into effect at the beginning of February. Now Kuoni is managing its new sales and representative activities in the country through the Moscow offices of TMI Consultancy, its new local partner. In line with its declared strategy of further expanding its destination management business, Kuoni established a new sales and representative operation in Russia at the beginning of February. The Moscow office team is dividing its energies among MICE sales, FIT sales, marketing and public relations.

Commercial space craft could be cleared to carry passengers by 2008, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced. Speaking to a group of space entrepreneurs, the Secretary said that a number of companies should be set to take passengers into space and that the U.S. Department of Transportation would be ready to clear these flights within two years. “This timeline isnt based on science fiction,” Secretary Mineta said. “It is a timeline based on the reality of where commercial space is today and where we expect the state of commercial space to be within two short years.”

The Saratoga Hotel in Havana is opening its doors following a total reconstruction. Occupying a colonial-style building on one of the grandest streets in the vibrant Cuban capital of Havana, Hotel Saratoga faces the Capitol and is a short walk from the historic Opera House. The Hotel, situated in close proximity to all the bustle and energy of Old Havana, has unparalleled panoramic views over Havana´s skyline. Famed since the 1930´s as the favorite haunt of artists and socialites from all over the world, Hotel Saratoga has been recreated to combine exquisite style and sense of place as well as state-of-the-art technology. Its five floors of 96 rooms including seven suites are decorated in a striking mix of contemporary and colonial styles, with touches of Art Deco harking back to its past. Hotel Saratoga offers all the amenities discerning guests would expect from Havana´s most luxurious venue, including a stunning private rooftop pool and terrace, two restaurants and a stylish bar.

The regulatory authority of the Galapagos National Park suspended Celebrity Xpeditions from operating tours in the Galapagos Islands for two months as a consequence of an illegal shark-fishing incident. The authority also ordered Celebrity to pay a fine equivalent to the minimum salaries of 500 crew members. No date was noted for the onset of the two-month suspension. Xpeditions operates in the Galapagos year-round.

The Travel Institute released a Spanish version of the popular Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test. Developed in 1997 by The Travel Institute and ASTA, the test represents a national standard of entry-level proficiency for the travel industry. Since its launch, more than 7,500 people have taken the TAP test either in print or online. The Institute has approved 150 travel schools and colleges to be official TAP testing locations where the test is primarily administered.