Antigua will continue developing its Internet gambling industry despite pressure from the United States to prohibit the practice, the finance minister said last week. Finance Minister Errol Cort said at least 10 new online gambling companies will open on the Caribbean island next year, joining 14 others that already have been granted operating licenses.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is naming Alexander Mirza to the newly-created position of senior vice president of corporate development. Leveraging his significant hospitality industry experience in both the corporate and consulting environments, he will be working company-wide on new product development and partnerships, including food and beverage offerings, health clubs and spas, among others.

For the fourth consecutive year, Discovery Cruise Line, the largest tour operator to Grand Bahama Island from Fort Lauderdale, has received Porthole Cruise Magazine´s 2005 Readers´ Choice Award as the "Best One-Day Cruise." According to the company´s front office, Discovery recently launched its Bahamas Party Cruises in which all passengers received party beads and blowers, match play at Isle of Capri Casino, a Bahama Mama cocktail on island, and an opportunity to win prizes on board, all of which were free.

Travel agents Edward Pio and Kay Burtness pled guilty in Monterey County Higher Court here to 26 felony charges. Most of the charges were connected with their operation of Pio Travel in Salinas from August 2002 to December 2004, during which they accepted money from clients but failed to provide the travel or refunds.

The Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF) of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) is making a call to Caribbean hospitality employees, educators, and students wishing to pursue studies in the field to apply for its 2006 Scholarship Program. “As we have increased the number and value of available scholarships in 2005, we also received more applications than usual, so we expect that competition will be at least as tight in 2006,” said Gill Titcombe, CHF coordinator.

The historic fortified town of Campeche, in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, was home last week to a conference on the use of space technologies to conserve the world´s natural and cultural heritage, including UNESCO biosphere reserves. Experts representing more than 30 countries attended this international conference on the Use of Space Technologies for the Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage, organized by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Campeche, together with ESA, UNESCO and EURISY, a non-profit European organization which aims to promote the use of space technologies.