The European Parliament has backed a German MEP´s idea to create a tourist trail stretching almost 4,350 miles from the Arctic to the Black Sea, to reach Bulgaria and Romania. The assembly believes a restoration of the barbed-wire fences to present the old Iron Curtain border can attract a new generation of tourists.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts will take on operations of the former Intercontinental Paris hotel on October 10, reopening the property under a long-term management contract as the first Westin-branded hotel in the center of Paris. The Westin Paris, the fifth Starwood property in France, will remain open for business during the $15 million conversion. The 127-year-old, 438-room property last underwent renovations in 1998, to the tune of some $58 million.

EasyJet, Europe´s leading low-cost airline, has picked Andrew Harrison as the chief executive of the company following the conclusion of a rigorous search process. The new chief executive is scheduled to take up his assignment from December onwards. The development follows the earlier announcement regarding retirement of Ray Webster, in May this year, after almost 10 years in the position. Andrew was previously the chief executive of RAC plc prior to its acquisition by Aviva plc earlier this year.

In line with the growing trend for ecotourism businesses worldwide, comes the need for appropriate training for those who wish to create and run such an establishment, as well as for international harmonization of ecotourism standards. To provide for this need, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) will offer Green Globe 21 International Ecotourism Standard (IES) proficiency training on November 1 through 4 this year in Puerto Rico, the first time this course will be offered in the Caribbean region.

Oneworld has been named the world´s Best Airline Alliance for the second year running in a poll of some of the world´s most frequent flyers. It received its latest honor in the 2005 Business Traveler Awards. The magazine presents its trophies based on the findings of its annual poll of its readers, who include some of the most widely traveled passengers around the world. This is the only travel survey conducted by a UK-based publication which is independent, authoritative and which complies with the rules laid out by the Market Research Society.

Three crew members on Royal Caribbean International´s Monarch of the Seas died the morning of September 2 after being exposed to a gaseous substance while replacing a section of pipe connected to the Monarch´s sewage system, Caribbean News Digital learned last week. The incident occurred at 9:15 a.m. as passengers were disembarking the Monarch in Los Angeles, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department said. No passengers were affected by the gas, but nineteen additional crew were taken to local hospitals, Royal Caribbean said.