UNESCO will formally launch the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System this week to prevent a repeat of last year´s catastrophe, approving an action plan and installing a group to run the system. Work has already begun on the system, which is expected to be fully operational by July 2006. It will detect undersea earthquakes and broadcast warnings to coastal communities via seismographic networks in the region, real time sea-level gauges and deep-sea ocean pressure sensors.

Excitement is building for what promises to be the largest and most popular sporting event in the world for 2006. The World Soccer Cup is set to begin June 9th next year in Munich and end a month later with a World Cup Champion on July 9th in Berlin. Twelve German cities will host 32 qualifying countries, a total of 64 games and tens of thousands of fans; as travelers from all over the world pilgrimage to Germany for this ultimate sporting event. Roadtrips Inc., a Canadian-based tour and corporate hospitality company and one of the world´s leading sports travel companies, will host many of those fans. Roadtrips´ World Cup line-up includes travel packages to each of the 48 round robin matches and all of the remaining playoff matches including the World Cup Final.

Industry studies show that more than 50% of travelers trying to make online room reservations don´t complete their booking because the process is too complicated and confusing. A new online booking engine, BookingEdge from Ultrabooking Solutions, Inc. of Weston, Florida, helps hoteliers turn their existing website traffic into no-commission revenue by shortening and simplifying the online booking process.

The Tourism Council of Thailand is lobbying the government to cut down on electricity fees for tourism-related businesses nationwide for up to two years to help the industry cope with a slowdown in business. Vichit Na Ranong, the council chairman, said the agency would petition Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees the Tourism Ministry, to seek his support for a cut in electricity rates.

A sign of Grenada´s continuing recovery from last fall´s Hurricane Ivan is the planned reopening on July 5 of the 32-cottage Blue Horizons Garden Resort, following a $1.5 million refurbishment that included painting, new furnishings and the installation of solar heaters. According to owner and manager Arnold Hopkin, the project is "85 percent complete and we´re right on schedule."

The former partners in the hotels Sosua Bay, Victorian House, and Azurro Clubs in Sosua and Cabarete appear to be fighting a no-win battle. Local newspaper El Faro reported earlier this week that investor Ian Schembri, a minor shareholder in the company, is attempting to stay involved in the management and control the profits of the facilities by virtue of a management contract that was voided in August, 2004.