European company Costa Cruises has just worked out the kinks on a new online booking tool for travel agents called Costa Click. This is nothing but a fast, round-the-clock, hassle-free reservation system that allows agents and tour operators to filter such information as timetables, schedules, vessel availability, tickets and departures. With the help of Costa Click, travel agents can now check out price fluctuations in the cruise market and keep would-be passengers posted on last-minute offers and breaking news on the industry without having to call Costa Central for further information. The new system also entitles end users to request catalogs and promotional brochures from different sale outlets.

The St. Maarten-based Maho Group has just appointed Donna Michaels new sales manageress for travel industry for the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, the Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino and the La Terrasse Suites-Maho Village resorts. Mrs. Michaels´s office is headquartered in New York City. With vast experience in the leisure industry under her belt, Donna Michaels has great expertise she´s willing to apply to her new post.

As part of an initiative drummed up by the Central America Tourism Council (CCT), some 250 small hotels in the region have been trained in technology and marketing management. Small and midsize lodgings are now recognized as some of the most competitive resorts in Central America and "their successful inclusion in the region´s tourist mesh brooks no further delay," said Gonzalo Aguirre, regional director of the Assistance Program of the Small Hotel Association of Central America, an organization attached to the CCT.

Long lines of passengers have become commonplace at the entrance of the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica´s San Jose due to ever-growing troves of foreign tourists coming to the country and lack of capacity to cater to them properly, sources close to the local aviation industry warned this week.

The province of Holguin, in northeastern Cuba, has just grabbed the top place of the First National Hotel & Tourism Contest, an event organized by the National Trade Union of Hotel & Tourism Workers. Holguin, one of Cuba´s most thriving travel destinations, beat the other contestants in the race banking on outstanding results in all indicators outlined by the Trade Union. In addition, the city of Holguin has been picked to host the main activities to commemorate the Hotel and Tourism Worker´s Day falling on March 4.

Galileo introduced a Complete Pricing feature for hotels, partnering with hotel representation company Supranational Hotels to launch the product. Galileo-connected agents, when shopping for a Supranational property, will view the total price for the stay, including the basic nightly rate and all taxes and surcharges, Galileo said.