Cash-stripped Air Jamaica is closing down operations in Houston, Texas, next April as part of an ongoing restructuring program, which is designed to bring financial stability to the airline while improving its viability. As part of its program, the airline has already suspended service to Havana, London, Manchester and St. John´s in Antigua.

The Hilton Santo Domingo is on schedule to open in April, making it the 14th property to be added to the Hilton Caribbean collection. The property will also be Hilton´s fifth in the Dominican Republic and its first in Santo Domingo -- on the city´s El Malecon oceanfront boulevard, about 30 minutes from the airport. The 21-floor, 228-room property anchors a mixed-use complex that includes retail shops, a movie theater, restaurants, entertainment areas, and the city´s largest casino.

The Landings, a $165 million villa resort development project on the north shore of Rodney Bay here, will break ground in November with the first phase slated to open in February 2007. The 19-acre waterfront site will include yacht moorings and slips; a beach club; water sports facilities; a lounge; helicopter transfers to/from major airports and nearby islands; a restaurant; a fitness club and a spa; concierge services; swimming pools; tennis courts; and a reception area, as well as 500 rooms in 228 one-, two- and three-bedroom villa units.

Air Jamaica Vacations (AJV) added eight Caribbean properties to its Top Class Escapes luxury product line. Launched last November with seven properties, Top Class Escapes features first-class air on Air Jamaica and concierge-level accommodations (where available). The new resorts are Sandy Lane, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, the Coral Reef Club and The Crane, all in Barbados; the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, and the Bluff Suites at Sandals Regency St. Lucia Golf Resort & Spa, both in St. Lucia; the Harbour Village Beach Club, Bonaire; and the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in the Bahamas.

Though it is already warmly welcoming guests, the 9 Beaches Resort in Sandy Island will have its official grand opening next May. The resort, Bermuda´s newest, is catering to active young visitors and will operate from April to December every year. The facility sprawls over 18 grotto-studded, heavily landscaped acres with 9 beaches featuring several exposures and venues. Cabanas stand on stilts: some even perch over the sapphire sea where plexi-glass floor panels reveal tropical fish fluttering underfoot.

The shareholder of the regional airline put together a package of 11 million dollars to be used for restructuring the cash-strapped company. After pointing out LIAT is the “life blood” of the Caribbean, its Chairman Jean Holder assures it is not dead and will keep flying. Talking to journalists in St. Vincent´s capital, Kingstown, this week, Holder admitted that LIAT is being operated at a time when running an airline is becoming increasingly difficult. He referred that in the next year or so a number of major airlines will disappear.