Radisson Hotels & Resorts, continuing its global expansion, today announced it has added 11 new hotels and resorts during the first quarter of 2003, spanning eight countries around the world and encompassing more than 2,800 rooms.

The brand´s growth includes the introduction of the Radisson brand in Lebanon and expansion in Saudi Arabia, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. In North America, Radisson added four hotels with over 850 rooms in Clearwater, Fla; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; S

The certification of Cuban hotels got underway in the destination of Jardines del Rey and the Sol Cayo Coco resort –owned by Cuban hotel group Gran Caribe and run by Spanish giant Sol Meliá- came out a four-star establishment in a ceremony presided over by Cuba’s tourism minister Ibrahim Ferradaz.

These many stars are granted by the National Tourism Establishment Classification Commission. Gustavo Cabedo, general manager of Sol Cayo Coco, said all the hotel’s employees are committed to keep up the good work and the level they have reached.

The Mexican government has flipped on a red alert warning for high pollution levels in five beaches from three of the country’s top tourist circuits. Those are the cases of Playa Norte and Iguana Norte in Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico); Caletilla and Tlacopanocha in Acapulco (west Guerrero) and Canal de la Boquita in Zihuatanejo and part of Guerrero.

With a slogan reading Back to the Origins, the National Tourism Service (Sernatur) has kicked off a campaign aimed at boosting domestic tourism that this time around is urging Chileans to stay home for the Holy Week.

Sernatur’s national director Oscar Santelices explained the initiative embraces a number of actions to be conducted in the calendar’s red-letter days: Holy Week, wintertime seasons, homeland celebrations and summer vacations.

Armed men opened fire in the wee hours of Monday against the Gloria Hotel, one of the most traditional resorts in Rio de Janeiro, in a new violence spree that ravaged the local leisure industry, the main economic thrust of this Brazilian city.

Law enforcement agencies said the shooters fired 20 rounds from a couple of cars parked across the hotel that drilled the building’s façade. The spraying bullets wounded nobody.

COPA Airlines has just walked off with the Excellence Award for Best Operational and Financial Progress granted by international magazine Airfinance Journ. The award was handed over last April 7 in London.

COPA also grabbed the Airline of the Year Award in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.