As hotel debuts go, the recent opening at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba in Oranjestad was seamless. The prime minister, tourism officials and hotel hierarchy, including Marriott International Chairman Bill Marriott and Ritz-Carlton President and COO Herve Humler, were there.

The Costa Rican government is expanding its Juan Santamaría International Airport, outside the capital San Jose, at a cost of $18 million. Authorities will build two more boarding gates to help the airport accommodate an additional 260,000 passengers annually.

From December 4 to 12, five tour operators from the United Kingdom experienced firsthand Trinidad and Tobago’s eco-adventure offerings as part of a familiarization tour hosted by the Tourism Development Company Limited.

Bermuda Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell this afternoon unveiled the eight-member Board of Directors which will oversee the Tourism Authority — a non-political organization that has taken over the running of the industry from Government’s Department of Tourism.