Alison Turner, formerly the director for international public relations at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., has been named the Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) new director of marketing communications.

P&O Cruises, a British line, has cancelled upcoming calls at ports in Argentina by the Arcadia and Adonia following rising tension over ship visits to the Falkland Islands. Holland America Line and Seabourn skipped Ushuaia on Dec. 10.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports an upward revision to its industry financial outlook. For 2012 airlines are expected to return a profit of $6.7 billion (up from the $4.1 billion forecast in October). This is expected to improve slightly to $8.4 billion in 2013.

Grenada is truly experiencing a banner year for marketplace recognition, adding top awards for its tourism product to Kirani James’ Olympic Gold medal. From premier publications and their readers to their 10th Gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, Grenada was celebrated throughout the course of 2012.

More than half of Caribbean respondents believe the global economic recovery is not on track according to the latest Global Economic Conditions Survey. Confidence in the global economy fell in Q3 2012 according to a worldwide survey of 2,500 finance professionals.

If you're looking at the frost and daydreaming of a beach idyll, then the Turks and Caicos islands might just be the hot ticket right now. The lesser-known Caribbean hideaway was yesterday voted the globe's leading beach destination at the World Travel Awards (WTA), dubbed the Oscars of the travel industry.