Marriott International, Inc. reported fourth quarter 2008 adjusted income from continuing operations of $121 million, a 49 percent decline over the year-ago quarter, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $0.34, down 45 percent.

Future Vacations has raised its commission on Las Vegas luxury packages to 15-percent, a two-percent increase. The new 15-percent commission applies to the land portion of land-only or air-inclusive packages to six top Las Vegas resorts: Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, Trump Hotel Las Vegas, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, The Pallazo Resort Hotel Casino and Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.

The El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort by Karisma, located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, has named Paulino Emiliano as the new general manager. Aside from his essential role of managing the resort and staff on a daily basis, Mr. Emiliano seeks to increase the development of staff departments by implementing additional tools for motivation and training.

VisitBritain has unveiled a three-year strategy to boost the UK’s inbound market as well as develop cohesion between the government and the regional bodies. The new position will begin with a £6.5 million campaign to promote the UK’s value for money, as well as its free access to national museums and galleries.

Leading tourism bodies in the UK have called into question’s the Government’s support for the tourism sector, following a tightening of visa requirements and new air passenger duty regulations.

ASTA is offering tepid praise for the $787 billion stimulus package, noting that the final version of the bill omitted a key provision to help restore small business lending. The provision, which was contained in the House-passed version of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, would have provided travel agents and other small business owners with rapid access to much-needed capital without having to face the administrative delays posed by the current SBA lending process.