SeaDream Yacht Club owner Atle Brynestad named Bob Lepisto president of the two-ship line, effective Jan. 8. He replaces Larry Pimentel, who abruptly left the company Jan. 5, citing “fundamental disagreements with the principals of the organization.”

Darren Law has been appointed president and CEO of Palmera de Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, a 138-suite, five-star beach resort in Cabarete. Mr. Law brings 20 years of professional experience in hotel operations, development, and asset management to Palmera de Cabarete, opening in late 2011.

Pleasant Holidays launched a nationwide 2009 Hot Deals promotion offering savings to Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Tahiti and Fiji. The promotion is offered by Pleasant Holidays and its affiliate company, Distinguished Resorts.

China Elite Focus has conducted a survey in December 2008 among international travel and tourism executives to know more about their strategy to attract Chinese tourists to their place.

A tiny Puerto Rican island popular with tourists has been closed to allow contractors to sweep its beaches for buried ammunition. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has hired a private company to scour the natural reserve for leftover projectile and bomb fragments.

The current ferry service between Antigua and Montserrat is experiencing a brief hiatus starting Jan. 17. The commuter service will resume operation on Feb. 16, with the 149-seater, double-hull, air-conditioned Provincetown III ferry.