Hotels & Leisure Travel

ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court concluded Monday that the online travel company Expedia Inc. has shortchanged a west Georgia city on hotel and occupancy taxes.

BANGKOK - Charming a fuming Elizabeth Taylor, personally snipping a British duke's hair or catering to the refined palates of Cambodia's murderous Khmer Rouge leaders.

MIAMI - Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said Tuesday that the recent swine flu outbreak will lower its earnings by about 22 cents per share.

He admits he knew nothing about the business. All he did was map out a marketing plan anyway.

WASHINGTON - Oh, Joe.

MIAMI - Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have suspended stops at Mexican ports over concerns about swine flu.

NEW YORK - Some travelers are sticking with planned trips to Mexico despite the swine flu scare, but others are postponing vacations or switching to the Caribbean or sunny beaches elsewhere.

SHERMAN, Conn. - The recession is finally taking its toll on online travel, with a decline in revenues this year forecast by PhoCusWright, the travel industry research company.

PARIS - The head of Groupe Eurotunnel SA says the English Channel tunnel operator is in "good health" despite the recession, which is having a limited impact on leisure travel.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The economy caught up with the historic Greenbrier resort just as its owner cut off long-standing access to easy cash, sending it into the arms of would-be buyer Marriott International, according to bankruptcy records.

NEW YORK - An expert for Priceline.com says leisure travelers could benefit from a drop-off in business conventions due to the economy.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A decision by Royal Caribbean Cruises to shift a ship from Alaska to another destination has state tourism officials calling for steps to stay competitive.

When the economy goes into the tank, people stay at home. But for those still willing to see what's out there, there are stupendous deals to be had.

Several U.S. airlines have reported less traffic for the fourth quarter of 2008 as the recession hit both business and leisure travel. Some carriers have been offering sales to lure passengers back to the skies.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A Caribbean hotelier is offering investors stressed out by the financial meltdown a chance to swap their sinking stocks for sun-drenched beach vacations.

NEW YORK - Current economic conditions are likely to pressure business travelers and visitors coming to the U.S. in 2009, according to the latest outlook from the Travel Industry Association.

ATLANTA - Online travel companies are facing a flurry of lawsuits from upset city officials who say they were bilked out of tens of millions of dollars in hotel and occupancy taxes.

NEW YORK - Here's a bright spot in the sad traveler's tale of the ever-weak dollar. One hotel company in Europe is accepting dollars in a one-to-one exchange with euros, when a euro is actually worth well over $1.50.