Continental Airlines reported a May consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 81.0 percent, 1.9 points above last year´s May consolidated load factor. The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 81.0 percent, 1.2 points above the May 2005 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 83.9 percent, 2.7 points above May 2005. All three were records for May.

The year 2005 marked the most profitable year ever (in absolute dollars) for the US Hotel Industry. Based on statistics compiled by Smith Travel Research (STR), the industry generated some $122.7 billion in revenues and $22.6 billion in profits last year. This profit number is slightly above the $22.5 billion that the industry generated in the year 2000, the highest level achieved prior to 2005.

GOL, Brazil´s low-cost, low-fare airline, announces that its Board of Directors has given its operating company the green light to enter into a R$ 75.7 million loan with the BNDES (Brazilian National Economic and Social Development Bank). The tenor of the BNDES loan is six years with an interest rate of 2.65 percent over the long-term borrowing rate, currently set at 8.15 percent in reais.

Brazilian authorities decided to advance to June the auction of Brazilian flag carrier Varig in a final effort to ward off the airline´s collapse, announced the National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC. The beleaguered airline burdened with debts of over $3 billion is currently under court supervised bankruptcy reorganization.

Worldspan, L.P. reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006. The Company reported revenues for the quarter of $262.1 million, operating income of $54.3 million and net income of $36.5 million. The company´s financial outcomes for the quarter benefited from a reduction in expenses of $11.3 million related to contractual payments that were received from certain former online travel agencies towards settlement of disputes.

Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez says that new investment in the tourism sector could reach $5.3 billion between 2006 and 2008, making tourism a leading force in foreign investment in the Dominican Republic. Most of the investment is now going into expensive real estate developments, golf projects and marinas. As reported in local Spanish-language newspaper Hoy, there is concern that tourism at present is not benefiting the people.