It has been a long time coming, but directors at TUI Travel have finally confirmed they are in discussions with TUI AG about a possible merger of the two organizations. The larger German organization already owns 56 per cent of TUI Travel, with a deal potentially seeing the organization acquiring the outstanding stock.

At a media briefing following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, tourism minister Cline Glidden said the new interim five-member government is working closely with the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that new tendering processes for both projects would meet good practice procurement standards.

Spain's Paradores hotel chain, a state-funded iconic product of Spanish tourism, will lay off 350 workers. The Paradores chain, which operates hotels at historic locations and dates back to 1926, said in November it would lay off 644 workers and close up to seven sites after occupancy rates fell from 70 percent in 2007 to 52 percent in 2012.

Spain's Paradores hotel chain, a state-funded iconic product of Spanish tourism, will lay off 350 workers. The Paradores chain, which operates hotels at historic locations and dates back to 1926, said in November it would lay off 644 workers and close up to seven sites after occupancy rates fell from 70 percent in 2007 to 52 percent in 2012.