Investment firm Fletcher Asset Management has closed on the purchase of Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine and BudgetTravel.com.

While in attendance for a media luncheon hosted by representatives of the Starwood Caribbean Collection at the 2010 Caribbean Marketplace and learned of the company’s plans to open both the first W Retreat & Spa and the first St. Regis resort in the Caribbean.

Puerto Madryn in Argentine Patagonia expects a considerable fall in the number of cruise calls following Norwegian Cruise Lines decision to stop operating in the Valparaiso/Buenos Aires tour in the next 2010/2011 season.

U.S.-based buyout firm Carlyle Group bought 63.6 percent of CVC Turismo, Brazil’s largest tourism agency, for an undisclosed amount, as the private equity firm casts about for deals in fast-growing emerging market economies.

For the month of December, Air Canada reported a system load factor of 81.2 percent on a consolidated basis with Jazz (from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity), versus 81.7 percent in December 2008, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points. System traffic increased 3.4 percent on a capacity increase of 4 percent system wide.

Hilton Worldwide announced a global multi-brand wide January Sale. Guests who book hotel rooms in January can save 50 percent off weekend getaways throughout the year at participating hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Guests can save up to 33 percent off weekend rates in North America, South America, Central America, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean at participating Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites brands.