Business travel at a time of global financial and economic crisis: a new challenge facing an industry which, according to conservative estimates, guarantees employment for well over half a million people in Germany.

The Jamaica Tourist Board has taken over as title sponsor of the annual Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, taking place Jan. 22 to 24. The festival will feature three nights of performances, and this year will also place more emphasis on the destination with special resort and attractions packages created to showcase Jamaica’s diverse tourism product.

The 16th Annual Barbados Jazz Festival will feature British folk singer and songwriter James Blunt. In addition to Blunt, this year’s event running from Jan. 12 to 18 will feature a wide range of both contemporary and classic jazz vocalists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Harvey Mason, David Burnett, Angie Stone and the BCC Jazz Project, among others. Ticket prices start at $25 per person.

The 16th Annual Barbados Jazz Festival will feature British folk singer and songwriter James Blunt. In addition to Blunt, this year’s event running from Jan. 12 to 18 will feature a wide range of both contemporary and classic jazz vocalists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Harvey Mason, David Burnett, Angie Stone and the BCC Jazz Project, among others. Ticket prices start at $25 per person.

With a view to diversify the travel options Brazil has to offer to European tourists, the country’s Tourism Ministry and EMBRATUR are taking a hundred travel agents from Meier’s Weltreisen, one of Germany’s largest travel agencies, on a grand tour around a bunch top travel destinations, including Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio de Janeiro. The initiative is equally sponsored by the Brazilian Association of Travel Operators (BRAZTOA is the Portuguese acronym).

Delivering one of its key brand values of best professional education, EIBTM 2008 has organized its most comprehensive program ever, providing highly targeted sessions for all those involved in the meetings industry. Over the three days (December 2 thru 4) through a mixture of presentations, seminars, workshops and networking events, delegates will be kept fully up-to-date with key issues and trends that affect the industry on a day-to-day basis.