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E L L I O T T ' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

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September 10, 2004

Jamaica Braces For Hurricane Ivan
Jamaicans began feeling the earliest effects of Hurricane Ivan late last night as the most powerful hurricane to hit the Caribbean in more than 10 years neared the island. The Hurricane watch posted for the island on Tuesday was upgraded to a hurricane warning yesterday as Ivan, packing winds of more than 160 miles per hour, raced towards the island, sending thousands scampering to make last minute preparations. Many supermarkets and gas stations had run out of basic supplies by early afternoon, while tourists tried to catch last minute flights out of the country. Air Jamaica has canceled all flights in and out of the country and all inter-island flights today. Gleaner | Posted 6:30 a.m.
• Florida Keys Evacuated Ahead of Cyclone (AP)
• Steer Clear of Caribbean, State Department Urges (AP)

Here we go ... again.

Des Plaines Boosts Hotel Tax
A month after work was set to begin on a new La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Des Plaines, the city instead is tweaking its redevelopment agreement to allow the hotel to charge more in taxes than other hotels in the city. City officials acknowledge the new deal is unusual, but aldermen approved it by a 7-1 vote since the plan will mean no additional cost to the city. Under the original agreement, Des Plaines had set a 6 percent hotel tax for the La Quinta - which will be built in a redevelopment area off Mannheim Road near Rosemont's Allstate Arena. Other Des Plaines hotels charge a 5 percent tax, so the extra 1 percent would have been funneled to the city to reimburse Des Plaines for roadwork. Daily Herald | Posted 6:35 a.m.

Sky is Falling For US Airline Industry
As America prepares to mark the human loss from the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the impact of that devastating day is still also being felt in one of the country's largest industries: its airlines. In the week when the third anniversary of the attacks falls, Delta, the third-biggest carrier, and US Airways, the number six in the industry, have warned that they are in danger of running out of cash. They have said sweeping job losses and pay cuts are the only way to save the airlines from filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Independent | Posted 6:45 a.m.

Fly Now, Pay Later On America West - America West Airlines on Thursday launched a new payment option at its Web site. "Bill Me Later" is a credit-based payment alternative for customers who choose the security, flexibility and the convenience of buying without a credit card online and being billed later for purchases. Biz Journal | Posted 7 a.m.

Alabama Fund Prepared to Lose US Airways - Alabama's retired teachers and government employees could lose a $240 million stake in US Airways if the airline can't pull out of its financial nosedive, but the high-profile head of the state's pension fund said Thursday the system is diversified enough to withstand the loss. While huge for most investors, the loss would be small for the more than $25 billion portfolio of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, said chief executive officer David Bronner. "It's less than 1 percent," he said. AP | Posted 7:05 a.m.

Naples Hotel Charged With Price-Gouging - The Baymont Inns & Suites in Naples has been charged with three cases of price gouging by Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist. Crist announced a civil complaint filed against the hotel, at 185 Bedzel Circle, for allegedly charging three consumers "unconscionable," or substantially higher than regular rates when they were seeking shelter from Hurricane Charley. The checkout price for the rooms was more than the price quoted to the consumers when they made their reservations. News Press | Posted 7:10 a.m.

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• Off the Record ... if you've ever been to New Orleans, you know that the French Quarter is no place for kids. Unless, of course, it's 9 a.m. and you need the expert advice of a two-year-old on your quest to find the perfect praline. I've just posted our latest destination story on Not2far.com. Posted 7:15 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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