Travel Roundup: Versace Mansion Opens, Sandals Cuts 650 Workers, Virgin & British Airways Drop Fees and More

(MoneyWatch)  Versace mansion opens to the public as hotel and restaurant -- The Miami Beach home of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace has been opened as a restaurant and hotel with suites starting at $1,200 a night. The 26,000-square-foot home, known as Casa Casuarina, has been owned by businessman Peter Loftin since 2000. Loftin began opening the home to the public gradually, first as an exclusive club and is now offering tours of the Spanish-style mansion and grounds for $65. It was originally built in 1930 by Standard Oil heir Alden Freeman, then turned into a hotel. In 1992, Versace bought it and the hotel next door, both in disrepair, and created much of what the home is today. In 1997, Versace was killed on the front steps of his home by a serial killer who later committed suicide. [Source: Associated Press]

Sandals lays off 650 hotel workers -- Sandals Resorts International will lay off 650 hotel workers in the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Antigua, reportedly because of the sluggish economy and a drop in bookings. The job cuts are expected to make up about 7 percent of the Jamaica-based chain's workers. Other resorts in the area have also laid off workers and tourism is expected to continue to decline. [Source: Associated Press]

Virgin, British Airways latest to cut fuel surcharge -- Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways said they would cut fuel surcharges starting Thursday. For both Virgin and British Airways customers, that means paying around ?£30 or $46 less on flights at least nine hours, and ?£15 or $24 less on shorter flights. With oil prices headed downward, airlines are no longer under pressure to raise fees and create costlier tickets. This is British Airways' second fee reduction since October. [Source: Telegraph (UK) and CNN]

IHG announces president of Americas region -- InterContinental Hotels Group announced Jim Abrahamson will be the new president of its Americas region starting Jan. 5. Abrahamson will take over from Richard Solomons, interim president and finance director. Abrahamson was previously head of development in the Americas for the Global Hyatt Corp. [Source: IHG]

Photo courtesy of Casa Casuarina