Travel Roundup: Starwood's $4B Sheraton Overhaul, Cuban Travel Rules Lifted, Amtrak's Pacific Northwest Improvements and More

(MoneyWatch)  Starwood's $4 billion Sheraton overhaul -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide said it would spend $4 billion to overhaul its Sheraton brand. The initiative to upgrade its hotels began in 2007, when the company designated $2 billion for new hotels, $1.3 billion for renovations and $400 million for other changes. Starwood plans to open 20 Sheratons this year, with nine in North America. The company said that it, like most hotel chains, is suffering economic hardship because business meeting are being curtailed. [Source: Reuters]

Cuban travel and gift restrictions lifted -- The Obama administration will lift travel and gift restrictions for Cuban Americans today, allowing citizens to travel more freely to Cuba and send additional financial help to family members. The new changes mean more communication between the island and the U.S. and expanding item lists that can be sent to Cuba, including clothing, personal hygiene items and fishing equipment. However, no items can be sent to senior government officials or Communist Party members. [Source: McClatchy]

Amtrak to spend $50 million on improvements -- Amtrak will spend about $50 million in federal stimulus funds in both Washington and Oregon, where more than 2 million passengers traveled aboard its Coast Starlight, Amtrak Cascades and Empire Builder routes last year. Several projects include new maintenance buildings in Seattle, wireless capabilities for workers, and upgrading stations to comply with federal regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act. [Source: Associated Press/Seattle Times]

Travel agent adjusts to changing competition and climate -- Rupal Martinez came to work at the Discount Travel Shop in Carson City in 1993. By 1999, she bought the business and has tried to adjust to the technology changing the industry. The only full-service travel agency left in Carson City, Martinez books everything from international cruises to motorcycle tours. Many of her clients don't use the Internet, so they rely on her to help them with online check-in or printing boarding passes. While the Internet is her biggest competition, she says that her job is the navigate the best flights and deal with any travel hiccups along the way for her clients. [Source: Nevada Appeal]