Travel Roundup: Reid Protests Government Blacklist, Royal Caribbean Blames Flu for Loss, Delaware Hotel Burns and More

(MoneyWatch)  Sen. Harry Reid protests Nevada destinations on government blacklist -- Despite previous protestations about a secret government blacklist, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has now sent letters to heads of every federal agency and Cabinet secretaries requesting they reject governmental travel regulations that pooh-pooh destinations like Las Vegas and Reno. The controversy was reheated last week when a Wall Street Journal article reported that an unnamed government employee said they were being pressured to hold meetings in placid destinations like Portland, Ore. or Denver. A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice, an agency used as an example in the story, said the agency does not have any banned travel destinations. Reid noted Las Vegas' low cost, making it an attractive destination. [Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal]

Royal Caribbean blames economy and swine flu for second-quarter loss -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said the economy and the swine-flu outbreak created a greater-than-expected second-quarter loss for the Miami-based cruise giant. Shares of Royal Caribbean sank 15 percent, or $2.48, Wednesday to close at $13.91 on the New York Stock Exchange. Chief executive Richard D. Fain said "that damned flu" (H1N1, or swine flu) was responsible for a five-cent drop in shares alone. The net yield -- an industry measure of how much revenue is generated per passenger berth daily -- dropped 17.9 percent, reflecting the company's strong discounting. Cruises in Alaska, which usually gave a hefty profit were particularly affected, and Royal seemed pleased the company had foresight to cut back on the cruises for its 2010 schedule. [Source: Miami Herald]

Delaware Hotel burned by arson -- State and local fire officials determined that a fire at the closed Delaware Hotel was arson. The fire started near the bar of the shut-down hotel, which had been vacant since last year -- condemned after numerous code violations. The west side of the building will need to be torn down, said Delaware Fire Capt. Lee Vanderbosch. The abandoned hotel has been repeatedly vandalized and been a haven for squatters. [Source: Columbus Dispatch]

Baltimore opens first boutique luxury hotel -- The Hotel Monaco, once a building that housed the B&O Railroad, will open its doors today as Baltimore's first luxury boutique hotel. Philadelphia-based developer ARCWheeler completed the $64 million reconstruction of the top seven floors of the 13-story B&O Building at 2 N. Charles St. Its first guests will be greeted with a promotional discounted rate of $129 to $159 a night -- and its $4.5 million restaurant, the B&O American Brasserie. Standard rates are $199 to $389, with its Majestic suite going for $1,200 a night. [Source: The Daily Record (Baltimore)]