Travel Briefs
DENVER
Ski resorts in West becoming more green
A group that grades the environmental friendliness of ski areas in the West says 53 of the 83 resorts it reviewed this year boosted their scores, but seven received failing grades.
The resorts with the highest and lowest scores were both in Colorado. Aspen Mountain got an 'A' with a top score of 85.7, while Copper Mountain ranked lowest at 31.9 for an 'F,' the Ski Areas Citizens' Coalition said.
Copper Mountain's score was almost entirely due to an expansion of terrain and real estate development, coalition research director Hunter Sykes said. Aspen was credited for trying to minimize impacts of development, Sykes said.
"The scorecard is weighted heavily against ski area and village development and doesn't credit resorts' sustainability initiatives or community involvement," Copper Mountain spokeswoman Lauren Pelletreau said.
She said Copper's "green" efforts include buying renewable energy credits, matching employee donations to an environmental fund, and installing a 4.2-kilowatt solar system on a transportation building. A new carpooling initiative on certain Saturdays this season offers visitors who arrive in vehicles with at least four people a chance to win season ski passes for 2009-2010.
The coalition said Sundance in Utah, Squaw Valley in California, Mount Bachelor in Oregon and Bogus Basin in Idaho were among a record 18 resorts that got A's this year, up from 12 last year.
Sykes insisted that new development doesn't automatically mean a low grade, although the financially crunched Tamarack Resort in Idaho received an 'F' in its first year on the scorecard this year, largely because of its newness. Arizona Snowbowl -- with plans to add snowmaking, lifts and trails -- received an 'F.'
He said points awarded for using renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, for example, can offset deductions for development. "We do give due credit to what resorts are doing," Sykes said.
Sykes, who teaches skiing in Durango, Colo., said resorts should be held accountable for development that could level trees, harm wildlife habitat or disturb water quality.
Details at www.skiareacitizens.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.
Grand Rapids plans New Year's Eve party
Michigan may be facing hard times, but Grand Rapids plans to party like it's 2009 this New Year's Eve.
Mayor George Heartwell says the southwestern Michigan city will have a first-time outdoor celebration on Dec. 31.
It features performances by country singer Darryl Worley and the pop-punk band Plain White T's, as well as the local band Just Jake.
A Times Square-style ball also will drop at the event at the city's Rosa Parks Circle. It starts at 5:30 p.m.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic
Tourism slide hits Dominican Republic
Fewer tourists are flocking to the beaches of the Dominican Republic.
New statistics from the Central Bank show the number of visitors began declining in the second half of the year as the global economy began to weaken.
The Dominican Republic is heavily reliant on tourism. It has been the No. 1 Caribbean tourist destination in recent years.
The bank reported that total visitors between July and October fell to about 1.1 million. That's a decline of 5.6 percent over the same period a year earlier.
The trend worsened toward the fall. Both September and October were down 10 percent.
Other destinations, including Bermuda and the Bahamas, have also reported declines.
SACRAMENTO
Mayor-elect saves holiday parade
Sacramento's mayor-elect is playing Santa Claus, saving the capital city's holiday parade even before he takes office next month.
Former NBA star Kevin Johnson is donating $20,000 from his privately funded inauguration to pay for the 26th annual Santa Parade. Johnson says there will be money left over because his ceremony will cost less than expected.
The parade became a casualty of the sinking economy, as traditional sponsors halted or greatly reduced their contributions. It would have been the first cancellation in the parade's history.
The parade, traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, has been rescheduled to Dec. 20.
HANOI, Vietnam
Privately-owned airline begins flights
Vietnam's first privately-owned airline has begun flights, aiming to tap rising demand for air travel in the fast-growing Southeast Asian nation.
Indochina Airlines, owned by a group of Vietnamese businessmen, is operating four daily flights between the southern commercial center of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, said company spokeswoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Quyen.
The company, chaired by Ha Hung Dung, a well-known Vietnamese pop music composer and businessman, also offers two flights daily between Ho Chi Minh City and the central coastal city of Danang.
"The launch of our airlines aims to meet growing air travel demand in Vietnam and will offer more choices for customers," she said.
Indochina Airlines is the third airline to offer domestic flights in Vietnam, joining national carrier Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific, a partnership between a state-owned carrier and Australia's Qantas.
Indochina Airlines is leasing two 174-seat Boeing 737-800s.
In the next two or three years, the company hopes to add flights to the resort city of Nha Trang and the ancient capital of Hue, as well as countries in the region.
Passenger air travel to and from Vietnam has grown between 13 and 17 percent annually in recent years, according to Vietnam's Civil Aviation Administration.
ROME
Hall in complex reopens after 30 years
A huge hall in the ancient baths of Diocletian reopens in Rome after 30 years.
The hall underwent structural restoration. It contains ancient tombs dating to the 2nd century A.D.
One of the tombs on display has a vault surface covered with circles and is decorated with geometric and flower motifs. The other features niches for the ashes of the deceased and graffiti with their names.
Archaeologists said that the hall is believed to have served as a recreational room. Its marbles and decorations have been lost over the centuries.
The bath complex was built between 298 and 306 A.D. Including libraries, gardens and areas dedicated to shows and games, it could accommodate up to 3,000 people.
