Florida: law suit against Expedia and Orbitz over hotel taxes

Florida’s Office of Attorney General has sued Expedia and Orbitz, the leading internet travel companies, claiming that these companies violated state law by failing to remit the appropriate amount of taxes on hotel room rentals. The lawsuit states that while Expedia and Orbitz have been collecting taxes from consumers, they have only been remitting a portion on the taxes based on the wholesale rate the online sellers get from hotels, not the retail rate consumers pay.

Source: Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release of Nov. 3, 2009

Florida: Injunction Sought Against Timeshare Resale Companies

Attorney General Bill McCollum on Nov. 2nd announced that his office has filed a lawsuit and has requested an emergency injunction against two related South Florida timeshare resale marketing companies. Universal Marketing Solutions, Creative Vacation Solutions, and owner/manager Jennifer Kirk allegedly collected over $4 million in marketing fees on a monthly basis, but rarely if ever marketed, advertised, or facilitated sales for the timeshare owners who had contracts with the companies. The injunction requests the companies’ cease doing any timeshare business while the lawsuit is pending.

In a statement released Nov. 3rd, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) welcomed the move to seek an emergency injunction: Although there were many reputable companies that provided resale services, the largely unregulated secondary market also included some that used unscrupulous tactics to take advantage of owners who may wish to sell their timeshares.

Sources: Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release, ARDA press release.

Florida: settlement on refund of fuel surcharges by cruise lines

The Florida attorney general's office has reached an agreement with Oceana Cruises and Classic Cruise Holdings in which the cruise lines will refund a total of more than $3 million to cruisers who were charged fuel surcharges. The agreements were reached after the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division received several hundred complaints from around the country because cruise lines were retroactively charging a fuel supplement after cruises had been booked and deposited. The agreements were signed on Feb., 4. Similar settlements were reached last year with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Corp. and its subsidiary cruise lines.

Source: Press release by Florida attorney General to be found here>>.

Florida: law on Cuba travel bond blocked by federal judge

A group of travel agents in Florida sued the state over a new law requiring agents who book trips to Cuba to post a USD 250,000 bond and disclose their clients' names. Earlier this month, a federal judge lifted the measure temporarily to consider the law's legality.
Before the measure was signed into law in June all travel agencies were required to pay the state a one-time USD 25,000 bond.
Despite the recent ruling, the legal battle between the travel agents and Florida lawmakers is not over: Some legal experts say the law oversteps the bounds of state authority.

Source: New York Times; find article here>>.

Florida: agents challenge law on Cuba travel

A group of travel agents in Florida sued the state over a new law requiring agents who book trips to Cuba to post a USD 250,000 bond and disclose their clients' names. Earlier this month, a federal judge lifted the measure temporarily to consider the law's legality.

Before the measure was signed into law in June all travel agencies were required to pay the state a one-time USD 25,000 bond.

Despite the recent ruling, the legal battle between the travel agents and Florida lawmakers is not over: Some legal experts say the law oversteps the bounds of state authority.

Source: New York Times; find article here>>.

Florida: Woman sues Norwegian Cruise Line over dining issue

A California woman sued NCL, alleging the Miami-based cruise operator failed to disclose it may be impossible to get reservations at specialty restaurants for those passengers not booked in the upscale cabins that get priority access.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court Monday by Fort Lauderdale attorney Paul M. Hoffman seeks refunds for the cruise and incidental costs for Eva Gularte, her sister and mother, for a voyage on the Norwegian Star, plus attorney's fees. It seeks class-action status for all NCL passengers who had similar problems in the past three years.

Source: Miami Herald; read full article here>>.

Florida: 2007 Tourism Leadership Summit

The third annual Tourism Leadership Summit, featuring some of travel and tourism’s best and brightest minds, is scheduled for the 19th to 21st of September, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. Organized and presented by Skål International Orlando, the program is open to any senior executive in the industry worldwide. It is unique in that its emphasis is on personal development of the attendee with attendance limited to no more than 200, allowing participants excellent networking opportunities with fellow decision makers.

Source: ForImmediateRelease.Net; read full article here.