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TRAVELOCITY POLL SHOWS TRAVELER CONFIDENCE UP IN 2010

Travelocity's most recent poll shows a dramatic increase in travel intentions, indicating traveler confidence is on the rise. Travelocity's second Traveler Confidence Report reveals that nearly half of respondents plan to increase their travel in 2010 as compared to 2009. The findings are based on the intentions of more than 2,000 North Americans surveyed by Travelocity. (TravelPulse.com; Travel Advance, Feb. 12)

SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY TO BUILD SPRING TRAINING STADIUM

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community began construction of a new Spring Training facility for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.  The complex will feature an 11,000-seat capacity ballpark and 12 practice fields. The multipurpose facility will span 140 acres of stunning Arizona landscape, with views of Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain and the Superstition Mountains.  Play ball in 2011!

LUXURY HOTELS TO MAKE A COMEBACK

Many leaders in the hotel industry believe luxury hotel stays are making a comeback this year. Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, believes talk of the demise of luxury is exaggerated.

OPTIMISM EMERGES ON INDUSTRY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE

Despite a 5.5 percent drop in the world's tourism economy this year due to the recession, the industry should grow by 4 percent a year over the next 10 years, says Meeting News.

ROOM SERVICE AND A SHOVEL

Picking up trash and pulling weeds may not sound terribly posh, but at a growing number of high-end resorts, these activities are becoming yet another hotel amenity, says Time. One morning you can sleep in and order room service, and the next you can serve breakfast at a soup kitchen.

PHOENIX-SCOTTSDALE AREA NAMED ONE OF NORTH AMERICAS TOP VACATION SPOTS

Forbes Travelers list of North Americas Top 15 Vacation Spots designated the Phoenix-Scottsdale area as number 12 on the list.

GRAND CANYON ONE OF MOST-SEARCHED VACATION DESTINATIONS

This year's most-searched vacation destination on AOL was not Sao Paulo, Bali or some other faraway place. Travelers were most interested in finding out about Disney World and Disneyland. Rounding out the top 10 were Las Vegas; Florida; Hawaii; Mexico; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Costa Rica; Italy; Colorado; and the Grand Canyon.

TRAVEL LEADERS UNVEIL TOP BIZ TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2010

Travel Leaders unveiled the results of its annual Travel Trends Survey listing the top business travel trends for 2010. The survey found that more than two-thirds (67 percent) of Travel Leaders' business-focused travel agents are forecasting that business travel for 2010 will match or exceed their total bookings for last year. The survey was conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 18, with responses from 227 Travel Leaders owners, managers and frontline travel personnel throughout the United States.  (Travel Advance, Jan. 27)