By Mark Holston 

Miami-based Naomi Newton travels the region as a managing partner at Dialogue, a strategic marketing communications agency for regional and global brands in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Do you have a favorite restaurant?

I really like Osaka in Buenos Aires, which features great sushi and Asian fusion.

What's your favorite hotel?

I love the W in Mexico City. The staff and service are amazing, and the lounge area features a lovely bar with lively music and great lychee martinis!

Do you have a favorite airport?

I like Ezeiza, the main international airport for Buenos Aires, because of the lively and expansive duty free shopping.

What's your least favorite airport and why?

Mexico City, without a doubt. The American Airlines lounge is far away and it takes a long time to walk to your gate.

In which country is it the easiest to process through customs and immigration?

Mexico is good in this regard.

Do you collect anything on your travels?

I like to collect soccer jerseys, local spirits and currency from around the world. These are easy to find in shops and generally inexpensive.

Newton's favorite quick getaways after getting business done:

• While in Buenos Aires, take a side trip to an estancia (rural estate and ranch), stay the night, go horseback riding and enjoy outdoor barbeques.
• If you like river adventures, cross the Rio de la Plata [in Argentina] to Carmelo in Uruguay and stay at the Four Seasons. 

As of August 11, TAM Airlines will no longer fly between Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt, Germany.

TAM is also cancelling its weekly service between Rio de Janeiro and Paris, effective August 9.

Spain-based AirEuropa will fly non-stop round-trip between Madrid and Montevideo, Uruguay, three times a week, beginning June 3.

From June 12 through August 26, American Airlines will fly a second daily round-trip flight between Medellin, Colombia and Miami, Florida (U.S.).

Columbia-based Avianca will introduce the first non-stop flights between El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá and San Juan, Puerto Rico's Luis Muños Marin International airport on July 17. Round-trip service will run three times weekly.

On May 24, Mexico-based Interjet will begin nonstop flights between Tijuana, Mexico, and Toluca International Airport outside Mexico City, with three weekly round-trips.

U.S.-based Spirit Airlines launched daily nonstop service between Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (U.S.) and Cancun, Mexico.

On June 1, AeroMexico will begin seasonal round-trip service between Cancun, Mexico and Los Angeles, California (U.S.), with three flights a week through September. On June 7, AeroMexico will begin seasonal weekly round-trip service between Los Angeles and Huatulco, Mexico, also through September.

June 20, AeroMexico will begin flying two round-trips a week on a new Las Vegas, Nevada (U.S.) - Puerto Penasco, Mexico - Hermosillo, Mexico route. It will be operated by AeroMexico Connect (Aerolitoral) on 5-seat Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.

American Airlines will begin daily round-trip service between its U.S. hub in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and Hermosillo, Mexico on June 12. That same day, it will also start thrice-weekly round-trip service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Zacatecas, Mexico.

Mexico-based vivaAerobus will fly three times a week between the Mexican cities of Cancun and Torreon, starting June 1. The airline will also begin thrice-weekly flights between Cancun and Oaxaca, Mexico on June 6. And thrice-weekly flights between Cancun and Tampico, Mexico will begin June 7.

Under its American Eagle flag, American Airlines start daily round-trip service between its Latin American hub in Miami, Florida (U.S.) and San Diego, California (U.S.) on June 12.

Caribbean Airlines' Air Jamaica reduced flights between the U.S. cities of Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando, Florida and the Jamaican cities of Kingston and Montego Bay to daily, from three per day. It also reduced to twice daily service between Kingston and Montego Bay and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Toronto, Canada.

Other Airline News

US Airways now offers complimentary headsets and wine to Economy cabin passengers on international flights between the U.S. and South America, Europe and the Middle East. In July, the airline plans to offer new amenity kits in its Envoy international business class. The kits will include Red Flower-brand botanical moisturizer and facial towlette, as well as socks, eyeshades, earplugs, tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.

Hotel News

The 135-room Live Aqua Bosques Mexico City, in the Arcos Bosques office tower in the Paseo de los Tamarindos business district, is now officially open (it had a soft opening in October). The Hotelera Posadas property includes concierge service on each of its five floors, meeting and function space for up to 1,000 with the option of kosher catering, as well as a Mexican restaurant with extensive local wine, mezcal and tequila offerings.

Barcelo Hotels & Resorts is beginning a $45 million renovation of its Maya Beach and Maya Caribe resorts, both of which are part of its all-inclusive Barcelo Maya complex in Mexico's Riviera Maya. The renovations, which will include new lobby décor, new bars and restaurants and a Premium Lounge Club, should be complete at the end of 2014.

U.S. Air Traffic Delays Update

Air traffic controllers in the U.S. are back on a regular work schedule at full staffing levels, which has significantly cut down delays of flights taking off or landing at airports in that country. The U.S. Congress passed a bill allowing the agency that employs them to suspend forced unpaid days off that reduced its daily staffing level by about 10%. Reduced staffing and delays will continue to be felt at security lines to enter airport terminals and in customs and immigration lines. (Click to read more about delays in our story from last week's Latin Business Traveler.)

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