NATION
NATION
Cruise lines, passengers
spent $17.6B in 2006
MIAMI — Cruise lines and their passengers spent $17.6 billion in the United States in 2006, and New York and Hawaii were among the fastest-growing embarkation points for cruise travelers, according to a study released Wednesday.
Direct spending related to the cruise industry increased 9 percent in 2006 — down slightly from 10 percent growth the year before because of a slower rate of capacity growth and a drop in consumer spending, according to a report from the Cruise Lines International Association.
The report showed that 12 million passengers took cruise vacations worldwide in 2006, with U.S. passengers making up 78 percent of those travelers. Seven ships were added last year, and about 30 more are slated to be built by the end of 2011 as cruise lines anticipate there will be enough demand to fill some 80,000 new berths.
Shareholders approve
$24.7B Alltel buyout
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Alltel Corp. shareholders overwhelmingly approved a $24.7 billion buyout Wednesday that put the wireless company in the hands of two private investor groups.
Chief Executive Scott Ford presided over the two-minute meeting, which he described as “our final shareholders meeting.”
Alltel, with 12 million customers in 35 states, agreed in May to a proposed $71.50-a-share buyout by Fort Worth, Texas-based TPG Capital, and New York-based GS Capital Partners, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs.
Associated Press