Jamaica recently welcomed the leadership of the regional tourism sector to the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014, which took place in the purpose built Montego Bay Convention Centre. Following the successful event, which say hundreds of delegates dissect the latest trends in Caribbean tourism, Breaking Travel News caught up with the island’s director of tourism John Lynch to assess his views.

With the total flexibility to go where you want simply by hitting the road, here are six terrific 2014 “happenings” you might choose to pitch up nearby to and enjoy. Of course, each just happens to have the added benefit of being located in a scenic part of our beautiful countryside!

Jamaica is showcasing some of its spectacular tourism offerings this week as Montego Bay plays host to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s premier tourism marketing event, Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014. The marketplace, which is expected to attract 1,200 delegates, is being hosted at Montego Bay Convention Centre, which was named Caribbean’s Leading Meetings & Convention Centre in 2013 by the World Travel Awards.

Australian airline Qantas will continue to face challenging times in the short-term, due to the weakening Australian economic and aviation markets, but new alliances may prove strategically sound, according to the latest research from aviation intelligence firm OAG. In December 2013, Qantas issued an unexpected profit warning and announced 1,000 planned job cuts, citing tougher competition and a reduction in demand as the main reasons.

Rapidly developing Shaza Hotels seeks to mix the cultural influences of the Middle East with the latest in contemporary design. Following the brand’s recognition as the World’s Leading Emerging Luxury Hotel Brand at the World Travel Awards Grand Final in Doha, Breaking Travel News here sits down with chief executive Simon Coombs to discuss how this vision is being realised.

The German state of Saxony has everything travellers can hope for in holiday: old masters in Dresden’s museums, young artists in Leipzig’s converted cotton mill, and traditional crafts in the woodcarving workshops of the Erzgebirge Mountains. Castles and palaces celebrate the splendour of history, while unspoilt Saxon Switzerland inspires with the beauty of nature. Here Breaking Travel News takes it all in with Frank Wend from the Saxony State Chancellery.