Figures in two hotel industry reports provide further evidence that the downturn, while still a major drag on business, is easing up. Hotel occupancy rates statewide and in Salt Lake County last month were about 4 percent below October 2008, a year-to-year drop off that was less than in   Full Story

Francisco Kjolseth / The Salt Lake Tribune

The physical face of Utah's ski industry has changed little heading into this second winter of the deep downturn. Solitude has replaced a lift. Sundance is adding lights for night skiing.   Full Story

A conservative think tank that is influential with the state's Republican-controlled Legislature wants to abolish the Utah Office of Tourism. The recommendation is one of 10 offered by the Sutherland Institute as the state faces an estimated $850 million budget shortfall.   Full Story

Delta Air Lines Inc. and its SkyTeam alliance partners offered as much as $1 billion in incentives to lure Japan Airlines Corp. away from the Oneworld group led by American Airlines.   Full Story