Revenue “leaked” from the hotel industry to the OTAs in the form of abnormally high merchant commissions of 25 percent and higher will reach $5.4 billion in 2010, estimates Hospitality eBusiness Strategies.

While many Palm Springs business owners wait for a return of snowbirds to solve cash flow problems, some have stepped up advertising to bring local residents to their doors.

European stocks pared their advance as food and beverage companies declined. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.1 percent to 258.48 at 8:27 a.m. in London, having earlier climbed as much as 0.4 percent.

The Arnold Branch of the Jefferson County Library, located at 1701 Missouri State Road, will offer a free informational series of classes in September and October detailing how to use online tools to market a business.

Goldcorp Inc. said it will buy all outstanding shares in Andean Resources Ltd. for approximately C$3.6 billion.

SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The city of Spanish Fort’s official website is in desperate need of an overhaul, according to one local expert who bills herself as the Eastern Shore’s only Internet marketing specialist.

Barclays Plc hired Jon Pratt to be its Hong Kong-based head of debt capital markets for Asia outside of Japan and Australia, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization called a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the global cereal markets as Russia extended a grain-export ban, stoking concern there may be wheat shortages.

Barclays Plc hired Jon Pratt as head of debt capital markets for Asia ex-Japan, according to a person familiar with the matter.