Aston Hotels & Resorts' revenue fell by one-fifth in the fourth quarter amid slumping visitor arrivals, according to financial results released by Aston's parent company, Interval Leisure Group.

The report shows revenue at Aston's top line shrank to $14 million during the October-to-December period, down from $17.5 million a year earlier.

Interval said Aston's results were hurt by lower occupancy and a lower average daily rate, but that Aston's results were generally tracking comparable properties in Hawai'i. Interval, which bought Aston in May 2007, said it recorded a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $34.3 million in the quarter.

WORKSHOP ADDRESSES ECONOMIC SLUMP

Score of Hawaii and Small Business Hawaii are sponsoring a workshop Friday to help businesses work their way through the economic slowdown.

The event, called "Moving Forward in Today's Economy," is set for 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waialae Country Club, Kahala Room.

The keynote speaker is Eddie Flores, president and chief executive officer of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. Other speakers include Bob Wilkinson, former chief executive of Grace Pacific; attorney J.W. Ellsworth; Michael Steiner of Steiner & Associates; Ray Riss of R.M. Riss & Associates; and Rob Deveraturda of the Harris Agency.

The cost is $50 for members and clients, and $65 for nonmembers. For more information, call 547-2700 or visit www.hawaiiscore.org.

SALES SURGE HELPS MERA REDUCE LOSS

Stronger sales helped Kona-based Mera Pharmaceuticals Inc. narrow its loss in the quarter ending Jan. 31 from the same period a year earlier.

The marine biotechnology company yesterday reported revenue of $187,437 during the three-month period compared with $130,171 in the same period a year earlier.

Mera posted a net loss of $31,816 for the period, down from a loss of $127,016 in the prior year period.

The cost of goods sold was $453 for the latest quarter compared with $6,064 a year earlier. The decline was the result of efforts to bring inventories into better alignment with sales rates, Mera said.

LINGLE BRIEFED ON AIRLINE PILOT TALKS

The president of the Air Line Pilots Association met with Gov. Linda Lingle and other state officials to brief the governor on the status of ongoing labor negotiations at Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air.

Capt. John Prater told the governor on Thursday that ALPA feels a strong sense of urgency in completing a new contract for the Hawaiian pilots after nearly two years of stalled negotiations.

"I told Gov. Lingle that we feel we have moved beyond the realm of simple negotiations and now are in a labor dispute with Hawaiian," said Prater, a former O'ahu resident.

ALPA and Hawaiian have been in negotiations since spring 2007. Both sides agreed to enter federal mediation last September, and the next scheduled session with the federal mediator will be held April 7 to 15.