P.M. BRIEFING : Europe Bookings Being Canceled

Concern about the possibility of war in the Middle East and for the security of Americans traveling anywhere abroad is producing cancellations of European bookings for meetings and incentives and bringing increased business for Hawaii.

A scheduled April trip to Paris by 350 Indianapolis insurance agents, for instance, has switched to a Hyatt resort here.

Steve Kautzman, a spokesman for the insurance company, Meridian, said: “Because of our concerns today about any foreign country and what could happen, we needed an alternative destination. . . . We have learned since that our agents are more enthused about the upcoming trip to Hawaii.”

Hyatt sales director Howard Karawan said, “The number of calls we are receiving from companies canceling overseas sites is mounting, and we perceive it as a definite trend.”