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Distributor respondents to the quarterly Electrical Wholesaling/Vertical Research Partners (VRP) survey said Q4 2023 distributor sales were up +2.4% driven by +1.5% of price with volumes up a modest +0.9%. The two-year growth stack softened to +9.1%, a historically solid result but below +10% for the first time since Q2 2021. Pricing picked up by roughly a point sequentially. Some distributors appear to be actively pushing price in support of margins.
Overall volume growth was better than expected as distributor respondents had predicted a sales decline in Q4 2023. Automation results were strongest among product categories at +3.2% including a leading volume performance (+1.9%). It sounds like improved availability and generally healing supply chains are supporting better backlog conversion. Power results were softest at +1.9%, with volumes essentially flat. Electrical equipment sales were up +2.1% on relatively equal contributions from volume (+0.9%) and price (+1.2%) and the category continues to lead on a two-year stack basis at +11%.
Q1 2024 outlook inflects higher
Following the strong post-COVID recovery period, distributors have been forecasting decelerating levels of sales growth for roughly two years, culminating in an expected -1.6% decline in Q4 2024. While there were definitely some pockets of softness that weighed on the overall Q4 2023 results, sales growth remained solidly positive, with several distributors in fact indicating a record quarter to close out 2023. The outlook for +4% growth in Q1 2024 is a clear inflection point after the extended period of deceleration and suggests we may have navigated through the slowdown without ever seeing sales turn negative.
Fed more in focus than election year dynamics
Distributors acknowledged the potential for some election-year uncertainty to creep in around the edges but historically this has not had a meaningful effect on underlying activity. Most sounded much more focused on the Fed, with the potential for lower rates to provide a project-related boost.
Some distributor contacts indicated higher interest rates are starting to take a bite out of residential and commercial construction projects but overall most have been surprised by the resilience of activity in the face of higher rates.
Pricing pressure seems to have subsided according to several respondents. “Seeing fewer price increases, from five-to-six a year at the craziest now back to maybe two,” said one distributor.
Lead times are still top of mind, and one respondent said getting switchgear is still an issue. Another distributor was a more optimistic. “Manufacturers are finally filling backlog, catching up on some things. Likely still have issues for years to come,” they said.


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When 54.5 million people depend on your technology for lightning-fast, always-available connectivity, you need to partner with an innovation leader: Appian.
As the first national carrier to test, launch, and market 4G technology, Sprint has high expectations for the debut of its 5G cellular network technology. With the blistering pace of digital transformation, it's more important than ever to keep up with rising consumer expectations, but fragmented legacy systems and siloed data were holding Sprint back.
To drive efficiency and compliance, Sprint needed a better way to streamline operations and unify processes and data across the enterprise.
"We have a true need for process automation. We use the low-code platform to enable that, and do it a lot faster than if we tried to use traditional development methods."- Kathy Eichholz, Sprint director of IT -Light Reading.
Enter Appian's low-code application development platform. Sprint used the platform to deploy applications used by over 10,000 users across operations, the supply chain, and in the field. In just four years, they have rolled out 22 applications, including large applications with over 5,000 complex processes.
A subset of the applications deployed using Appian low-code include:
All of which has added up to faster processes, better customer service and 40% cost savings in IT spend. Additionally, Sprint's low-code approach has better positioned the company to take advantage of artificial intelligence and interactive voice response technology for even more personalized customer interactions.
In an industry with profit margins averaging between just 1% and 2%, the telecom companies that will stand out from the crowd will do a better job of embracing emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and low-code development to create new revenue streams, happier customers, and long-term customer value.
For an inside look at how digital transformation is improving business outcomes in the telecom industry, check out the interview with Sprint's CIO, Scott Rice, in Business Chief magazine.
To learn more about the Sprint-Appian partnership and the power of low-code, visit Gigabit magazine.
Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian AI Process Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences.

domain: news


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The car market is sluggish, and the “cold winter” that began in the second half of last year has not yet recovered significantly.
On the one hand, the economic downturn and the cost of car use remain high, and consumers’ desire to buy cars is declining. On the other hand, many people in the early years bought cars in advance because of the policy dividend (half the purchase tax below 1.6L). Overdraft today’s car market.
According to the data released by the China Automobile Association, from January to July, automobile production was 13.933 million units, down 13.5% year-on-year, and sales were 14.132 million units, down 11.4% year-on-year.
In July, the production of automobiles was 1.8 million units, a decrease of 5% from the previous month and a decrease of 11.9% from the same period of last year. The sales volume was 1.808 million units, down 12.1% from the previous month and down 4.3% from the same period last year.
The new energy vehicle market is also being overdrawn.
From January to July, 701,000 new energy vehicles were produced, up 39.1% year-on-year, with sales of 699,000 units, up 40.9% year-on-year. The growth rate dropped slightly from January to June, and it fell sharply from the same period of last year. .
The new energy auto market, which once had a “contrarian growth”, showed a decline in the past July.
Compared with June, the production and sales volume of new energy vehicles decreased compared with the same period of last year. In July, it produced 84,000 vehicles and sold 80,000 vehicles, a decrease of 37.2% from the previous month.And 47.5%, down 6.9% and 4.7% year-on-year.
The total number of new energy vehicles in July was also 81.4%.
The cold ice data ruthlessly tears open the “false prosperity” of the new energy car market. The rare “reverse growth” finally happened on the electric car body that was highly anticipated.
Xu Haidong, Assistant Secretary General of the China Automobile Association, summed up three reasons:
The new energy vehicles are growing in January and June, and the sales pressure in July is very high;
The new energy subsidies are declining in February and July, and the purchasing power is concentrated. A few months ago;
3, July is the transition period of the Five Kingdoms and the United States. The National Five models are sold at low prices, and many new energy consumers have turned to the more cost-effective National Five.
At present, the China Automobile Association has lowered its sales forecast for new energy vehicles this year from 1.6 million to 1.5 million. However, what is certain is that the new energy vehicle market is still promising, and the downturn is only temporary.
At this stage, the new energy market is in a downturn, and the most obvious ones are young and new cars.
Take the three new car head companies of Weilai, Xiaopeng and Weimar as examples. According to known data, the first half of this yearIn the year, Xiaopeng Automobile sold 9596 vehicles, Weimar Automobile 8747 vehicles, and Weilai Automobile sold 7481 vehicles.
The three giants have not delivered more than 10,000 in the first half of this year, and the other mass production players in the car list are even less than a thousand, not to mention the PPT players who are still testing on the edge of mass production.
At the beginning of this year, Wei Lai set a sales target of 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles for the whole year. Wei Ma is not too small, and threatened to sell 100,000 units. Half a year has passed, and it is hard to imagine the difficulty of achieving the standard in the next six months.
In the first half of the year, the total number of new vehicles was only 30,101, and in the first half of this year, China’s new energy passenger vehicles sold a total of 563,000, which means that the head strength of new vehicles at this stage will increase, reaching the first half of the year. The share is only 5.5% of the market.
An additional 95% of the share is still firmly held by traditional car companies.
There is a slump in the auto market, but there are also many players who have gone against the trend. For example, Beiqi New Energy, which has been criticized for its products, has become the top student in the class.
According to a recent announcement issued by Beiqi Blue Valley, BAIC’s new energy sales increased by 78% year-on-year in July. They sold 12,509 electric vehicles in July. The cumulative sales volume in January-July was 77,668 units, an increase of 28%. %.
Although 11.8% less than the same period, another giant, BYD, handed over 16,567 sales in July. By the last round of subsidies, BYD also increased by 73.71% from January to July, with a cumulative sales volume of 162,220 units.
Even if the traditional car company is a “skinny camel”, it is far more powerful than the new horse. In this cold winter, the former has an absolute strong ability to keep warm, while the latter has the most basic Hematopoietic capacity is not yet available.
The general manager of GAC New Energy once ridiculed the new forces in front of the media. “What is the delivery of 10,000 units?”
It is undeniable that the delivery of 10,000 units is a step from 0 to 1 for new forces. Whether it is the accumulation of orders by the brand or the completion of mass production, it takes a lot of effort. From this point of view, the current new car head forces “deliver 10,000 units” deserve respect.
The market is cruel and consumers are realistic.
The traditional forces in the eyes of the new forces who don’t understand services, don’t understand intelligence, and don’t understand users are making great strides, using more and more excellent and mature products to hold the market and holding a large share.
The opponents who seem to be “stupid” are making progress, and these people have a solid brand accumulation and mature production techniques. At this time, many new car manufacturers are still worried about a production qualification..
The awakening of traditional car companies is “external troubles”, and today’s new forces themselves have a lot of “internal problems.”
We have recalled the battery problem because it recovered the word of mouth in time, but it also took a lot of effort. The company’s structure was “optimized”, and after cutting thousands of people, it sold off its own FE fleet. Of the 1502 vehicles delivered in July, the ES8 was only 436. The rookie ES6 sang the protagonist and the phenomenon of fighting for its own products was highlighted.
The other head of Xiaopeng is also not good, because the rapid iteration of the product caused the dissatisfaction of the old car owners to cause the “rights” event to be raging, although it is worthy of jurisprudence, but the damage to the new brand is inevitable.
With Xiaopeng’s foresight, Weimar also “learned”, and this month’s low-key listing of the 520 long-end version of the EX5, and smartly supporting the corresponding old car owner protection plan, so as not to fall behind. In the past six months, it seems that Weimar has achieved a stable and stable situation. How much pain is there in my heart?
To build a Chinese sports car, the future car has only 72 vehicles in the first half of this year. The K50 is officially listed on the road. The unbearable sales volume has forced the future to change its mind. I hope that the new sales company general manager Liu Yunliang will turn around.
Subsidies slipped and the economy went down. Consumers’ desire to buy cars, especially for electric vehicles, was greatly reduced. Newly-built cars frequently revealed problems at key time points. Tesla also unrelentingly came out to seize the domestic market, with a strong product power Model 3 is a strong enemy that is difficult to knock down in front of a group of domestic electric vehicles.
Today’s new car faces the increasingly awakened traditional car company and the surging Tesla. In the era of post-subsidy in the new energy market, new cars can only come out of the trough by relying on strong products. The big environment can’t work, and it depends on your own hard work.
The landlord’s family has surplus food for the winter, and entrepreneurs can only die for nine lives.


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Health cash market leader HSA has launched a new health cash plan for businesses which concentrates on dental and optical benefits.
It also includes access to a telephone helpline, face-to-face counselling, and a choice of benefit levels.
"The proposed dentistry reforms to be brought in this year mean that the cost of everyday consultations are likely to significantly increase from current NHS charges due to the new banding proposals. This, together with high inflation on spectacle products, means that the extra support to help access these essential healthcare services will be very useful to employees.” says a spokeswoman for HSA.
The new standalone product is for companies insuring ten or more individuals. Cost per person varies from £4 up to £12 per month, depending on the benefit level selected.
Other health cash plans for businesses have also been improved from February, with higher cash back levels on dental and optical benefits


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NEW YORK, October 10, 2017: Morgan Lewis has been named among the top 20 leading global law firm brands by Acritas Research Ltd.
The legal marketing research provider’s Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index 2017 rankings are based on feedback from more than one thousand legal decision-makers around the world representing companies with more than $1 billion in revenue. Respondents evaluated law firms based on awareness and favorability, as well as the likelihood of turning to them for representation in major multi-jurisdictional litigation and deals.
“Over the past three years, Morgan Lewis has expanded its worldwide presence significantly to serve the needs of our clients, whose businesses and interests are ever-more global and more complex,” said Firm ChairJami McKeon. “We appreciate that our clients recognize our enhanced capabilities and collaborative global platform and that they trust us to deliver excellent service no matter where they need us.”
Morgan Lewis’s ranking on the Acritas global index has jumped from #34 in 2013 to #20 this year. This movement parallels the firm’s global growth in that time, especially in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The firm now counts more than 2,200 lawyers and legal professionals across Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.


text: Not only revolution has seen an uprising through the expedition of internet but the age-old rituals of weddings and its memories in photo albums are also being repackaged through matrimony sites. Following in the footsteps of Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose wedding website was launched by the Palace last week, hundreds of soon-to-be-married couples have launched their own. Couples are offering guests the chance to examine photographs of them in the years before they met, alongside biographies and the story of their fairytale romance, as well as providing practical information about the event itself. Guests can even RSVP online, saving the brides and grooms-to-be the task and expense of sending out printed invitations. Wedding planner Cheryl Dowie, of Inverness-based Premier Wedding Planners Scotland, has noticed a huge rise in demand for the service. “Over the past year or so, it has become a really big thing. It is particularly popular among younger couples, who are more Internet savvy,” the Scotsman quoted her as saying. “It takes a lot of stress off the bride and groom, if they can tell people details about the wedding, such as travel or accommodation information, over the internet – they're not having to field phone calls and queries in the days running up to the event. “I was very impressed and a bit surprised that William and Kate chose to have one – it shows that they are really trying to make what they are doing relevant to the younger generation and not be too traditional,” she added.


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Building on its larger social impact strategy, which seeks to support the growth of micro and small enterprises around the world, Visa has launched the newly-incorporated Visa Foundation. As its first order of business, the Foundation has made a financial commitment of up to $20 million to Women’s World Banking.
Small and medium enterprises account for more than 90 percent of enterprises worldwide and contribute 50 to 60 percent of global employment. However, these organizations often struggle to access the financial tools, capital and training programs required to enable them to fully thrive. The Visa Foundation endeavors to rectify this balance by providing SMEs with the resources they need to succeed.
“As a brand and a business, Visa has always stood for making a positive and transformational impact on the world,” said Al Kelly, CEO for Visa and Visa Foundation board member. “The Visa Foundation has been established to build on a long history of corporate giving and will accelerate the delivery of our social impact goals. Our intention is to establish a legacy of meaningful contributions by helping millions of microenterprises thrive.”
The Foundation’s first multi-year initiative will be a five-year, up to $20 million grant to Women’s World Banking, which supports millions of women-led small and micro enterprises.
How Plastic Bank Is Leading a Shift to a Regenerative Future
Join us for this free webinar as Plastic Bank explores the role of traceability, powered by technology, in building consumer trust; as well as strategies that empower brands to uplift communities in vulnerable coastal areas using plastic materials as currency for a better life — Tues, September 26, at 9:00am PDT.
Despite their contribution to both the formal and informal economy worldwide, women-owned micro and small businesses are unserved or underserved financially. According to the World Bank, there is a staggering $300 billion annual credit deficit for formal sector women-owned small and medium sized businesses. Financial products such as savings, credit and insurance can help low-income women to build their assets, grow their businesses and ensure economic resilience in challenging times.
With its grant, Visa Foundation seeks to support Women’s World Banking in developing sustainable solutions for women entrepreneurs to build their enterprises and establish financial safety nets while also advancing leadership skills and financial capabilities.
“Women and women-owned businesses continue to be disproportionately excluded from accessing formal financial services, impacting hundreds of millions of individuals with a significant effect on families and communities,” said Stephen Kehoe, SVP for Global Financial Inclusion at Visa. “By supporting measures to include women, there is a strong multiplier effect in terms of increased financial health for all. For this reason, the Visa Foundation chose to focus its first grant on women-owned enterprises and has selected Women’s World Banking as our first grant recipient.”
Over the next five years, the program will develop, test and scale innovative and sustainable products that drive positive financial behaviors, and expand Women’s World Banking’s global network of partner financial service providers to serve 50 million more financially underserved individuals. Additionally, it will measure the impact of improved access to financial services on women enterprise owners and drive knowledge sharing, innovation and best practices within the global community on how to best support small and micro enterprises.
“Women’s World Banking is thrilled to be Visa Foundation’s inaugural grantee. We share a vision to serve low-income women entrepreneurs whose contribution to economic growth is far below its potential,” said Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. “One billion women worldwide are unbanked, a significant number of them business owners. Through this partnership, we will deliver solutions that drive women’s access and usage of innovative financial services, so that they can create economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
The Visa Foundation grant is designed to support Women’s World Banking’s efforts around the world, with an initial focus in India, Mexico, Egypt and Nigeria, as key markets to drive growth among low-income, women-owned small enterprises.


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Adventure and travel photographer Lucas Gilman was featured in our blog earlier this year, highlighting his First Descent video and discussing his newly acquired Nikon D800 and the workflow that comes with having the ability to record externally via the Atomos Ninja 2 recorder. Lucas has just been featured on a slightly more prestigious website you might be familiar with; Apple.com.
You might be familiar with Apple’s editing and organizing software, Aperture. Apple’s Aperture in Action section highlights photographers who use the software on a daily basis. Lucas is such a photographer plus he made use of the software on location for a recent shoot for Red Bull. “My client, Red Bull, wanted to see the images as soon as possible. They didn’t want some tourist with a point-and-shoot camera to post it first and steal the fanfare. So being able to use the fast browsing feature in Aperture to process those images onsite was critical.”
Lucas talks more about workflow and on-location challenges in the full interview and feature article at Apple.com.


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Whether it is the ventriloquist in Washington or the ventriloquist's dummy in Canberra, posturing, rhetoric, and massive consumer spending incentives for voters is no alternative for Australia's realistic and effective economic management.
The infrastructure component of the package is a realistic, if not overdue, strategy especially in Queensland where the opportunity to develop failing infrastructure with massive revenues from coal exports was lost and cost Queensland millions in revenues and credibility.
The consumer-spending component of the package is where the serious faults lie by ignoring the basics behind the philosophy.
Successful Keynesian based revival relates to an economy capable of regeneration by revitalising a diverse industrial, manufacturing, and agricultural base with potential surplus capacity that could respond to a major boost in consumer spending. The money circulates throughout the economy saving jobs and returning to government coffers and eventually revives the economy. The trade off is a deficit of manageable proportions.
Compare that basis with Australia today.
Our agricultural base has been in decline for decades resulting from drought, cyclical demand, and low prices for wheat, wool, and meat. The rural economy has changed dramatically with the demise of once thriving rural centres and communities as once family owned properties became part of large mechanised operations reducing demand for local labour, services, and goods. Schools, libraries, post offices, banks, rail services, sporting and social function facilities have been decimated. While our fruit and vegetable producers have also expanded, there is more reliance on illegal foreign seasonal cash workers to compete against cheap imports.
The vast drought prone plains of New South Wales and Queensland that once supported sheep and cattle now grow cotton, consuming vast volumes of underground water as well as diversion of more vast volumes from seasonal flood-reliant major river systems. Because of world demand, cotton became one of Australia's new agricultural export earners. Drought remains the great leveller, and cotton's contribution to export revenues slumped as crops died of thirst and redundant workers in single employer townships add to national unemployment.
So what of the consumer?
The stimulus package strategy for the consumer is to spend, spend, spend on consumer goods to support the retail trade supposedly to support Australian industry producing those goods, maintain employment, and revive the Australian economy.
The jobs, jobs, jobs strategy acknowledges the effects of the severe downturn in export resource based and support industries as thousands of workers have, and will continue to, lose their jobs.
The Rudd solution is to provide retraining to enable workers to secure employment in other sectors of the Australian economy.
So what are these other fields of employment?
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More than 800 MSMEs have been benefited by PMS scheme during this financial year 2023-24 which is exponential higher in comparison to all previous financial years.
According to an official spokesperson, this has been made possible with directions of G Velladurai, Joint Director through PMS Section of MSME DFO Jammu handled by D K Tyagi, Assistant Director.
MSME DFO Jammu, Field Office of Union Ministry of MSME, implements various schemes and activities for the benefit of MSMEs of Jammu & Kashmir. Procurement & Marketing Support Scheme is one of them.
As per the scheme guidelines the MSMEs are eligible to claim reimbursement of 80-100 percent Stall charges, Publicity expenditure and travelling expenditure for participating in about 200 exhibitions/trade fair approved by the Union Ministry of MSME. The same can be accessed at my.msme.gov.in/ MyMsme/Reg/COM_ViewEvent.aspx. All the applications are received online only without any manual intervention and processed online.
It is pertinent to mention here that maximum 60 units can participate in any of the approved exhibition.
During this financial year, MSMEs of J&K participated in various Trade Fairs organized in different locations including Srinagar, Jammu, Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Telangana etc.
J&K’s 13 units participated in Indian International Trade Fair organized in Pragati Maidan New Delhi from 14th November 2023 to 25th November 2023. Number of units participated was 24 in Bharat Utsav, organized at Pragati Maidan New Delhi from 16.12.2023 to 11.01.2024 in which 100 percent Stall charges were waived off for the units of J&K as per the scheme guidelines.
Last year, less than 10 units had availed the benefit of participating in the event at New Delhi.
This financial year 04 different trade fairs have been approved in J&K at various locations like Srinagar and Jammu compared to previous year when only one fair was held. Two Vendor Development programmes under PMS scheme have been organised compared to one during the last financial year. This increase in uptake of the benefits under the scheme is because of the extra efforts put up by MSME DFO Jammu through 30 Entrepreneurship Awareness camps conducted in every district of Jammu & Kashmir regions.


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KT launches VR system with (questionable) 4K
The headset runs on a system dubbed KT Super VR, a media platform where users can subscribe to different content, including hundreds of 4K options.
KT already has a similar system, GiGA Live TV, which supports VR content and 360-degree films, but the new version has been upgraded to offer 4K content in unison with the newly designed headset. The headset is called the KT Super VR headset.
KT Super VR currently only supports content from KT, but the company plans - without specifying when - to create an open platform on which content from other companies will also be available.
“We have been confident that realistic media will grow to become the next generation media, and that’s why we have been focused on providing such content since 2014,” said Kim Hoon-bae, head of the new media business division at KT, at a press event held in central Seoul on Monday.
“While foreign companies are preoccupied with gaming services, we are working on covering content that can be enjoyed by not just teens and those in their 20s, but people in a broader generation.”
KT Super VR currently offers 450 pieces of 4K content and games in 15 genres that range from sports to shooting. More than 200 pieces of immersive content that provide similar experience to watching a film in an IMAX cinema are also available. The mobile carrier plans to release new content and games every month.
Although the content and device both claim to be 4K, the picture quality was actually significantly worse when tested by reporters that tried out KT Super VR. KT argues that the high quality can mostly be seen on 2-D videos, raising further questions over why viewers would choose to watch that content on a VR headset.
The telecom company introduced its own VR headset because of complaints that existing products that require users to insert their smartphone into the device cause issues like dizziness and discomfort. The KT device has an integrated screen.
“We prepared an integrated headset because detachable headsets cause inconveniences, like concerns about breaking the smartphone screen and being disturbed when one receives calls or texts while watching content,” said Kim. “It took us a while to find a partner with a sufficient level of technology since VR headsets are highly expensive.”
KT partnered with Chinese firm Pico and used its G2 device.
KT charges 450,000 won ($388) for the VR headset, along with an 8,800 won monthly payment.
“Since the market is still in the initial phases, we plan to start off the service based on subscriptions,” said a spokesperson from KT. “We believe expanding the market is our top priority, but we are thinking of expanding our profit source to advertisements.”
As part of the effort to diversify its customer base, KT plans to offer numerous VR headsets at different price points.
BY JIN MIN-JI [email@example.com]


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DUBAI // Ringing in the new year in Dubai has never been cheap, but residents have complained that even budget venues and restaurants are cashing in by inflating prices for the biggest night of the year.
Anyone planning to watch the Burj Khalifa fireworks from the comfort of a cafe or restaurant along Downtown Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will have to part with up to Dh1,200 for the privilege.
A reservation at Five Guys burger restaurant on the Dubai Fountain promenade costs upwards of Dh1,000, coffee with a view at Starbucks will cost you Dh600 and the Dubai Mall’s Fortnum & Mason cafe is charging Dh1,000.
“It’s insane that a burger joint would cost you Dh1,200,” said Saleh Khalil, an accountant who works in the emirate. “How are these prices calculated? It must be for the view but that is still a big amount.”
Miguel Ramos, 35, a Mexican florist who recently moved to Dubai Marina, said the prices being charged did not seem to make much sense.
“This will be my first New Year’s Eve in Dubai and I really wanted to do something special but you can’t rationalise the prices and the crowds. Dubai operates based on demand I suppose.”
However, the hefty bills are not deterring everyone, with some people determined to get the best view no matter the cost.
“The fireworks at the Burj Khalifa are some of the best in the world. You have to witness them at least once during your time in Dubai,” said Saleh Abdulrahman. “We did pay a few thousand dirhams for the most affordable option but it’s something to check off your list.”
Business owners said the prices being charged were reasonable compared to the demand.
“A guaranteed table at the promenade gives you the view and the chance to be with the thousands of people lined up to witness the fireworks,” said a manager of a cafe on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.
“This is your best option to avoid the crowds and have a place to be,” he added, although most venues in the area were not fully booked a week before New Year’s Eve.
On average, venues elsewhere in the city in popular locations such as JBR and Dubai Marina were charging between Dh300 and Dh500 for packages that include food and drinks.
New Year’s Eve options for those living in Abu Dhabi are much easier on the wallet, with cover charges at restaurants in five-star hotels starting at just Dh100. Revellers looking to flash the cash can watch the fireworks at Sho Cho’s Japanese restaurant on the Corniche for Dh500, while more affordable options are available at the Sofitel for Dhs129.
Dubai topped a list of the most expensive cities in the world to ring in the New Year, ahead of London, Paris and New York, in a survey recently carried out by foreign exchange house Travelex.
The research showed that partygoers in the emirate spend an average of Dh2,015 on food, drinks and entertainment on the last night of the year. London came second, with revellers parting with up to Dh1,635 per person, followed by New York at Dh1,565 and Dh1,145 in Paris.
“Dubai has gotten expensive. It’s now a new year’s destination but you need to be creative and think hard of ways to enjoy it without starting the year with a big dent in your wallet,” said Dubai resident Jacob Ekholm.
“We’ll gather at a friend’s apartment to watch the fireworks. There’ll be so many people on so many balconies recording with their phones.”
Source: UAE News


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Perennially troubled Smart USA probably won't get new 4-seat modelTue, 21 Jan 2014
Smart, the Daimler-owned brand that has done nothing but struggle in the US market, probably won't be getting a larger model. A new four-seater called the ForFour is slated to go on sale in Europe later this year.
A final decision hasn't been made on US sales of the ForFour, but according to the head of Smart, Annette Winkler, there are concerns that the cost of homologating the car for the North America wouldn't be made back quickly. "There are other regulations to comply with, and to achieve what is needed here costs extra money," Winkler told Automotive News Europe.
Smart's sales were down seven percent, to below 10,000 units, last year. That doesn't mean the brand isn't important, though. According to Mercedes-Benz USA's CEO, Steve Cannon, the brand is a solid niche unit, and should prove effective at padding MB's average fuel economy in the coming years as more stringent CAFE standards come into effect, according to ANE. There's also the fact that killing Smart would mean paying off nearly 100 Mercedes dealers that sell the microcar...
By Brandon Turkus
See also: Smart Fortwo spied with production-ready body, Smart Fortwo successor spotted wearing new nose, Smart jumps Fourjoy in Germany [w/video].


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Beds and mattresses manufacturer Mammoth showcases its new Women’s Health Men’s Health retail collection at the NBF Bed Show.
In a challenging market, it’s never been more important for retailers to be able to count on brands that speak for themselves – household names that reach large audiences and enjoy genuine brand loyalty.
Having launched a stunning new four-model retail collection earlier this year, the most trusted voices in health and wellness have fast-earned a reputation for excellence through their partnership with the award-winning team at Mammoth.
Every inch of the collection is designed to improve sleep, accelerate recovery and support better performance in both body and mind. That’s why everyone from elite athletes to office workers, weeken
d warriors to stay-at-home parents are discovering the benefits of the collection.
Among those turning to the Women’s Health Men’s Health retail collection is England rugby star and former World Player of the Year, Emily Scarratt, who recently ramped up her preparations for October’s Women’s Rugby World Cup by ordering the Form mattress.
But what makes the Women’s Health Men’s Health retail collection stand out from the crowd?
The answer lies within the innovations and superior materials featured in Mammoth’s M-Tex™ Health Technology. The much-loved combination of pocket springs and memory foam is elevated by the addition of Mammoth’s unique, naturally cooling Medical Grade™ foam – which has been extensively tested and shown to improve sleep.
As those familiar with Medical Grade foam will know, independent tests have shown this advanced material to increase pressure relief by 46% and disperse heat 69% faster – keeping sleepers cool and comfortable. It has been carefully engineered to support body weight, aid circulation and improve recovery – the perfect combination for those who lead fast-paced lives at work, at home or in the gym.
To top it off, each Women’s Health Men’s Health mattress features CoolPlus heat and moisture- wicking fabric to ensure the most hygienic and indulgent sleep possible.
For health-conscious customers who are active and on-the-go, there’s no better way to unwind at the end of the day, than on a Women’s Health Men’s Health mattress.


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After a very controversial and ill-received move to break up its streaming and DVD delivery services, Netflix has reversed its decision. Netflix, which normally prides itself on its fast-paced business practices, admits that the company was a bit hasty in making such huge changes to their service. The move came at a high cost for Netflix, losing many subscribers, without the benefit of a price increase.
Last month, Netflix announced a plan to rebrand their DVD service as separate from their streaming service. The move was made in an effort to differentiate itself from the growing number of online streaming services, such as Hulu. Netflix would be the place to go for streaming movies, and the DVDs would be offered by a company called Qwikster.
The changes were met with a lot of frustration and confusion by customers. The prices for the services would remain the same, but customers would need to create a separate account and login with Qwikster if they wanted to continue receiving DVDs in the mail. Customers with both services would also see two separate credit card charges each month.
Just a few months earlier, in July 2011, Netflix received a lot of criticism from consumers about a price hike. The company offered a lower price for users who just wanted the streaming service, but increased the price by 60 percent for those who wanted both services.
The move alienated a lot of Netflix customers, who took to Facebook and the blogosphere to voice their criticisms. The decision to rebrand the DVD service snowballed customer dissatisfaction. The reaction from consumers was hard to ignore, and Netflix's CEO decided to reverse the rebranding move, but not the price change.
According to a blog post from the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, the decision was reversed in response to customer complaints. He said that it became clear that the split complicated the user experience, and so the company will be going forward as though the change never happened. Qwikster has been removed from the equation, and there will be only one website for streaming and DVDs through Netflix. Hastings also stressed that Netflix customers should not expect any more price changes any time soon.
The brief blog post by the CEO on Netflix's website fell short of an apology, and the responses were mixed. Some posted gratitude for the company's decision to do what's best for the customer. Others expressed frustration, saying the reversal was too little too late, and that they would not be returning as customers.
It is likely that the decision to ditch Qwikster was also influenced by the massive drop in Netflix stock. During September of 2011, the price of Netflix stock dropped by half. The stock is currently only a third of what it was worth in July 2011. The future of Netflix is uncertain.
They are receiving pressure from cable companies and Hollywood studios to charge more for streaming content, along with the simultaneous threat of cancellation from customers for raising prices. It will be interesting to see how one of the founding companies of the streaming content industry copes with an ever-changing market.


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The first cellphone call was made 40 years ago today on April 3, 1973.
Standing in midtown Manhattan, Motorola senior engineer Martin Cooper called his rival Joel Engel at AT&T and announced:
"I'm calling you from a cellphone, a real handheld portable cellphone."
More from GlobalPost: Researchers use cellphones to track movement of malaria in Africa
Cooper, now 85, made the historic call on his Motorola DynaTAC 8000x — a brick at 10 inches long and 2.5 pounds compared to today's standards, but a revelation to the 1970s telecommunications industry.
The phone was inspired by Captain Kirk's famous flip-top communicator from "Star Trek."
It was made up of 30 circuit boards, had a talk-time of 35 minutes and took 10 hours to charge, according to The Guardian.
But it was mobile, and that made all the difference in the business world.
More from GlobalPost: Study: Cellphones don't cause cancer
"We built the phone to prove to the world that you didn't have to have a monopoly running the business, you didn't have to have those resources to make cellular a reality," Cooper told The Verge in an interview last year.
Today, he helps run the tech firm Dyna LLC and works as a telecommunications adviser.
Cellphones are now an integral part of everyday life.
Currently, there are an estimated 6 billion cellphone subscribers worldwide, according to the United Nations, and the number of devices is expected to exceed 70 billion in the next 40 years, technology expert Mike Short told The Guardian.


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& Spencer has accused staff at its Reading store of stealing from the tills
and called for colleagues to inform on one another.
also sent branch employees a letter with their payslips asking them to shop in
any colleagues they suspect are the culprits.
letter, plus a message on the branch noticeboard, states that the amounts being
taken are substantial and that every employee, including managers, are under
suspicion until the thieves are found.
Pagden, a spokesperson for M&S denied that employees feel they are being
unfairly accused. “Staff are concerned that there is an issue and they want to
resolve it,” she said.
communication was arranged at a local level, but it’s an industry-wide problem
that all retailers strive to minimise.”
By Roisin Woolnough


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Rwanda’s Airtel will be spending $30 million in upgrading its network, this plan is set out to take place this year.
The telecommunication company says that it is looking to better as well as expand its network in a bid to provide subscribers more products and services..
“We want to enable individuals and businesses reach maximum potential by providing solutions like affordable Internet and data plans,” said Teddy Bhullar, Airtel’s CEO.
The company said that it has already invested $150 million since it entered the country in April 2012.
Airtel almost doubled its subscriber base from 570,739 to 1,004,229 customers between January 2013 and February this year.


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Masayuki Uemura, 78, dies; Design of the first Nintendo console
TOKYO – Masayuki Uemura, an engineer who developed the Nintendo entertainment system, which helped start a global revolution in home gaming and laid the foundation for today’s video game industry, died on December 9. He was 78 years old.
His death was announced by Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where Mr. Uemura headed the Center for Game Studies. No further details were given.
Video game consoles had a moment of popularity in the early 1980s, but the market collapsed due to poor quality control and uninspiring software that failed to deliver the feel. arcade hits like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. Trucks full of unsold game cartridges ended up in landfills, and retailers decided that home gaming systems had no future.
But in 1985, the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States changed the industry forever. The unassuming gray box with its signature controllers became a staple for a whole generation of kids and sparked Nintendo’s virtual monopoly on the industry for nearly a decade as competitors pulled out of the market in response to the corporate dominance.
Mr. Uemura was the mastermind behind the Nintendo console, released in Japan in 1983. He also helped create its successor, the Super Nintendo, as well as other lesser-known products for the company.
âNintendo has been successful in the United States because of the quality of its software, but this software would never have reached the hearts of gamers without the hardware created by Uemura,â said Matt Alt, whose 2020 book, âPure Invention : How Japanese pop culture conquered the world, ârecounts the rise of Nintendo.
“He was a true titan and architect of the global gaming industry,” Alt added in an email.
The machine made Nintendo one of the most profitable companies in Japan, and the games it ran, like Super Mario Brothers and The Legend of Zelda, became classic franchises.
Its meteoric success has also made the video game console a viable product and has led to the development of the current $ 40 billion console game market.
Masayuki Uemura was born on June 20, 1943 in Tokyo. Her father, a kimono merchant who later owned a record store, moved the family to Kyoto (the home of Nintendo), hoping to avoid the bombing that ravaged Japan during WWII.
As a child, he showed an interest in technical activities. He built his own radio from components purchased for him by a student who was on board with his family, Uemura said in a report. interview with Hitotsubashi University in 2016. He made money carrying bundles of firewood from the mountains around Kyoto and built his own pachinko machine, a game that looks like a fusion of slots and pinball.
After graduating from high school, he studied electrical engineering at the Chiba Institute of Technology with the goal of designing color televisions.
He was working as a salesperson at Sharp in 1971 when Gunpei Yokoi, Nintendo’s chief engineer at the time, recruited him to join the company. It was then a small manufacturer of playing cards and other traditional Japanese games, with the ambition to create new innovative toys.
Mr. Uemura was inspired by Nintendo’s serious approach to gaming. But he had another motive for accepting the job: he had recently married, and Sharp was planning to send him to the United States without his wife.
His decision to stay in Japan was transformative, both for himself and for Nintendo.
In 1981, as Nintendo capitalized on the popularity of the arcade game Donkey Kong in the US market, the then president of the company, Hiroshi Yamauchi, asked Mr. Uemura to create an affordable entertainment system that would bring the arcade experience at home.
The result was a red and white box known as Famicom, short for “home computer.” While other consoles had blocky graphics that stuttered and jerked, the Famicom had smooth, almost cartoon-like animated characters and backgrounds. His version of Donkey Kong resembled the arcade one. And unlike other gaming systems that beeped and blooped, it could play music.
At first, the console, priced at 14,800 yen (about $ 65 at the time), received mixed reviews in Japan – just a few hundred thousand units were sold in the first year. In interviews decades later, Mr. Uemura admitted that he had been skeptical of the Famicom’s success. The first version of the system was fraught with pitfalls: among them, the controllers had square buttons that tended to get stuck.
He got a first idea of ââthe system’s potential when his son told his classmates that his father was the designer of the machine, and neighborhood kids asked Mr. Uemura to make house calls to fix their items. consoles.
âThere were so many requests that I realized, ‘This thing is really selling,'” he told Weekly Famitsu magazine in 2013.
But the system didn’t really take off until the introduction of Super Mario Brothers in 1985. Its exciting gameplay, catchy music, and design – inspired by Japanese animation – were like “gasoline on fire.” , Mr. Uemura says Nintendo Dream Web in 2013.
He went on to create an improved and redesigned Famicom for the American market, and it sealed the success of the system, turning Nintendo into a giant not only in the game but also in the Japanese industry. In the early 1990s, the company was using 3% of Japan’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity and making more money than all US movie studios combined, author David Sheff wrote in his book “Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World “(1993).
The company then asked Mr. Uemura to design another upgrade. In 1990, he shipped the Super Famicom, known as Super Nintendo to the United States. The machine has sold over 49 million units worldwide, bolstering Nintendo’s reputation as the world’s most influential video game company and one of the most successful entertainment companies of all time. .
Mr. Uemura retired from Nintendo in 2004 and joined Ritsumeikan University, where he was director of the Center for Game Studies until his death.
Information on his survivors was not immediately available.
In a 2013 interview with video game site Polygon for the 30th anniversary of Famicom’s release, Uemura said working on the project has been transformative.
âI used to be just your typical office growl,â he said, âbut then I stumbled upon some toys, and it changed my outlook on life. “


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Porsche has become the most popular premium brand in the UKDecember 26, 2019
JBR Capital, a direct lender specializing in financing premium cars, has identified major trends in the financing of prestigious cars this year in the UK. The most popular brand was the German Porsche, and the most popular car was the Lamborghini Aventador LP 770-4 SVJ.
The average car cost of all cars funded by British lender JBR Capital this year was £ 96,000, with Porsche becoming the most funded manufacturer, ahead of the Italian Ferrari. The latter accounted for 34 percent of all payments for supercars valued at over 250,000 pounds .
German, British and Italian manufacturers were the most popular this year in the UK, and the average
The age of the prestigious car was 13 years old. About 39 percent of JBR Capital’s customers are in London.
The most frequently funded supercar in 2019 was the Italian Lamborghini Aventador LP 770-4 SVJ.
“Some Lamborghini models are indeed capable of keeping their value well for many years and continue to be in demand even under adverse financial conditions,” said Darren Selig, Executive Chairman of JBR Capita. “A striking example of this is the Lamborghini Veneno, which was sold for 6.8 million pounds at a Bonhams Bonmont auction in Switzerland in September this year.”
“One significant trend we are seeing this year is that prestigious electric cars like the Tesla Model S, X and 3 are starting to gain momentum in terms of popularity,” he added. “Of course, we get more requests for financing electric vehicles – with this trend, of course, it looks like it will continue until 2020 and beyond.”
- Formula 1 Champion to compete in EV racing for the first time
- Tesla accused another employee of stealing classified data
- The exclusive Maybach 57S is up for sale. His customer could be Gaddafi
- Updated Toyota Highlander 2021 goes on sale for the first time in Europe
- New Hyundai Bayon B-SUV crossover spotted in spy photos


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Editor’s Note: The Caledonia Patch in Caladonia, Wis., first ran this story in December 2010, but updated it with current information.
The Isaacson family’s Christmas light project at Jellystone Park, 8425 State Road 38, started small last year, but grew at an exponential rate this year after numerous trips to hardware stores.
What did it take to make the Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort? Videographer Aj Randall gets a behind-the-scenes look at the festive display.
The light show is being held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (except Christmas day). The cost for seeing the light show this year is $15 per carload up to 8 people and $22 for larger vehicles and mini buses.


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E-Wallet Use Overtakes Credit Cards in Philippines, According to Central Bankby Fintech News Philippines July 12, 2019
Philippines’ central bank reported that e-wallet penetration is growing faster in the Philippines and has surpassed credit card numbers.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released this information in a financial inclusion dashboard, which states that e-money accounts rose by 22% to 33 million in 2018. This is composed of five million active e-wallets and 28 million prepaid cards linked to e-money, reported NewsBytes Philippines.
Meanwhile, credit cards have only penetrated 9% of the population.
The numbers seems to support the narrative that digital technologies like e-wallets can help the population access basic financial services. Philippines’ central bank seem to recognize that fact, the regulator have been taking several steps to help drive adoption of this technology for the purposes of financial inclusion
The number makes sense, as e-wallets are more accessible to unbanked populations, easy to set up, and do not require users to pass stringent requirements like credit cards.
In a 2019 Consumer Brand study conducted by PayMaya Philippines, the top 3 reasons behind the e-wallet’s rise is the convenience of opening an account (60%), no fees (54%), and easy Add Money features (36%).
Such features are answers to the top barriers cited by the respondents of the BSP’s latest survey for not owning a formal account: not having enough funds to start an account (60%) and lack documents required. (18%).
This article first appeared on fintechnews.sg


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NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2017 showcased many new technologies. Among the new launches, INOLEX featured alternative preservation.
“Alternative preservation is an important topic,” said Fana Makonnen, manager, global marketing at INOLEX.
The company is pushing for safe preservation in beauty care and has been working with different ranges. Two patented ranges include diol, which are individual ingredient alternatives and diol blends, which are already pre-made blended alternatives.
Major stores such as Target, Walmart, CVS and Whole Foods have all given statements in regards to removing unsafe ingredients such as parabens. The ingredients INOLEX develops are all compliant to these statements and are available to be sold safely.
Another range, CHA systems has recently added a new alternative preservative, Spectrastat G2-N (INCI: Caprylhydroxamic Acid (and) Glyceryl Caprylate (and) Glycerin), which is the first natural ingredient in this range.
“Everyone is always interested in natural products,” explained Makonnen.
Spectrastat G2-N is broad spectrum, which is paraben-free and preservative-free. This ingredient is approved for use in organic personal care products.
Furthermore, the company featured its palm-free alternatives for sustainability initiatives. Almost all of the fluids, texturizers and emulsifiers are natural.
“Palm alternatives is a big focus right now,” said Makonnen.
She added that consumers look for alternatives that are mainly reasonably priced, cost-effective and natural and that is what the company strives to provide.


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One of the biggest pieces of news last week came out of Texas where Texas Governor Greg Abbot announced that effective March 10 the mask mandate was going to be lifted and all business could reopen to 100% complicity.
While many companies including Kroger, Target, and HEB all said they will still require patrons to wear masks, some in the gaming world have been wondering about GameStop.
According to some managers of the official GameStop subreddit, the company will still require all customers and staff to wear a mask while they are in the store. This includes standalone stores as well as locations within malls.
Others have noted they have experienced loads of issues with people not wearing masks while in the store and fell like the company itself do not care.


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The Reno 5 5G is getting update in Indonesia, while is receiving Android 12 update in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and.
Although, appears to be struggling for some reason.
It packs in a Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable battery at 8.
No, It's Not support 5G network.
Released 2021, April 14 Performance Processor Octa-core 2x2.
This includes devices that will receive beta and stable versions in the first quarter of the year.


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Burglars loot half a dozen shops in North Kashmir
In a midnight incident of burglary, thieves looted half a dozen shops in Kralgund area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
The victim shopkeepers told KNT that shutters and locks of their shops were broken as they visited the market. “The burglars have decamped with cash and accessories,” they said alleging the thieves are on prowl in the area.
The burglars have stolen cash and accessories from the readymade garment, bakery, dry fruit and other shops. These shops belonged to Javid Iqbal, Ashiq Hussain, Tanvir Ahmed, Tahir Ahmed and others.
These shops are located in Kralgund Chowk of Langate.
A police official told KNT over phone that they have taken cognizance of the incident and set investigation into motion. (KNT)


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Target's data breach has left thousands of Virginians without access to their child support and welfare payments, while also compromising their financial information.
Nearly 4,000 Virginians' names, debit card numbers and security codes may have been compromised when they used their EPPICards at Target over the holiday season, according to the Department of Social Services.
One of them is Chesterfield resident, Lisa Bellesheim. "That money I'm in dire need of. I'm in dire need of it and I can't access it whatsoever."
All cards were blocked on Wednesday and new cards began being issued Friday. However, it will take up to 10 business days for customer's to receive their new cards and in the meantime, those affected do not have access to their money.
"I'm afraid my utilities will be shut off," said Bellesheim. "I have a 16-year-old daughter who I don't want to feel embarrassed about it. It just doesn't make you feel good as a parent, like you're letting them down."
EPPICards are used to provide child support and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments. A total of 3,986 cards were breached after being used at Target between November 27 and December 15, according to the Commonwealth.
VDSS uses Xerox as the vendor for Virginia's EPPICard program and says the company blocked all affected cards Wednesday, leaving those card holders with no way to access the money or use their cards.
Xerox is calling affected cardholders and began mailing out replacement cards Friday. VDSS says it is working with Xerox and the Virginia Department of the Treasury to monitor the situation.
"We realize this may create a hardship for families and individuals that rely on these funds and have been assured that Xerox is working diligently to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible," VDSS said in a statement.
Xerox says VDSS customers will not be responsible for any fraud that occurs due to the theft of their information.
The Virginia Attorney General's Office says it is contact with Target, along with other state attorneys general. It is urging consumers to report any suspicious activity to the local FBI field office at 804-261-1044.
If any consumer finds fraudulent charges on her credit card, the Attorney General's Office recommends they contact their credit card issuer to notify it of the problem and get a new credit card issued. It also recommend they closely monitor their credit cards, credit reports, and financial statements for suspicious activity.
For more information on the impact of the Target breach on EPPICards, the DSS recommends users call customer service at 800-961-8423.
Saturday, July 26 2014 2:09 PM EDT2014-07-26 18:09:07 GMT
A mysterious 'Woman in Black' has been spotted around the Tri-State in recent days, causing social media to erupt with questions about her identity. According to WATE in Tennessee, the Sullivan CountyMore >>
A mysterious 'Woman in Black' has been spotted around the Tri-State in recent days, causing social media to erupt with questions about her identity.More >>
Monday, July 28 2014 7:11 AM EDT2014-07-28 11:11:00 GMT
It's no exaggeration to say history is about to unfold tomorrow in Downtown Richmond. Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen are going on trial, battling corruption charges and battling to saveMore >>
It's no exaggeration to say history is about to unfold Monday in Downtown Richmond. Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen are going on trial, battling corruption charges and battling to saveMore >>
Monday, July 28 2014 4:25 PM EDT2014-07-28 20:25:29 GMT
Chesterfield Police are looking for the man who they said ran from officers Sunday night. The chase started about 8 p.m. Sunday night along James Street near Virginia State University. Officers saidMore >>
Chesterfield Police are looking for the man who they said ran from officers Sunday night. More >>
Monday, July 28 2014 1:00 AM EDT2014-07-28 05:00:55 GMT
Copyright 2014 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.More >>
Sara Bruehl, 18, was killed after a stranger shot her in the head, while she was driving, 15 years ago this summer. Sara's mother is using every avenue, including social media, to hunt down her daughter's killer.More >>


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Middle East and North Africa Edition
IRAQI ROTANA Rotana has opened its first property in Iraq – Erbil Rotana, named for its location in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region in the country’s north.
A soon to open gallery at Bahrain Financial Harbour is set to raise the country’s profile as a cultural destination. Its inaugural exhibition is being held in co-operation with New York’s Opera Gallery and will feature artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
5 THAI RECOVERY Thailand has experienced a dramatic recovery in tourism arrival numbers, following major political upheavals over past years.
8 In This Issue Market Update General News Air Travel News Accommodation News International News Agents’ Corner Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events JANUARY 15, 2011
2 3 5 6 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 ISSUE 62
Cultural Desert 4
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Editor Laura Warne
Accor Sells Lucien Barrière Stake After a false start in September 2010, when an initial public oﬀering (IPO) was withdrawn, Accor has sold its stake in the Lucien Barrière hospitality group.
Deputy Editor Louis Dillon Savage Design & Layout Elina Pericleous Sales & Marketing Dimitris Thomaidis Directors Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi Headquarters P.O. Box 25255 Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +35722820888 Fax: +35722318958 Website www.traveltradeweekly.travel Emails email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.org email@example.com
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 13/1/2011
ccor previously held a 49 percent share of the company, which has long been planned for sale as part of a new asset management approach adopted by Accor. The company has been divesting itself of assets following a demerger from its partner company, formerly Accor Services, now Edenred. The demerger saw the hospitality wing, which has continued the Accor name, take on the majority of debt formerly shared by the two divisions. Accor has since been disposing of assets in order to service that debt and move towards an asset light strategy, according to statements released by the company. An IPO of Groupe Lucien Barrière stocks was planned in September 2010, but was cancelled due to a weaker than expected response. The stake has now been purchased by the Fimalac holding company and Groupe Lucien Barrière for a total of EUR268
CURRENCY Dirham Pound Riyal Pound Dinar Dinar Pound Dinar Riyal Rial Dinar Dirham Riyal Rial Dinar Dinar
This agreement ... maximises Accor’s shareholders interests while also completing our strategic refocusing on our core business “I’m very pleased to announce this agreement, which maximises Accor’s shareholders’ interests while also completing our strategic refocusing on our core business,” he said. “For Groupe Lucien Barrière, the partnership with Fimalac represents an ideal solution regarding industrial and shareholding perspective and will enable the group to pursue its development in optimal conditions.”
The Spanish Fly to the Middle East in 2011
Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar COUNTRY UAE (AED) Egypt (EGP) Saudi Arabia (SAR) Lebanon (LBP) Bahrain (BHD) Jordan ( JOD) Syria (SYP) Kuwait (KWD) Qatar (QAR) Oman (OMR) Tunisia (TND) Morocco (MAD) Iran (IRR) Yemen (YER) Algeria (DZD) Libya (LYD)
million (USD352.3 million). Fimalac has taken a 35 percent stake, while Groupe Lucien Barrière has bought back 15 percent. Gilles Pélisson, chairman of the Accor board of directors, said the sale would benefit all stakeholders.
1USD= 3.67 5.80 3.75 1479 0.37 0.71 46.32 0.28 3.64 0.38 1.45 8.48 10,260 214.02 73.80 1.25
Spanish travellers are becoming increasingly important to Middle Eastern operators, according to Sam Eltebi, executive director of Dollar Thrifty Automotive for MENA and Asia Pacific. Eltebi reported growth in the numbers of travellers from Spain seeking car rentals, especially in the corporate sector. “We have noticed an increase in our business from Spain, particularly across the UAE and Qatar, mostly from corporate leasing,” he said. He said co-operation between tourism boards and increased connectivity were helping to improve traﬃc from the country. “Backed by aggressive interest and alliance between tourism boards in the Middle East and Spain, together with the increase of the number of direct flights, we expect a lot of tourist traﬃc from Spain this year,” he said.
We expect a lot of tourist traﬃc from Spain this year JANUARY 15, 2011
Jordan Hungers for Turkey’s Feeder Potential Jordan and other Levant countries are courting Turkey in an attempt to attract more travellers from the growing market.
ohammad Samih, chairman of the Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA), said his group would use the upcoming East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (EMITT) as a forum to promote the country in Turkey. EMITT will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from February 10 to February 13 this year. “We are targeting Turkey [as] one of the destinations that have shown remarkable growth and we seek to strengthen ... cooperation with the Turkish market and
JANUARY 15, 2011
support tourism exchange between the two countries,” Samih said.
We seek to strengthen ... co-operation with the Turkish market and support tourism exchange between the two countries “Our participation will allow new opportunities for Jordan to penetrate new markets and develop the capacity of JITOA members,” said. Work by the Jordanian tour industry
parallels eﬀorts from regional governments. According to The Jordan Times, tourism ministers from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Turkey met on Tuesday, January 11 to discuss intergovernmental cooperation on tourism promotion. Similarly, the Jordan News Agency reported in late 2010 that Jordan Society of Tourism and Travel Agents ( JSTA), another tour industry body, was also working to increase travel from Turkey to the Levant. Both JITOA and JSTA set a goal of attracting 300,000 Turkish tourists to Jordan in 2011. Turkey itself attracts 30 million tourists per year, including 80,000 from Jordan.
Art Masters to Exhibit at Bahrain’s New Gallery The art scene in Bahrain is set to receive a boost with the upcoming opening of a gallery containing works from historical international masters.
ahrain Financial Harbour’s (BFH) Fine Art Gallery will be inaugurated on January 27. It will open with an exhibition of artists including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Fernando Botero, and Diego Masi. The exhibition has been assembled from the collection of the Opera Gallery in New York, in the US. Omar Al Mardi, managing director of BFH, said the gallery would serve as an attraction to travellers interested in fine art. "Our new highlight will elevate Bahrain into the art scene on an international scale and this can best be portrayed with
our first exhibition in collaboration with the internationally famous Opera Gallery," he said.
Our new highlight will elevate Bahrain into the art scene on an international scale He also noted the importance of fine art to the population of Bahrain. “The introduction of BFH's Fine Art Gallery will add a unique value to the cultural lifestyle of our community,” he said. “BFH is proud to support and be associated with art galleries like Opera Gallery that
will help raise the profile of cultures and arts in the kingdom as well as provide arts and education opportunities.”
JANUARY 15, 2011
- Air Travel
Etihad Launches Ambitious Expansion Plan for 2011 Etihad Airways has pledged to operate daily flights to 74 percent of its route network of 66 global destinations by October of this year.
requency boosts to five key European routes have already been announced, to take eﬀect between June and August. The European capacity increases will include Paris, moving from 10 flights per week to a double daily service; Manchester, from daily to 10 flights per week; Geneva and Milan from five weekly flights to a daily service; and Brussels, from six flights per week to eight. Beijing, Bangalore and Chicago are also set to see capacity increases over 2011, according to James Hogan, CEO of Etihad. “As we take delivery of new aircraft in 2011, our focus is on oﬀering at least a daily service on key business routes – and wherever possible, a double-daily service – to attract a greater share of the corporate market,” said Hogan.
increase in flight frequencies. The airline is also continuing to retro-fit its current fleet of narrow and wide body aircraft; Etihad is set to have 62 passenger and cargo aircraft in operation by the third quarter of 2011.
“2011 will be one of the most important years in Etihad’s history, as we add depth and scale to our operation, build on our impressive growth of the past seven years, and move towards our break-even target by year-end,” said Hogan.
2011 will be one of the most important years in Etihad’s history “At the same time, the new schedule will help us oﬀer greatly improved connections across the network, making transiting via Abu Dhabi much more convenient for business and leisure travellers.” Hogan pointed out that the number of connections of four hours and under would increase by 50 percent. Five new aircraft will be delivered to Etihad during the summer of 2011, in order to support the JANUARY 15, 2011
Ritz Carlton DIFC Oﬃcially Open Ritz Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has oﬃcially opened to the public.
he property is the only hotel linked directly to the DIFC building complex. Herve Humler, president of Ritz-Carlton, said the hotel would seek to attract conference business from the companies within DIFC. “Being able to expand our presence in Dubai and be part of a region of substantial growth is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. “Of course, we were quick to welcome the chance to provide an outstanding meeting venue for the international companies that already have a presence in this complex.” Lothar Quarz, general manager of The RitzCarlton DIFC, enthused about his new property. “This day marks the beginning of an exciting new journey,” he said. “I am truly proud of our ladies and gentlemen who have worked hard to put the final details into place. “It is their work ethic, commitment to providing the best service, and relentless
Ritz Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre
determination that will elevate our guests’ experiences and set us apart from our competition.” The hotel includes 341 rooms and 241 executive residences and boasts the tallest water feature in DIFC. This 10 storey waterfall cascades down the building into the main courtyard and has been identified as one of the signature features of the property by Ritz-Carlton.
Rotana Opens in Iraq Rotana has opened its first property in Iraq – Erbil Rotana, named for its location in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region in the country’s north. Kurdistan is a semi autonomous, ethnically distinct region of Iraq, which has remained relatively untouched by the conflict experienced by the country since the 2003 US invasion. Thomas Touma, general manager of Erbil Rotana, gave a rundown of the property. “Owned by Malia Group and managed by Rotana, Erbil Rotana is built on a premium 20,000m² plot of land strategically located next to the prestigious English Village and less than a ten minute drive from Erbil International Airport,” he said. “My team and I are extremely proud to introduce Rotana's five star hospitality to Erbil and have been working hard to ensure all areas involved in the opening of this property are perfectly operational in time for its launch." Erbil Rotana will operate as a five star hotel focused on the business market. The property includes 201 rooms and suites.
My team and I are extremely proud to introduce Rotana's five star hospitality to Erbil Erbil Rotana
JANUARY 15, 2011
Starwood Set to Maintain ME Market Leadership Starwood has signed five new hotels in the Middle East so far this month, cementing its established lead in portfolio size.
he new properties include W, Westin and Element hotels to open in Oman in 2013; a Sheraton in Sharjah, UAE in the same year; and Jordan’s first St Regis, to open in Amman in 2014. Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said growth would be ongoing. “Starwood is established as the sector leader in the Middle East and we are dedicated to continued growth and expansion in the region,” he said.
importance of the developing world. “Reaching out to new frontiers is a key focus for us,” he said. “With more than 70 percent of the world's growth over the decade coming from fastgrowing markets such as the Middle East,
the region plays a central role in our global expansion and development strategy.” Starwood credits its market position to early entrance into the Middle East, where it opened the first Sheraton hotel outside the US in 1966 in Kuwait.
Starwood is established as the sector leader in the Middle East and we are dedicated to continued growth and expansion in the region “This market is integral to our overall growth strategy.” Starwood now boasts 50 operating hotels and a pipeline of 25 more, mostly in the upscale and luxury sectors. According to the company, the Middle East is set to become the first region outside North America to house all nine of its brands. Frits Van Paaschen, CEO of Starwood, said the emphasis on the Middle East was a response to the increasing JANUARY 15, 2011
Thailand Reports Full Recovery from Disruptive Unrest Thailand has experienced a dramatic recovery in tourism arrival numbers, following major political upheavals over past years.
he country’s main gateway, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, received 1,196,502 travellers in December 2010, showing growth of 5.81 percent over December 2009 and 19.18 percent over the year 2008. According to Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the results represent a full recovery from the setbacks caused by Thailand’s period of political unrest. “This excellent result in the final month of 2010 has allowed the Thai tourism industry to recover from the political unrest and achieve beyond its initial set targets,” he said. The country has experienced intermittent protests and riots since its former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was deposed by a military coup in 2006. In November 2008, anti-government protesters occupied Bangkok’s two airports, causing mass disruption to travel in and out of the country. Tensions ran to violence again in early 2010, when rival political factions clashed with police and each other.
Svetasreni credited the recovery to Thailand’s native attractions and the eﬀorts of its tourism industry.
The industry ... came together to pull oﬀ what must be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the history of Thai tourism “Thanks to the hard work of all the government agencies, THAI Airways and all the airlines serving Thailand, the private sector, and all our supporters and partners
abroad, we have been able to make a remarkable recovery and end our 50th anniversary year on a positive note,” he said. “The traditional friendliness and hospitality of the Thai people, our excellent products and value for money, plus all the great marketing campaigns launched by the industry as a whole all came together to pull oﬀ what must be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the history of Thai tourism.” Points of entry other than Suvarnabhumi Airport are yet to be tallied, but TAT has predicted a total of 15.7 million to 15.8 million international visitor arrivals in 2010, up from 14.14 million in 2009.
Space Adventures Secures Three Flights to ISS with Russian Programme Three people will have the chance to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2011, under a new agreement between commercial space flight agent Space Adventures and Russia’s Federal Space Agency (FSA). The new arrangement has been made possible by an increase in production of Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. Eric Anderson, chairman of Space Adventures, said demand for the seats was already high. 8
“Since Guy Laliberte's [CEO of Cirque du Soleil] mission, there has been an increase of interest by private individuals, organisations and commercial entities seeking ways to access the space station,” he said. “We have been speaking with these parties about science, education and multi-media programmes and hope to make some major announcements in the coming year.” Space Adventures was the company that
arranged for the first space tourist, millionaire Dennis Tito, who visited the ISS in 2001. Since then the company has oﬀered a range of space flight experiences, including seven further trips to the ISS. Space Adventures’ approach diﬀers from other commercial space flight companies, such as Virgin Galactic, by working with existing government space agencies, instead of developing independent launch capabilities. JANUARY 15, 2011
Jumeirah Links with DOTW Global wholesale travel company Destinations of the World (DOTW) has announced a partnership with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, directly connecting the booking systems of the two companies. The move will provide 150,000 DOTW travel trade clients with direct, immediate access to inventory and best available rates at all Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. Jumeirah is currently increasing its worldwide portfolio, with eight new properties slated to open in 2011. Similarly, DOTW has expansion plans of its own, with distribution set to increase to more than 450,000 points of sale by the second quarter of 2011. According to Keith Fernandez, group managing director of DOTW, customer demand for Jumeirah has regularly outstripped supply. “This development will certainly enhance our availability for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts on all categories of rooms, increase the sales and more importantly better meet the needs of our customers,” said Fernandez.
Agent’s Insight Name: Mamoun Al-Halabi Position: Owner and Manager Company: Ain Dara Travel and Tourism Location: Syria Who are you? Please tell us a little about your company. This company was built in 1991. I am the owner and we operate as an incoming travel agency for both individuals and groups travelling across Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Before the American occupation, we also sometimes ran tours in Iraq.
What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? It is interesting work and I am very optimistic. I have a boutique hotel in Damascus and I am about to buy another old house to become a second one, so things are going well at the moment.
When is the best time to visit Syria, Lebanon and Jordan? The high season is March to the end of May, then September to mid October, then in late December and early January, because you have Noel and the New Year holidays.
Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I was in Turkey last time and I think I would like to go to Egypt next time, for the swimming.
Why should people come to you for travel advice?
VisitBritain’s UAE Workshops VisitBritain, along with Tourism Ireland and VisitScotland, is set to hold workshops for travel trade professionals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during February. The workshops are designed to showcase the latest tourism oﬀerings from new and established companies in the UK and Ireland, capitalising on the region’s popularity with Middle Eastern travellers. Carol Maddison, UAE manager for VisitBritain, said there had been a significant year-on-year increase in GCC visitors to the UK and Ireland. “The travel and tourism packages that are being showcased certainly bring to light the indisputable value-for-money travel deals which the regional market will continue to enjoy,” said Maddison. Workshops will be held at Grand Hyatt Dubai on February 7 and The Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi on February 9. 10
Because I make bookings quickly and my prices are reasonable. I also have much experience, 20 years, so I know my countries – Jordan, Lebanon and Syria – very well.
It is interesting work and I am very optimistic Damascus, Syria
JANUARY 15, 2011
Middle East to Benefit From UK Travel in 2011 The Middle East is set to dominate the mid haul market from the UK, according to a trend forecast from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). All seven destinations picked as emerging mid haul hotspots fall within the wider MENA region. Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt and Abu Dhabi all made the list. Here are the main points that make these countries bankable when it comes to one of the world’s most important source markets. Abu Dhabi The buzz surrounding Abu Dhabi’s latest developments, such as Ferrari World (including the world’s fastest roller coaster) and must-see hotels like Yas Hotel, have established the emirate as one of the talking point destinations of 2011. Syria Syria reported a 46 percent year-on-year increase in visitor numbers in the first six months of 2010. According to ABTA, its cultural attractions have begun to look irresistible.
Egypt Despite the perennial allure of the pyramids, beach holidays are the ticket for Egypt this year as recession-hit Brits look for cost shaving holidays away from traditional summer retreats. All inclusive resorts on the Red Sea have been picked to boom. Turkey Turkey has emerged into the British consciousness as a beach destination and with the pound still weak, the country is seen as an economical destination by many.
Tunisia A slow groundswell of interest over past years has turned into a rush, with 31 percent more UK tourists visiting Tunisia in 2010 compared to 2009. The country is cheap, exotic and about to benefit from a range of new flights.
JANUARY 15, 2011
Morocco Britain’s closest non-European destination is predicted to get a boost from British Airways, who will launch direct flights this year. Iraq With the withdrawal of combat troops, Iraq is now seen as open for business. Millions of dollars worth of investment is underway and tourism interest is growing. Picked as a “slow burn” hotspot.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum CEO of Emirates Airline and Group “The tourism industry has played a key role in positioning Dubai and the UAE on the global map. This partnership [between Emirates and] Starwood Hotels and Resorts [for management of Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort] brings a wealth of global presence and experience to the hotels in this region; Starwood's extensive network and renowned brand management will add immense value to these properties.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
The tourism industry has played a key role
Lakshmi Durai Executive Director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Middle East “For the first time we will call into India and we are very excited, because the market has great potential and we believe the interest from the GCC will be high. European sailings are very popular, over the last years we have had constant booking increases from both within the region and also from other parts of the world; which is why Royal Caribbean International deployed a record number of 11 ships sailing from 11 popular and historic European ports in summer 2011. If families and couples have been waiting for the right time to cruise in Europe, it has arrived.”
We believe the interest from the GCC will be high Lakshmi Durai
Hesham Abdullah Al Qassim CEO, Wasl Asset Management Group “Activities such as the Dubai Summer Festival, which increased hotel occupancy rates by 15 percent and generated over USD150 million in retail revenues during 2010, can help the economy recover as it stimulates the tourism and service sectors. It will certainly be positively reflected in the financial performance of a number of associated activities too.” Dubai
Activities such as the Dubai Summer Festival ... can help the economy recover as it stimulates the tourism and service sectors
Travel Talk is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to firstname.lastname@example.org 12
JANUARY 15, 2011
Abdulrazaq bin Juma Alraisi
Abdulrazaq bin Juma Alraisi
Oman Air has appointed Abdulrazaq bin Juma Alraisi as chief commercial oﬃcer. Alraisi has spent 10 years working with Oman Air in a variety of diﬀerent positions, including senior manager of sales, country manager for Oman and general manager of worldwide sales. He has more than 20 years of experience with a number of aviation organisations. In his new role, Alraisi will oversee worldwide sales, holidays, inflight services, cargo and the airline’s loyalty programme.
Grand Millennium Al Wahda, in Abu Dhabi, has appointed Anzelle Johnson as spa manager. Johnson began her career as a cruise ship therapist and wellness consultant with Steiner Transocean. After working on a number of major cruise lines, Johnson moved to the UAE in 2009 to join Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island. In her new role at Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Johnson will oversee the entire health and fitness department of the hotel.
Rola Khatib Al Murooj Rotana Dubai has appointed Rola Khatib as assistant director of marketing and communications. Khatib has seven years of experience in visual communications and has worked for a number of advertising and production agencies in the region. She holds a degree in graphic design from Lebanese International University. In her new role, Khatib will assist the cluster director of marketing and communications in overseeing all marketing and communications projects for the property.
Jumana Jihad Amleh
Ramada Ajman has appointed Iftikhar Hamdani as executive assistant manager and acting general manager. Hamdani has previously worked with Pearl Continental Hotels in Pakistan, Coral International Hotels and Resorts and Verona Hospitality in the UAE. In his new role, Hamdani plans to focus on operations, as well as sales and marketing.
Etihad Airways has appointed Jumana Jihad Amleh as country manager for Jordan. Amleh has more than 10 years of aviation experience and will be responsible for managing all commercial operations in Amman. Prior to joining Etihad, Amleh held a number of senior sales positions at Emirates Airline, based in Jordan.
Iftikhar Hamdani 14
Jumana Jihad Amleh JANUARY 15, 2011
Q&A with Khalid Anib Al Areen Palace in Bahrain was originally launched as the first Banyan Tree property in the Middle East. However, in early 2010, the Banyan Tree group split with owning company Al Areen Holding Co in a bitter legal dispute. Nearly one year on, Travel Trade Weekly caught up with Khalid Anib, general manager of the newly named Al Areen Palace and Spa. Here, he discusses the resort’s inclusion in The Leading Hotels of the World group, as well as his plans to boost the property’s image with a range of MICE incentives and high profile entertainment events. Travel Trade Weekly: How has your property changed since the management split with Banyan Tree? Khalid Anib: I believe that the positive
Our new dynamic pricing strategy has started paying oﬀ. It did help us seal diﬀerent deals. One of them is in January; a full house for six nights with Volvo.
changes have only just begun, with Al Areen Palace and Spa being included into The Leading Hotels of the World and we are honoured that our services and standards have been firmly recognised. We have laid out several plans for the resort and I feel confident that the local Bahrain market as well as our GCC supporters will continue to visit the property. We will keep on delivering, without compromise, the finest products and seamless service that we are expected to meet and we will continue to be a market leader in our most extensive spa facility in the Middle East.
I believe that the positive changes have only just begun
I feel confident that the local Bahrain market as well as our GCC supporters will continue to visit the property Travel Trade Weekly: Is Al Areen Palace focusing more on leisure or business/MICE tourism? Where are your key source markets and who are your main clients? Khalid Anib: The resort’s main clients are mostly from GCC countries and we are focusing more on MICE tourism as we can oﬀer excellent meeting and banqueting facilities, and a large choice of venues and entertainment. JANUARY 15, 2011
Travel Trade Weekly: What impact has the partnership with Leading Hotels of the World had on the property? Khalid Anib: With the resort’s recent inclusion to The Leading Hotels of the World network, we started gaining global exposure, mainly among the international travel trade. The Leading Hotels of the World by itself is an internationally recognised luxury institution which enables us to reach a large number of connoisseur travellers.
Travel Trade Weekly: Are there any new developments, additions or changes to the property that you'd like to mention? Khalid Anib: [In late 2010], we successfully organised a concert for Nancy Ajram, which was attended by more than 1,000 guests from Bahrain and neighbouring countries. This was the first of the many planned events to be held at the property. The next mega event was the Sound of Beauty on 23 December , targeting 1,500 guests. We are also the first and only resort in the island to oﬀer water ball experience for
the kids with a dedicated team. Beginning in January 2011, we will be opening our signature restaurant, which will be one of the best contemporary Arabic restaurants with contemporary Moroccan design complete with live entertainment. The formerly known Saﬀron restaurant is reopened with a new name, L’île, which means ‘the island’, which oﬀers diners modern fusion international cuisine. The resort has also converted our indoor pool into a unique venue to cater for parties and events with complete suspended DJ booth, Perspex dance floor, projection screens and an exclusive VIP area.
We are focusing more on MICE tourism as we can oﬀer excellent meeting and banqueting facilities 15
Several Countries to Debut in the Near FITUR A number of countries will be exhibiting at the International Travel and Trade Fair (FITUR) for the first time this year. Lebanon, Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Namibia, New Zealand and South Africa will all be debuting at the exhibition, which will be held from January 19 to 23 this year. Fitur is held annually in the Spanish capital of Madrid, at the Feria de Madrid venue.
It is one of the largest travel and trade fairs in the world, attracting stands from most of the world’s countries in addition to thousands of businesses. A total of 166 countries are set to be represented at the upcoming fair. In 2010, close to 11,000 individual businesses were present at the event as well as 124,644 professional visitors. FITUR organiser Ifema has estimated an
increase in participation of three to four percent in 2011, compared to 2009. According to Ifema, an emphasis on diversification was placed on the planning of this year’s show, which is set to include features aimed at alternative lifestyles, as well as new oﬀerings for the MICE sector. 2011 represents the thirty-first anniversary of the event.
Events Blossom Japan Tokyo, Japan, January 18-21, 2011 (www.blossomjapan.com) A new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on the Japanese market.
Emitt Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey, February 10-13, 2011 (www.emittistanbul.com) Istanbul’s only international trade fair: focused on tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Fitur International Tourism Trade Fair Madrid, Spain, January 19-23, 2011 (www.fitur.es) Fitur is a meeting point for tourism professionals to establish lines of action, strategies and business alliances.
Middle East Exclusive 2011 Dubai, UAE, February 20-22, 2011 (www.middleeastexclusive.com) Luxury brand and travel retail exhibition.
Hobex Tripoli, Libya, January 25-27, 2011 (www.wahaexpo.com/hobex) International hotel business exhibition.
Gulfood Exhibition 2011 Dubai, UAE, February 27–March 2, 2011 (www.gulfood.com) International exhibition for the food, drink and hospitality markets.
ITB India Travel Market - Mumbai Berlin, Germany, March 9-13, 2011 Mumbai, India, February 4-6, 2011 (www.messe-berlin.de) (www.indiatravelmart.com) One of the world’s major travel and tourism exhibitions for all Travel trade show for inbound, outbound and domestic tourism. aspects of the travel industry. Food and Hospitality Expo Manama, Bahrain, February 8-10, 2011 (www.foodexpbh.com) Hospitality technology, systems and equipment, along with exhibitors from international food companies.
GIBTM Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 28-30, 2011 (www.gibtm.com) International event for the business travel and meetings industry in the Gulf and Middle East region.
JANUARY 15, 2011
Published on Jan 13, 2011
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That Jag concept looks ass. On the other hand, who caved in the front fascia and hood of the Azera?!?
2011 Los Angeles Auto Show
Auto shows are a time for carmakers to display their hottest new models, boast about big horsepower numbers, and showcase low-to-the-floor, stylish, swoopy concept cars that have no chance of making it to production. The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show will be no different, as it kicks off the U.S. auto show season. This year, the show hosts dozens of world and national debuts, and the vehicles unveiled will span everything from entry-level economy cars to high-end sports cars. The Los Angeles Auto show has a reputation for being a "green" show, where manufacturers display their newest fuel-saving technologies and vehicles. This year is no different, with electric vehicles from Honda and BMW, plus compact fuel-sippers from Chevrolet. But that doesn't mean that manufacturers are leaving the flash at home. Expect debuts of high-end sports cars from Audi, Infiniti, and Subaru, sporty versions of Audi and Volkswagen models, and the most powerful Camaro convertible ever made to make their official debuts at Los Angeles.We'll be paying special attention to the mainstream cars though, the ones you're most likely to park in your driveway. Honda will show off the final version of its 2012 Honda CR-V crossover, we'll see the 2013 Ford Escape for the first time, and we'll also get a first look at the 2012 Mazda CX-5 crossover. So bookmark this page, and check back frequently on November 16 and 17 as we cover the show live, as it happens. For now, we've previewed many of the vehicles, some of which we've seen at foreign shows, others we've seen only in pictures, and still more that we just have to make our best guess. Soon enough, the guessing will be over. For a taste of what it's like to be on the show floor during press days at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, check out our Reporters' Notebook.
What's New "Camaro, Shma-maro," says Ford.


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China, Madison County port agreement could increase trade
- Staff St. Louis Business Journal
An agreement made in November between the port district of central China and Madison County could pave the way for new businesses and trade opportunities for both regions.
The Tri-City Regional Port District's America Central Port property in Granite City is partnering with the Wuhan New Port in central China, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The partnership will also allow China to learn more sustainable practices at its Wuhan facility.
According to figures from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois reported $26.9 billion in total trade with China in 2011. Illinois exported $3.9 billion worth of goods and imported $23 billion in Chinese goods.
CEO/President Kentucky Derby Museum | Louisville, KY
Analyst or Associate, Asset Management Gramercy Property Trust | Saint Louis, MO
Account Executive-Client Services Third Party Administrator | Saint Louis, MO
Program Director, Finance Lindenwood University | Saint Charles, MO
Program Director, Accounting Lindenwood University | Saint Charles, MO
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