Archive for December, 2009

Europcar has launched its New Year sale with up to 50% discount on UK car hire in January 2010. With free delivery on hires of 2 days or more, Europcar is making it easy for customers to enjoy a quick escape in a hire car for a New Year bargain break or a larger vehicle for a splurge at the sales, while ensuring it doesn't have to break the bank.

The RAC Cost of Motoring Index 2009 revealed that many households have downsized the family car to save costs. Europcar's winter offer means families can have swift and easy access to a larger vehicle or a prestige car hire just for the time they need it without the hassle and cost of ownership. And with the cold days and long dark nights of New Year, they can enjoy peace of mind that the vehicle has been fully maintained and is covered by 24 hour roadside assistance.

"At the start of the year, money's often too tight to mention," said Catrioner Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar UK Group. "Our up to half price deal makes UK car hire more affordable than ever, enabling families to get out on the road for less and in comfort, while saving wear and tear on the family car."

This offer is available across the Europcar fleet at a wide range of locations including major airports, ideal for families who need a large hire car to Heathrow Airport to fit everything in for winter ski or sun break.

This offer is available to those booking by the 31st of January and valid from the 4th of January to the 30th of June although some specific dates may be excluded. The offer is valid for participating branches only and standard terms and conditions apply. Further information on the half price car hire offer is available through the Europcar website.

END

About Europcar:
Europcar is the European leader in passenger car and light utility vehicle rentals. The company serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Since March 2007 with the acquisition of Vanguard EMEA, its network comprises over 5,300 rental outlets in 160 countries. The Europcar fleet has an average CO2 of 158g/km compared to the average UK car parc* which has 164.9 g/km CO2. Europcar is the first company to win the World Travel Award for "the World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company." Today, over 99% of Europcar's fleet is certified "Euro IV" or above – the most stringent applicable European Union standards today in terms of energy consumption and emissions.

Excluding franchise operations, in 2008 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 8,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 225,000 vehicles. In September 2008, Europcar and U.S. market leader Enterprise Rent a Car joined forces in a strategic alliance to form the world's largest car rental network, with more than 1.2 million vehicles and 13,000 locations around the world.

* Based on 2007 figures from SMMT

For further press information please contact
Dominic Dennis
HSL
Churcham House
1 Bridgeman Road
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 9AJ
T: 020 8977 9132
F: 020 8977 5200

— WebWireID110028 —

Emirates has announced that only two months after its soft opening, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, in the iconic Greater Blue Mountains, has been recognised as one of the world's best luxury resorts.

The Emirates Hotels & Resorts property has been included as a member of the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Only five Australian properties hold this membership status to date, with Wolgan Valley the second only in New South Wales.

As the world's foremost authority on hotel assessment and grading, the Leading Hotels of the World serves as the benchmark for the luxury hospitality industry, and only accepts its members following a rigorous and anonymous inspection process to arrive at the elite worldwide list. Just 450 of the finest hotels, resorts and spas around the world are included.

With sister property Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai already a member, Emirates Hotels & Resorts now has both its properties included in the prestigious luxury hospitality portfolio.

Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts & Projects, Emirates Hotels & Resorts said: "This is great news for Emirates Hotels & Resorts, and for the Australian travel industry. We believe that the opening of our Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is significantly boosting the luxury travel sector in Australia, and we are delighted that Leading Hotels of the World has recognised our contribution."

Even at this very early stage, the luxury spa resort scored high points across all areas of the inspection report, from room facilities and guest services, to housekeeping and food and beverage.

"As the sector grows, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa will continue to partner with other Australian resorts of similar calibre in order to add further value to the international traveller experience," Mr Williams added.

"The hotels within The Leading Hotels of the World collection cater to the discriminating traveller, where first-class service is the norm rather than the exception," said Philip Ho, Vice President, Asia Pacific of The Leading Hotels of the World. "For Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa to be accepted as a new member demonstrates the resort's true commitment to quality, consistency and personalised service."

Heralding a new era of luxury travel in Australia, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has taken up a leadership role in hospitality as well as conservation. The conservation-based resort protects its surrounding habitats and indigenous Blue Mountains wildlife, while delivering the first-class standards, quality services and unique experiences, such as wildlife safaris in Australia, that are expected from luxury resorts.

About Emirates:
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, is one of the world's most successful and rapidly-expanding airlines. With a focus on high quality service and industry-leading products, Emirates has received more than 400 international awards and accolades for excellence since its inception in 1985. Emirates is currently the only airline to operate non-stop flights to six continents from one hub.

Media Contact:
Chiara Sarzi Amade
Emirates Corporate Communications
New EGHQ
5th Floor
Opposite DXB Airport
P O Box 686
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
(+9714) 708 2171
www.ekgroup.com/mediacentre

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Haven't finished (or started) Christmas shopping? Don't fret, BestTravelDeals.net has put together last minute gift ideas with downloadable certificates. Once in a lifetime gift ideas that won't break the bank and are sure to be remembered. (PRWeb Dec 22, 2009)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3373784.htm

Karaoke World Championships USA has sent a challenge to the producers at the Oprah Show to allow our 2010 male and female champions to compete in her next Karaoke Challenge (PRWeb Dec 22, 2009)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/karaoke/singing/prweb3373664.htm

The recent Shanghai Champions Golf Tournament and Barclays Singapore Open proved to be successful platforms for executive hospitality for companies with U.S. and Asian business interests, according to Jon Stromberg, THG Sports CEO.

'We had a record numbers of C-level hospitality clients and guests from U.S. and Asian companies at both events,' Stromberg says. 'The strong interest highlights growing business opportunities in Asia for multi-national companies and recognition that these events offer excellent networking and business development opportunities.'
Both events proved popular with spectators, THG clients and their guests. At the Shanghai Champions, record-setting crowds watched PGA pro Phil Mickelson apply his short game on the final holes for a win. Meanwhile, Ian Poulter's comeback in the final round of the Barclay's Singapore Open proved a compelling finish, besting China's Liang Wenchong for a win.

At both events, THG's full hospitality including golf simulators and lessons from golf pros were popular attractions for clients and their guests. Likewise, guests raved about THG's gourmet cuisine, which blended Asian and Western style cuisine.

'The Shanghai and Singapore tournaments affirm the trend of growing interest in the U.S. and Asia for hospitality during sports events featuring the world's best players, and business-building opportunities for companies operating in both regions,' Stromberg says.

The trend is driving corporate hospitality reservations from current and prospective clients during upcoming premier North American events, including the 2010 U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, the 2010 MLB All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif., and the 2011 U.S. Open in Bethesda, Md., he adds.

About THG
THG (http://www.thgsports.com) is a leading provider of corporate hospitality programs during the world's premier sporting events, including the World Soccer Championships, Masters, Singapore Grand Prix, and the Final Four. As a marcus evans company, all aspects of THG's services promise a level of client focus and attention second to none.

About Jon Stromberg
Jon Stromberg currently serves as CEO of North America for THG Sports. Jon began his career at THG Sports in sales, progressing through the ranks to become CEO in October 2008. He received his Bachelor's degree from DePauw University and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

Read more about Jon on the Web at:
Jon Stromberg Blog: http://jonstrombergblog.com/
Jon Stromberg on Naymz: http://www.naymz.com/search/jon/stromberg/2533719

— WebWireID110010 —

Shared stories, interactive information inspire the exploration of nature. (PRWeb Dec 21, 2009)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/venturepax/outdoorrecreation/prweb3345144.htm

New metro cars to provide sustainable mobility, increase transport capacity and improve journey comfort

Bombardier Transportation announced today that it, along with its joint venture partners in China, has signed a contract with Shanghai Rail Transit Line 12 Development Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. The contract comprises 246 BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro cars (41 six-car trains), including spare parts and training for the operator's staff.

The total contract, valued at approximately 1.99 billion RMB ($291 million US, 203 million Euros)[[1]], was awarded to Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Company Ltd. (CBRC) together with a consortium for the propulsion system consisting of Bombardier Transportation Sweden and Changzhou Railcar Propulsion Engineering R&D Center (CPC). Bombardier's share of the contract amounts to around 941 million RMB ($138 million US, 96 million Euros)[1].

The new metro cars will be assembled in China at CBRC production facilities in Changchun. Propulsion equipment for the cars will be manufactured at the production site of Bombardier CPC Propulsion System Co. Ltd. (BCP) in Changzhou and Bombardier production facilities in Vasteras, Sweden. Deliveries are scheduled to begin 28 months following contract award with completion in 2014.

The contract represents Bombardier's ongoing commitment to support environmental sustainability in large cities worldwide. Over 3,550 MOVIA metro cars already provide sustainable mobility to major cities like London, Berlin, New Delhi and Shanghai.

Dr. Jianwei Zhang, President and Chief Country Representative of Bombardier in China, said: 'Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. is a long-term and important customer to us. We are pleased to see that our high quality MOVIA metro trains are recognized for their reliability and performance. In Shanghai, we have delivered more than 700 metro cars to the Metro network to date.'

The high capacity carbodies developed from a standardized platform ensure a high degree of reliability, safety and life-cycle cost efficiency. The trains are designed for a maximum speed of 80km/h. The MOVIA metro vehicles are also environmentally friendly through the use of the latest BOMBARDIER MITRAC propulsion technology with low energy consumption, optimised performance and are recyclable to a high degree, thus contributing to a greener city.

The newly contracted vehicles will meet the respective requirements set by Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. Among others, the vehicles will feature new energy-efficient air conditioning equipment, additional displays for passenger information in and outside the cars and a state-of-the-art video surveillance system.

In general, the BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro train is a prime example of a modern, mass transit vehicle range developed in response to the need for rapid, efficient and cost-effective city transport. Modular in design, this high quality product platform can be tailored for local climate conditions and is fit for local production.

The modular metro concept also offers an expansive range of dimensions that can be customized to specific operator requirements offering lower operational costs and easy maintenance and repair.

Background Information on Bombardier Transportation in China

Contracts for the Shanghai Metro Network Awarded to CBRC / Bombardier

* 246 MOVIA metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 12
* 192 MOVIA metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 7
* 306 MOVIA metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 9
* 60 MOVIA metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 1
* 222 metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 2
* 96 metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 1

In addition to Shanghai metro network, Bombardier is providing an impressive portfolio of innovative rail solutions to the Chinese market. In 2008, it delivered Mainland China's first fully automated people mover (APM) to Beijing International Airport. In 2007, its contract to supply high-speed trains – including the world's fastest sleeper trains – was the largest order for rail equipment ever undertaken by the Ministry of Railways (MOR).

Also in 2007, Bombardier signed its first contract to bring an advanced high-speed signaling system featuring ERTMS signaling technology to China and a contract with China's Dalian Locomotives and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. to supply propulsion equipment for 500 high-power capacity freight electric locomotives to MOR.

It also became the first rail equipment supplier to deliver 1,000 metro cars into the Chinese market together with its joint venture CBRC. Most recently in September 2009, Bombardier received an order of 80 ZEFIRO 380km/hr very high speed trains (1,120 cars) for China's rapidly growing high speed rail network.

Including its three rail joint ventures and five Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises (WFOE), Bombardier Transportation currently employs more than 3,000 people in China.

— WebWireID109989 —

World's first series production of the award-winning MITRAC Energy Saver begins in Heidelberg

Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) is set to commission the first six new Variobahn type Bombardier trams at its Heidelberg site in Germany. These trams are the first to feature the commercial application of the BOMBARDIER MITRAC Energy Saver, the innovative energy storage system. Thanks to this system, vehicles require up to 30 percent less energy and are capable of catenary-free operation.

"We are proud of the new trams. The new system not only allows us to reduce energy costs – we are also the first operator in the world to use this technology in all new vehicles. It is therefore no surprise that we were awarded the innovation prize by the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg for the MITRAC Energy Saver at the beginning of the year", said Martin in der Beek, Chief Technical Officer of Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH. "We will save about 93´000 kWh of electrical energy per vehicle each year. That also benefits our region due to lower emissions when generating electricity at the power station", added in der Beek.

"I am really pleased that the MITRAC Energy Saver will first be used in the region where it has been developed. There are concrete plans to run the trams in catenary-free operation over two sections of around 400 metres each in Heidelberg. The technology is local in origin, having been developed and manufactured at Mannheim's Bombardier plant", stated Grego Peters, President Light Rail Vehicles at Bombardier Transportation. He continued: "Besides the energy saving, passengers will also benefit from the usual amenities in the new trams. The vehicles are extremely comfortable and include an air-conditioning system as well as a new type of dual monitor for passenger information."

The MITRAC Energy Saver is part of the ECO4 portfolio of Bombardier Transportation, enabling rail vehicles to be operated in a particularly economical and energy-saving way.

The MITRAC Energy Saver saves up to 30 percent energy and utilises an energy recovery system: three roof-mounted energy storage units use their capacitors to store the energy generated during braking, ready to release it again when accelerating or during operation. The high performance double-layer capacitors of the MITRAC Energy Saver store up to 3 kWh per vehicle. When starting up and accelerating, vehicles require a particularly large amount of electricity and put a significant burden on the power supply network. This is reduced by about 40% with the MITRAC Energy Saver, allowing the network to be utilised more cost effectively.

Yet another advantage of the Bombardier energy storage is the catenary-free operation in sections. Thanks to the MITRAC Energy Saver, sections of the route without contact wires can be operated using the stored energy. This typically makes sense in areas of historical importance, where the unique scenery is to be preserved. The technology might also be used on two route sections planned at Neuenheimer Feld in Heidelberg where the electrical fields of the contact wire could possibly interfere with the highly-sensitive measuring instruments of the University's Physical-Technical Institute and the German Cancer Research Centre.

Thirteen more vehicles will be supplied in 2010 for Line 5 and sections in Mannheim. The RNV has ordered a total of 19 light rail vehicles with the MITRAC Energy Saver. They will enter service by the end of 2010.

— WebWireID109981 —

Turnkey water desalination and wastewater treatment solutions are only a click away at Global H20 Investments, LLC website. Global H20 Investments, also known as GHI is a professional water desalination and wastewater treatment solutions company that has recently redesigned its website in order to offer more information about its high quality water treatment services. Within the GHI website, users will be able to understand how GHI assists businesses with its innovative turnkey solutions business model, advanced water desalination and wastewater treatment technologies, and overall high quality managerial techniques. (PRWeb Dec 21, 2009)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3318444.htm

Sundance at Big White Ski Resort offers the ultimate in Big White accommodation for family ski vacations: superb ski-in / ski-out location; fully equipped ski condos, townhomes and cabins; unsurpassed Club Sundance amenities including an outdoor saltwater pool, hot tubs, waterslide and movie theatre; and easy access to Big White's mountain playground. Priding itself on exceptional service, from groceries to baby-sitting and restaurant recommendations, the Sundance at Big White Ski Resort team propels family vacations from good to great. (PRWeb Dec 21, 2009)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/big_white/ski_vacation/prweb3334474.htm