Category: News

  • Developments in the Sri Lankan Tourist Industry.

    Since the end of the 26 year Civil War in 2009, the Sri Lankan Government is keen to cultivate the image of a peaceful country which is welcoming to foreign tourists. National and international investment has vastly improved most of the road infrastructure of the island and, in 2014, just over 1.5 million tourists visited Sri Lanka, compared to just over 40,000 in 2010. The government is keen to attract wealthy tourists from Western Europe, China and North America by developing luxury resorts in Kuchchaveli, Passikudah and Kalpitiya; areas that are all located in the north or the east of the island which were especially affected by the Civil War.

    However, it is alleged that large scale tourism projects are having an adverse effect on local communities and, in some cases, the local habitat. At Kalpitiya, on the north-west coast, there are plans to establish 17 luxury hotels accommodating up to 10,000 beds. However, this appears to be at a high cost to the local fishing communities who have reportedly been forced off their lands and who have been denied access to the sea. It has also been reported that construction work is destroying areas of mangroves where local people once fished for prawns and other shellfish.

  • News: CarRentalExpress.com introduces ‘online help’ feature

    CarRentalExpress.com – CRX is pleased to announce the addition of convenient Online Help, embedded directly in its Rental Center, answering many consumer questions throughout the rental process. Details about insurance, operating hours, foreign drivers licenses, and other helpful subjects are placed on the visitors fingertips.

    There are such a lot of places on the internet nowadays for travelers to look for airline, hotel, and car rental reservations. In reality there are too many places to seem and to discover things and not using a ton of labor. Each travel site presents things slightly differently because it takes ages with a purpose to navigate them efficiently. The CRX goal since 1999 have been to make online booking easy. Online Help throughout the rental process contributes to that goal.

    Sometimes the web rental process is very easy. A traveler can click through a step-by-step booking, heading straight for a confirmed reservation. But wait a minute. There are such a lot of questions that arise during that quick and simple process, and in lots of cases, the answers are hard to search out.
    For airlines check-in times are all important. Check-in time applies to car rentals too, but there is some more flexibility.

    At CarRentalExpress.com – CRX, Online Help now conveniently provides answers to questions on late pickup. Will the auto still be available Is there a fee for late arrival Does the agency monitor flight arrivals All of those details are important to someone traveling by air, especially in bad weather.

    CRX Online Assistance will provide answers to other commonly asked questions, through each step of the rental center process. Is insurance mandatory Is it covered by bank card or existing auto insurance What are the policies on roadside breakdown Will there be assistance and an alternative vehicle available Making online reservations only after these questions are answered makes loads of sense.

    CarRentalExpress.com (CRX) provides thousands of impartial consumer based Renter Rated reviews, including comments, for greater than 200 car rental agencies. Reviews and comments are submitted by real people that have completed rentals through our site. CRX also helps find a few of the cheapest car rentals in North America, less than major brands. Reviews allow consumers to evaluate costs and repair to decide on the ideal car rental deal.

  • News: easyJet introduces new designed lightweight seats

    easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, is today introducing new, lightweight and more well-off seats onboard all of its new aircraft. The primary of 14 new aircraft with the recent seats onboard is being delivered today with the rest due for delivery between now and the tip of next summer.

    The look of the cabin has also been redesigned to create a more modern feel. The recent seat cover is grey with orange accents and is complimented by a brand new carpet and specially designed easyJet orange aisle lighting.

    The SL3510 seat, ergonomically designed and manufactured by Recaro, optimises a mixture of foams to give the simplest comfort and support for the passenger. The backrest is at a fifteen degree angle for a peaceful seating position and the slimmer backrest provides more room for passengers. In addition to the shopper benefits the brand new seat can even improve fuel efficiency and decrease C02 emissions because of the seat being lighter.

    Peter Duffy, Marketing Director for easyJet, commented:
    “easyJet has chosen the Recaro seat because we actually believe that it’ll provide a more well-off flight and that our passengers will notice the adaptation.

    “It was ergonomically designed with the relaxation of the passenger top of mind so the backrest angle is pre-defined for a calm sitting position and the seat is designed to produce more room for passengers.

    “easyJet’s new seat selection also has the passengers’ wallets in mind – the lighter weight brings fuel savings which in turn enables us to continue to preserve our low fares – even if fuel prices remain at historic highs.”

    Recaro, based in Germany, is a world supplier of premium aircraft seats. The brand new seats offer greater simplicity with over 100 fewer parts. The Recaro developers have fascinated about the seat’s ergonomic qualities. The netting within the aluminum frame conforms to the form of the passenger’s spine. As a result of slim backrest, the seat also offers a maximum of space, meaning that passengers enjoy an exceedingly comfortable flight.
    Recaro Aircraft Seating has won several awards for this innovative and environmentally sustainable seat development, including the industry’s Crystal Cabin Award inside the “Industrial Design/Interior Concept” category.

    The new, lightweight seat is only one example of easyJet’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. The airline has always scrutinised all aspects of its flying to make certain it operates within the surest way. Due to the easyJet’s simple, efficient operations an easyJet passenger’s carbon footprint is already 22% lower than a passenger on a standard airline flying at the same route and aircraft.

    Along with the hot seat easyJet is additionally introducing lightweight trolleys onboard in addition to aerodynamic improvements like sharklets, an enlarged wing tip which makes the wing more efficient.

  • Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel appoints new general manager

    Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel, one in all QHotels’ award-winning 21 luxury hotels, is delighted to announce the appointment of Kay Harrison-Mann as General Manager.

  • News: Choice Hotels International checks in to new global headquarters

    Choice Hotels International, Inc., among the many world’s largest hotel companies, has completed its move and officially checked into its new state-of-the-art global headquarters at 1 Choice Hotels Circle in Rockville, Maryland within the heart of Rockville Town Square.

    After greater than 40 years based in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, the move reflects the company’s continued growth, the strong appeal of its hotel brands—which include industry icons Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, and Econo Lodge and the newer upscale brand Cambria Suites, and the original and upscale Ascend Hotel Collection membership program—as well as Choice Hotels’ want to remain rooted within the Montgomery County community.

    Choice Hotels worked with top level developers, architects, designers, project managers and sustainability consultants Foulger-Pratt Companies, WDG Architecture, VOA Associates, rand* construction corporation, AtSite, Inc. and Clear Real Estate Services to develop and manage the graceful new facility. The 135,000 square foot global headquarters maintains the texture of a hospitality company incorporating hotel elements resembling check-in desks at reception, a trendy great room lounge, and a business center for visitors that helps to support tasks inclusive of checking email or printing boarding passes. Featuring a large open, contemporary design, the postulate helps to encourage innovation, efficiency and collaboration.

    Today greater than 400 headquarter employees moved in to their new offices at 1 Choice Hotels Circle. Innovative technology and connectivity ensure associates and guests can work and relax within the building and out of doors on greater than 3,500 square feet of patio space which offers an inviting open fire pit and outdoor living furniture in addition to cafe tables. Non-conference room meeting and gathering spaces on every floor were created knowing great ideas come from everywhere.

    Choice Hotels International selected Rockville, Maryland-based Foulger-Pratt Companies from a prestigious group of prominent owners and developers within the Washington Metropolitan Area to be the landlord, developer, and general contractor of its new global headquarters. Now celebrating its 50th year of operations, Foulger-Pratt is behind other notable real estate projects consisting of the Park Potomac luxury residential and retail development and the Washington, D.C. Mormon Temple located in Kensington, Maryland for which it served as design consultant and general contractor.

    “We chose Foulger-Pratt to develop, own and be the final contractor for Choice’s new world headquarters as a consequence of their excellent history of developing and constructing successful and prestigious commercial office and mixed-use real estate projects within the Washington, DC area,”  said Stephen P. Joyce , president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. “Foulger-Pratt was exceptional to work with throughout this process.  From the onset, they assured us they might develop and construct Class A commercial offices that might meet all of Choice Hotels’ requirements, on time and within budget.  They usually did.  They were even prior to schedule.”

    Designed to satisfy the ideas for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the facility’s sustainability features include water consumption that was reduced by 40%, locally sourced building materials and controllable lighting and thermostats. Energy consumption would be further offset through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) sourced from wind power. Foulger-Pratt and building designers WDG Architecture are pursuing a LEED Platinum certification for the entire facility.

    The Choice Hotels workspace on floors four through nine was designed by VOA Associates, the architecture firm behind Choice Hotels’ offices in Phoenix, Arizona which function the company’s global technology hub. Just like the Rockville headquarters, the Phoenix facility was in accordance with an open design to aid foster innovative ideas and teamwork. Other parties involved with this project include: rand* construction corporation, because the general contractor for the decision Hotels workplace; AtSite, Inc. as project manager and LEED consultants; and Clear Real Estate Services as project manager.