Blog

  • News: End of the start for Reading UK station upgrade

    Passengers at Reading now have a much bigger, better station after Network Rail successfully completed the primary a part of an 11-day programme of upgrades over the Easter weekend.

    More than 2,000 engineers from Network Rail and its team of contractors worked round-the-clock from late Thursday evening through to the early hours of Tuesday morning to hold out work which might ordinarily have taken around 20 full weekends.

    As a result, the station now has two new entrances, four new platforms and a brand new 110-metre long, 30-metre-wide passenger bridge, with escalators and lifts providing step-free access to the hot platforms.

    Graham Denny, Network Rail senior programme manager, station works, said: “It’s gone absolutely brilliantly. We opened one of the improvements over the weekend and this morning we opened the recent platforms, which have been able to receive the primary train when it came in at 04:40.

    “The station was able to opt for passengers, and the folks we’ve had through already seem more than happy with the implications.”

    Reading station is utilized by 14m passengers annually, with numbers predicted to greater than double to 30m by 2030. Station users will now have extra space, easier access to platforms, and new passenger information screens.

    The new platforms have two sections, A and B, to enable trains of varying lengths to occupy different ends of the platform collectively, improving efficiency and timings for patrons. Each now has escalator and step-free access to the brand new footbridge, with the prevailing platforms because of follow suit by 8 April.

    Over the arriving months, more platforms might be upgraded, with the station elements of the project due for final completion by February 2014. The programme as an entire will upgrade the station and unblock the bottleneck at the railway serving it – so trains won’t ought to queue while approaching the station. All work is scheduled to be completed by 2015, a year prior to schedule.

    Recommended

  • Focus: Essential beach accessories

    For the rage conscious, an afternoon on the beach isn’t only about brushing up for your tan, enjoying the fresh air and swimming within the sea.  We not just desire to feel good, but look good too and having the newest beach accessories is very important.

    Preparing a listing of things before you get within the car will ensure you may have everything it’s essential enjoy an ideal day on the beach.  So check up on our top five essential beach accessories which are the ‘must haves’ for this year.

    Top 5 beach accessories

    1)    Straw tote bag – these bags are great for carrying supplies you are likely to need at the beach, akin to: waterproof sun tan lotion, after sun, swim wear, medication, lip balm, insect repellent spray and beach towels. Whilst straw is ‘in’, tote bags are made in quite a few fabrics and colors so that you can co-ordinate them with clothing, or other beach equipment you’re making would like to take.

    2)    Hat – an enormous floppy or wide brimmed hat isn’t just fashionable but additionally practical since it will protect your neck, face and scalp from the sun.  These large hats exude glamour whether or not they are constituted of cotton or straw and may be purchased in almost any colour, but when you would like to stay alongside of the most recent trends this year, buy a white one.

    3)    Aviator sunglasses – they’ll has been around since 1936, when Ray-Ban produced them for pilots, but Aviator sunglasses are as much in fashion today as they were once they were first made available to the general public in 1937.  They’re the sunglasses of choice for military personnel and feature featured in lots of films, including Cobra and Top Gun. Today, they are often purchased with purple or red lenses apart from standard colours.

    4)    High-waisted swimwear – Retro and high waisted are the most important features trending in swimwear this year. With the 1940s form of two piece swim suits, the longer shorts offer more coverage than bikinis and look great whether you’re petite or have a fuller figure.

    5)    Beach towels – with elaborate designs comparable to the Orla Kiely stem beach towel, or the more subtle shades of Gant Turkish beach towels, you’re able to make sure that what you wrap around and dry yourself with may have designer written everywhere it.

    Apart from the trendy aspects of accessories, please do just be sure you purchase the proper factor sun block and don’t spend an excessive amount of time within the sun.  Just be sure you take adequate clothes to hide yourself after sunbathing in case you intend to spend more time at the beach.
    A cool box also is a good suggestion to store drinks in, as keeping hydrated is simply as essential as your accessories.

    Recommended

  • British visitors lead Brazil tourism boom

    The selection of British people travelling to Brazil last year increased by four per cent, with 155,548 making the trip in 2012.

    The data, released by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, confirms that a record choice of international tourists visited Brazil in 2012, with a complete of five,433,354 tourists travelling into the rustic, a 4.5 per cent growth on 2011.

    The news comes as Brazil gears as much as host two sports this year, the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 occurring in June 2013.

    The matches can be played at six of the 2014 FIFA World Cup host city stadiums, including: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia, Recife, Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte.

    Commenting at the latest tourism figures, Flavio Dino, president, Embratur, said: “The upcoming major world physical activities which includes the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic games provides a beautiful opportunity to showcase Brazil’s diversity.

    “The latest tourism figures signify that momentum is growing sooner than our upcoming mega events and we’re on the right track to fulfill our goal of ten million visitors by 2020.”

    As as a result of the rise in tourist numbers, Brazil is operating to satisfy the growing demand for hotels and resorts. In response to the Ministry of Tourism, 109 new hotels, resorts and hostels are being inbuilt the 12 host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

    This will add to the pre-existing 567,100 beds the 12 cities currently have.

    After a gathering with representatives from the hotel industry, Dino said: “We are concentrated on providing an excellent service at an excellent price, and that is what we have to guarantee.”

    The Federal Government has already reduced taxes and electricity tariffs are down by 32 per cent with the purpose of keeping costs within the hotel sector low.

    “The Federal Government is committed to keeping costs down by taking measures including reducing taxes and electricity.

    “We also are urging the non-public sector to maintain prices fair before the key exercises,” concluded Dino.

  • New leadership for Starwood in Europe

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced Roeland Vos, long-time president of Starwood Europe, Africa, & Middle East, will step down and be succeeded by Michael Wale, a 35-year Starwood veteran who most recently served as senior vice chairman and director of operations for Western Europe.

    Vos will transition right into a consulting role with the corporate, effective June 1st, 2013.

    Frits van Paasschen, president and chief executive, Starwood, stated: “We are grateful to Roeland for his many outstanding contributions to Starwood during his greater than 30 years with the corporate.

    “One of one of the most respected operators within the industry, Roeland has overseen Starwood’s growth across a various region, and through his 12-year tenure leading EAME we’ve nearly doubled our hotel footprint within the region and accelerated our business in key fast-growing markets. 

    “We are delighted that Roeland will continue to work with Starwood in a consulting role to support development and the expansion of our brands around the EAME region.”

    van Paasschen continued: “At an analogous time, Starwood is fortunate to have a deep bench of world talent, and we continue our legacy of marketing from within, appointing certainly one of our proven leaders to a position of expanded responsibility. 

    “Michael was instrumental in strengthening the profile of Starwood’s brands across Europe, including launching new brands in select markets, and restoring marquee and comfort properties in others.

    “With his combination of strategic vision, management experience, relationships with associates and customers, and an international sensibility, Michael is perfectly positioned to supervise Starwood’s continued growth as our new President of Europe, Africa and the center East.”

    Vos joined Starwood in 1982 and has held progressive management positions throughout his career, including president, Europe and senior vice chairman, area director of Italy & Malta.

  • Focus: FORMIA’s new EY Amenity Kit for Korean Air

    FORMIA and Korean Air today announce an extension to its existing commercial relationship.

    Since 2009, FORMIA have been supplying Korean Air with an amenity kit for its long haul economy class passengers, first of its kind within the airline market.

    Korean Air now unveils in collaboration with FORMIA its new economy class amenity kit. The theory embodies the Korean spirit of hospitality and quality, including the highly successful foldable slippers in addition to a longtime retail branded toothpaste.

    The revamped pouch in Korean Air’s celadon-blue color and produced from non-woven material is developed as a sensible drawstring bag offering the passengers functionality and bringing a brand new design to frequent flyers.

    www.formia.com

    Recommended