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  • News: Emergency vehicle provides faster response to railway incidents

    A dedicated police response vehicle is getting used across south and west London to aid reduce disruption to passengers resulting from emergency incidents at the railway.

    The vehicle, which have been commissioned and funded by the Network Rail and South West Trains Alliance in partnership with British Transport Police, is the 1st of its kind for use full-time and follows successful trials in the course of the Olympics.

    It allows railway engineers, driven by and accompanied by BTP officers, to get to incidents using blue lights and sirens which helps to minimize response times and reduces the length of delays to passengers.

    The vehicle is getting used to answer incidents which are causing, or have the capability to cause, disruption at the Wessex route out of London Waterloo and has already had a good impact on disruption levels.

    Tim Shoveller, managing director of the Network Rail and South West Trains Alliance, said: “This unique vehicle reduces the quantity of time it takes to get to incidents at the railway which subsequently reduces the length of delays to trains and ultimately to our passengers.

    “It covers one of the crucial busiest sections of railway within the country which, when something goes wrong, has a knock on effect around the south and south west of britain. The vehicle allows BTP officers and railway engineers to travel to an incident within the same way that other police vehicles can to an emergency, which enables us to clear incidents and perform repairs more quickly.

    “It proved its worth in the course of the Olympics and we’re confident it may continue to assist us run a more efficient and effective railway.”

    Superintendent Jason Bunyard, from BTP’s London South area, said: “Passenger safety would be improved via the recent vehicle to get engineers and kit to the scene of incidents and to get trains moving again as quickly as possible.

    “Because we understand the disappointment caused to passengers who’re held up by incidents at the railway, our aim is to get an officer there once possible as a way to get stuck trains moving again quickly.

    “By getting the road moving sooner, there’ll even be fewer crowd questions of safety in and around stations.

    “Once on the scene, the officer driving the EIU vehicle will perform regular policing duties and work alongside colleagues to unravel any crime or issues of safety and help get the network moving.

    “This is a brilliant opportunity for BTP officers to work with South West Trains and Network Rail colleagues, in a bid to maintain the railway a secure place whilst operating to its best capacity.”

    The vehicle, called an emergency intervention unit (EIV), was in use for a month and has attended a considerable number of infrastructure incidents which during the past would have caused longer delays to services. Other sorts of incident the vehicle has attended includes trespassers and helping reopen the railway after a passenger had fallen onto the track.

    The vehicle have been modified to hold essential railway repair equipment and is police marked with Network Rail and South West Trains branding. It will become based at London Waterloo station and should cover the Wessex route so far as Epsom, Chessington South, Oxshott, Weybridge, Shepperton and Feltham.

    It have been funded until March 2014 and in addition to responding to emergency incidents, it would even be used to patrol known hotspots to aid reduce incidents consisting of cable theft and vandalism. When available, it will likely be used on other railway routes which travel into south London when required.

    The EIV is one method getting used by the Network Rail and South West Trains Alliance to enhance the railway within the south and south west of britain. Greater than £360m a year is spent on improving and maintaining the track and infrastructure around the route. an additional £30m is being spent to enhance the reliability of the flexibility supply used to run trains.

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  • The Ritz-Carlton, Naples announces multi-million dollar refurbishment

    The iconic five-diamond, five-star Ritz-Carlton, Naples is announcing an unprecedented summer 2013 refurbishment, the primary of its kind inside the resort’s 27-year history. This project shall be among the many largest resort renovations inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company’s portfolio. Refurbishments will include an entire overhaul of all 450-guest rooms, suites and corridors, three dinning outlets, Artisans the “princess ballroom,” in addition to various structural, mechanical and engineering upgrades within the property.

    During the expansive two-month project, set to commence on July 24, 2013, the resort isn’t accepting any guests, a primary in its history.  While the resort is being re-mastered its sister property, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, located just 10 minutes down the line, might be open and entirely operational.  Guests staying on the Golf Resort could have beach access via the complimentary resort shuttle to Vanderbilt Beach, with full Ritz-Carlton beach services and amenities in addition to beachfront dining at Gumbo Limbo restaurant.

    “The decision to cease operations for the 1st time within the resort’s 27-year history is a real testament to our ongoing commitment to product and repair excellence,” said Edward V. Staros , Vice chairman, Managing Director of The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples and one of the crucial original founders of The Ritz-Carlton brand.  “Our goal was to bypass any guest inconvenience in this timeframe. After we reopen our doors on October 1, we glance forward to delivering in this commitment by continuing to supply a global renowned level of luxury coupled with the entire modern amenities expected by today’s global traveler.”

    Interior designers, Wimberly Interiors are liable for the hot guest rooms, that allows you to resemble an opulent, residential beach home. The effect will bring the great thing about Naples indoors, with warm blues, greens and greys inspired by the Gulf of Mexico and its surrounding landscape. The Ritz-Carlton sophistication will play into the design with clean lines and upscale fabrics on the way to entice both traditional and modern tastes.

    On the culinary front, three of the resort’s restaurants would be fully re-mastered by Long island-based design agency Blue Plate. The Sushi Bar, to be rebranded The Bar, gets a longer balcony, providing additional outdoor seating with Gulf of Mexico and sunset views.  The Bar interior would be divided to permit for cozier areas while also creating an open space ideal for small events and entertainment. The living room menu would be revamped to incorporate sushi, small bites and artistic cocktails.

    The Terrace will reopen as Terrazza, an Italian eatery serving three meals an afternoon. a brand new glass atrium with fully retractable doors will provide a seaside cafe feel with indoor and outdoor seating. The favored breakfast buffet will remain, but Terrazza’s new menu and design will make it a hot spot where guests and native residents alike will enjoy an informal lunch or Italian dinner.

    The Grill steakhouse and specialty restaurant will continue as a classic establishment with new contemporary accents to the furnishings and decor.  Refreshing the fabrics and updating. The Grill’s mahogany touches at the walls and floors will remain. The restaurant’s selections of dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and number of international wines will remain untouched.

    The Ritz-Carlton Naples is a favourite wedding destination and as such the resort’s Artisans “princess ballroom” should be brightened with soft silvers, whites and light-weight greys to resemble a sublime jewel box. Taking a cue from diamond wedding bands, new chandeliers can be added to the distance and a restructuring to areas of the ground plan can assist to expand the room while enhancing access to the resort’s numerous outdoor event venues.
    This re-mastering coupled with the investments over the last ten years including a brand new lobby and lobby concept “Bites” in addition to enhancements to other public spaces including 20,000 square feet of meeting space, demonstrates The Ritz-Carlton’s continued commitment to its guests and staff while ensuring that the resort’s reputation for world-class product and repair excellence is enhanced.

    This iconic re-mastering will solidify the resort’s position because the social center of Naples, the destination that the resort helped to improve when the hotel opened to much fanfare 27-years ago. The transformation could be unveiled on October 1, 2013, when the resort will welcome its first guests following the re-opening.

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  • Focus: Norwegian: Survival of the fittest in European aviation

    He won’t look very similar to it, but Norwegian chief executive Bjørn Kjos is sort of a child on his birthday.

    He has a brand new plane to play with, the Boeing Dreamliner, but there’s a small problem. It has no batteries.

    The hitch means Norwegian will be unable to launch its much vaunted long-haul Boeing 787 flights to Ny in April as planned (with Norwegian instead wet leasing two Airbus A340s to fly the route in the intervening time).

    As Kjos explains: “We have taken a call to take these wet lease planes for 2 and 3 months respectively; we’re expecting delays of weeks, other than months, within the delivery of the Dreamliner.

    “Boeing is operating incredibly hard to get the battery issues with that plane corrected. We now have faith in them and should order more Dreamliners at some point.”

    Sky-high

    Outside of this small blip, things are starting up for Norwegian, which has grown during the last decade to become the tenth largest carrier in Europe.

    In two weeks, on April 1st, the Scandinavian airline will open its first base within the UK, at Gatwick Airport, offering 145 non-stop flights per week to 21 destinations.

    The four aircraft based there’ll principally cater to the leisure market, ferrying cost-conscience passengers to sunny climbs in Spain, Italy and Croatia among others.

    The move is a part of a much wider strategy from Norwegian to chop costs ever further.

    Basing planes across Europe – with the carrier also opening operations in Malaga, Las Palmas and Alicante in Spain – allow for savings which are passed directly to passengers within the sort of cheaper tickets.

    As Kjos continues: “There are going to be lots fewer airlines within the next decade and, as in every industry, it will become survival of the fittest.

    “Our emerging competitors are the Asian low-cost carriers – Scoot, JetStar and AirAsia; it is going to be these carriers that fly passengers to the emerging economic destinations.

    “Their costs are incredibly low – something we must match.”

    New Aircraft

    Another component to this cost cutting ambition, alongside geographical diversification, is a keenness for brand new aircraft, with Norwegian operating probably the most modern fleets in Europe.

    It currently comprises 73 aircraft, including some 63 Boeing 737-800s and ten Boeing 737-300s.

    Vitally, the common fleet age is simply 4.6 years, with 65 Boeing 737-800 and 100 Airbus A320neos also on order to interchange aging planes.

    “Fuel efficiency is prime; the older the plane, the more they cost to run,” continued Kjos.

    “We operate our aircraft, ideally, for seven years, keeping our fleet new and prices down.”

    Norwegian estimates a brand new Dreamliner – of which it has eight scheduled for delivery over the subsequent three years – costs £5.7 million less annually to run than the ‘next best’ Airbus A330-200 because of fuel efficiencies alone.

    Asian Markets

    But it’s economic shifts which most interest Norwegian.

    Having just opened a base in Bangkok, the carrier is betting big will probably be the industrial development of China and its rival Asian destinations so one can dominate the aviation sector over the arriving years.

    “We might be carrying more Asian passengers out of Asian within the coming years,” explains Kjos.

    “Today 90 per cent of the folk on our planes are Scandinavian, but this can decline sharply because the Asian economies develop and those there start travelling more.

    “These are the folks we’ll be carrying, into Europe, from Asia, where presently the other is correct.”

    But, while the longer term looks bright for the carrier, a lot of its competitors might possibly be facing a bleaker future.

    Kjos adds: “The critical mass to make sure survival for an airline is growing always.

    “Only many years ago it is advisable survive with five planes. Now it’s perhaps 40. In five years 50, after which within a decade that’s more likely to be 100.

    “I see most of the smaller carriers disappearing, and never just on the low-cost end of the market. It is crucial we grow regularly, with new planes, to remain previous to the curve.”

    Kjos had better start drawing up an inventory of presents he wants for next year.

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  • GTMC welcomes third new member this month

    The GTMC has welcomed its second Uniglobe member and the third new member this month – Uniglobe Preferred Travel.

    Preferred Travel was incorporated in November 1992 and is one among Uniglobe’s largest affiliates sharing global accounts with its network partners across five continents.  The corporate has its headquarters in Brighton, Sussex and likewise has an office in Westminster, London, they employ over 30 members of staff.

    Uniglobe Preferred Travel’s managing director, John Burroughes said: “We are delighted to join the GTMC and anticipate sharing best practice with the very best within the business.  We’re desirous to make a good contribution to the recognised voice of our industry.”

    GTMC chief executive Paul Wait said:  “We warmly welcome Uniglobe Preferred Travel to the GTMC.  Inside the history of the GTMC that’s unprecedented to have three new members in a single month and we’re now at a record collection of members with the count being thirty-nine. The GTMC membership truly represents the voice of industrial travel and travellers inside the UK. The industry faces its next phase of change and challenge and the GTMC is easily placed with its increasing membership to shape the longer term and definitely contribute toward UK PLC.”

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  • Sandals recognised by EarthCheck for commitment to sustainability

    In recognition in their achievements and unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island and Sandals Royal Plantation in Jamaica, and Sandals Halcyon Beach in Saint Lucia have all been awarded their inaugural Platinum level certifications by EarthCheck, the leading certification and benchmarking organisation on the earth for the travel and tourism sector.

    Earthcheck also renewed the Platinum Certification awards for Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa, Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort, Sandals La Toc Golf Resort & Spa and Beaches Negril Resort & Spa.

    The addition of those four awards brings the complete choice of Sandals and Beaches resorts that boast a Platinum Certification to 8, a record variety of properties within a hotel group to achieve this level.

    This signals the posh-Included resort chain’s continued dedication to incorporating sustainable best practices in its business model. 

    The awards were presented to Sandals by EarthCheck chief executive, Stewart Moore, in the course of the recent ITB travel trade exhibition in Germany.

    During the handover ceremony, Moore lauded Sandals for its vision, leadership and long-standing commitment to environmentally friendly and responsible business practices throughout its properties.

    “Sandals is one in every of our stand-out sustainability heroes within the Caribbean and northerly America,” said Moore.

    “Sandals not just has more Platinum Certified properties than some other hotel group on earth but they’ve got continued to innovate and look for new solutions.”

    Sandals is thought of as the realm’s Leading All Inclusive Company by the World Travel Awards.

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