Latest Articles

I&K International Limited announce launch of Hairtrade Hair and Beauty Daily Deals

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:58:39 GMT

I&K International Limited have announced that they will be offering customers the chance to take advantage of a Hair and Beauty Daily Deals scheme through Hairtrade, the Gateshead-based online hair and beauty retailer.

As part of the scheme, visitors to Hairtrade's website will be able to pick up top hair and beauty products at heavily discounted prices - for one day only. The products on offer through the scheme will include top sellers such as GHD straighteners, Fake Bake self-tan, clip in hair extensions and Moroccanoil.

Keven Kou, managing director of I&K International Limited claimed that the scheme will help to reward customers. He said: "We always aim to give something back to our customers, and this way they're able to purchase some of the most popular products we have but at a heavily discounted price for one day only."

Customers hoping to take advantage of the offer, however, should be aware that numbers are strictly limited. As such, they are advised to be quick to avoid the disappointment of the item that they're after selling out.

The scheme aims to raise awareness of Hairtrade, which has grown and transitioned from selling only hair extensions upon its initial beginnings in 2005, to being one of the leading hair care and beauty retailers in the UK and Europe - recently winning the Fastest Growing Small Business Award at the World Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards.

About I&K International Limited:
I&K International Limited was established in 2005 and is now one of the leading online hair care, hair extensions and beauty products distributor and retailer across the UK and Europe. Hairtrade provides a wide range of hair extensions products, fake tan, hair care and hair electrical brands.

Hairtrade provide a wide range of 100% human hair extensions mainly, human hair weaves, I&K clip in Hair Extensions and pre-bonded hair and European hair extensions. Among its top brands are I&K 100% Human Hair and Remy Hair, Top Model and Jessica Simpson hair. In addition to its 100% human hair extensions the company also provides synthetic hair extensions, wigs, hairpieces, hair extensions accessories and tools, as well as an extensive range of hair care products from brands such as Tigi, Loreal, Schwarzkopf, Goldwell, Matix, Fudge, Keune, Sexy Hair and many more.

Air Seychelles Announces Flights to Abu Dhabi

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:55:41 GMT

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of the Seychelles, today announced details of its new direct flights from Mahé to Abu Dhabi.

This follows last week’s announcement that Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, would form a strategic partnership by taking a 40 per cent stake in the airline.

Complementing Etihad Airways’ existing four weekly services from Abu Dhabi to Mahé, March 12 will see Air Seychelles inaugurate two weekly return services on the route. Effectively, the new schedule will offer six direct services per week between Abu Dhabi and Mahé, increasing to seven per week from June 2012.

These Air Seychelles flights will operate on a Boeing 767-300ER series aircraft, in a two-class configuration, offering a total of 844 seats each week.

The new flights are on sale from today.

A key benefit to travellers of the new Air Seychelles non-stop Mahé-Abu Dhabi service is convenient flight arrival and departure times and connectivity from Mahé with Etihad Airways’ codeshare flights through Abu Dhabi to the Far East, flights to Australia, the Indian Subcontinent and the Gulf region.

Etihad Airways guests, particularly from key feeder markets of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom, will also benefit from the increased connectivity options in travel to Mahé and onward destinations across the Air Seychelles network, such as Mauritius and flights to Johannesburg.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Seychelles have already proven to be a hugely popular holiday destination amongst Etihad Airways guests. With these additional two Air Seychelles weekly flights, we look forward to successfully serving the route, tourism and business at each end and beyond.”

Etihad Airways commenced services itself to the Seychelles on November 2, 2011.

Confused.com reveals the cars topping the speeding charts

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:46:44 GMT

Confused.com has revealed which cars are most likely to be driven by those who have committed driving offences.

Based on the car insurance experts' own data, Confused.com identified the Land Rover Discovery HSE V6 TD and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE TD6 as the cars that are most likely to have been involved in exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road.

Meanwhile, the drivers who've been caught on their phone or hand-held device, when their eyes should have been on the road, are more likely to be driving a Ford Galaxy Zetec, a BMW XSI Sport or a Volkswagen Polo e 60.

Most likely to have been caught driving without insurance are the drivers of the Vauxhall Astra Edition 16V Coupe. Meanwhile, Audi A3 drivers (S3 FSI t Quattro) are the top traffic light jumpers.

Government estimates put the number of British people driving without insurance at 1.4m, and have identified this as one factor in the rising costs of car insurance.

One car in particular topped the charts with 26% of Land Rover Discovery HSE V6 TD owners having exceeded the statutory speed limit on a public road. BMW 320 DM Sport and the Mini Cooper TD also featured with 20% and 19% of owners respectively being found to have broken the speed limit.

Using a mobile device is still a problem on Britain’s roads, despite fines and points being issued if caught, with Ford Galaxy Zetec TDi drivers being the main culprits at 1.94% closely followed by the BMW XS I Sport with 1.77% of drivers being caught.

With regards to other driving offences, Confused.com found that drivers of the Vauxhall Zafira Design DTi were most likely to drive their vehicle with defective tyres, while Citroen Saxo VTR drivers were most likely to drive or attempt to drive whilst over the current alcohol limit.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com says: "The rules of the road are designed to help shape our driving habits and to maximise road safety. Our research has nevertheless shown that driving legally is clearly a challenge to a significant proportion of drivers.

"Keeping on the right side of the law will obviously help to not only minimise the cost of your insurance but also help keep you on the road and keep the roads safe."

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About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, life insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service finding users great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators. Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Kuoni reveals its Travel Trends Report 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:09 GMT

The Maldives has once again topped Kuoni's annual poll of where UK customers want to spend their holidays. In the company's top ten selling destinations for 2012, the Indian Ocean archipelago has held on to the top slot since 2005.

Where holidaymakers want to go is just part of leading tour operator Kuoni's annual Travel Trends Report. The 20-page report also tracks hot travel trends and the top destinations for weddings and honeymoons, for families, for solo travellers, for pampering spa holidays, for the most exciting adventures and authentic experiences as well as the best destinations for those that care about the planet.

The report also highlights changes in holiday behaviour and includes trends in holiday booking behaviour, such as the importance of social media in driving holiday choices.

The top five destinations for 2012 are Maldives holidays, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The United Arab Emirates and the USA, including New York holidays. Kuoni predicts that South Africa will witness huge growth over the next 12 months, helped by the exposure from the football World Cup last year and the weakened currency against sterling. The only mid-haul destination in the 2012 Top Ten selling destinations is the United Arab Emirates, mostly due to the popularity of Dubai holidays.

The Maldives also retained its top slot for honeymoon destinations and topped the wish list for digital natives, better known as Generation X, Y and Z. Sri Lanka holidays retained 'Number One Destination for Weddings', Kuramathi Island Resort in the Maldives kept the top slot for 'Family Destinations', as did Thailand holidays for solo travelling.

The winner of the Top 10 Adventure Holiday is the 11-day tour of culture-rich Sri Lanka on the Ceylon Tour, while those looking for the best 'Planet Friendly Holiday' voted for Governors Main Camp in the wildlife safari heaven of Kenya.

Aside from favourite and new destinations, there are changes in the type of holiday the customer wants. More destination-savvy and discerning holidaymakers are looking for different types of holiday, with four specific trends emerging:
- a thirst for discovery
- authenticity of experience
- social responsibility
- face to face contact with a travel expert when booking.

To meet the needs of a changing holidaymaker, Kuoni launched the Discover brochure for 2012, packed with experiences and tours to help get under the skin of a destination. The company has also launched ananea, a sustainable brand that stands for socially responsible holidays that empower people to protect the natural environment and local population. Kuoni has also strengthened its retail presence across the UK over the last 12 months, with more retail stores for holidaymakers to access all-important first-hand expertise and knowledge.

About the 2012 Travel Trends Report:
Figures in Kuoni's 2012 Travel Trends Report are based on multiple sources, namely statistics from booking patterns made between January to December 2011 for holidays during 2011 and 2012, actual passenger numbers, customer behaviour and feedback.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years, best Luxury Tour Operator at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards and has also scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years.

The National Trust bucks economic trends to have bumper December

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:13 GMT

The National Trust has reported a substantial increase in its visitor numbers, and retail and catering sales in December 2011 compared to the previous December, despite a backdrop of challenging economic times and lack of consumer confidence.

There were more than half-a-million (521,000) visitors to Trust properties in December 2011, an increase of 74 per cent on the previous year*.

Factors affecting the large jump in visitor numbers include the mild weather (December 2010 saw heavy snowfall hitting the number of getting out and about) and an increasing number of houses running Christmas themed activity, such as lighting schemes and decorating stately homes for Christmas.

Over forty Trust pay-for-entry properties were open during the weekends in December. Attingham in Shropshire saw its busiest ever weekend with its Frost Fair which ran on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month.

The Trust is on target to have its best ever year for visitor numbers to its pay-for-entry properties, exceeding 18 million visitors for the first time in its history**.

The retail business, which includes high street shops, shops at properties and online sales, saw an increase in sales of 24 per cent and the cafes and restaurants had a 71 per cent increase in sales in December 2011 compared to the same month in 2010.

In the year to date retail sales have increased by 8 per cent and catering has so far seen a 14 per cent increase in sales.

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "In these economically tough times the National Trust seems to have swum against the tide with these fantastic results.

"As the nation tightens its collective belt people have been looking for great value and places where they can get a real feel for Christmas.”

Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust, added: "This shows that arts and heritage charities not dependent on government grants appear to be experiencing a surge in trading income. The public is turning away from more expensive leisure venues, overnight stays and foreign trips. It is a rare good news story in the gloom."

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Notes to editors:
* Visitors numbers are broken down into members and paying visitors. Visitor figures for the year to date (2011/12) compared to the previous year (2010/11) are up by more than 9 per cent.
** Overall visitor figures are based on the National Trust financial year which runs between the 1 March and the 28 or 29 February.

About The National Trust:
The National Trust is one of the most important nature conservation organisations in Europe with over 1,000 places to visit to visit in the UK covering 250,000 hectares, including coastal sites, woodland and upland areas, including many gardens to visit; many of which are rich in wildlife. The All 17 species of UK bat have been recorded as roosting or breeding on National Trust land and 96 per cent of all resident UK butterflies can be found on our land. Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is our most species rich site and 93 per cent of our land has been surveyed for its nature conservation importance. The charity also offers a number of National Trust holidays, including walks throughout locations across the British countryside. Find out more at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nature

Provident Personal Credit 'Good Neighbour' programme reaches milestone

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:20:15 GMT

Provident Personal Credit's 'Good Neighbour' programme reached a milestone at the end of 2011, with the company having provided support to over 500 organisations over the past three years, highlighting their commitment to corporate responsibility.

In addition, 'Good Neighbour' has supported over 30 three year projects, with more than 20,000 people benefitting from project and volunteering support.

Peter Crook, CEO at Provident Financial, said: "When asked, as I often am, about how we manage our Corporate Responsibility programme, I say it's part of our DNA. It's a fundamental part of our business strategy and plays a key role in our long-term success."

Established in 2009, Good Neighbour is Provident Financial’s flagship community programme. It helps fulfil Provident's ambition to be the UK's leading community-based lender by creating opportunities for people to work side by side with its community partners. 'Good Neighbour' has three component strands:

- Supporting local projects: working in partnership with local community organisations, the 'Good Neighbour' programme delivers projects which are tailored to meet the needs of local residents. Most projects run over a three-year period, with opportunities available to deliver smaller, one-off projects too.
- Employee volunteering: 'Good Neighbour' supports employees participating in company-led volunteering projects, including one-to-one mentoring projects, the Provident Reading Scheme and team challenges.
- Employee matched giving: Provident wants to help its employees to support the causes they care about the most. Employees taking part in fundraising activities or volunteering in their local communities can apply for matched giving and volunteering grants to make their contribution go even further. Over 1,750 employees have been involved so far and community partners have reported more people are now accessing their services.

Each community partner is selected carefully to ensure that every project is delivered to a high standard and provides real benefits for the community. Provident wants to work with a wide range of organisations, including youth clubs, community groups and schools, so that it can reach people of all ages, from toddlers to pensioners, and address their specific needs.

About Provident Personal Credit:
Provident Personal Credit is a market leading financial services company operating in the non-standard loans market. It specialises in offering cash loans of small amounts, typically from £50 - £500 over terms from 14 weeks up to 106 weeks. Its short term loans are unsecured and all of the costs are included up front which means that customers will never be charged for a missed or late payment. When assessing loan applications, Provident Personal Credit look at the applicants ability to repay now rather than their payment history.

This means that people could still be accepted for a loan even if they think they may have bad credit. Repayments are collected by agents who visit their customers' homes on a weekly basis. The company has a good reputation with 95% of their customers saying that they are satisfied with their service.

What's more, it is a great alternative to payday loans with small and manageable weekly repayments.

Provident Personal Credit Ltd is a part of the Provident Financial Group. It is licensed by the Office of Fair Trading.

FreeAgent Alerts tool puts accountants on the front foot

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:36:22 GMT

FreeAgent, the online accounting pioneer, has launched a new Alerts tool enabling accountants to automatically track their clients' finances and highlight in real-time areas of opportunity or concern.

FreeAgent Alerts allows accountants to set-up customised alerts to monitor their clients' account activity for transactions and entries that may warrant closer examination. By using Alerts, accountants will also be able to take a more proactive approach in helping their clients keep on top of their finances, and ensure that potential issues are spotted and acted on sooner rather than later.

The new feature is available exclusively through the accountant's existing dashboard, which presents an at-a-glance view of all of their clients on the FreeAgent platform and a portal to drill into the specifics of any one of their accounts.

Because FreeAgent offers accounting software online specifically and has been seamlessly integrated into the IRIS accounts production solution, it also provides better accessibility for users and a significant reduction in time spent on manual or paper based processes.

FreeAgent believes that Alerts is a major breakthrough in cloud accounting and a first for the industry. Ed Molyneux, CEO and co-founder of FreeAgent, explained: "Alerts will enable accountants to immediately focus on advising and providing insight to their clients, rather than having to spend a lot of time doing more manual monitoring. It puts them on the front foot and helps them to be more proactive in advising their clients."

FreeAgent collaborated with a number of accountants and accounting firms on the development of Alerts including Freelance World, which provides a full range small business accounting software across the UK.

Alasdair McGill, Managing Director of Freelance World, said: "Online accountancy has revolutionised the way accountants work with their clients and FreeAgent's latest Alerts tool goes even further to help us keep on top of our clients' accounts. Alerts will give us the ability to monitor our clients' accounts on a daily basis, giving them peace of mind that we're watching the numbers. I’d like to congratulate FreeAgent on how far they’ve come over the last year to give us a great all-round product that will help us to do a better job for our clients."

FreeAgent is available to accountancy practices throughout the UK via the company's close partnership with IRIS Software where FreeAgent powers the IRIS OpenBooks solution, a key component of the OpenApps suite. With the company's clear insight and knowledge of the accountancy marketplace, IRIS was involved throughout the planning and development process of Alerts.

Commenting on the latest initiative, Phill Robinson, CEO of IRIS Accountancy Services said: "Both IRIS and FreeAgent share the drive to constantly innovate and improve our offering to our customers. Alerts is one more reason for accountancy professionals everywhere to evaluate the benefits a shift to online accounting software could bring to their own firms and their clients."

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About FreeAgent:
Edinburgh-based independent FreeAgent has pioneered online accounting since the launch of its service in 2007. It has rapidly grown a loyal community of freelancers and small businesses, who pay either monthly or annually for access to its software offering many easy to use features, including an invoice template.

In a survey, 99.5% of FreeAgent users said they would recommend the software to others, and the service won the prize for Best Newcomer at the 2009 SIFT Media Software Satisfaction Awards. In 2010 it won the SIFT SME Accounting and Finance Software Satisfaction Award, beating all of its desktop and web-based competitors to take the title. The company also offers a free accountancy software trial to those who may be interested in the company's products. More information can be found at www.freeagent.com.

The Radisson Blu Birmingham turns six in style

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:18:17 GMT

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham, a landmark hotel in the heart of the city centre, has celebrated its sixth anniversary in style, with over 100 guests enjoying an Italian themed party at the hotel.

Many of Birmingham's finest, including the Lord Mayor Cllr Anita Ward, were on hand to share in the celebrations of one of the city's premier hotels.

In tribute to the popular movie 'The Italian Job', guests were greeted on arrival by blue, red and white Mini’s at the hotel’s entrance. Super stylish Lambretta and Vespa scooters were loaned to the hotel to further celebrate and embrace all things Italian. Inside the party, guests entertained themselves on Formula One stimulators, testing their mettle behind the wheels of a Ferrari in a Top Gear-style "Filini challenge". Meanwhile, Amore Voce, the Italian pop-opera singers with a name that translates as "love voice", provided the evening's entertainment with some striking sounds.

The Italian flavour continued through the food and beverages on offer for guests, with Jonathan Parnell, Head Chef of 'Filini', the hotel's authentic Italian restaurant in Birmingham, serving up delicious treats including homemade pizza, mini risottos and selections of Italian breads and olives.

Christopher Pike, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham, said: "We are all extremely excited to be celebrating our 6th year of business in the city and it is great to be able to celebrate in style with so many of our valued guests and clients, it has been a great six years with some challenges along the way but we are extremely proud to be here and look forward to many more successful years in this wonderful city."

One happy chap at the end of the evening was the lucky winner of the hotels Formula One "Filini Challenge" who achieved the fastest recorded lap on the Formula One Stimulators, in a hotly contested competition, winning a VIP stay in the hotel's impressive Presidential Suite in the process.

Notes to Editors:
Ideally positioned near the business district, convention centre and shopping complexes, the Radisson Blu hotel in Birmingham city centre is located in a 39-storey glass skyscraper. This contemporary hotel offers stylish Birmingham accommodation, with 211 stylish guest rooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-panel televisions, free high-speed Internet access and other desirable amenities. In addition to state-of-the-art conference facilities, this hotel features an award-winning Italian restaurant, two bars, three spa treatment rooms and a health and fitness centre offering spectacular city views from the 18th floor.

About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts:
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can!" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes more than 250 hotels either in operation or under development and with more than 58,300 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including Birmingham hotels.

For more information, visit www.radissonblu.com.

Radisson Blu Edinburgh crowned Gram Hotel Sustainable Champion of the Year

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:39:21 GMT

Radisson Blu Edinburgh has been crowned Gram Hotel Sustainable Champion of the Year by Gram UK, the award-winning manufacturer of energy efficient commercial refrigeration. The prize is awarded to the most environmentally conscious hotel in the UK.

To make the important decision, Gram appointed an independent judging panel, formed of representatives from Caterer & Hotelkeeper Magazine, the Considerate Hoteliers Association and the Institute of Hospitality, who were all impressed with the high standard of entries. The panel chose Radisson Blu Edinburgh as overall winner because of the focus the team at the hotel in Edinburgh city centre has placed, on putting sustainability at the top of their agenda for the hotel. The hotel walks away from the competition with a Gram refrigerator from the Energy Technology List.

Lisa Jenkins, products and suppliers editor at Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, commented: "This hotel had an obvious passion for the environment with many systems in place. I particularly liked the fact that they were reducing the use of chemicals. They had also reduced the number of beverage deliveries and I think this will become much more of a key target for many businesses in 2012."

John Firrell, director of the Considerate Hoteliers Association and fellow judge added: "The winners have shown consistency and persistency in their intent, staff colleagues willingly embrace the hotel’s green credentials and despite the economic outlook the hotel is prepared to press home their sustainable initiatives. Well done!"

The competition goes hand in hand with the publication of the hotel edition of the Gram Green Paper which takes all of the insight, findings and results from the landmark 2010 issue of Gram's Green Paper, and draws conclusions and results that are specifically relevant to the hotel sectors.

Steve Valentine, Regional Chief Engineer of Radisson Blu Edinburgh commented on their win: "We are delighted to receive this prize as we have always taken pride in our green programme and which for many in the hotel is second nature. This prize will be welcomed by our kitchen team and will certainly not look out of place in our newly refurbished kitchen in early 2012."

The Radisson Blu Edinburgh offers 238 contemporary rooms of Edinburgh accommodation that reflect the individuality of the hotel and its unique location on the historic Royal Mile.

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About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts:
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can!" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes almost 250 hotels either in operation or under development and more than 58,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including hotels in Edinburgh, and offers many special offers including Edinburgh hotel deals.

Air Seychelles Appoints Cramer Ball As Chief Executive Officer

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:05 GMT

Minister Joel Morgan, the Minister responsible for Transport in the Government of Seychelles, and Mr James Hogan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, have today announced that Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has appointed Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from February 1, 2012 under the management contract that it has with Etihad Airways, its new strategic partner.

The Minister stated that the President of Seychelles, President James Michel has welcomed the arrival of a strong management team from Etihad to orient Air Seychelles on a robust and secure footing, in order to position it for future development to serve Seychelles’ tourism industry internationally.

Mr Ball, who was formerly Etihad Airways Regional General Manager Asia Pacific South and Australasia, has been seconded to the Seychelles national carrier as part of the restructuring for Air Seychelles which will be implemented jointly with Etihad Airways.

With a wealth of broad-based industry experience, which encompasses both commercial and financial areas of the business, Mr Ball is a highly respected aviation professional.

Before joining Etihad Airways, in a career spanning two decades, he held senior management positions at Gulf Air, Qantas, Kendell Airlines and Ansett Australia/Air New Zealand.

Commenting on his new role, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ball said: “This is a very exciting point in the development of the airline. The recently announced strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, backed by the 40 per cent stake the UAE national carrier has taken, will allow us to consolidate our position as a brand leader on the routes we serve.

“Air Seychelles will work closely with Etihad Airways to leverage synergies and create efficiencies that will reduce costs and maximise yields. We will also look to implement strategies that will benefit the economy and support the tourism industry of the Seychelles as a whole.”

Shelley Cole has also been seconded to Air Seychelles to take on the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Prior to joining Air Seychelles, Ms Cole, who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, was Etihad Airways Regional Finance Manager Asia Pacific, and has also held positions at Shell International Ltd in London and Caltex in Sydney.

Windmill Leasing wins 'Supplier of the Year 2011' award

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:59:59 GMT

Windmill Leasing, the Bromsgrove based car leasing provider, is celebrating its latest award for Supplier of the Year 2011 as presented by one of its clients Portrayal Ltd for supplying them with an entire fleet of vehicles. These services contribute to the smooth running of Portrayals business which supplies photocopiers to companies on a nationwide scale.

Top 50 ranking UK car leasing company Windmill Leasing was nominated for the Supplier of the Year 2011 accolade for its continued high service levels for looking after the company's entire fleet of business vehicles as well as providing them with a bespoke fleet policy designed specifically to cater for all their requirements. Beating some extremely well-known brands to the award, Windmill Leasing's consistent high quality customer service standards were recognised and duly rewarded.

Managing Director of Windmill Leasing, Keith Townsend, said: "Winning Portrayal's Supplier of the Year award was a great ending to 2011, not just for Windmill as a business, but for the team as well.

"Windmill has worked with Portrayal for a number of years and over this time the business relationship has matured; both parties understand each other's needs and work together, which are the main reasons behind a successful working relationship.

"Providing excellent customer service and account management is part if the strong foundation that Windmill was built on. Every decision that is made is done so by looking at it from the customer’s perspective, which is why we take great pleasure in receiving recognition from the clients that we serve. It makes all of the hard work more rewarding."

Winning this award is testament to the professionalism and care that can be found in all areas of the business at Windmill Leasing. It is a company that strives for continual improvement and they have a strong commitment to both their local and regional customers. This award will help to increase brand awareness for the thriving car leasing business as it moves forward.

About Windmill Leasing:
Windmill Leasing is an award-winning provider of company car leasing and contract hire services to businesses throughout the UK. Formed in 2004, the company employs a range of experts in the car leasing field in its Head Office, Bromsgrove and Sheffield satellite office, from which it offers initial advice and on-going account management services to its clients. From Audi car leasing deals to GAP insurance, the company prides itself in its holistic approach to contract hire for the UK business car leasing market.

Etihad Airways Offers Complimentary UAE Visas

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:57:32 GMT

Etihad Airways is offering complimentary 96-hour tourist visas to guests transiting through the UAE, effective immediately. The visas, ideal for travellers making stopover visits en route to their final destination, are being offered in cooperation with Radisson Blu hotel on Yas Island.

The offer is valid for travellers previously eligible for Etihad Airways’ paid-for visa service (available at a cost of AED 300), including passport holders from Bangladesh, Belarus, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Eligible guests must have confirmed overnight accommodation at the Radisson Blu Yas Island, available at promotional rates from USD 70 per person per night.

To book accommodation and apply for a complimentary visa, guests can visit etihad.com/freeuaevisa. A passport copy and passport-sized photograph are required for processing visa applications.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Not only is Abu Dhabi the place where East meets West, making it ideal for transiting to destinations worldwide, but it is also a world-class destination in its own right. With complimentary visa services on offer, more Etihad Airways guests will have the opportunity to experience the signature Arabic hospitality and exciting attractions of the UAE in a convenient and affordable way.”

Guests booking a 3-night stay will also receive a complimentary Abu Dhabi City Tour. Hala Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways’ destination management company, is available to all guests for booking custom itineraries, attractions and tours (halaabudhabi.com).

Citizens of the following countries are allowed to enter the UAE without a visa prior to arrival as long as they are carrying a valid passport that will not expire within six months of their arrival date: Australia; Andorra; Austria; Brunei; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Monaco; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal; San Marino; Singapore; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; United States of America; and The Vatican. Immigration officials may grant a tourist visa, which is valid for 30 days, on arrival at the port of entry.

Etihad Airways Selects New Media Agencies

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:42 GMT

Etihad Airways has recently concluded a tender process to select global media agency partners.

MediaCom, part of the WPP group, has been selected to manage above-the-line media planning and buying. LBi has been selected to manage digital media strategy, search and affiliate marketing.

Both agencies will service the account globally from Abu Dhabi.

The selection is an outcome of a routine agency review process during which Etihad Airways invited select global media agency networks to respond to a creative and media brief.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Etihad Airways is the fastest growing airline in the history of commercial aviation, so we sought out media agencies that can not only keep up with our pace of growth, but also help us bring our brand to a global audience in a more innovative and effective way.

“This is the first time we have split our ATL and digital media into separate contracts, which we elected to do simply to ensure that we are able to best leverage specialist agency strengths.”

Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart celebrates first anniversary

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:34 GMT

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of its Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart. Located directly at the Marienplatz, the hotel offers its guests 181 modern rooms beside 460 sqm of conference space also divided into nine individual meeting rooms.

The Park Inn by Radisson hotel Stuttgart had a very successful first year and has established itself well in the Stuttgart hotel market.

According to the General Manager, Mr Norbert Schneider said: "Stuttgart has so much to offer every traveller. Business or pleasure, Stuttgart’s infrastructure and excellent transport links makes it a perfect city to visit."

The guest reviews and comments of the hotel in Stuttgart reflect this success. In the popular travel website tripadvisor.de it occupies the prestige's ranking number 8 out of 154 Stuttgart hotels. Guests particularly appreciate the central location in Stuttgart, The RBG Restaurant & Grill and local delicacies such as 'Maultaschen'. These reviews are of great importance to the hotel.

Beside the central city centre location and the easy access to the airport and Stuttgart's convention centre the Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart offers its guest modern, spacious rooms, high speed Internet access free of charge as well as an international and local menu in the RBG Stuttgart Restaurant Bar Grill.

With the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart, the Rezidor Hotel Group just set another mile stone in hospitality. And the development of the fastest growing hotel company continues.

About the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group:
In January 2012, Carlson Hotels and Rezidor have announced that they will go to market and do business as the "Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group".

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group - born in early 2012 - is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels (including Stuttgart accommodation); a global footprint spanning 80 countries, a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Missoni and Park Plaza). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club Carlson, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium.

Etihad Airways And Air Seychelles Codeshare Flights Now On Sale

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:25:11 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today launched a new reciprocal codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of the Seychelles.

The deal follows yesterday’s announcement that the Abu Dhabi-based airline would form a strategic partnership by taking a 40 per cent stake in the national carrier of the Seychelles.

Under the first phase of the agreement, Etihad Airways guests will have the opportunity to travel to Praslin via Mahé and Air Seychelles guests will be able to travel to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. The new codeshare services are on sale from today, effective immediately on flights with both airlines.

The second phase of the agreement will see Etihad Airways-marketed flights across Air Seychelles’ network and Air Seychelles-marketed flights to Etihad Airways destinations across Europe, including flights to the Middle East, the GCC, Asia and flights to Australia.

The agreement – Etihad Airways’ 36th such commercial partnership – continues the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s global network expansion.

Etihad Airways commenced services to the Seychelles capital of Mahé on November 2, 2011.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Although we only recently launched the route, the flights to the Seychelles has already proven to be a hugely popular holiday destination among our guests. By expanding our presence in the region and increasing connectivity in cooperation with Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways’ guests can look forward to a more seamless travel experience within the diverse and scenic islands.”

An integrated, reciprocal frequent flyer agreement, including mileage earning and redemption, will be introduced later this year.

Etihad Airways And WAHA International Team Up For Somalia

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:25:06 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and WAHA International, the international non-profit, nongovernmental organisation, have teamed-up to transport disaster relief kits to Somalia.

The relief kits, destined for two refugee camps and two hospitals in the Somali capital Mogadishu, contained 474 tents, 50 education boxes, and three tons of electrical material.

Currently, 3.7 million Somalis, or 50 per cent of the population are facing acute food shortages and a lack of proper shelter and livelihoods. Some 1.5 million people are classed as internally displaced persons (IDPs), with more than 400,000 living in Mogadishu and its environs.

Working closely with WAHA International, UAE Red Crescent and the Shelterbox France charity, Etihad Airways coordinated the consignments from various points in Europe through the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub.

David Kerr, Etihad Airways Vice President for Cargo said: “Acting as a bridge between Europe and Africa, our team at Etihad Airways, both on the passenger and freighter side of operations, worked closely with WAHA International, UAE Red Crescent and Shelterbox France to ensure the safe arrival of these relief kits in the UAE, before their eventual shipment by WAHA International to Somalia.

”This successful operation further proves Etihad Airways’ ability to provide secure logistical solutions for our partners and customers through Abu Dhabi, and we are delighted to have played a role in part-coordinating these much needed relief supplies to Somalia.”

Dr Sinan Khaddaj, WAHA International Secretary General said: “These relief kits will make a dramatic difference to the well-being of hundreds of Somali families in dire need of assistance in Mogadishu.

“The support of Etihad Airways in transporting these supplies has been instrumental in ensuring their timely arrival on the ground so that WAHA’s team can begin their distribution to those in urgent need.”

Eurostar offers winter breaks for less

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:41:51 GMT

Eurostar, the high-speed rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, is offering special, limited prices for Standard and Standard Premier travel to Paris, Brussels or Lille until March 29th.

With plenty of the special return Standard class fares available for midweek travel, this is the perfect time for Eurostar customers to book a reviving day trip or a relaxing long weekend. Travellers can also treat themselves to a more luxurious journey for less as Eurostar is also offering special Standard Premier return fares for travel during the same period.

When passengers arrive in their chosen destination their Eurostar ticket gives them much more than travel alone, with a range of enticing 'Eurostar Plus' offers and discounts.

'Eurostar Plus Culture' offers travellers 2-for-1 entry into paying exhibitions at selected top museums and galleries in Paris, Brussels and Lille, simply by showing their Eurostar ticket. So, whether they're visiting the Grand Palais, Galeries Nationales in Paris or the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, there's plenty to keep them entertained over the coming months.

'Eurostar Plus Gourmet' offers also give passengers up to 50% discounts on meals at popular restaurants in Paris, Brussels and Lille, by booking their table via www.eurostarplus.co.uk/gourmet and presenting their Eurostar ticket at the restaurant on arrival.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar said: "Many of our travellers like to travel midweek as our destinations and their tourist attractions tend to be less busy. These discounted fares give everyone the perfect excuse to treat themselves to a getaway for less. After all, with special fares to Paris, Brussels or Lille and exclusive offers for museums, restaurants and shopping when you're there, this is an offer not to be missed."

For more information about the new promotional fares, Eurostar Plus, or to book cheap Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers, customers can visit eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

-ENDS-

About Eurostar:
Eurostar is the high-speed train service, offering a birmingham to paris train, a manchester to paris train, a train from london to paris, a london to brussels train and linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways). On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR.

The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph. Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 115 million passengers between London and the Continent. Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet.

About The Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel:
Since 2001 the Ashden awards have been supporting sustainability projects across the globe and now they’re working with Eurostar to promote sustainable travel. As part of the Tread Lightly programme to cut carbon and get people thinking differently about their journeys, Eurostar has launched the Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel.

With a prize fund and a host of benefits, the Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel will celebrate and support local sustainable travel projects in the UK, France and Belgium. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe's leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel's biggest customer.

SCC speakers warn Cloud Expo audience of consumerisation challenge ahead

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:38:54 GMT

SCC has told the audience attending this year’s Cloud Expo that the IT sector must face up to multiple challenges and come to terms with a new way of thinking if it is to remain relevant to modern business.

Following a two day conference at which both Chief Technical Officer Rhys Sharp and Director of Corporate Business Strategy Ian Sherratt gave pivotal presentations on the rapidly evolving cloud sector’s escalating importance, attendees were told that many IT departments are failing to respond sufficiently to market disruption brought about by cloud services and the Consumerisation of IT. Outlining a raft of challenges facing in-house support teams, the experts warned that they must demonstrate the ability to keep up with the changing demands of a workforce accustomed to doing what they want, whenever they want to, on any device of their choice.

“The IT business isn’t all about the technology anymore - it’s about the user experience. Support departments need to realise that the industry has not as a whole responded well to the disruptive technologies that have changed the way we work, and that adopting a fresh perspective focused on the end point rather than the technological journey is going to be crucial over the coming months and years,” said Sherratt.

“It should serve as a wake-up call that 30% of The UK’s corporate IT spend is now controlled from outside the traditional IT department. The industry needs to come to terms with this, look at popular clouds like music and social networking and recognise the need to mimic that success.”

Delegates to the conference were presented with learnings from SCC’s experience of evolving services to meet with the demands of Consumerisation and the cloud. Europe’s largest independent technology solutions provider has invested heavily in the data centre facilities and expertise required to develop and deliver services that can be consumed on a cost per seat basis.

In order to adapt to the evolving environment, organisations must address several key challenges, starting with a strategic review of critical infrastructure designed to identify the killer apps that would best connect staff with the business’ processes. Teams need to identify which employees need to do their job faster, better and cheaper, and to look at how they collaborate at work and align it with the way people communicate in their time off.

Delegates were also urged to reconsider the complexity of their approach to IT solutions and adopt a cloud-inspired mind-set that is simpler, more intuitive and uncomplicated. The speakers told them that innovation must lie at the heart of what they do, and that while maintaining a radical approach was important, they must also consider how to set their data free while still retaining control.

As an increasing body of businesses begin to embrace such an approach, many are likely to consider termination of existing major change projects in line with a rapidly shifting marketplace. SCC believes that on the cloud era in-house initiatives make less sense, and predicts that using existing solutions and outsourced partnerships is likely to become a focus of activity over the next few years.

Sherratt added: “We need to stop agonising about how we’re going to make legacy software run on an iPad and start a different kind of conversation between IT departments and business, to focus on data sovereignty and forget about operating systems, embracing a client-centric perspective and a more flexible approach to the end point.

“IT departments have to move now on these things because user opinion is already ahead of you. If you can’t deliver the services they’re going to demand soon, then pretty quickly you’re going to hear people within the business asking why not.”

Russell Jones & Walker joins with the world's first listed law firm

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:56:44 GMT

Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors has announced it will join forces with the world's first publicly listed law firm, Slater & Gordon Lawyers. The move comes at a critical time of change in the UK legal industry as the Legal Services Act opens the market to outside investment and ahead of impending changes to the personal injury sector.

RJW Chief Executive Officer Neil Kinsella said the announcement would bring security and growth.

He added: "We will continue to deliver first class legal services, but as a result of today's announcement, we will have the resources and backing to develop and grow. We want to become the largest and most trusted provider of personal legal services in the UK.

"Our commitment to making justice and legal services accessible and affordable to all remains, but our ability to do this increases as a result; this development will bring real benefits to our clients and affiliated organisations."

Slater & Gordon Managing Director Andrew Grech said that, while the UK had a similar legal jurisdiction to Australia, it had spent three years searching for the right opportunity in the UK. He commented on how RJW shares the same values as Slater & Gordon, which will help them achieve their joint aspiration of being the first choice for personal legal services in the UK.

Kinsella said becoming part of Slater & Gordon will put RJW ahead of the competition and provide a wider pool of talent and knowledge.

He explained: "In Slater & Gordon we have found the perfect partner; a firm with a similar history and ethos to RJW. We are also joining a firm focussed on innovation and one which is ahead of the pack in terms of its corporate and business structure. Slater & Gordon publicly listed five years ago, which gives us a five-year head start on any UK firm considering this option.

The two law firms have jointly identified the opportunities that may come as a result of the changes in the UK market and have already benefited from sharing their knowledge. By joining forces, they can share technology and have greater resources to retain and attract additional talented people.

The RJW principals and senior management are highly committed to the long term strategy of the group and will remain in place for at least three years. All of the equity owners of RJW have taken a substantial proportion of the consideration as shares in the ASX listed Slater & Gordon demonstrating their confidence in and commitment to the group.

Subject to regulatory approval, the acquisition of Russell Jones & Walker should be completed by April 2012.

About Russell Jones & Walker:
With over 85 years of experience, Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors are considered one of the UK's leading law firms with over 420 employees in 10 offices nationwide. Its focus has always been to provide accessible, affordable legal services for individuals. Neil Kinsella is one of the country's leading commentators on the changing face of the legal profession and aims to ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of it, irrespective of the likely new competition.

Door2Tour.com reports recession affecting romance as Valentines breaks decline

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:53:35 GMT

Door2Tour.com has reported that non-essentials like gadgets and CDs aren't the only things to have suffered at the hands of the current economic climate. With rises in petrol prices, food and energy costs squeezing household budgets more than ever, there's little doubt that consumers are thinking more carefully about where to spend. This year however, couples are opting to put something other than champagne on ice - their romantic Valentine’s break.

Figures from the UK coach holidays company report a drop in dedicated Valentine weekend breaks by 50% compared to 2011, with an additional 72% drop in overall breaks departing over the Valentine weekend.

Despite offering level holiday prices on 2011 for its most popular Valentines break, the destination to have suffered the most was romance-favourite Paris. In a double whammy with increased costs of living, consumers are thought to still be exercising caution towards the Eurozone due to poor exchange rates. The second destination to have been sacrificed in the romance stakes was London, whose theatre break bookings for Valentines weekend have also weakened, though to a lesser extent.

Kate Glanfield, Web Manager of Door2Tour.com, said: "While there is still time for people to book a Valentines break this year, and patterns show that people are generally leaving it later to book, it does look as though this year's Valentine’s Day is going to lack some va-va-voom in terms of traditional, whisk-away romance."

Despite the decrease in Valentines break sales for 2012, Door2Tour.com has reported a 73% rise in event tours and a revival in theatre breaks London for departures throughout the year. The increasing demand in the latter is thought to have been boosted by a host of new shows such as 'Singin' in the Rain' and Dreamboats and Petticoats and a series of new stars freshening up the London stage.

Kate concluded: "What we've seen with the decline in Valentines breaks but the comeback of theatre breaks is that people are now combining a romantic break with an occasion more personal to them to save money. We frequently receive enquiries from people wanting to get away for birthdays and anniversaries, which just goes to show that that despite the cutbacks, romance is not completely dead."

About Door2Tour.com:
Door2Tour.com is a consolidation of national and regional tour operators creating a diverse choice of UK, European and worldwide touring holidays including New Year breaks and Christmas breaks, coach holidays, day trips, mini cruises and holidays by air to many exciting destinations. All have live availability and offer the customer the opportunity to book online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Door2Tour.com features over 35 operators, including Cosmos holidays, Travelsphere and Leger Holidays.