Regus kondigt samenwerking aan met InterContinental Hotels

Une
chambre
d’hôtel
all
seasons … à la Place de la
Monnaie !
Depuis le 17 mai 2010, all seasons, nouvelle chaîne
internationale d’hôtels économiques, a lancé le « all seasons
Tour ». Pendant 40 jours, au départ de Paris, une chambre
itinérante étonnante est partie à la rencontre du public à
travers six pays d’Europe.
Dernière étape: Place de la Monnaie à Bruxelles.
Une tournée au cœur de villes européennes prestigieuses
Des milliers de personnes ont eu l’occasion de découvrir
l’enseigne all seasons de manière originale et ludique au
passage de cette chambre itinérante, présentée dans un camion
étonnant. Pendant son périple, la chambre a fait escale au
cœur de neuf métropoles européennes: Paris, Toulouse, Madrid,
Rome, Milan, Zurich, Munich, Berlin et aujourd’hui Bruxelles
Place de la Monnaie à Bruxelles …
Du 21 au 24 juin, la Place de la Monnaie sera le décor de rêve
pour cette véritable chambre, confortable, design, colorée,
lumineuse et équipée d’une salle de bain. Tous les services de
l’enseigne seront réunis dans cet espace de vie reconstitué
(petit-déjeuner, mise à disposition de presse, télévision,
accès wifi…).
Et tout comme dans les autres villes européennes, certains
internautes ayant participé à un grand tirage au sort sur le
site www.allseasons-tour.com, auront la chance d’y séjourner.
Marque économique ‘‘tout compris’’ du groupe Accor, all
seasons propose un tarif qui inclut la chambre + le petit
déjeuner buffet à volonté + une connexion à Internet haut
débit, et offre des hôtels où simplicité, générosité, qualité
et convivialité résonnent à l’unisson.
Situés au cœur des villes ou des centres d’activité, chaque
établissement possède sa propre personnalité et intègre le
même esprit déco coloré, lumineux, et énergique avec une
touche d’humour.
En 2010, le réseau compte plus de 80 hôtels en France, en
Allemagne, en Grande-Bretagne, en Australie, en NouvelleZélande, en Thaïlande et en Indonésie.
Toutes les informations concernant les hôtels all seasons sont
disponibles sur le site Internet all-seasons-hotels.com
Taiwan inventors top winners
at international fair
Members of Taiwan delegation pose at the awards ceremony June
18. (Courtesy of Taiwan Invention Association)
Taiwan inventors shined at the just-concluded Invention and
New Product Exposition (INPEX) in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh,
garnering more medals than any of the other 14 participating
countries.
The Taiwan delegation, featuring 42 members with 56 entries in
the competition, grabbed 24 gold, 25 silver and five bronze
medals as well as seven special awards. The U.S. finished
second with a total of 19 golds, organizers of the event
announced June 19.
The strong showing in Pittsburg came after Taiwan inventors
also made their mark at two of the other three major
international invention trade exhibitions in recent months.
Taiwan took home 26 gold medals at the iENA trade fair in
Nuremburg, Germany near the end of last year and another 28
golds at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in
Switzerland this past April.
The youngest inventor from Taiwan taking part in INPEX was 13year-old You Chun-po, who won gold for his “multi-angle
ecological observation video camera.” You, who studied in the
U.S. for five years, came up with the idea because he wanted
to better understand the growth process of the silkworms he
was raising. The easily rotatable camera that he developed
with the help of a university professor features a lens that
can magnify objects between 75-150 times.
Meanwhile, Taiwan-based Auyata Enterprises Co. Ltd. won the
“Asia-Pacific best product” prize at the event with its
“folding stand.” The invention also garnered gold at the
Geneva trade fair earlier this year. The company has applied
for patents in eight countries for the folding stand, which
already hit the U.S. market last year.
Auyata expects to sell 1 million of the folding stands in the
U.S. this year, generating some US$70 million in revenue for
the company.
Chen Tsung-tai, head of the Taiwan delegation to INPEX, stated
that winning awards alone is not enough. The newly developed
products must also break into the European and U.S. markets to
be a success, he said.
According to Chen, award-winning inventions like Auyata’s
folding chair “really help boost Taiwan’s economy.”
He noted that academia-industry cooperation in Taiwan has
already matured and continues to grow, with many new
competitive products being jointly developed by universities
and private enterprises.
Officials said the medal winners at international invention
exhibitions will have their airfare fully reimbursed by the
government. In addition, the Intellectual Property Office
under the Ministry of Economic Affairs selects 50 winners of
the National Invention and Creation Awards each year, with the
recipients each receiving between NT$200,000 (US$6,213) and
NT$450,000 in prize money. (SB)
Anaheim/Orange
County,
California
Launches
New
Destination Lifestyle Video
Anaheim, Calif. (June 2010) — Today, the Anaheim/Orange County
Visitor & Convention Bureau launched its new dynamic
destination video entitled, “Walking on Sunshine.”
This fast-paced, upbeat film set to the
“Walking on Sunshine,” showcases more than
County locations and features more than 60
its brand of SoCal fun, all in less than two
catchy 80’s tune
25 diverse Orange
people soaking up
minutes.
It highlights an eye-catching collection of iconic Orange
County experiences and its sunny, casual ‘feel good’
lifestyle, that make it a Southern California classic
destination. This video film is part of a new destination
image campaign that shines the light on the array of lighthearted and iconic experiences found in Anaheim and Orange
County. Future elements include a “Walking On Sunshine” essay
contest and photo contest, as well as vacation packages.
Charles Ahlers, president, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor &
Convention Bureau, stated, “We are excited to share a slice of
the Anaheim and Orange County’s lifestyle with people around
the world through this new video. It is a great way for us to
kick-off the summer by showcasing all there is to see and do
in our region and giving people more reasons to discover the
place where sun is always in season.”
Just a few of the highlights of this year’s summer line-up in
Anaheim/Orange County include: “Summer Nightastic!” at the
Disneyland® Resort, featuring the brand new and amazing “World
of Color!” nighttime spectacular as well as nightly fireworks,
new attractions and live entertainment.
The Orange County Fair, a perennial summertime favorite
returns July 16 — August 15, and the awe-inspiring live art
re-creation show Pageant of the Masters also comes to life
July 7 — August 31. From thrilling attractions to cruising the
coast, Orange County’s summer line-up is a never-ending story.
For the latest discoveries on places and to go, things to do
and people to see in Anaheim and Orange County, go to
anaheimoc.org.
The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau is a
non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to
promoting Anaheim/Orange County as a premier visitor,
convention and meeting destination. For more information, call
714/765-8888 or visit anaheimoc.org.
Partenariat
Chase
International & Dollar Car
Rental
Chase International en partenariat avec Dollar Thrifty
Automotive Group Inc offre une raison supplémentaire aux
agences de voyages de réserver sur le site B2B
www.chaseinternational.fr
Ce partenariat permet à Chase International d’offrir des
tarifs extrêmement compétitifs de location de voiture sur
l’ensemble des USA (plus de 150 agences de location).
L’agence de voyage peut créer ainsi un autotour à la carte
avec une vraie valeur ajoutée sur sa marge et le prix client.
Francois- Xavier Bioul, Directeur Général France Chase
international, commente ce nouveau partenariat :
« Chez Chase International, nous recherchons continuellement à
simplifier la création du dynamic package pour les agences de
voyages. Notre site B2B offre un portfolio de produits et
services (croisière, transfert, assurance annulation dont
causes volcan garantissant la commission, excursions,
spectacles, city tour…) renforcé maintenant par la location de
voiture aux USA qui permet à l’agence de voyages de créer le
produit exclusif aux attentes du client. »
Le partenariat Chase International & Dollar Rent a Car est
ouvert sur l’ensemble des marchés internationaux.
A PROPOS DE CHASE INTERNATIONAL
Chase International est une centrale de réservation hôtelière
ayant son siège social à Dublin, Irlande. Chase International
est très rapidement devenue leader sur son marché natif et
connaît actuellement un fort développement international avec
des bureaux notamment en Angleterre, en France et dans les
principaux pays européens, mais aussi au Moyen Orient, en Asie
du Sud Est et en Australie.
Chase International a basé son développement sur tous les
marchés en suivant une politique strictement B2B et en se
positionnant comme le partenaire incontournable des agences de
voyages.
Avec plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans l’industrie du tourisme,
Chase International offre un service client 24h/24 aux normes
ISO et une technologie qui permet d’accéder à une large
disponibilité jusqu’à la dernière minute et de réserver en
moins de 45 secondes et 5 clics.
Récompenses
2009 Irish Travel Trade Award for Best Hotel Booking Engine
2009 Winner of Permanent TSB Ethnic Technology Entrepreneur
2009 Winner of Permanent TSB Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year
2008 Mark of Excellence
2007 Mark of Excellence
2006 Mark of Excellence
2006 Irish Travel Trade Award for the Best Hotel Booking
Engine
Accreditations- ISO Quality Standard, ASTA, PATA, TTA, ITT,
ITAA
Web:
www.chaseinternational.fr
Formula 1 race may be hosted
by Sochi
Shortly after the first Russian Vitaly Petrov became a Formula
1 pilot, Bernie Ecclestone suggested the Black Sea resort of
Sochi could host one of the Grand Prix races in autumn 2014.
In the past few years, the Formula 1 Chief Executive has made
attempts to give the race new homes by signing contracts with
the countries that are new to Formula 1, such as Bahrain,
United Arab Emirates, Turkey and South Korea.
However, such strategy doesn’t have a desired effect. This
week, the future of the Turkish Grand Prix, which has had the
lowest turnout of all races, was brought into question, when
Ecclestone almost doubled the yearly fee to host the race.
Ecclestone nevertheless seems to go on with his plans to
expand the Formula 1 map to the ex-Soviet space. During
recession the construction of Moscow Raceway had been stopped
and Ecclestone turned his attention to Sochi.
The deal to hold a Grand Prix in Olympic host city in 2014,
already described as “the world’s most expensive development
project” for its $30 billion budget, seems to be a juicy
contract for Bernie. But the Russian officials fear that
investors for the Sochi Grand Prix may expect the same further
developments as in Turkey.
“Gazette
van
vernieuwd:
oude
nieuwe zakken?
Detroit”
wijn
in
Ja en neen: oude wijn behoeft geen krans, er hoeft niets aan
veranderd. Maar om oude wijn aan de man te brengen, moet de
verpakking niet alleen “verteerbaar” zijn, maar ook attractief
zodat de inhoud tot z’n recht komt. Wat een woordspelingen en
gezegdes, om te zeggen dat de oudste overzeese Belgische krant
net een kompleet nieuwe lay-out kreeg aangemeten. De
verzuchting bij heel wat Belgische lezers was dat de krant
oubollig aandeed; een vernieuwing drong zich dus op.
Een nieuwe krant
Het eerste nummer rolde net van de persen en we moeten zeggen:
het werd een geslaagde operatie. Aan het formaat, typisch
Amerikaans, werd niet geraakt, maar het geheel is veel
leesbaarder dank zij het puike grafische werk van Alex
Lumelsky. Teksten krijgen nu ook meer de aandacht die ze
verdienen en er is meer plaats voor foto’s.
Elke 14 dagen gaat deze 2-talige uitgave (Engels-Nederlands)
naar een groot aantal Belgische (kinderen van) emigranten uit
de Verenigde Staten en Canada; ze wordt ook veel gelezen in
België zelf, door mensen met familie of kennissen overzee.
Culturele, sociale en commerciële banden worden aldus sterker.
De krant biedt een andere kijk op de wereld: portretten met
diepere inhoud (o.m. een lezenswaardig interview met
provinciegouverneur Cathy Berx), genealogische artikels
(vooral in Oost- en West-Vlaanderen kent iedereen wel iemand
die uitgeweken is), ophalen van herinneringen uit de “goede,
oude tijd”, vergeten kookrecepten, taaltips enz.
Kennissen van overzee
Nog elke dag ontdekken mensen dat ze mensen kennen die in de
vorige eeuw emigreerden naar de VS of Canada. Dank zij zijn
werk voor de Gazette kwam ook Alex Lumelsky op het spoor van
familie in Antwerpen, nl. modeontwerpster Helena Lumelsky.
Meer info vind je op
kan abonneren.
www.gazettevandetroit.com waar je je ook
Estonia Are Word’s Top Mozzie
Swatters And Wife Carriers
It may be one of the world’s smallest countries and one of the
least populated, but Estonia makes a name for itself in some
of the most surprising ways; from being world champion
mosquito swatters, to word-beating wife-carriers.
Estonia leads the world in mosquito swatting
Estonia became new world champions at the extreme spot of
mosquito swatting in June 2010 after an Estonian man, David
Gavidas, swatted 38 mosquitoes during a world championship
attempt in the Estonian town of Tartu.
Participants had to swat as many mosquitoes as they could
while standing in a square metre of grass, having worked up a
sweat to tempt the mozzies.
The winner, who completely overshadowed the previous record
holder Finland’s score of just eight, said “My arms and legs
hurt and itch since the competition but otherwise I’m fine.”
Estonia’s one day coffee shops
Every summer inhabitants of the Estonian island of Hiiumaa
throw open their doors and their gardens to set themselves up
as one-day coffee shops.
The event takes place in the capital of Hiiumaa, Kärdla, known
for its coffee drinkers since the 19th century. While other
islanders were still drinking sour milk and birch juice, the
residents of Kärdla were already roasting a brown coffee-type
beverage.
Today in the first week of August householders bake cakes and
serve coffee and tea to visitors to the islands, this year on
7th August 2010.
Estonians are world-class wife-carriers
So successful are Estonians at the international sport of wife
carrying that there is even a wife carrying hold known as the
`Estonian style’ (the wife hangs upside-down with her legs
around the husband’s shoulders, holding onto his waist).
Wife carrying competitions are believed to have started in
Sonkajärvi, Finland, and the winner is the couple who
completes the 253.5m course that includes sand, water and
fence obstacles, in the shortest time. There is just one prize
in the world championships, that Estonians won for ten
successive years from 1998 – 2008, and that is the wife’s
weight in beer.
The rules are fairly simple, the wife must be over 17 years
old and weigh 49kg or carry a weighted back-pack, the only
equipment the carrier can only wear is a belt and helmet and
finally, the couples have to have fun.
Spa-crazy
Estonians love saunas to such an extent, that they have built
them into buses, floating rafts and even into a cistern of an
old fire-engine. The best known floating sauna is called Püha
Müristus (Holy Moses) and is on the River Navesti in Soomaa
National Park, http://bit.ly/PuhaMuristus
The Barrel Sauna is popular among Estonians and is a barrel
shaped wooden sauna that can be transported wherever the sauna
lover goes, such as the heart of a forest in winter, or
alongside a ski track.
Tallinn, home of the world’s first Christmas tree
The first recorded public display of a Christmas tree was in
1441 in the capital of German Livonia (now Estonia and Latvia)
in the town square of Reval (now Tallinn). The custom was to
dance around the tree at Christmas time, to celebrate the
festive season and then burn it down.
The Brotherhood of the Blackheads, a guild for unmarried
merchants, first erected the tree for the holiday period in
their brotherhood house. One the last night of celebrations
the tree was taken to the Town Hall square where the members
of the brotherhood danced about it with local girls, before
setting fire to it.
When Estonia was hit with the force of Hiroshima
Not only is Estonia the world’s most meteorite struck place in
the world, but the Kaali meteorite crater on the island of
Saaremaa was the last giant meteorite in the world that fell
into a high density area. The power of the blast and energy of
the impact is comparable with the Hiroshima Nuclear bomb.
As it entered the earth’s atmosphere the meteor broke up into
up to nine massive pieces. The impact left a main crater 110m
in diameter, 22m deep and at least eight other craters with
diameters of 12 – 30m and a depth of between 1 – 4 metres.
The Kaali Lake and meteor site are now popular tourist
destinations.
Costa Cruises inaugurates the
new
“Palazzo
Costa”:
an
innovative
“zero
impact”
building in the heart of
Genoa
Costa Cruises is expanding in Genoa with the inauguration of
the new “Palazzo Costa”, the project for the redevelopment of
its headquarters, which is set to become a city landmark. The
inaugural event is open to the general public and will include
also the launch of a bottle.
The Palazzo Costa is a perfect blend of creativity, innovation
and respect for the environment, and is one of Italy’s first
buildings with “zero C02 emissions on site”. Features of the
“Italian-made” design include a futuristic glass-clad
exterior, hanging gardens and waterfalls.
Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s
n.1 cruise company, is today holding the official inauguration
of the “Palazzo Costa”, the innovative architectural project
comprising the extension and redevelopment of the Company’s
headquarters in Genoa. The new offices will be fêted at a
special event with a show open to the general public, starting
at 9.30 pm in Piazza Piccapietra. The exterior of the building
itself will be hidden from view by means of huge sheets. That
will be the screen for an incredible aerial acrobatic
performance by the “SenzaRete” company, with dancers suspended
in midair hovering over the facade of the new Palazzo and
forming 8 tableaux based on the theme of the sky and
constellations, always a guide for sailors. At the end of the
performance the Palazzo will be “christened” in the same way
as a new ship, by breaking a bottle of Italian spumante
“Aneri”, and by the reinterpretation of the “classic” ribbon
cutting.
Sensitive to the environment, Costa Cruises has
decided to make the inauguration of the Palazzo Costa” a “zero
impact” event. The carbon dioxide emissions produced during
the event will be offset by the planting of olive trees,
available for the Municipality of Genoa.
The new Palazzo is a perfect blend of creativity, innovation
and respect for the environment, with certain features that
are at the cutting edge of Italian architecture. It is one of
the country’s first buildings with “zero C02 emissions on
site”, and also one of the first to have special glass
cladding with large panels, specifically designed for this
project, covering a surface of 1,500 m² and featuring a LED
lighting system that produces dazzling variable color.
Another highlight is the enclosed covered square on the third
floor, housing a sculpture created for Costa Cruises by artist
and designer Jacopo Foggini, as well as works of art belonging
to Costa’s private collection:
sculptures and furnishings
from the ships of the Costa fleet.
The terraces make telling use of greenery, with hanging
gardens and relaxation areas, and there is also an outer wall
with a waterfall which flows down into the pool on the Torre
San Camillo terrace. The walls of the covered square and the
waterfall are enhanced by creations made by the contemporary
Spanish graffiti artists “Bombardearte”. The Palazzo Costa is
a highly innovative project based on sustainable green
building practices, as befits a company that is famous for its
state-of-the-art design concepts.
The new building is
surmounted by the iconic big “C” from the Costa logo – made
from over 7,000 decorative LED lights by Finetti of Genova –
which sits on top of the glass roof and is part of a
spectacular rotating sign that lights up the night like a
lighthouse.
The interior decoration boasts furnishings by
leading Italian designers such as Rossi d’Albizzate, Italamp,
P&G, La Murrina, Moroso and Valentini.
The hi-tech features include a “control room” in constant
touch with the ships in the fleet all round the world.
“The inauguration of the new Palazzo confirms Costa Cruises’
Genoese roots,” says Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier
Luigi Foschi. “It’s also testimony to the strong financial
performance of our Company: despite the unfavorable economic
climate we have continued to invest, not only in the
construction of new ships, but also in a relevant project like
this one, which enables us to bring our head office into line
with the scale of the rapid development that the Company is
enjoying. The blueprint we chose for our new Palazzo is based
on the same cornerstones that are the foundations of our
corporate philosophy and our brand:
innovation, design,
wellbeing and protection of employees, and environmental
compliance.”
The far-reaching building project resulting in the Palazzo
Costa involved the restyling of the former Amiu offices in
Piazza Piccapietra 43 – purchased by Costa Cruises – and the
creation of a link between those offices and the two office
blocks already occupied by the Company in the Torre San
Camillo (Via XII Ottobre 2) and the premises of what used to
be the “Coin” department store in Via XII Ottobre 4.
The
additional office space means that the Costa headquarters now
comprise a total area of approximately 10,000 m², plus 7000 m²
of offices and warehouses in Via De Marini, with a total of
about 700 workstations.
Around 40 Ligurian firms were
involved in the building of the Palazzo Costa.
The Project Supervisor and Artistic Director was architect
Marcello Albini, who also co-designed (with Emanuela
Venturini) The “C”dream, Costa Cruises’ innovative lounge bar
which opened in 2004. The concept of the new “Palazzo Costa”,
originally devised by the two architects together, dates back
precisely to 2004, the idea being to add a “natural extension”
with the same “poetic” atmosphere as The “C”dream. The project
was developed from 2005 onwards by Albini, assisted by a team
of Italian designers (engineers and architects).
“The main element of this project is its simplicity,” Albini
explains. “This means avoiding purely spectacular and extreme
design solutions and focusing on harmonious forms, choice and
finish of materials, compliance with safety regulations and
the use of energy efficiency technologies. All this without
overlooking the poetic, dreamlike dimension, because people
choosing a cruise vacation want to leave their everyday life
behind and enjoy a dream holiday: accordingly the offices
that work to make this dream come true should be like an
extension of the ship on dry land and be bathed in a faraway
atmosphere.”
Glass-clad exterior
The distinctive new façade of the Palazzo, which looks onto
Via XII Ottobre and can also be seen from Piazza Piccapietra,
appears as a spectacular swathe of clear glass and uses a LED
lighting system to turn the surface various shades, by Mess
Engineering of Genoa. The color scheme reflects changes in
the natural light during the day, creating a stunning visual
effect. Glass – the material when it comes to the light, airy
feel of transparency that is the key concept for this
architectural project – is the star of the new building and
covers a surface area totaling more than 2,600 m². Glass
features prominently on the first two floors of the Palazzo
Costa where it has been used to form decorative “sails”, and
also on the upper floors where there is a huge glass “case”
made from large silk-screened panels that allow you to see out
and convey the feeling of being in the middle of a giant block
of ice. The same type of glass cladding used for the Palazzo
Costa has featured in other famous architectural projects:
notably London’s Canary Wharf area, Barcelona’s Music Museum
and the new avant-garde hangar at Salzburg Airport.
The use of glass also characterizes the covered square, an
enclosed quadrangle where the transparent materials are
designed to merge the exterior into the interior, and which
retains the original façade of the former “Amiu” building;
here, the wall inside is enhanced by a mural painted by the
Spanish “Bombardearte” group of artists, like those seen on
the walls outside many city buildings.
Respect for the environment: “zero impact”
One of the most innovative aspects of the Palazzo Costa is its
respect for the environment. Use has been made of “green”
building materials, advanced technology and leading-edge plant
and installations in order to obtain maximum energy savings
and cut pollutant emissions.
The Palazzo has new high
performance heat-insulating and daylighting windows and doors
as well as innovative heat pumps that warm and cool the
building by borrowing and returning excess heat. Also, the
glass cladding increases the efficiency of the building
envelope (the barrier between conditioned and unconditioned
space), maximizing energy efficiency, cutting costs and
guaranteeing a comfortable ambient temperature all year
round. The use of electricity as the sole energy source for
plant and installations makes the Palazzo Costa one of Italy’s
first buildings with “zero C02 emissions on site”; this helps
keep the city’s air clean while also guaranteeing reduced
overall consumption and high energy efficiency with a 140%
reduction in energy demand compared to a “traditional”
building. Similar measures apply to the lighting, with the
use of special LED lights and energy-saving light bulbs,
particularly at night-time. Lastly, the use of green roofs
and gardens on the terraces improves heat and sound
insulation, filters the fresh outdoor air before it enters the
building, and reduces the build-up of dust and rainwater runoff.
Interiors: works of art and designer objects made in Italy
The telling use of natural light and materials characterizes
the interior of the building, where the color scheme provides
a subtle interchange as the dark flooring contrasts with the
silvery tones of the furnishing and the false ceilings; the
end result is a pleasurable working environment in a
harmonious setting that is perfectly in keeping with Costa’s
priority on the wellbeing of its employees.
Like The
“C”dream, the Palazzo Costa is decorated with furnishings and
objects by leading names in Italian design:
sofas and
armchairs by Rossi d’Albizzate; lamps by Italamp, including
the sculpture lamps “Dolasilla” and “Heidi”, in the reception;
La Murrina chandeliers, notably the “Medusa Swarovski” and
“Sea-flower” chandeliers; designer objects by P&G and
Valentini; chairs by Knoll; and lighting fixtures by Zumbotel.
The wall in the covered square that once belonged to the Amiu
offices now hosts a mural painted by the Spanish
“Bombardearte” group of artists, who specialize in works on
large surfaces. As the name of the piece – Flores – would
suggest, the mural depicts flowers of different sizes in a
range of colors. Another painting from the same “series” can
be found on the outer wall of the Palazzo Costa, with the
waterfall, where the laminated safety glass with a clear
plastic film is made from the same technology used for the
Grand Canyon Skywalk.
The enclosed covered square is furnished with armchairs, sofas
and small tables by Moroso, while the décor includes a
plexiglass sculpture, called “The Flowers”, specially created
for the quadrangle by artist and designer Jacopo Foggini,
depicting flowers in warm colors, and works from the art
collection on board Costa’s ships, including “Fauno Disteso”
by Marcello Mascherini, a bronze sculpture that was originally
displayed in the first class lounge on the Federico C, and
Sinisca’s brass and steel sculptures from the Eugenio C and
Costa Riviera.
PALAZZO COSTA
Customer: Costa Crociere S.p.A.
Location: Genoa, Piazza Piccapietra 48
Artistic Director and Supervisor: Arch. Marcello Albini
Project Director: Ing. Ettore Dellepiane
Interior Design Project: Arch. Antonella Pugno
Executive Project: Progetto CMR
Glass cad: Zambonini S.p.A.
General Contractor: PDR Bianchi De Rege S.p.A.
Structural Design: Studio Montaldo e Canale
Total area of Costa headquarters 10,000 m²
Area involved in the work 1,500 m²
Total surface area made of glass 2,600 m²
Total glass-clad surface area 1,500 m²
Total number of LED lights 12,000
Number of LED lights in Costa logo 7,000
CO2 emissions on site
Reduction in energy demand 140%
Ligurian firms involved in the project approx. 40
Costa workstations in Genoa 700
Duration of Palazzo design & building project 5 years
About Costa
Costa is Europe’s no. 1 cruise company. For over 60 years its
ships have plied the seas of the world, offering the best in
Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream
holidays with the utmost in terms of fun and relaxation. Its
fleet has a total of 14 ships, all flying the Italian flag,
each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique
style; together each year, they offer the chance to visit some
250 separate destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern
Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the
United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Two
more new ships have been ordered from Fincantieri and will be
delivered by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping
Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary
certification of corporate compliance with the highest
standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in
2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS
18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008).
Costa
Cruises has been an official partner of WWF Italia for the
protection of the Mediterranean Sea since 2005. All the ships
in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star
notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with
the highest environmental protection standards.
In the
“Global Reputation Pulse” 2009 international study, Costa
Cruises is in 1 s t place among Italian “service industry”
companies; Pulse scores are a measure of the corporate
reputation (in terms of trust, esteem etc.) of the 600 largest
enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
With revenues of approximately 2.6 billion euros and 1.82
million total Guests in 2009, Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the
largest Italian travel group and comprises the brands Costa
Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Iberocruceros.
th
The group ranks in
th
10 place as regards profitability and 65 in terms of sales
in Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises
that recorded revenue of at least 50 million euros the
previous fiscal year. Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the
world’s largest cruise operator.
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts bring
Purobeach to Portugal
With clear focus on innovation and providing guests with
exclusive experiences, Tivoli Hotels & Resorts have brought a
new entertainment and lifestyle concept to Portugal which is
sure to make the hot summer nights of Vilamoura even livelier.
After its international success, Purobeach has come to
Portugal for the first time, at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura,
with two very privileged options: one on the beach and another
next to the lake – The Lakeside.
“For Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, this partnership with Purobeach
is further confirmation of our focus on linking the Tivoli
brand with other prestigious brands which are specialists in
their own fields. This was our strategy with Banyan Tree,
Brasserie Flo and Sergi Arola, among others, and now with
Purobeach, which will bring its unique entertainment concept
to the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura”, stated Alexandre Solleiro,
CEO of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts.
Mats Wahlström, founder of the Purobeach Group, also stated
that he was “very satisfied and excited to be bringing our
philosophy and concept to Vilamoura, in partnership with
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts”.
Purobeach Vilamoura is pure tranquillity right next to the sea
for sophisticated and urban lifestyles, and has a restaurant,
lounge bar, Tai Chi and massage area – everything you need to
nourish body, mind and soul in an informal, cosmopolitan and
stylish atmosphere.
On the beach, the decoration is exotic and complemented by an
exclusive service. As the sun rises enjoy a session of Tai
Chi, a massage or just simply relax in the body-hugging
comfort of the chairs and beds. The DJs provide perfect sounds
for relaxing into the early evening while you snack on a
delicious salad next to the waves. On this exclusive beach,
the Sunset Ceremony signals the start of the night and the
switch to party mood, with music and cocktails which go on
until the early hours at the Lakeside.
At the lake and in the exotic gardens of the Tivoli Marina
Vilamoura, you’ll find the Lakeside Area – the Purobeach, a
Night Spot with stylish dining and summer long theme parties
with DJs and live performances.
The pleasures of eating are the perfect reflection of the
Purobeach Vilamoura life style philosophy, a harmony of
international cuisine with oriental influences, tempered with
a touch of traditional Portuguese. The menu includes fresh
salads, fish and meat dishes and local sea food. Puro Caesar
Salad and Chicken Satay are just two examples of the most
popular dishes, along with the Gino Dessert (fresh fruit
gratin, with white chocolate and vanilla ice cream). The
natural cocktails are also an excellent choice, and some of
the most requested include:
– Strawberry & Orange
– Bartender’s Breakfast (vanilla ice cream, milk and Oreo
cookies)
– Pinkish (strawberry ice cream, Greek yogurt, milk and
strawberries)
Purobeach has a Resident DJ as well as several guest DJs who
know how to match the sound to the different times of the day
and the type of occasion or event. Laid back in the morning,
soft lounge during the day and house through the night.
Expect lots of theme parties all summer long.
Some of the scheduled events
July
3 – Purobeach Official Opening Party
24 – Full Moon Party (live performances of capoeira and
jambés)
30 – Champagne Party
31 – M80 Party
August
3 – Pink Flamingo Party
5 – Fashion TV Party
10 – Absolut Generation
12– Redbull Party
14 – RFM Party
17 – Full Moon Party (live performances of capoeira and
jambés)
Purobeach brings together a healthy and calming feel – almost
spiritual – during the day, with a vibrant night where the
dance floor doesn’t stop rolling.
About Tivoli Hotels & Resorts
The Tivoli Hotels & Resorts chain currently has 13 properties
in Portugal. With over 77 years of experience, Tivoli Hotels &
Resorts differentiate through the range of unique experiences
offered to guests and an innovative and excellent service.
About Algarve
Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal, with an
exceptional climate. You will find here some of the most
beautiful beaches in Europe, natural scenarios of intense
colours. Most of them are blue flag beaches, meaning not only
the quality of the seawater is excellent but also that the
facilities available correspond to high standards of quality
and service.
But the Algarve is a lot more than sun and sea. Allgarve is an
extensive programme of entertainment organised for the third
time in 2010 willing to position this Southern region of
Portugal among the most attractive for summer holidays. It
comprises an amazing range of modern and classic music events,
exhibitions, dance performances and gastronomic festivals.
www.tivolihotels.com
Sofitel
Luxury
Hotels
presents
a
stunning
new
location in Shanghai
Sofitel Luxury Hotels has recently signed a new management
agreement in China for its future flagship in Shanghai, the
Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an, scheduled to open in 2011. This
address will be the third Sofitel in Shanghai, with a fourth
one on the outskirts of the city in Sheshan, and is set to be
one of the city’s most luxurious hotels with an iconic
building design.
The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will enjoy an ideal location in
the center of the city, at the intersection of Beijing Road
and Jiangning Road and mere steps away from the famous Nanjing
Road. This very central location is surrounded by
international headquarters, luxury boutiques and the city’s
most popular malls – like Puxi’s renowned Plaza 66 – and near
the former French concession, museums and the Shanghai
convention center. The building also has a number of floors
with the most advanced office space, which offer the perfect
solutions for local enterprises or multi-national
corporations.
The future Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will occupy 32 of the
building’s 61 floors, offering 515 rooms, 82 of them suites,
on levels 29 through 54. The first and second level will be
home to the Lobby Lounge and two restaurants, one
international, and the other spotlighting the full range of
Chinese cuisine.
The top level, on the 55th floor, will feature a bar and
restaurant with an innovative concept that perfectly reflects
the hotel’s clean modern decor, with suspended gardens and an
exceptional view of both the east and west of the city.
The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an will also devote a full 1,500 m2
to wellness, with a So SPA, a So FIT, an indoor pool and a
beauty salon. Finally, on the 3rd level, 2,900 m2 will be
designed for business, featuring a ballroom, a junior
ballroom, a variety of configurable spaces and a business
center.
“I am particularly excited to welcome this true flagship to
the Sofitel network. The Sofitel Shanghai Jing’an, with its
excellent location, will be a valuable asset for the brand
both in China and abroad. After the Sofitel Wanda Beijing, the
hotel will be our second jewel in a country where Sofitel
already has a strong presence,” says Sofitel Monde COO Robert
Gaymer Jones.
Sofitel in China
The brand, which already boasts a network of 23 hotels in
China, is consolidating its presence with this new addition.
The agreement was signed at a time when the brand has just
announced two new locations in China, the Sofitel Lianyungang
Suning Galaxy and the Sofitel Haikou, which will open their
doors in 2013 and 2014 respectively. It is also preparing to
open two more between late 2010 and early 2011: the Sofitel
Dongguan Humen Oriental and the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich.
Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only french luxury hotel brand with a presence
on five continents with 130 addresses, in almost 40 countries
(more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels
and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more
versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality
and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city
like Paris, London, New York or Beijing, or nestled away in a
country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, Fiji Islands or Thailand,
each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the
French “ art de vivre”.
Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com
Discover A|Club at Sofitel, the new worldwide Accor loyalty
program on www.a-club.com