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Asia property market must hasten its adoption of green issues
- Real estate markets in Asia are being urged to embrace 'green' technologies and help in the global fight against climate change. With the region boasting some of the world's fastest growing property markets, green building practices are regarded as a prime area for further growth. Governments should urgently consider introducing new policies, regulations and incentives, according to Asia's first green real estate guide. There is an urgent need for the real estate industry to address the challenges of climate change and sustainability,' says the guide, r.e.Design. We would like to see a quick transformation to the adoption of green building practices in new buildings and in terms of improving existing ones. Governments have a key role to play by introducing new policies and regulations,' it adds. It also makes good financial sense. According to the report a savings of between 40% and 50% is possible in terms of energy costs. It points out that the real estate industry can offer very cost-effective Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission cuts compared to other economic sectors, as a result of which it should play a leading role (Read More)
The 10 Commandments of Web Design
- Since the Internet
emerged as a major force, altering everything from the way people work
to the way they date, it has been a roller-coaster ride that made the
world giddy. Microsoft (MSFT), Netscape, et al. fought the browser
wars, Web standards were championed, and the Web became
community-minded and social, ushering in the reign of Facebook, Flickr
(YHOO), and YouTube. From boom to bust and back again, with staggering
amounts of money changing hands at every point, the online industry
rides on with no end in sight. The Net has also attracted prophets,
gurus, theorists, and evangelists of every stripe. Many of their
promised game-changing technologies—Jini, DHTML, and countless
others—never panned out, while seemingly simple innovations—metadata,
XML, and CSS—have led to major breakthroughs. Meanwhile, Web design
vogues from the effervescent jumble of HotWired to the stark utility of
Google (GOOG) have continued to evolve and become more
contradictory—and entrenched (Read More)
Future trends in hotel e-business
- Opportunities
exist for those in the hotel e-business, even during these tough
economic times. Attendees at HEDNA’s Lisbon Conference learned about
the future trends for hotel e-business, how to profit from those trends
and how HEDNA members can make a difference as the industry evolves.
Uncertain times call for different strategies. One of the top
strategies for hotel e-business is evolving from selling to engaging
the customer, points out Henry Harteveldt, vice president and principal
analyst at Forrester Research. Hoteliers need to think more like
retailers. “To succeed, hoteliers need to fulfill the experience
expected by customers, not just think of them as heads in a bed,” says
Harteveldt. Another strategy is engaging the customer through social
computing, which Harteveldt calls the fifth generation of electronic
distribution. “Travel plays a big role in social computing, making
social computing a blend of marketing and distribution,” he says. He
points out that in Europe, online travelers are “more likely to consume
than create social computing content.” (Read More)
Soneva Kiri creates a Host Village for Thai staff
- Soneva
Kiri on Koh Kood offers its hosts an unequalled lifestyle –
their own resort within the estate. Located on Koh Kood on the east
coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Soneva Kiri by Six Senses, scheduled to
open at the end of 2008, will not only be the most desirable resort for
high-end visitors, but it will also offer its hosts an unequalled
lifestyle – their own resort within the Soneva Kiri estate. The
materials used in the construction of Soneva Kiri and its Host Village
focus on natural materials from sustainable sources and are designed to
tread lightly on the earth by applying techniques that are adapted to
sustain the integrity of the environment and the local communities into
which they become a partner (Read More)
2,000 hoteliers manage multiple web activities with ease
- Our
Internet appetite is in overdrive; we need every feed, every favorite
site and easy access at the click of a mouse. Quick and easy has
definitely become the only viable option in our fast paced environment.
In response, VIZERGY, formerly SECURE-RES, a Jacksonville, FL based
hotel Internet marketing company, introduced My Web World in early
January 2008. My Web World, an integrated Web presence management
platform and free service to all VIZERGY clients, quickly became THE
viable answer. After recently reaching a milestone, serving more than
2,000 multitasking clients, it continues to see a steady increase in
users and visits. My Web World manages clients' Web activities
including Internet Reservation System and third-party sales channels,
Web site reporting, e-mail hosting and event calendars. The "My Active
Services" portion of My Web World allows clients to track and review
online marketing campaigns and determine how successful their efforts
are. The platform also has a reputation monitoring component that
provides real time RSS feedback from popular social media and travel
review sites, letting clients know exactly what is being said about
their property. This user-friendly, one stop location for all VIZERGY
clients' marketing services is also easily customizable. Industry news
feeds, favorite links and user access can be modified as desired.
Additionally, Web site changes can be requested and sent to queue via
the platform. "It's about convenience and functionality. At VIZERGY, we
pride ourselves on listening to the needs of the client and delivering.
Increasing RevPAR and maximizing visibility is a priority," says Joel
Carver, senior VP of sales and marketing (Read More)
Ko Samui, maybe it's inhabited!
Text by Harold Stephens
- I looked at the chart and then at the island through my
binoculars. It appeared lush and green, with rocky cliffs that dropped
sheer into the sea. It also appeared be desolated. Not a house or a
building, not a road, not a soul to be seen anywhere. "It might not be
inhabited," I said to my crew who lined the railing to get a glimpse of
the land coming up on our port beam. It was our first sight of land
after leaving the lighthouse ship at the mouth of the Chao Phraya
River. We were on our maiden voyage to Singapore. It was an exciting
moment, witnessing our first landfall aboard Schooner Third Sea. I had
just completed the construction of my schooner on a small klong down
river from Bangkok, and we were heading out to sail the waters of
Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. After leaving the Chao Phraya, we
had encountered bad weather for several days and now welcomed the sight
of land (Read More)
Thailand Property Seminar
- A number of high profile investors and developers will be offering
their expertise at a seminar on Thailand property, which will take
place at the Centara Grand Beach Resort on Koh Samui on June 6th from
14:00. “Whether you are interested in urban condominiums or tropical
island villas, this seminar will give you the information you need to
make the best property investments,” says the organiser. Among the
featured speakers are: John Birt, CEO of Samui Villas and Homes; Nigel
Cornick, CEO of Raimon Land; and Gary Beisty, Partner at Mayer Brown
JSM. After the event is over Raimon Land will host a party at
Tradewinds to celebrate the penultimate day of the Samui International
Yacht Regatta. For more information on the seminar (Read More)
Emerging Thai market attracting investors
- The success of the Thai economy has aroused the interest of
international property investors, according to overseas specialist
David Stanley Redfern (DSR). The country’s economy got off to a
scintillating start to 2008, with first quarter growth at six per cent
on the same period last year, and up 5.7 per cent on the last quarter
of 2007. Furthermore, after two years of political turmoil -
culminating in a coup last year - it seems the new government is
finally settling in, and has made economic growth its top priority,
argues DSR. The main course of the new administration’s efforts is
centred on generating internal and regional investment, with global
investment currently slowing following the continued liquidity crisis.
"Continued growth in Asia is excellent news for property investment in
Thailand, especially in the emerging markets of Thailand's islands of
Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, where growth is primarily fuelled by
spiralling regional tourism," said Liam Bailey, head of international
research at DSR. "Property prices in Koh Samui, an island with more
five and six star resorts than any other in Asia, grew by 50 per year,
in 2006 and 2007." While purchasing property in the country is
difficult – with strict ownership criteria in place – it is possible
for overseas citizens to acquire investments through the use of local
businesses. The Institute of International Finance (IIF) also casts a
positive light on the future of the Thai economy. The IIF has said
rising inflation caused by the rising cost of basic materials was the
biggest challenge facing Asian economies. However, the organisation
also confirmed the problem would subside shortly and that worry over
the problem had been greatly exaggerated. Furthermore, the IIF also
finds Thailand has the best chance of weathering the global storm,
saying: "The leading emerging markets in Asia are well-positioned to
weather uncertain and less favourable global conditions." (Read More)
Top Ten Simple Steps to Reducing Global Warming Emissions
- If you’re planning a family trip to Glacier National Park in
Montana, make sure to schedule it within the next 22 years. Scientists
estimate that by 2030 there may not be a single glacier left – that is
how quickly the ice is melting. In this way and many, many others,
global warming affects us all. And while the United States is only four
percent of the world’s population, we are responsible for 22 percent of
the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. We especially, then, have a
responsibility to reduce our emissions and concentrate on stopping
climate change. Global warming is the result of too much of a good
thing. Greenhouse gases such as CO2 are natural and necessary to an
extent, but too much causes the atmosphere to thicken. This thickening
causes more heat to be trapped within the atmospheric blanket and
temperatures to rise, resulting in climate change. The problem impacts
us all, and it is happening right now. Every person emits their share
of CO2 and other greenhouse gases through daily activities. This share
of CO2 can be greatly reduced if certain simple steps are consciously
taken. Every small reduction in CO2 emissions makes a big difference
because WE ADD UP. Here are 10 simple steps that anyone can take to
reduce their emissions: Recycle. Recycling is something simple that
anyone can do everyday – from recycling the morning’s newspaper to the
plastic bottle from lunchtime. One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees
and 7,000 gallons of water. Plus, trees actively remove CO2 from the
atmosphere. Amazingly enough, recycling just one aluminum can saves
enough energy to power a television for three hours. Buy Local. Before
arriving at your plate, the average meal travels more than 1,200 miles
– all the while using precious energy and CO2. Make an effort to buy as
many products as possible that are locally produced – from food and
clothes to furniture. It will ensure that the energy consumed by
transportation is as low as possible (Read More)
Cities Switch off the Lights for Earth Hour
- From the Sydney Opera House to Rome's Colosseum to the Sears Tower's
famous antennas in Chicago, floodlit icons of civilization went dark
Saturday for Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign to highlight the threat
of climate change. The environmental group WWF urged governments,
businesses and households to turn back to candle power for at least 60
minutes starting at 8 p.m. wherever they were. The campaign began last
year in Australia, and traveled this year from the South Pacific to
Europe to North America in cadence with the setting of the sun. "What's
amazing is that it's transcending political boundaries and happening in
places like China, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea," said Andy Ridley,
executive director of Earth Hour. "It really seems to have resonated
with anybody and everybody." Earth Hour officials hoped 100 million
people would turn off their nonessential lights and electronic goods
for the hour. Electricity plants produce greenhouse gases that fuel
climate change (Read More)
Tourism "boosting Thai property"
- Thailand’s biggest international real estate provider, CB Richard
Ellis, has reported soaring interest in holiday home investment, which
it attributes to booming tourism and an increase in flight links. In
Phuket, the firm reports a 32 per cent increase in transactions from
the third to last quarter of 2007, with a 59 per cent increase in their
value, based on the latest statistics from the Land Department. While
villas prices doubled from 2000 to 2006, CBRE said: “Phuket remains
globally competitive. Prices and interest remain solid.” Market
enthusiasm is attributed to growing tourism, with tourist arrivals to
Phuket exceeding 5 million last year, complimented by a robust 22.5 per
cent increase in visitors to Thailand. These included many from new
tourism sources, such as Russia, the UAE, Switzerland and eastern
European countries. “As a result, there is a broader global customer
base for high-end villas. Previously, most customers were expatriates
from Hong Kong and Singapore. Now we are seeing a rise in demand from
NRIs, Russians and Eastern Europeans,” said CBRE. Airlines have
responded to demand, most notably with new connections from regional
budget carriers. From Singapore, budget airline Tiger Airways is
supporting Silk Air connections. Air Asia has introduced new flights
from Kuala Lumpur, and introduces daily flights between Macau and
Phuket in May 2008. Dragon Air is meanwhile upgrading its Phuket-Hong
Kong route in peak seasons with larger aircraft and 90 international
chartered flights in the last high season from October 2007 to March
2008, which represented a 150 per cent increase from last year. With
new flight links, investors are also looking for opportunities beyond
Phuket to areas such as Phang Nga, Krabi and outlying islands in the
Andaman Sea, said the realtor (Read More)
Thai property to show in Munich
- Visitors to the upcoming Expo Real 2008 in the German city of Munich
will be given the opportunity to view a range of Thai properties for
the first time after organisers revealed that real estate in the
Kingdom will feature heavily among the show´s overseas properties. The
event, which is now in its 11th year, is set to take place from 6 to 8
October 2008 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. The expo´s exhibition
manager, Björn Kempe, told Property Report Thailand, “We chose to move
into Southeast Asia after last year´s focus on India, and a previous
emphasis on Korea.” He continued, ““With the US decline, the EU
decline, especially in southern europe, Asia is very much a growth
area. Thailand is on the pitch – especially with regard to commercial
real estate.” The event acts an international platform for networking
on projects, investment and finance. It covers the entire spectrum of
the property sector and brings together players from all the key
markets from Europe, the Middle East and the US. An extensive
conference programme, featuring around 400 speakers, provides an
in-depth overview of current trends and innovations in property
investment and finance. The previous event, held last year, attracted
1,823 exhibitors from 43 countries and 23,800 visitors from 77
countries. In addition, some 15,000 representatives from the exhibiting
companies were also present at the fair, bringing the total number of
participants to more than 39,000 (Read More)
More protection for buyers of condos- Condominium buyers are to get better legal protection thanks to the amended Condominium Act, under which developers who do not deliver facilities as advertised will be penalised. The amendment will become effective on July 4. Surasith Sahasthamrangsi of the real estate business promotion bureau of the Land Department said at a seminar yesterday that the new Act would punish de velopers who used misleading advertising to boost sales. "If they can't deliver what they advertise, the Land Department is empowered to charge them with giving false information," Surasith said. The amendment followed complaints by buyers whose purchases did not include what was advertised. Most of the angry buyers were people who bought units before they were completed. From July 4, developers will have to submit advertising plans with their construction proposals. On completion, the Land Department will check if all is as advertised. Property Perfect's chief operations officer, Teerachon Manomaiphibul, said this law would hurt only developers who are inclined to cheat buyers. Meanwhile, experts said the amended law might hurt the resale market, as the provisional clause that allows foreigners or foreign entities to hold more than 49 per cent of condominium units in Bangkok, municipal areas and other specified areas will be scrapped. The limit will now be 49 per cent, without exception. (Read More)
Samui a world property hotspot
- The expert overseas property company, David Stanley Redfern, has
recently highlighted Samui as the second best worldwide location for a
property investment after the Philippines. It stated that Samui now ha
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