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Hotel Brokerage Service – As lodging/Hospitality Industry/Real Estate Industry

Hotel Brokerage like any other firms, engages in buying and selling stocks for clients. It may also fall under Real Estate Industry, Marketing, Commercial, Hospitality and such.
Most firms provide investment opportunities for those interested in investing in lodging real estates that meet your specifications. Some has buyer representation services that are designed to assist in locating and acquiring suitable properties for investment. They have teams of highly experienced professionals that handle the full spectrum of hospitality real estate, from limited service to high profile properties, including urban, suburban and resort hotels. They handle distinct products such as conference centers, extended-stay hotels, condominium hotels, vacation ownership/fractional properties, and golf courses. They offer their clients immediate access to one of the world’s largest hospitality practices dedicated to the hospitality industry. They help their clients to stay current with emerging trends in the global hospitality and tourism industry. They provide their clients with local, national and international access to hotel investment and financing opportunities and to strategic solutions designed to achieve optimum results.
One is a leader in Hotel Management Industry that aims to provide quality service, maintain ideal facilities, and revenues and expenses. They administer independent hotel sellers a customized detailed marketing program based on a thorough research on the property, a depth of market information, and ample marketing support commodities, aid assertive personal selling and thorough follow-up, conducts distinct property tours to qualified buyers, assists with debt and equity financing. Hotel brokerage helps buying and selling property simple and easy.

Hotel Brokerage International is the world’s largest and oldest hospitality real estate organization, which has a rich heritage of experience and expertise in hotel real estate valuation, transactions and other essential services.

Optimum Hotel Brokerage, a full service hotel brokerage firm, is dedicated in representing hotel owners to structured finance and sale transactions.

Brokerage of hotels comes with researching, consulting, strategic planning, analysis, management, evaluation, financing, and development. It also deals with property disposition, screening of buyers, evaluation of offers, contract negotiation, and coordination of closing details. Alliances with banks, mortgage banks, and insurance companies enable hotel brokers assist clients in locating the required financing in fulfilling their transactions.

In addition, hotel brokerage may mean hotel asset sales, real estate brokerage, hotel valuation, and land sales. Hotels are hybrid investment.

Hotel brokerage should include resources such as database of active buyers, industry relationships, knowledge of valuation, market knowledge, advertising channels, lenders, franchise representatives, lawyers, appraisers, and inspectors that do the necessary work to guide the buyer and seller through a successful transaction process.

Portofino World Site – Official Tourist Site for Portofino.

Portofino World site is the new official tourist site for Portofino in Italy. Always considered one of the eight marvels of the world, Portofino, famous for its beauty and exclusivity, has embraced the new technology of the internet so that everyone can admire and know its beauty and charm.

Unforgettable stars of the Dolce Vita such as Ava Gardner, Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, have made Portofino famous in the world which is synonymous with passionate, evocative and romantic encounters. Today, it is still the place to encounter the international Jet Set.

Portofino World Site will be a great virtual gateway on display every day throughout the world, with a refined and simple philosophy: “To unite all new technology into a unique easy style inspired by Made in Italy which is famous and respected in every corner of the world” says Editor Enrico Alexis. It is a design integrating multimedia communications on the web, sponsored by the Comune di Portofino, through its Chairman of Tourism, Francesco Gaioni, who organised the style, quality and function of the site.

At your computer, it is possible to reserve Hotels and Suites in Italy, in the zones of Genova, Portofino and Cinque Terre, and all the best 5 Star luxury hotels in Italy, such as, Il Quisisana in Capri, I’Excelsior and St. Regis in Rome, Il Grand Hotel in Florence, Il Danieli and Il Gritti in Venice, Il Pierre and The Gray in Milan, Il Saraceno in Amalfi, Il Meli in Porto Cervo, I’Atlantis Bay and Timeo in Taormina, Il Parco dei Principi in Positano. It is also possible to find speciality fish restaurants, to know where to find all the top fashion houses, for example in Portofino, we think of Louis Vuitton, Zegna, Cartier, Gucci, Bulgari, Hermes, also in Portofino, to reserve a luxury yacht for a sea voyage, to see photos, paintings, films and special events.

Portofino World Site will be become the jewel in the crown for promoting the Ligurian coast in the world. The historical Genova with its ancient palaces, port, and the biggest aquarium in Europe, sensual Santa Margherita Ligure, romantic Camogli and of course Cinque Terre, could start your journey, your walks and excursions in the splendid landscape beside the sea.

To organise an Italian holiday for many foreign visitors, visit www.portofino.ws where it is possible to reserve, in a secure way, a selection of our hotels, also in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Capri,Taormina, Amalfi, Ischia and Positano and other locations.

Portofino World Site, something to be proud of.

Educational Levels of St. Maarten

Summary: Hardly anyone can dispute the educational level of St. Maarten especially schools like the American University of the Caribbean and the University of St Martin.

Hardly anyone can dispute the recent surging of the educational levels of the population in St. Maarten especially in the presence of St. Maarten medical school American University of the Caribbean (AUC) and the University of St Martin (USM).

The St. Maarten medical school of AUC was originally located in Montserrat on the British West Indies. But when volcanic eruptions occurred nearly a decade ago (around 1995) in Montserrat, the St. Maarten medical school of AUC shifted its medical science campus to St. Maarten, thus enhancing the educational levels of the residents of the island. The relocation project was a huge effort, totaling an overall amount of several millions of dollars due to state of the art medical facilities. Plus, there had been several choice architectural designs implemented that would suggest enhance learning on its students as well as encourage the Caribbean students to enroll.

As such, the St. Maarten medical school of AUC has a three story atrium along with a courtyard and beautiful landscaping that would speak of the prominence of the place. And to promote fine environmental aspects, air conditionings have been set within its buildings and shaded areas provide for those external structures. And to facilitate more on the learning of its students, the St. Maarten medical school of AUC provides contemporary lecture halls, classrooms and labs more than adequate technology to handle teachings: audiovisual technology, a fully equipped biological science and anatomical dissection laboratories, clinical patient examination rooms, and a comprehensive general library with computers.

The University of St Martin is the choice fore those students seeking professions outside of medicine. With over 15 years of teaching experience, the University of St Martin now offers a wide variety of degrees, non degrees, and even secondary educations programs. But even though The University of St Martin caters to students from the neighboring islands, it still upholds the solid ruling of holding small classes. That is to offer each student personalized teaching and tutoring.

The residents and the community groups are also factors for raising the level of education in St. Maarten. In fact, a certain group of residents have proposed some steps to enhance several factors of the society excluding tourism, which hardly needs enhancing at the moment. The group, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) is represented by individuals and private business eager for a reformation to other community aspects of St. Maarten, particularly the environment, safety and security, education and infrastructure.

Shopping Throughout Asia: Find Hidden Treasures

In between climbing pagodas and snapping pictures of golden goddesses, most travelers to Asia take time to visit the shopping districts. The quality and selection of designer clothing and extravagant items found in shops across Asia will not disappoint those with a penchant for luxury goods. From China to India, great buys are available for those who know what to look for.

Mainland China is a fantastic place to find extravagant jewelry at discount prices. Jewelry markets are filled with glittering gems and beautiful jade pieces abound.

Exquisite strands of high quality, lustrous pearls are easy to find in China. When purchasing jewelry in mainland China, feel free to bargain. It’s the way business is done in China, and most owners of small shops expect it.

There have been cases of shopkeepers taking advantage of tourists, and the best defense is knowledge. If buying pearls, test them against your teeth for roughness. You might want to test both a real pearl and faux pearl in advance to make sure you can recognize the difference. For gems, consider purchasing a jeweler’s loupe and learning to use it.

Be especially careful when buying jade, since it can be difficult to tell true jade from false.

Silk is also a good buy in China. Stores that sell lengths of fabric and silk garments are abundant, and some shops will make a shirt or dress from the silk fabric of your choosing.

Because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong and imported goods are not taxed, designer clothing can be purchased there for excellent prices. Bargains can be found on cameras and electronics, but make sure you know the going prices for these items so you’ll be able to spot a good deal. Hong Kong is also an excellent place to buy watches and jewelry.

Thailand is another great source for jewelry. Unfortunately, dishonest jewelry dealers are plentiful. Never follow any “helpful” individual who offers to lead you to a jewelry store with incredible bargains – it’s probably a scam.

To avoid being cheated it’s best to deal with a respectable jewelry firm, preferably one that is a member of the Jewel Fest Club. The Tourism Authority of Thailand founded this reputable organization, and member stores are listed in a booklet and display the Jewel Fest Club logo.

In India you can find many items made from the amazing textiles created in the country. Clothing, tablecloths, towels and other household goods are good buys here.

Jewelry is also a good buy in India, but again, beware of fakes and frauds.

The Affordability Of A Ski Vacation Rental

For skiers, a getaway made to the slopes entails more than just ski passes and equipment rental; for destination skiing, it means the arrangement of accommodations, meals, and travel – all of which can add up to be an expensive prospect. Hotel accommodations alone can cost you seventy-five percent of your total vacation price; and when you add meals on top of that, a ski vacation sometimes becomes cost-prohibitive. But, if you consider a ski vacation rental, you may find that you are able to save an enormous amount of money – putting your ski getaway back into reach.

A ski vacation rental can be a great way to spend a getaway. Depending on the location you choose, you can have close proximity to the ski slopes at all times. Further, the ability to share the ski vacation rental with a number of other people significantly reduces the price. If you have family and friends that you typically travel with on a ski vacation, you may want to think about going in together on a rental. In the end, you may find that you’ve each spent hundreds of dollars less than you would have on hotel accommodations.

Additionally, a ski vacation rental also allows visitors to save money on meals. No longer are you required to eat out. The ability to prepare your own food in your kitchen can literally save you hundreds of dollars.

Of course, another benefit of a ski vacation rental – especially if you are sharing it with friends and extended family – is that your vacation takes on a party quality. Instead of everyone separating into their own hotel rooms after a day of skiing, you can all gather together for a shared meal, games, and conversation. It can be a great way to enjoy the slopes – and each other.

To find a ski vacation rental you can go through a rental agency in the destination of your choice. Rental agencies work as a liaison between property owners and prospective renters; they will broker the deal and take care of all necessary paperwork. Just be sure that you deal with a reputable company who knows the area and the property.

You can also find a ski vacation rental online at a host of websites. Often, a ski destination will host its own website geared towards tourism. On this site, they will often offer a link to rental properties in the area.

Book your ski vacation rental early and you will be sure to have much to look forward to during your next getaway to the slopes!

Traveller’s Tales From The English Coast

A placid air had swept through town and once again the bay was a picture of calm. Children played upon the shore as the gentle waves lapped about the beach. Gulls swooped overhead, their merry chatter a sure sign that spring was in the air and warmer times here for all.

Across the bay a narrow strip of sand had defied the tide and stood as dry land. Hundreds of seabirds took refuge, safe from predators. A whole community chatted amongst themselves, discussing the options for lunch. The clouds that had earlier looked so threatening had now subsided; the bay was soaked in sunshine.

Burnham-On-Sea is a quiet little coastal town in south-west England inside the county of Somerset. Within easy reach of the M5 motorway, Burnham-On-Sea is a very popular resort with owners of caravans and motor homes.

A quick glance along the shore revealed Burnham-On-Sea’s most recognisable landmark, the beach lighthouse. It’s unusual in that it’s actually built on the sand itself. Originally found to be too low down to emit its light effectively, they decided to raise the lighthouse on stilts. It’s still in use today, helping keep ships safe in the Bristol Channel.

Burnham-On-Sea has grown from a tiny residential village with a couple of sand tracks to a popular seaside resort. The completion of the Haven caravan park confirmed its place on the map and resulted in a tourism boom.

In the early days sea defences were non-existent, leaving the village open and vulnerable to flooding. Though rare, flooding would cause devastation, the worst of which hit the town in the early part of the 17th century resulting in severe damage and heavy casualties.

At a cost of £7.5 million, the sea wall now provides Burnham-On-Sea with a safe and stable environment for both her residents and visitors. I left the seafront and headed inland towards the high street. I was greeted by the usual mishmash of shops. Hidden amongst the tacky seaside souvenir stores were some genuinely interesting shops.

I entered a cosy little bookshop and quickly scanned the shelves for anything of interest. My eye was drawn to the travel section. Unfortunately the rather chubby shop assistant provided something of an obstacle stood directly in front of the shelves.

In the greatest of British traditions I decided not to inconvenience him and so feigned interest in the cookery books whilst waiting for him to move. Mind you, I did find a cracking recipe for a curry.

Vacation BicyclinG

Imagine your next vacation cycling around Europe not aboard a plane or a cruise ship but on your bicycle. Through well planning and research, a biking vacation in Europe can be a memorable experience. A Biking vacation in Europe provides a bicyclist the opportunity to enjoy every moment of their vacation by escaping the routine every day life whether it’s the hectic life of a commuter or sometimes dull and everyday countryside life. A biking vacation in Europe is an experience like no other vacation.

If you are in search of an adventure, then take a biking expedition across the French Chateaux Gateway. You will find beautiful chateaus that provide any bike traveler with a hint of the French culture. A biker may decide to spend an evening and continue their biking trip the following day.

Another adventure that would make a biking vacation a memorable one is by starting from Vienna and stopping over in Budapest. The one unique quality of this type of trip is the connection between the two gorgeous cities. This particular biking vacation would be one of the most enjoyable vacations because; you will have the opportunity to sight-see the palaces, villages and angelic church cathedrals. Many have made the most of their biking adventures by visiting the museums, historical places and visiting the local food cafes and shopping outlets.

Vacation Bicycling in Tuscany

If you are the type of biker who likes to take your time and ride slowly, this peaceful biking voyage is perfect if you are a slow rider and enjoy cycling at your own speed. All cyclists should be abreast to the weather forecast at all times. The weather in this city is impeccable. Take time out to go through the best areas and places located Tuscany.

While you enjoy your cycling adventure in Europe, there are several places one can visit and have a great time. For example, head for Bergodal and site see in Pyrenees within 5-7 days. Travel around the Spanish and French side of Pyrenees and you will enjoy your biking adventure.

If you are still unsure where to visit during your biking vacation in Europe, visit an online tourism site, you will find several websites. In addition to surfing the Internet, you can utilize the professional services a travel agent to help plan your biking vacation. A travel agent will guide you to the best locations to visit and ensure that you have a safe journey. If you are one who loves adventure and gorgeous scenery, a biking vacation in Europe will be one of many biking vacations.

White Water Rafting

Adventure activities have become very popular for individuals and corporate leisure. White water rafting cannot fail to give an adrenaline rush. It normally involves between four and twelve people in an inflatable boat flying over the wild river rapids. Most boats are up to twenty foot long and equipped with paddles.

It can be a dangerous sport and there have been a number of tragic accidents. Some of these have been due to recklessness e.g., operating a raft whilst under the influence of alcohol. Other incidents are the result of inexperienced people unable to cope and sometimes, it has simply been a matter of bad luck. The danger must be kept in perspective. After all, it’s still safer than crossing the road but it’s very important for novices to take up white water rafting with a qualified instructor and a reputable company. The sport has worked hard over the years to raise the standard of equipment and minimize injury. The actual regulations covering the use of rivers differ in different areas. Hazards to be aware of include fallen trees, rocks beneath the surface, high waterfalls and dams.

Certain locations have benefited hugely from tourism, generated by white water rafting. Companies also like to send their employees on team building exercises over the rapids. Whether they bond with their colleagues or not, they’ll certainly get a thrill. There is an awareness of the environmental impact of so many people using the river and some authorities restrict the times when rafting is allowed. The sport has become a favorite activity for pre-wedding outings for the groom and buddies. It has also been introduced to some programs for children’s’ summer camps.

There are certain rivers across the world that is considered to be near perfect for white water rafting. The sport is growing in popularity in Africa, Asia and the Middle East and is well established in America, Canada and Europe. Popular spots include the Zambezi River in Africa, the Shotover River in New Zealand and the Tara River in Montenegro. Many tourists take the opportunity of rafting in the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

The sport didn’t suffer from the 1994 film, The River Wild, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. Perhaps it even gained a few more fans! The story centers around Streep’s character, who is a river guide taking her family on a rafting trip. Unfortunately, they meet armed robbers and there are some exciting scenes on the river when a storm brews up. The movie was filmed on rivers in Oregon and Montana.

Hong Kong Trade Shows

In Asia, Hong Kong is one of the top-ranking countries that has dominantly progressed in terms of economic and industrial growth. Being Asia’s premier trade fair capital, the country is the centre for an immense number of trade promotion events as well as numerous international and regional conferences and exhibitions held each year. Major and local Hong Kong trade shows are hosted by the region’s leading trade and convention centers.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is responsible for providing Hong Kong’s trade fair industry a powerful advancement and progress. It has been organizing Hong Kong trade shows and fairs for quite some time now with a goal of increasing the country’s trade fair industry and boost up the local economy. The commission is currently gaining full support and alliance with CIEC Exhibition Co.Ltd., Kenfair International Ltd., and other trade groups to sponsor three major exhibitions for the month of October 2006 which will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo.

One of which is the Hong Kong International Building Materials and Construction Equipment Fair, the first specialist fair of its kind to be held in the country. The exhibit will showcase the latest building materials, indoor decorative materials, construction equipment, building engineering and the like. It will be attended by 10 countries, most of which are coming from Asia. The other major trade fair is Hong Kong International Furniture Fair that will exhibit a wide array of high-end furniture from around the world. The show will display a vast selection of indoor and outdoor furniture, office and home furniture, furniture parts and accessories, and many other types of furniture. Guests and exhibitors from most Asian countries will be taking part in this fair. Aside from these two upcoming Hong Kong trade shows, the third one will be Eco Expo Asia which will also be staged at the AsiaWorld-Expo. All these exhibitions will be conducting seminars and business talks as part of the fair, apart from the showcase of products.

Hong Kong trade shows and trade fairs have contributed big earnings for the country’s economy. In 2005, the trade fair industry in Hong Kong has already given $19 billion gained from business travel and tourism. The council has a strong conviction that the new fairs and trade shows they will be hosting will even boost up the country’s industry. To get wider public exposure, the right kind of fairs should be chosen, those companies with potential for attracting a huge part of the market and whose products are readily available for exportation.

Vocational Schools In Chicago

A vocational school is an institution operated for the purpose of giving the students the necessary skills to perform certain jobs. These schools do not aim to further a liberal arts education instead offer to teach job-specific skills.

Vocational education being offered in the past usually focused on specific trades such as becoming an automobile mechanic or welder. Such training and education were then associated with the activities of lower social classes. As a consequence of this, vocational schools attracted a level of stigma. The youth would prefer going to universities and colleges for their education rather than at vocational schools.

However, during the course of time, the labor market begins to develop itself into a more specialized market. More and more economies begin to demand more specialized skills from the workforce.

Governments and businesses are now beginning to invest in the vocational education through publicly funded training organizations and subsidized apprenticeship or traineeship initiatives to provide for their need for more people with specialized skills. And also because of this, post-secondary level vocational education is now being provided by an institute of technology, or by a local community college.

Vocational education has diversified over the years and now exists to provide training in industries such as retail, tourism, information technology, funeral services and cosmetics, as well as in the traditional crafts and cottage industries. People now have a wide selection of vocational training to choose from to personally equip them with skills for their chosen jobs.

If you are looking for Chicago vocational schools, you will be able to find a number of them online. If you are looking forward to honing a certain technical skill in order to land a job, a good vocational school may be able to provide you with the education that you are looking for. There are vocational schools all over Chicago that offer a wide range of vocational training.

There is the Chicago School of Massage Therapy for those of you who want to become future massage specialists. There is also the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago for those who want to follow a culinary path to success. The American Academy of Art in Chicago also offers vocational courses for those who are interested in graphic design, commercial art and illustration.

There are many more vocational schools in Chicago that offer a wide range of training and education for those of you looking to improve or further advance their vocational skills. Such skill will be able to help you help you succeed in a chosen career that you choose to take.