 main markets through the Amadeus GDS, so every time bookers use the system, they’ll see an ad for our properties. When you’re launching a hotel brand from scratch, this kind of recognition within the booker community is invaluable, because we expect fewer direct bookings in the beginning.
In terms of pricing, how do you balance all the amazing amenities and events you offer with the ‘economy’ tag?
R: We really wanted to provide our customers with an economy price without feeling cheap. So, in addition to the in-room IT solutions we’ve installed, we have also pared down any unnecessary amenities to enable our consumers to have more of what they use and less of what they don’t use. For example, we’ve discovered through market research that 85% of our customers don’t actually use the wardrobe in their rooms! To reflect this consumer preference, we’ve just installed a simple clothes hanger for shirts or dresses and given our guests more space in the room for working or relaxing. Following on from this streamlined approach, we’ll be providing our guests with just two products in the bathroom, but they’ll be from luxury brand Rituals, which means our guests still feel as though they are getting a special experience, but with an affordable price tag.
The streamlined approach also extends to our pricing. We only offer three packages across all our sales channels, including Amadeus, so it’s quicker and easier for bookers to decide which one is the right option. We’ve tried to make our packages a little bit different from most traditional hotel deals, for example, extras such as Wi-Fi are now expected as a given from younger customers, and we only offer two types of room to keep things simple. And we’ve ensured that mobile bookings are available, as research has shown that increasing numbers of millennial are choosing to purchase holidays and hotels via their smartphone or tablet.
But whether you’re a millennial or not, we’d love to welcome you to our first Moxy property which just opened in Milan!
(Content originally posted on the Amadeus Blog)This whole area of investment is rapidly moving to mainstream and this is another step in the process that enables long-term experienced advisers like me to keep up and ahead.
This gathering of the profession’s innovators at the the Social Investment Academy, the leading forum for financial planners incorporating social impact investment advice into their financial planning process.
We focus on Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) with our best line up to date.
Keynote: Nick Jenkins – the new Dragon in BBC’s Dragons’ Den and the founder of the online retail Moonpig.com.
Following the sale of the business in 2011, Nick set up his own charitable foundation and has spent the past four years involved in the social sector as a grant giver through his foundation, as a trustee of the educational charity Ark and as a member of the Investment Committee of Impact Ventures UK. Along this work he continues to invest in early stage businesses.
Danny Kruger – David Cameron’s former adviser and speechwriter as well as a previous Daily Telegraph leader writer speaks on the social economy from a unique perspective.
Danny left politics to launch London-based social enterprise, Only Connect, which pilots innovative social enterprise models bringing hope and opportunity to ex-offenders and youth at risk.
John Spiers (EQ investors) – John became a well known industry name building a leading business advising clients on tax sheltered products. He’s reported to have made £100 million from the sale of Bestinvest to 3i in 2007. John returned to wealth management recently buying a financial planning business with £500 million of client money and branded it EQ. John has a keen interest in social impact investment.
Nick Temple (SEUK) – Nick is Deputy CEO of Social Enterprise UK. Before joining SEUK, he was working as an independent consultant with organisations including The Guardian, British Council and the London School of Economics.
Nick is on the board of the SROI Network and was previously the Director of Policy & Communications at the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
A published poet, formerly homeless, John Smallshaw who graduated from the House of St Barnabas Employment Academy, will share his journey from homelessness to hope.
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Rail firm goes back to 30-years to boost reliability
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Published: 10 September 2007
First Great Western, which has been condemned for poor service on its routes serving Paddington, will replace the trains in favour of 30-year-old InterCity 125s.
The company will begin replacing the 14-strong Adelante fleet, which cost more than £70 million, at the end of the year. A spokesman said the 10-train InterCity fleet would prove "far more reliable".
Earlier this year FGW came bottom in a survey of timekeeping and reliability compared with other operators serving London.
There have been numerous problems, frequently caused by train faults, but also as a result of track and signal breakdowns, the responsibility of Network Rail. The situation became so bad that Brian Cooke, London Travelwatch chairman, called for FGW to be stripped of its franchise. The operator was also condemned for chronic over-crowding with many commuters long resigned to not getting a seat.
The issue was highlighted by the Evening Standard's A Seat For Every Commuter campaign.
The FGW spokesman said thousands more seats would be available as a result of the train fleet change.
The InterCity stock will boost the remainder of FGW's 53-strong high-speed fleet.
Five-carriage Adelante trains have 280 seats compared with 510 on an InterCity. The FGW spokesman added: "The changes will come into effect from the end of the year. Also, the remainder of our high-speed fleet is being re-engined to provide a far more reliable service.
"In total we are spending £63 million on improvements." Mr Cooke was threatened with legal action after he condemned FGW for poor service. He said then: "In the past year FGW's performance has been deteriorating.
"There were more late trains, over-crowding is worse and passengers are less satisfied with their service."
He said it was accepted that many delays were caused by NR failures. "But passengers do not care one jot who has delayed his or her journey."
Mr Cooke said of the train fleet change: "We would welcome any move which provides desperately needed improvements - both in train reliability and to ease overcrowding.
"FGW is to be congratulated for taking this major step and replacing the trains which have proved so unreliable."
InterCity trains first came into operation in 1973 and one set a record of 143.2mph. But they have never travelled at that speed in service because of track and signal limitations..Ludek Vojtechovský scorns the attractions of the never ending cycle of newly discovered, perfect cameras that produce any type of photograph simply by pushing a button. He’d rather lock himself in a darkroom with his enlarger and use the white surface of sensitive photographic paper or a negative to create photographs in accordance with his own desires – in harmony, from gray to white to a velvety black. He is of his own choice a solitary walker amid the hunters of accidental encounters.Mauna Loa, the biggest active volcano in the world, has erupted for the first time in 40 years with multiple lava flows edging towards the nearest main road in Hawaii
Residents living near the Hawaiian volcano of Mauna Loa have been put on standby to evacuate as the ongoing eruption spews fountains of lava up to 60m (200ft) in the air.
This is the first time the volcano, which is the largest active one in the world, has erupted in 40 years.
Shelters have been opened in case the current situation takes a turn for the worse and the highest level warnings have already been issued to air traffic in the area.
Three fissures have erupted sending pillars of lava high into the air with the highest being estimated as between 30-60m (100-200ft).
Thankfully scientists have said all indications the eruption will remain in the Northeast Rift Zone of the fearsome mountain where few people are threatened.
Lava in the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years (
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued the highest level volcano alerts for people on the ground and flying overhead.
The most severe volcano alert-level is Warning which means: "Hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected."
Lava flows have been creeping towards civilisation (
Anyone in planes nearby are warned to expect volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
Currently lava flows are not threatening any downslope communities.
The shelters opened by authorities can be found at Kekuaokalani Gym at Kailua Park (Old A's) in Kona and Robert Herkes Gym in Pahala (Ka'u Gym).
Lava spews from Mokuaweoweo Crater down Mauna Loa's northeast rift on November 28 2022 (
By 1.30pm on Monday three fissures had erupted but only the lowest of the three fissures was still active.
A statement from the USGS said: "Estimates of the tallest fountain heights are between 100–200 ft (30 – 60 m), but most are a few yards (metres) tall. "
Lava has been flowing towards Saddle Road but one flow has stalled 11 miles away with others edging closer.
Still they remain at above 10,000 feet elevation and over 10 miles (