Travel and Lifestyle Press Releases Wednesday May 21, 2014 13:06

Bangkok--21 May--W Retreat Koh Samui

Sunshine, spice, and everything nice like swaying hammocks, epicurean tastings, turquoise water, and pristine beaches. Resplendent with charm, W Retreat Koh Samui is the epitome of a tropical retreat, a heavenly haven in the Gulf of Thailand.

Surrounded by lush foliage, your secluded villa is miles away from the everyday, with all of Ws signature pamperings at your fingertips. Stylishly designed to fit into the natural tropical landscape, indulge in modern luxury amid spectacular nature.

More energy and more fun in the most glamorous Weekend! Enjoy our special weekend offer including:

Rates starting from THB 20,000+++ for stays booked and completed by July 15, 2014.

Explore whats New / Next at W Retreat Koh Samui http://www.wretreatkohsamui.com

W Retreat Koh Samui features 74 private pool retreats, offering a range of options from panoramic views high atop the Samui hillside to direct beach access on the shoreline below. Each villa is equipped with modern elements, including private plunge pool, daybed, an outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 46-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, and signature W bed. W Retreat Koh Samui will also offer Ws signature Whatever/Whenever concierge service, providing guests and residents with whatever they want from a Champagne brunch on a deserted beach to an intimate sunset wedding on a stretch of Koh Samuis glistening sand whenever they want it, as long as its legal!

Sunshine, spice, and everything nice like swaying hammocks, epicurean tastings, turquoise water, and pristine beaches. Resplendent with charm, W Retreat Koh Samui is the epitome of a tropical retreat, a heavenly haven in the Gulf of...

Boasting a refreshed new look and feel, Dusit International presents its updated proprietary website http://www.dusit.com, now live! In an effort to boost user engagement and update its online presence, Dusit International has revamped its website, complete...

Originally posted here:
W Retreat Koh Samui Reveals Weekend Refuel Offer

A meticulous attention to detail in the design and construction created a spectacular hillside estate that sprawls atop a 14.25-acre lot offering panoramic views of Mt. Diablo.

About 7,478 square feet of living space wraps around a lavish indoor pool and spa with a two-story waterfall that rivals any luxury resort while the grounds provide an ideal horse property with room to roam.

Designed by architect Jan Hamby of Danville, the home at 1401 Dutch Mill Drive in Danville took more than a year to build in 1986. A $450,000 recently completed, floor-to-ceiling remodel included a 50-year stone-coated, steel roof; tri-color paver driveway, custom wrought-iron balustrades and railing, stone tile flooring, new kitchen appliances, updated bathrooms, exterior and interior paint, custom lighting, epoxy garage flooring and refreshed landscape.

A meticulous attention to detail in the design and construction created a spectacular hillside estate that sprawls atop a 14.25-acre lot offering panoramic views of Mt. Diablo. (Photo by Coldwell Banker, Team Ohlmeyer)

A multitude of large windows invite an abundance of natural light including two-story windows in the expansive foyer overlooking the pool and a stunning front door with leaded glass inset, side panels and arched transom.

At the center of the home is an enclosed four-season, solar-heated swimming pool and spa with a soaring, two-story ceiling, five 8-foot sliding glass doors along its backside and a waterfall cascading down boulders. Additionally there is a stone two-sided fireplace, built in barbecue, and lots of room to entertain poolside amidst lush, tropical foliage.

There are five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms in the main part of the house including one poolside. The attached guest/in-law quarters has two bedrooms and one full bathroom in addition to a living room, dining area, full kitchen and private covered deck with views of distant hillsides.

In addition to the formal living and dining rooms that showcase stamped steel ceilings and decorative millwork, there is a separate paneled game room with boxed beam ceiling and adjacent media room that opens to the pool area and shares a two-sided fireplace with the pool area, and an additional private office space that overlooks the pool from upstairs.

Expansive decks span the back of the home and provide perfect vistas of Mt. Diablo and rolling hillsides. A private covered deck is off the guest quarters.

A meticulous attention to detail in the design and construction created a spectacular hillside estate that sprawls atop a 14.25-acre lot offering panoramic views of Mt. Diablo. (Photo by Coldwell Banker, Team Ohlmeyer)

The rest is here:
One of a kind: Expansive Danville estate with panoramic views and horse property

It seems artistic inspiration can be found throughout the New Mexico landscape -- and maybe even beneath it, as our Lee Cowan has discovered:

In the high desert of northern New Mexico, if you listen carefully, you might just hear something more than the wind. It's the underground sound of a man obsessed.

17 Photos

The artist has dug epic works of art, and even homes, out of New Mexico's sandstone hills

"Do you think you're obsessed with cave digging?" asked Cowan.

"Would you call a child being obsessed with play?" replied Paulette. "You wouldn't use that word 'obsessed.' You know, when you're doing something you love and are drawn to it, you want to do it all the time."

He calls them his wilderness shrines -- massive in scale, poetic in their design. If his work takes your breath away, that's just what he hoped it would do.

"I see this as an environmental project; I'm trying to open up people's feelings," he said.

One small opening pales in comparison to the cavern he's dug inside. It took close to 900 hours to dig.

He sees himself as a magician playing with space both big and small, to create what he calls the "cave effect."

Read this article:
The cave digger: Hewing art from the very landscape

Dene Moore, The Canadian Press Published Sunday, May 18, 2014 8:14AM EDT Last Updated Sunday, May 18, 2014 1:56PM EDT

VANCOUVER -- The mountains of British Columbia cradle glaciers that have scored the landscape over millennia, shaping the rugged West Coast since long before it was the West Coast.

But they're in rapid retreat, and an American state-of-the-union report on climate change has singled out the rapid melt in British Columbia and Alaska as a major climate change issue.

"Most glaciers in Alaska and British Columbia are shrinking substantially," said the U.S. National Climate Assessment, released last week to much fanfare south of the border.

"This trend is expected to continue and has implications for hydropower production, ocean circulation patterns, fisheries, and global sea level rise."

According to the report, glaciers in the region are losing 20 to 30 per cent of what is melting annually from the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has received far more worldwide attention.

That amounts to about 40 to 70 gigatons per year, or about 10 per cent of the annual discharge of the Mississippi River.

"The global decline in glacial and ice-sheet volume is predicted to be one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise during this century," the report said.

It is some of the fastest glacial loss on Earth. The cause: rising temperatures due to climate change.

"We've seen an acceleration of the melt from the glaciers," said Brian Menounos, a geography professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and one of the scientists involved in cross-border, multi-agency research into glacial loss.

Original post:
Rapid melt of B.C. glaciers cited as cause for concern in U.S. climate report

Dene Moore, The Canadian Press Published Sunday, May 18, 2014 8:14AM EDT Last Updated Sunday, May 18, 2014 1:56PM EDT

VANCOUVER -- The mountains of British Columbia cradle glaciers that have scored the landscape over millennia, shaping the rugged West Coast since long before it was the West Coast.

But they're in rapid retreat, and an American state-of-the-union report on climate change has singled out the rapid melt in British Columbia and Alaska as a major climate change issue.

"Most glaciers in Alaska and British Columbia are shrinking substantially," said the U.S. National Climate Assessment, released last week to much fanfare south of the border.

"This trend is expected to continue and has implications for hydropower production, ocean circulation patterns, fisheries, and global sea level rise."

According to the report, glaciers in the region are losing 20 to 30 per cent of what is melting annually from the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has received far more worldwide attention.

That amounts to about 40 to 70 gigatons per year, or about 10 per cent of the annual discharge of the Mississippi River.

"The global decline in glacial and ice-sheet volume is predicted to be one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise during this century," the report said.

It is some of the fastest glacial loss on Earth. The cause: rising temperatures due to climate change.

"We've seen an acceleration of the melt from the glaciers," said Brian Menounos, a geography professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and one of the scientists involved in cross-border, multi-agency research into glacial loss.

Read this article:
Unprecedented melt of glaciers adding to U.S. climate change concerns

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The Trans-Canada Highway through the Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park in British Columbia. The rocky peaks are the Selkirk Mountains. The Canadian Press Images/Don Denton

VANCOUVER The mountains of British Columbia cradle glaciers that have scored the landscape over millenia, shaping the rugged West Coast since long before it was the West Coast.

But theyre in rapid retreat, and an American state-of-the-union report on climate change has singled out the rapid melt in British Columbia and Alaska as a major climate change issue.

Most glaciers in Alaska and British Columbia are shrinking substantially, said the U.S. National Climate Assessment, released last week to much fanfare south of the border.

This trend is expected to continue and has implications for hydropower production, ocean circulation patterns, fisheries, and global sea level rise.

According to the report, glaciers in the region are losing 20 to 30 per cent of what is melting annually from the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has received far more worldwide attention.

That amounts to about 40 to 70 gigatons per year, or about 10 per cent of the annual discharge of the Mississippi River.

The global decline in glacial and ice-sheet volume is predicted to be one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise during this century, the report said.

It is some of the fastest glacial loss on Earth. The cause: rising temperatures due to climate change.

Read the original post:
Climate change report says B.C. glaciers melting rapidly

My Fortune, Bengaluruis all set to redefine the citys hospitality landscape with its prime downtown location at the epicentre of the commercial business district, on Richmond Road. After the success of the first property in Chennai under the new brand My Fortune, My Fortune, Bengaluru plans to attract both domestic and international travellers with its young and energetic offerings.

A stylish hotel that offers spirited service to savvy travellers, My Fortune, Bengaluruprovidesarange of accommodation options allowing you to choose the one that is best suited to your needs, be it business or leisure.

Commenting on the launch, Suresh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Fortune Park Hotels Ltd., said, There was a need felt for creating hotels that are contemporary, smart, young and vibrant with focus on technology, yet warm and caring. We are extremely happy and proud that My Fortune has been introduced under the Fortune banner and are confident that it would be firmly established as a successful brand with a strong identity in the times to come.

With a striking building faade finished with facing bricks along with glazing glass which allows natural daylight inside all rooms, My Fortune stands 9 floors tall over a built-up area of more than 15,000 sq. m.Nestled in the green cover of lush trees surrounding the hotel, the view invokes freshness and is a treat for the tired eyes.

Exuding a quiet elegance, the hotel features well-appointed rooms including 79 Standard Rooms, 32 Fortune Club Rooms and 4 Suites. Catering to the endless requirements of the demanding business traveller, the rooms are thoughtfully equipped with comfortable seating and work desks that are handy for carrying out business functions seamlessly. Conferencing and banqueting space to accommodate 400 persons and functional public spaces designed for interaction. The 24x7 business centre, My Business Point, provides our guests with all desired resources at their quick disposal.

For that much-needed work cleanse, patrons can indulge in a spot of luxurious rejuvenation at the Wellness Centre that is equipped with a languid spa, sun-kissed swimming pool and state-of-the-art gymnasium. Gourmands can experience the finest of cuisine atMy Indian Oven, the speciality restaurant that offers a cuisine that is enchantingly Indian orMy Caf, the 24 hour multi-cuisine restaurant. The bar & lounge,My Space, showcases the best of domestic and imported spirits and liquor.

Stylish, spirited and savvy, My Fortune, Bengaluru is a modern and trendy hotel with young, vibrant and tech-enabled features that set it a class apart.

Fortune Park Hotels Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Ltd. and is India's fastest growing chain of first class, full service business hotels, with71 signed alliancesand5632 rooms, across55 citiesin the country.

The Fortune Hotels brand is further sub-categorised as; Fortune Select, Fortune Park, Fortune Inn and Fortune Resort-each catering to specific needs. My Fortune, the latest addition to the Fortune brand portfolio, is positioned at high end of pyramid, with the first hotel in Chennai and second hotel now flagged off in Bengaluru.

Fortune Park Hotels Ltd. brand philosophy is driven by its objective to provide contemporary accommodation that makes Good Business Sense to business and leisure travellers through its wide range of accommodation in pertinent destinations, with emphasis on efficient service and great value.

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Bengaluru welcomes My Fortune Hotel

Marcel Haniff saw the pair splashing around and shouting in the pool He thought Komba Kpawiki and Josephine Foday were 'joshing about' Later saw their bodies in the water and thought it was part of mystery event Mr Haniff ran to reception for help when horrific realisation dawned The pool's safety CCTV was not working at time of incident

By Sam Webb

Published: 11:27 EST, 13 May 2014 | Updated: 02:25 EST, 14 May 2014

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A hotel guest who witnessed two people drowning in an unsupervised hotel swimming pool thought they were 'joking' as part of an elaborate Murder Mystery weekend, an inquest has heard.

Komba Kpakiwa, 31, and Josephine Foday, 22, were discovered floating in an indoor 10.5-metre swimming pool at Down Hall Country House Hotel in Hatfield Heath on the Essex and Hertfordshire border.

Hotel guest, Marcel Haniff, made the grim discovery shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday, April 27 last year.

Josephine Newahun Foday, left, and Komba Kpakiwa, right, were found drowned at the Down Hall Country House Hotel in Hatfield, Essex

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Witness to drownings of married father and lover in hotel swimming pool

As the volume of data grows, organisations will need to democratise the use of analytics and make data-driven decision making intrinsic to their culture.

Over the last decade, businesses have undergone a transformation. The dynamic landscape has given rise to ill-defined and continuously shifting business problems. For example: how are my customer preferences changing? Who should I target? What is the right pricing model for different products?

In order to address such problems, organisations across industries are shifting from a knowledge-based to a learning-based approach. They can no longer rely on gut or past experience. They have to rely on the latest available information to infer and learn from, before making decisions.

This trend has been enhanced by the data age, where organisations are progressively looking to leverage data and institutionalise data driven decision making.

It is for this reason that many have gone on to term data as the economys new oil. However, as the volume of data grows, organisations will need to democratise the use of analytics and make data driven decision making intrinsic to their culture.

Ironically, even with so much data available, its true value has not been fully unleashed. One reason for this could be the severe talent shortage in the analytics realm. Research Organisation Gartner predicts that by 2015, Big Data will create 4.4 million jobs globally. Another alarming projection suggests only one-third of these positions will be filled. Make no mistake; we are not referring to people who at the core possess just one kind of skill. Rather, we are referring to people who are able to cull meaningful insights and findings from chunks of disparate data and information sources to enable better decisions.

Potent skills

Decisions is the operative word here. Although there is a lot of hype and talk around Big Data, organisations need to focus on the journey from Big Data to Big Decisions.

What is imperative for companies to understand is that as they embark on the journey of making data-driven decisions even the typical skills associated with the now popular term Data scientist may not be sufficient.

While a lot has been written about data scientists, we believe that the skills that they bring to the table need to be augmented. Just data, math and technology skills are not sufficient. One needs to take an interdisciplinary approach comprising a potent combination of skills such as applied math, business acumen, technology, design thinking, behavioural sciences as well as the ability to work with people. In this regard, what organisations really need is professionals from Decision Sciences.

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Why big data analytics needs huge talent

The Penn State Center, Pittsburgh Community Services and state Sen. Jim Ferlo have teamed up to combine two Allegheny County grants to leverage foundation support for a green infrastructure project in the East End's 15206 ZIP code area.

Project 15206 and the East End Rain Container Initiative have received $250,000 grants each from the County Infrastructure and Tourism Fund to target 10 sites in five neighborhoods to reduce storm runoff in the Negley Run and Heth's Run watersheds. Rapid runoff in August 2011 contributed to four deaths in floodwaters on Washington Boulevard.

Penn State Center has overall charge of the project and will coordinate site design, construction of wetlands, rain gardens and bioswales and work with TreeVitalize to strategically plant trees through 2015.

Community meetings have begun. The next one is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 28 at the Kingsley Association in Larimer.

Pittsburgh Community Services and Mr. Ferlo's staff have begun outreach and already have 250 households committed to having rain containers installed. There are funds for 400 containers that will be supplied by the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association's StormWorks program. Depending on people's incomes, they will be installed for free or at reduced cost.

Consultant Matt Graham of Landbase Systems estimates that 400 rain containers properly installed and drained of two-tenths of a gallon per hour -- a slow drip -- into a backyard or garden can prevent 2 million gallons of water from entering storm sewers each year.

"Whatever we do," said Deno De Ciantis, director of the Penn State Center in Pittsburgh, "our facilities will have to handle peaks. We need to align all the thinking among policy makers, design people, water scientists and residents so we can be as effective as possible in every opportunity to mitigate storm water," he said.

That likely will require changes to municipal regulations that conflict with rain infrastructure, he said.

The city of Pittsburgh will contribute funds and labor and the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will monitor the sites. Three of the 10 proposed sites are between North Negley and Stanton avenues in Morningside and Highland Park. One is in East Liberty between South Negley and Centre Avenue -- the former Penn Circle South. A cluster of four straddles Washington Boulevard in Larimer and Homewood. One is above Washington Boulevard in Lemington and one is along Negley Run Boulevard in Highland Park.

Lisa Kunst Vavro, a landscape architect and the sustainable environments manager for the Penn State Center, said Negley Run is "the top priority because of the flooding that claimed four lives. By the end of May we should be full force into design."

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Groups pool grants to reduce storm water in East End