The duty free and travel retail community assembled last month for the most important event in the industry’s history in the Asia Pacific region. TFWA Asia Pacific & GATE ONE2ONE, the annual conference and exhibition event in Singapore for stakeholders in the industry in the dynamic Asia Pacific region, was larger and better attended than at any time in its 17 year history, evidence of the growth potential of the trade in the dynamic Asia Pacific region.
Revenue from the global duty free and travel retail industry, and other non-aeronautical revenue streams such as advertising, food & beverage and car parking, is of immense importance to airports and to airlines. It not only provides vital funds for the maintenance and development of the airport facilities, its contribution to an airport’s coffers means that airport charges can be held down for airlines and consequently passenger fares can be kept down. It is estimated that 50% of an international airport’s revenue is derived from duty free, travel retail and other non-aviation activity. At Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, for example, commercial activities generate 60% of total revenues for the airport.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53836-tfwa
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today joined National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland and Safe Kids President and CEO Kate Carr for the kick-off of Child Passenger Safety Week to remind parents and caregivers to make sure that they are properly using and installing their child safety seats. A new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey shows that parents are making five significant mistakes when using car seats and booster seats. It also found that one in five parents do not read any instructions when installing seats.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57925-nhtsa-child-passenger-safety-week-2012
The Las Vegas High Roller reached new heights today as the observation wheel’s first passenger cabin was rotated to the highest point on the wheel’s rim. At 550 feet, the rotation of the cabin to the mid-center point of the rim officially makes the High Roller the world’s tallest observation wheel. As the focal point of The LINQ, Caesars Entertainment’s $550 million outdoor retail, dining and entertainment district, today’s feat marks a major milestone for the Las Vegas Strip attraction.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59296-linq-las-vegas-high-roller-observation-wheel-reaches-new-heights
A special double treat awaits China and Asia-bound travelers from New York on March 31, 2013 when Air China, China’s exclusive national flag carrier, upgrades its aircraft to the state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ER and increase its frequency from 7 to 11 per week for its nonstop New York-Beijing flights.
“Adding new flights is a response to a consistently growing passenger demand for more convenient nonstop services between New York and Beijing. Business or leisure travelers bound for Beijing or onward to domestic Chinese cities and other destinations in Asia such as Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Thailand and many others, stand to benefit the most from Air China’s increased capacity and convenient connecting flights,” Mr. Yuelong Zhou, Air China’s General Manager in New York, said.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60071-air-china-beijing-new-york-service-upgrade-to-boeing-777-300er
The production version of the new three-row, six/seven-passenger Santa Fe makes its world debut today at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, joining the two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport which has been on sale since August. The all-new Santa Fe delivers Hyundai’s recipe of bold design, high-output powertrains with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and a host of features to please drivers and passengers with high expectations for functionality, versatility and comfort. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date early next year.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59332-hyundai-2013-six-seven-passenger-santa-fe-2012-los-angeles-auto-show
How do you know when a step stool is safe for a senior to use? This video shows how the Senior Step Stool by Shure-Step was designed with the help of retirement community executive directors.
Princess Cruises has debuted a new look at how and why passengers cruise – as told through videos from Princess passengers themselves. Focusing on celebrations, these passenger accounts unveil many reasons for escaping completely on a cruise vacation.
The videos form the centerpiece of a new “Celebrations” campaign which launched today. Stories can be viewed at princess.com/celebrations, and Princess passengers who have recently celebrated a special occasion on board can submit their own stories at princess.com/sharestory before March 31, 2013 for a chance to win a 7-day Caribbean cruise for two aboard the new Royal Princess.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/59847-princess-cruises-celebrations-campaign/
Modern semitrailers for the most part do a good job of keeping passenger vehicles from sliding underneath them, greatly increasing the chances of surviving a crash into the back of a large truck, recent tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show. But in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear, most trailers fail to prevent potentially deadly underride.
Earlier research showed that the minimum strength and dimensions required for underride guards are inadequate, prompting the Institute to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2011 for tougher standards. The Institute also asked the agency to consider applying the standards to other types of large trucks, such as dump trucks that aren’t required to have any underride guards.
Child restraint manufacturers continue to roll out new booster seats that do a good job of improving the way an adult safety belt fits a typical booster-age child. This year, 19 of 31 new models evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earn the top rating of BEST BET, and one model is a GOOD BET.
The Institute began rating boosters five years ago because research indicated that most seats weren’t doing a good job of fitting safety belts correctly and consistently on children in a variety of vehicles. Boosters earn a rating of BEST BET, GOOD BET, Check Fit or Not Recommended, based on a protocol that involves measuring how three-point lap and shoulder belts fit a child-size test dummy seated in the booster on a stationary test fixture under four conditions that span the range of safety belt configurations in passenger vehicles. The evaluations focus on safety belt fit and don’t involve crash tests.
According to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than a third of children under age 13 who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2011 were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. To help eliminate these deaths, and as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, NHTSA is highlighting the important safety benefits associated with the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/63316-child-passenger-safety-week-is-sept-15-21
On Monday, September 29, The AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) joined Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) for FLY2014, a special event that marked the 15th anniversary of the ACAA and celebrated the completion of a $10 million renovation that created a new retail core in the Center Core of the airport’s airside terminal. The renovation was designed to reconfigure the layout of new retail units to address changes in passenger traffic and put stores squarely in the path of millions of travelers every year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7344751-airmall-pittsburgh-international-airport-celebrate-newly-renovated-center-core-fly2014-event/
Top Hybrids and Electric Cars Must Buy 2016 [ Buying Guide ]
Top Recommended Hybrids and Electric Cars
List Car you need to buy:
====== 2016 Tesla Model S ========
We owned a 2013 Tesla Model S for 18 months and despite numerous dealer visits and maintenance issues, we were ultimately sad to see it go. It's quick, comfortable, quiet, spacious, and can tote as much cargo as some crossover SUVs. The "85" version can go 265 miles on a charge, so range anxiety is a nonissue. We even drove ours from L.A. to New York in less than three days using Tesla's free Supercharger quick-charge network. We definitely have gripes, including some underwhelming interior trim pieces and a lack of small item storage. There's also the below-average reliability, although our dealer experiences were exceptional. So even though it's not perfect, the Model S remains our favorite electric car.
============2016 Kia Soul EV============
Kia's first real foray into the electric vehicle world is a success. In fact, the funky Soul is arguably more appealing when it swaps out its internal combustion engine for an electric motor. In our testing, the Soul EV went farther on a charge than its similarly sized and priced competitors, and then recharged quickly thereafter. It also doesn't suffer a reduction in cargo space versus the non-EV Soul, meaning it provides the utility of a small SUV rather than that of a small hatchback like its rivals. A long warranty and generous features are other benefits.
===============2015 BMW i3=============
BMW's i3 is a remarkable vehicle. Its main structure is made of light yet strong carbon fiber instead of the usual steel or aluminum. This helps reduce the i3's weight, which pays dividends for both electric range and performance. With its electric motor in back and the battery under the floor, the i3 boasts sporty acceleration and handling.
======= 2015 BMW i8 ===========
You want your plug-in hybrid to be a head-turning sports car? Look no further than the BMW i8, the two-door supercar for the environmentally conscious. Like the more attainable BMW i3, the i8 is built around a carbon-fiber passenger cell. But in the i8 an electric motor drives the front wheels and a turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine pushes from behind.
===== Luxury Hybrid 2016 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid =====
Porsche's flagship sedan is the Panamera, a low-slung four-door with a hatchback trunk. The 2016 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is the plug-in hybrid version, and it offers 16 miles of pure electric driving before the supercharged 3.0-liter gasoline V6 engine takes over. Acceleration, handling and braking are pure Porsche, which is something of a trick for a car this large. It's perfect for those shoppers
======= Hybrid SUV 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid =========
No other automaker bothers to offer a hybrid version of its three-row SUV. But Toyota's Highlander Hybrid doesn't earn a spot in our Buying Guide purely by default. It continues to show just how well the hybrid formula can be applied to a big, family-friendly crossover SUV. The hybrid version earns a 28 mpg combined estimate, or 7-8 mpg better than the V6-powered Highlander. In addition to that, the Highlander Hybrid offers solid build quality, respectable acceleration, a sophisticated and quiet ride quality and plenty of standard and available features.
====== 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2016 Toyota Prius =====
Substantial changes last year vaulted the Toyota Camry Hybrid onto our top-recommended list. Although it doesn't quite match the fuel economy of some competitors, the real-world cost of that difference is negligible. Plus, dismissing the Camry simply because of an mpg or two would mean missing out on an otherwise compelling sedan. Comfort remains a Camry priority, but this latest Camry Hybrid also handles pretty well.
====== Hybrid Cars 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid / Energi =====
The 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid is a great choice for car shoppers who are new to hybrids. It's quiet, comfortable and feels very much like a normal family sedan, while delivering the fuel economy you expect from a hybrid. It's also a Ford Fusion, which means you also get impressive refinement, good road manners and plenty of standard and available high-tech features.
======= 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf =====
Among entry-level EVs, the Volkswagen e-Golf is our favorite. It handles well, has a handsome interior, delivers class-competitive range and has the optimal equipment for quick battery recharging. What's even better, cargo space is unchanged from the non-EV Golf because the batteries are located under the floor.
