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Sunday, September 5, 2010
La Quinta Inn comes to Panama
Goldberg said the limited-service brand, based in Dallas, is planning for “explosive” growth in Mexico, Latin America South America and continuing its “aggressive growth” in the U.S.
The numbers tell the story. Rajiv K. Trivedi, Executive Vice President of Franchise & Chief Development Officer, said La Quinta plans to open five hotels in Mexico this year and has up to 20 properties under development in Mexico, as well as 15 others in the pipeline in Central America. New construction on a hotel in Panama is expected to start this year and the brand is reviewing conversion opportunities in Panama.
Although no properties are in the pipeline for South America, Trivedi said the brand has started discussions and is establishing infrastructure with employees on the ground developing relationships.
“In the entire region, Columbia and Brazil have the biggest opportunities after Mexico,” he said.
Goldberg added that Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala are target markets. The company also is looking east, and plans to introduce its brand to China and India.
The challenge is to maintain control of the brand and, as Trivedi put it, find the right path. That means determining the right ownership structure -- a management contract, a franchise or a combination -- and building the type of hotel that will meet the changing needs of guests.
The model for select service is different internationally, Trivedi said, in that they should have a lounge and a small F&B operation. That’s a change in profile for the brand, he said.
New construction hotels are creating a mid-tier for the emerging middle class in Latin America. Some of these countries may have resorts, but they lack select-service properties.
“Because of all of these changes, it has become more appropriate for select service to be there,” he said. “It will provide better margins than any other segment of our industry.”
Entering Autos that took place at the Laquinta Inn in Dublin
La Quinta Inn & Suites Opens in Danbury, Connecticut
Southern Miss Volleyball Earns LaQuinta Inn Invitational Crown with 3-0 Sweep of Kennesaw State
Family Life Insurance Company
Universal Life Insurance
Do Some Research and Calculations When Planning Your Retirement
What You Need To Know About Life Insurance Policies
Term Life Insurance Plan Benefits Keep Families Secure
Why is a term life insurance plan worth your consideration? One great benefit is its stability. Many other long-range opportunities to invest your money carry with them significant risk in terms of fluctuation on value, which you will not encounter with term life.
While a stock market crash can wipe out your entire savings, or real estate markets can plummet, there is no factor that will devalue your international life insurance policy. This stability is especially important when you’re talking about something that can be the difference between your family being able and not being able to pay the bills each month.
Under a term life insurance plan, you will purchase a predetermined about of coverage, and that level will not fluctuate during the life of the policy. So the million dollar policy you buy at the outset of the plan will be worth the same 5 years in, 10 years in, 20 years in, etc. for the duration of the policy.
The process of obtaining a term life insurance quote is an easy one. One great way to do so is to go online. By providing some information about yourself, you can get a no-obligation quote. Or if you want to work with someone you are already comfortable with, you can talk to the agent who currently provides you with auto and home insurance.
As you think about the plan you are going to purchase, you will want to carefully plan the amount of coverage you need. Ask yourself what expenses need to be covered, and what can your family afford to pay without the policy. This will help you figure out the right policy value.
Also keep in mind that living overseas will carry with it certain expenses your beneficiaries will need to pay for. One such expense is repatriating your remains, which can be expensive. Make sure the policy has enough coverage for that cost as well.
Taking care of your family’s financial needs when you are no longer around to do so is an important priority. With a term life insurance policy, you can get robust financial coverage at a low investment and with no risk. Save your family the stress of trying to make ends meet each month without the support of your income, and provide an important safety net with term life insurance.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Overton window
Overview
At any given moment, the “window” includes a range of policies considered to be politically acceptable in the current climate of public opinion, which a politician can recommend without being considered too “extreme” or outside the mainstream to gain or keep public office. Overton arranged the spectrum on a vertical axis of “more free” and “less free” in regards to government intervention. When the window moves or expands, ideas can accordingly become more or less politically acceptable. The degrees of acceptance of public ideas can be described roughly as:
- Unthinkable Radical Acceptable Sensible Popular Policy
The Overton Window is a means of visualizing which ideas define that range of acceptance by where they fall in it. Proponents of policies outside the window seek to persuade or educate the public so that the window either “moves” or expands to encompass them. Opponents of current policies, or similar ones currently within the window, likewise seek to convince people that these should be considered unacceptable.
Other formulations of the process created after Overton's death add the concept of moving the window, such as deliberately promoting ideas even less acceptable than the previous "outer fringe" ideas, with the intention of making the current fringe ideas acceptable by comparison (This might be a form of the “Door-in-the-face technique" of persuasion.)
Overton's rule is over!
It is the 1980s. Ernst Overton at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) declares that those substances that dissolve in lipids pass more easily into a cell than those that dissolve in water. He then diligently applies himself to the development of an equation that would allow the calculation of the time required by the substance to permeate through the cell barrier. Based on the lipophilicity (ability of a compound to dissolve in fats, oils and nonpolar solvents) of the substance he also goes as far as defining a parameter K, whose value dictates the speed of diffusion; that is, the higher the value of K, the faster the permeation rate. So far, so good. For over a century, scientists of a variety of disciplines have adhered to Overton's rule and used his equation to shape their studies.
Unfortunately, Overton was wrong, very wrong. It is 2008 and a team of researchers at Warwick University (UK) have now proved that exactly the opposite phenomenon occurs: studying the diffusion of a variety of acids through the cell membrane it is the most lipophilic compounds that are transported slowest. In fact, their research suggests that the real transport rates could be up to a hundred times slower that predicted by Overton's rule.
So how is it possible that Overton got it so wrong and that the rule has remained unchallenged for more than 100 years? It is worse than that. "The important point is really how other researchers have confirmed Overton's rule many times in the past two to three decades," Professor Patrick Unwin, lead researcher of the scientific team, says. He blames the technology: "Techniques in recent years have employed rather inefficient and fairly ill-defined mass transport to move molecules up to the membrane, which makes it difficult to accurately measure fast membrane transport with confidence." Additionally, measuring the rate of transport of compounds across a membrane is very challenging "because, at the simplest level, there are two processes in series — diffusion to and from the membrane and transport across it — and the slowest step is what is measured."
The technology developed by the scientific team at Warwick University allowed them to observe every step of the diffusion process and investigate up close what really happens at the cell boundary. "We use piezoelectric positioners, similar to those used in our other recent work with ultramicroelectrodes, except that by coupling electrochemistry and confocal microscopy, we can also visualise the electrode position with high accuracy. The electrode can thus be placed at a precise, quantifiable distance from the membrane without touching it."
The research team are excited with their discovery and are looking to use this technique to examine the diffusion of other compounds into the membrane cells. "We can tackle any process," says Unwin "where we can detect an ion or molecule by fluorescence, which opens up a wide range of possibilities." Other techniques will also be explored: "in addition to the solid electrodes used in this study, we can also use micro- and nanopipettes to deliver reagents locally in a controlled manner via an applied current or potential."
For the scientific community in general the implications of this finding are huge: "Text books will have to be rewritten," says Unwin. For drug developers in particular, this discovery is of paramount importance for the development and testing of drugs. "Drug companies may want to review whether an initial screen of candidate drug efficacy based the measurement of partition coefficient is necessarily a good indicator of permeation. There may be candidates that make it through initial screening, despite actually having poor membrane transport properties and, conversely, candidates with good transport dynamics that are rejected on the basis of partitioning alone. Our methodology could also readily be developed to look at protein and ion channel activity in model membranes and living cells."
Jeff Overton's consistent year has him climbing the US Ryder Cup chart
AKRON, Ohio — Even avid golf fans might be surprised to see who is No. 4 in the U.S. Ryder Cup team rankings this week.
Tiger Woods? Nope. He's ninth. Stewart Cink? He's at No. 13.
Try Jeff Overton, hardly the name that comes to mind when you consider the best American players in 2010.
"It's not like I'm Tiger Woods," he said. "Maybe if we could ever win instead of finish second, maybe we'd have a little better chance of (being known)."
Overton is listed so high among U.S. golfers for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor because he's played consistently well all year. He's had three seconds and two thirds, barely missing out on his first career win several times.
On Sunday at the Greenbrier Classic, it took Stewart Appleby's stirring 59 in the final round to beat him. The 27-year-old Indiana University graduate also was runner-up at the Zurich Classic and the Byron Nelson.
"This year I've been able to get inside the top three a lot, but I haven't been able to get that win," he said Wednesday, the day before the start of the Bridgestone Invitational. "Hopefully, I'll be able to keep plugging along.
"Like (former British Open champion) Ian Baker-Finch said, 'You keep knocking on the door enough times, eventually something is going to happen.' "
Overton's scoring average is 69.81, third-best on the PGA Tour. He is 12th on the money list with more than US$2.4 million. He's up to No. 47 in the world rankings after starting the year at No. 186.
A native of Indiana, he is the son of a former baseball player and quarterback at Indiana State. He said he gets his competitive fire from his dad.
He also dates an opera singer.
Asked where they met, he laughed and said, "Bloomington, Ind., the No. 1 opera school in America."
Overton said he knows about as much about opera as his girlfriend knows about golf.
For instance, his girlfriend's mother came out to see him play once. He made a bogey and she said, "What did he do? He made a bogus?"
So far this year, he's been anything but bogus when climbing those Ryder Cup charts.
"(Making the team) would be half the goal, and then the next half of the goal would be to figure out a way to go win the USA some points," he said.
That was perhaps the case for Justin Rose for his first decade as a professional. In six full years (and parts of four or five others), he never won on American soil. Second-place finishes at the Texas Open in '06, Bridgestone in '07 and Memorial in '08 not only whetted his appetite for winning, but also increased questions about why he wasn't winning.
Rose turned 30 last week but he's been celebrating all year in the U.S.
Wins at the Memorial and AT&T National have pushed him up the charts in the world rankings. He was 70th to start the year but is now 19th. After years of promise mixed with disappointment, he is considered a threat to win every tournament.
"I said before I started winning that my game was in great shape," he said Wednesday. "I didn't need to do anything different; I didn't need to work on anything.
"I guess it was the patience factor of just letting it happen."
Rose was born in South Africa and raised in England. He now has homes in London and Orlando, Fla.
Some athletes begin to press when they don't meet their own or others' expectations. The difference for Rose was letting go.
"The switch for me was ... just letting it come out on the golf course, just letting my game sort of go to the first tee, not getting in my own way," he said. "It's a very simple mindset to talk about, much harder to do."
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59 FALLOUT: It's difficult for the typical once-a-week golfer to even contemplate how someone shoots a 59.
Stuart Appleby became the fifth player to shoot a 59 in a PGA Tour event when he won the Greenbrier Classic on Sunday by going 11-under over the last 18 holes.
Appleby, set to tee it off in Thursday's opening round of the Bridgestone Invitational, turned the front side in 6-under. The thought immediately came to him that if he maintained that he might just win the tournament.
"Then I eagled No. 12 and I thought, 'I'm on record pace,' " he said. "I thought there's nothing at the end of the round that's going to stand out to be a real test if I'm playing any good.
"There's no 500-yard, par-4s; there's birdie opportunities there. The course was very benign."
Still, he needed to continue to not just play well but to make birdies. As he traversed the back nine at the Old White, the word spread about what he had within his grasp. The pressure grew, because Appleby also knew.
"I thought, well, just got to keep hitting it close and see if I can make putts — and the putts just seemed to come to me," he said.
Always, his primary incentive was catching, then staying ahead of Jeff Overton.
"I sort of had two motivating forces," Appleby said. "One was to try and chase, and one was to also do something a bit unique."
WHO'S NO. 1? Tiger Woods has been No. 1 in the world golf rankings for the past 270 weeks. But he could fall from that perch this weekend at the Bridgestone Invitational.
If Woods wins, he stays No. 1. If second-ranked Phil Mickelson wins, he takes over the top spot. If third-ranked Lee Westwood wins, and Tiger finishes third or worse, he could be the world's top player.
Mickelson or Westwood could also take over No. 1 if they were to finish high and Woods were well back in the pack.
DIVOTS: The top 50 players in the world rankings are scheduled to play in the Bridgestone which has a purse of $8.5 million and pays $1.4 million to the winner. ... An older woman stood by the first tee Wednesday wearing a pink T-shirt that said, "You Thrill Me, Phil." ... Spectators who spend $75 on tournament merchandise receive a free ticket to Sunday's round. ... Appleby met his wife, Ashley, at a nearby restaurant 10 years ago during the Bridgestone. They've been married eight years.
Extended Stay Deluxe Suites Lake Buena Vista near Downtown Disney Area
Extended Stay Deluxe Suites is an all suites hotel located in Lake Buena Vista near Downtown Disney Resort Area. This exclusive property offers a complete range of amenities to meet the needs of leisure and business travelers.
The Extended Stay Deluxe Suites in Lake Buena Vista offers superior service and excellent amenities that you will not find in typical hotel room. Located in the Downtown Disney Area, this all suite hotel is just 3 miles from Walt Disney World, just minutes from dining, shopping and entertainment. It is the ideal choice for guests that prefer to make their own meals. It offers a convenient range of services like Complimentary continental breakfast daily, fully equipped kitchen, refrigerator, stovetop and microwave oven and dishwasher. Each suite offers superb comfort, fantastic service and friendly service. But best of all, you will find amenities that you won't find in a typical hotel room.
When staying at the this Lake Buena Vista all suite hotel you will enjoy:
- Complimentary continental breakfast daily
- All suites are studio style
- Kitchen with full size refrigerator, microwave, stovetop, toaster, coffee maker, dishes and utensils
- Automatic dishwasher in all suites
- Dining and cooking utensils provided
- In-room iron and ironing board
- Cable TV with premium channels
- Two phone lines
- Separate bath with hair dryer
- On-site guest laundry
- Fitness facility on-site
- Wireless high-speed Internet access (fees apply)
- Outdoor swimming pool and spa
- Same day dry cleaning service
- Excellent location! In Lake Buena Vista near Downtown Disney Area
- Is an Orlando Pet Friendly Hotel (fee applies)
- Complimentary incoming fax; Copy service and outgoing fax services are available for a small fee; Mail, faxes and packages delivered directly to guest rooms at the end of each business day.
- One "Full Housekeeping Service" is provided every third day and "Refresh Service" every other day. (Additional Full Service cleanings can be purchased at $10.00 per service)
Extended StayAmerica
Extended StayAmerica is an American hotel company. It was founded in 1995 in South Carolina as an extended-stay hotel, catering to businesspeople.
The first Extended StayAmerica hotels opened in 1995 by a number of founders including management from Blockbuster Video andAutoNation. In 1996, Extended Stay America acquired StudioPLUS, further continuing its growth. During this time, the company also acquired Crossland Economy Studios. The company also added various brands offering different levels of service, like Extended Stay Deluxe and StudioPLUS. By August 2001, the company was added to S&P 400.
Blackstone took Extended Stay America private in May 2004 to form a new company, Extended Stay Hotels. It paid close to $2 billion in cash as well as over $1 billion in debt. At the time, Extended Stay America had 425 hotels, but Blackstone added about 255 properties from other acquisitions including Homestead Village, which it agreed to buy for $600 million two months after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.[1]
In 2007 Extended Stay Hotels was sold to the Lightstone Group for $8 billion. The sale was one of the biggest non casino hotel deals in history.
On June 16, 2009, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing $7.1 billion in assets and $7.6 billion in liabilities. The company intends to keep operating all its properties through bankruptcy by using its substantial cash flow rather than debtor-in-possession financing.
Extended Stay America Princeton / South Brunswick
Welcome to Extended StayAmerica Princeton - South Brunswick. Our hotel is designed especially for longer stays with studios featuring fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work space… amenities you won't find in a typical hotel room.
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Business Services Our front desk can assist you with mail delivery and fax and copy service should you need it. |
Housekeeping Service One Full Housekeeping Service is provided for guests staying seven or more nights. Full Service includes dusting, vacuuming, changing linens and towels, emptying trash, cleaning of bathroom and kitchen, replenishing soap and toilet paper if needed and is performed once every seven days. Additional Full Service cleanings can be purchased at $10.00 per service. Towel exchange is available at the Front Desk for guests staying one to six nights. All guests can also purchase a Refresh Service at $5.00 per service. The Refresh Service includes replacing soiled towels, emptying trash, replenishing soap and toilet paper if needed, and making bed with existing linens. Dishes are not washed during either service. Please contact the hotel directly for additional information regarding our housekeeping services. |
Check In / Check Out Check-in time for arriving guests begins at 3 p.m. Check-out time for departing guests is 11 a.m. |
Cancellation Policy Must cancel reservation by 6pm local hotel time on day of arrival or the 1st night's stay, at the quoted rate plus tax, will be charged to the credit card holding the reservation. |
Pet Policy One pet is allowed in each guest room. A $25 per day non-refundable cleaning fee (not to exceed $150) will be charged the first night of your stay. Weight, size and breed restrictions may apply. Please contact the hotel directly with inquiries. |
Payment Policy It is the policy and practice of Extended StayAmerica to require payment in advance for guest rooms. At check-in, guests paying the nightly rate will be charged for their entire stay. Guests paying the weekly rate will be charged for the first week of their stay upon check-in. Children 17 years of age and under stay free with an adult in the same room. |
Travel Agent Commission 10% commission is paid for up to the first 7 nights only. Commission is paid within 30 days of the date of room consumption. Contact the General Manager at the property for commission issues |
Extended Stay backs new proposed offer: source
(Reuters) - U.S. hotels firm Extended Stay is favoring a new planned bid for it from investment companies Centerbridge Partners and Paulson & Co over a rival one on the table from a group led by Starwood Capital Group, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday.
The Starwood-led group had agreed to invest up to $905 million in Extended Stay America ESAIN.UL as part of a reorganization proposal to bring the hotel chain out of bankruptcy protection.
The Centerbridge/Paulson bid is slightly better economically than the Starwood one, the source said, although the details of what made the bid superior were not clear.
The Wall Street Journal, which earlier reported the developments, said the Centerbridge/Paulson group had promised not to charge fees.
However, the situation could change again, as an auction will be held in May for the hotel chain, the source said.
It was not possible to leave a message at offices for Paulson or Extended Stay outside business hours. Centerbridge could not immediately be reached for comment. Starwood declined to comment.
Extended Stay was bought in June 2007 by an investor group led by David Lichtenstein's Lightstone Group. It was forced into bankruptcy last year after its projected cash flows declined amid the recession and it could not keep servicing more than $7 billion in debt.
In February, Centerbridge and Paulson & Co agreed to invest up to $450 million in the company once it exits Chapter 11.
However, Starwood Capital said in March it submitted a bid which exceeded that offer, and the hotel firm switched its support to that offer.