Trip Advisor News

TripAdvisor legal threat group reaches 300 hotels

Over 300 hotels are now involved in a potential legal action against TripAdvisor, a figure which has doubled in just four days after the initial group was first revealed.

The group is considering the action on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean after growing increasingly concerned about alleged defamatory reviews appearing on hotel pages on the user generated content-driven site.

A British reputation management service KwikChex is fronting the action on behalf of the hotels and confirmed today that over 300 had now applied to join its service, a prerequisite for getting support for any action against TripAdvisor as part of a larger group.

KwikChex CEO Chris Emmins says the company will be carrying out “some background checking” before taking on a business or submitting a grievance, “but the signs are good”.
TripAdvisor stated earlier this week that it would not comment on “threatened or pending litigation”.
The identities of the hotels in the group are currently undisclosed but the majority are believed to be located in the UK and the US, thus the reason for a dual action in both countries.
The subsequent publicity around the issue since earlier this week KwikChex and a string of articles and broadcasts due to appear in the coming days in UK and US media is expected to see an “increasing surge” of interest, Emmins claims.

A process is now in place to identify what KwikChex believes are the most serious incidences of defamation ahead of formal contact being made with TripAdvisor within days.

Emmins says:
“We have decided to present TripAdvisor with a list of the worst specific cases, plus a general call to correct certain aspects next week, together with a formal notice of action which means that we will add to the list as we clear them.”

Many hoteliers, despite TripAdvisor’s policy of allowing a hotel the right to reply, are angry because they believe comments in reviews are untrue and damaging to their business, or “legally unsubstantiated”.

Emmins has a string of additional complaints against TripAdvisor which may be incorporated into the potential legal action, including a demand to see the algorithm behind the rating system for hotels and issues around a bulletin titled Hotel Horror Stories which reproduces negative reviews of hotels and circulates to TripAdvisor members.

Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards 2010

GREGANS CASTLE HOTEL STRIKES GOLD


GREGAN’S CASTLE HOTEL, the chic country house hideaway nestled in the rugged landscape of the Burren, Co Clare, has been awarded the Irish hospitality industry’s highest accolade, the prestigious Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2010.

Owned and operated by husband and wife team Simon Haden and Frederieke McMurray, Gregan’s Castle won the top industry award at the 22nd Annual Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards, held in The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin on 20 September. The country house hotel triumphed ahead of hundreds of its peers in the Irish hotel and catering industry to win the coveted Gold Medal Award for Excellence after scooping the hotly-contested Gold Medal Award for Country Houses & Guesthouses, sponsored by Laurent-Perrier, earlier in the night.

Celebrating 22 years this year, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards are recognised as the leading independent awards programme for the Irish hospitality industry. Competition for the awards is intense, with a record number of entries in 2010. Entrants hailed from the four corners of Ireland and underwent a rigorous assessment process conducted by the Gold Medal Awards team of 14 expert industry judges, who travelled more than 27,500 kilometres across the island this summer to search for the Ireland’s best hotels, restaurants, caterers and hotel groups.

Gold Medal Award Winners, Finalists & Sponsors


As well as the supreme award, 14 category awards were presented at the gala awards ceremony. A total of 67 businesses were nominated as finalists in this year’s Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards, including 40 new category entrants.

Gold Medal Award for Five Star Hotels, sponsored by Edward Dillon & Co

Winner:
Park Hotel Kenmare



Finalists:
- Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Dromoland Castle Hotel, Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare
- Fota Island Resort, Cork
- The G Hotel, Galway
- Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
- Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry


Gold Medal Award for Four Star Hotels, sponsored by Aon Insurance

Winner:
Knockranny House Hotel



Finalists:
- The Brehon, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Harvey's Point, Lough Eske, Co Donegal
- Inchydoney Island Lodge, Co Cork
- Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford
- Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo


Gold Medal Award for Three Star Hotels, sponsored by Tourism Ireland

Winner:
The Headfort Arms Hotel



Finalists:
- Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
- The Blue Haven Hotel, Kinsale, Co Cork
- The Claregalway Hotel, Claregalway, Co Galway
- Downhill House Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo
- The Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, Co Meath
- Park Inn, Belfast


Gold Medal Award for Country Houses & Guesthouses, sponsored by Laurent-Perrier

Winner:
Gregan's Castle Hotel

Finalists:
- Gregan's Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
- Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co Galway
- Mount Falcon, Ballina, Co Mayo
- Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
- Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co Donegal
- Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath


Gold Medal Award for Hotel Groups, sponsored by Ireland.com

Winner:
The Doyle Collection


Finalists:
- The Doyle Collection
- The Moran & Bewleys Hotel Group
- Tifco

Gold Medal Award for Fine Dining Restaurants, sponsored by Paul Jaboulet

Winner:
One Pico



Finalists:
- The Dining Room at Gregan's Castle, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
- La Boheme, Waterford
- MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion, Co Cavan
- Moira's Restaurant at Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Dax Restaurant, Dublin 2
- One Pico, Dublin 2


Gold Medal Award for Bistros & Brasseries, sponsored by Champagne Pannier by Classic Drinks

Winner:
First Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols


Finalists:
- Bijou Restaurant, Rathgar, Dublin 6
- Crackpots, Kinsale, Co Cork
- First Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16
- Louie's Bistro, Dublin 1
- Perrott's Garden Bistro, Hayfield Manor, Cork
- West at The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway


Gold Medal Award for Casual Dining, sponsored by Campari

Winner:
Wild Honey Inn

Finalists:
- Itsa 4, Sandymount, Dublin 4
- Lord Kenmare's Restaurant, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Max's Restaurant & Wine Bar, Kinsale, Co Cork
- The Morning Star, Belfast
- The Tavern Bar & Restaurant, Murrisk, Co Mayo
- Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare


Gold Medal Award for Ethnic Restaurants, sponsored by Cobra

Winner:
Ananda

Finalists:
- Ananda, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16
- Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Co Wicklow
- Chameleon Restaurant, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
- Little Jerusalem, Rathmines, Dublin 6
- Rotana Café, Portobello, Dublin 2


Gold Medal Award for Cafés & Coffee Shops, sponsored by The Kenco Coffee Company

Winner:
Kay's Real Chefs, Real Food

Finalists:
- Café Noir, O'Connell Street, Limerick
- Café No.11 at The Old Bank House, Kinsale, Co Cork
- Kay's Real Chefs, Real Food, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin 15
- Partridge's Artisan Café, Gorey, Co Wexford
- Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silver Visitor Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare


Gold Medal Award for In House Caterers, sponsored by the National Hygiene Partnership

Winner:
Sodexo Northern Ireland at PSNI Seapark

Finalists:
- Aramark Ireland at Genzyme, Waterford
- Sodexo Northern Ireland at PSNI Seapark, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim
- Sodexo Ireland at APC Galway
- The Barristers Tea Rooms, The Four Courts, Dublin 7

Gold Medal Award for Institutional Caterers, sponsored by the National Hygiene Partnership

Winner:
St Brigid’s Hospital

Finalists:
- Black Olive Catering at Barrettstown, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare
- St Brigid’s Hospital, Shaen, Co Laois
- Aramark Healthcare at Beneavin Healthcare Campus, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
- Aramark Healthcare at University Hospital Galway, Galway
- Masterchefs Munster at Moffetts Restaurant, National University of Ireland, Galway


Gold Medal Award for Wine Experience, sponsored by Gleeson incorporating Gilbeys

Winner:
The Twelve Hotel

Finalists:
- Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford
- Max's Restaurant & Wine Bar, Kinsale, Co Cork
- No.1 Pery Square, Limerick
- Pinocchio, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
- The Twelve Hotel, Barna Co Galway
- The Cornstore, Cork


Gold Medal Award for Customer Experience, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland

Winner:
Cromleach Lodge

Finalists:
- Aghadoe Heights, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Doonbeg Lodge, Doonbeg, Co Clare
- Glenlo Abbey, Galway
- Harvey's Point Hotel, Lough Eske, Co Donegal
- Hayfield Manor, Cork
- The Merrion Hotel, Dublin


Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2010 Gregan’s Country House Hotel

Captain Morgan launches Facebook competition

A new Facebook promotion for Captain Morgan rum has been launched, seeking four people to represent Ireland in the ‘Captain’s Cup’ final in South Africa this July.

The final will see 10 countries battle it out to win the title and the Captain is seeking an Irish captain and three crew members to represent Ireland at the finals.

The Irish finalists will join finalists from Germany, Canada, Mexico, Cost Rica, Argentina, Denmark, Austria, Colombia and South Africa itself.


Competitors who wish to travel with Captain Morgan to the Finals in South Africa must first complete some fun and quirky challenges online via Facebook to make it to the National Finals which will take the form of a party night in Dublin this May.

The winner and his team of three friends will be crowned National Champions and will go on to South Africa for a fun-filled all expenses-paid week with The Captain himself that will take in activities and challenges from Johannesburg to Durban.

The contest is open to all above legal drinking age and the challenges, conducted via the Captain Morgan Ireland Facebook fan page, require fun-loving people who have a passion for adventure, a little creativity, and a winning spirit!
More details can be found on Captain Morgan’s Irish Facebook page which now has 36,000 Irish fans - www.facebook.com/captainmorganireland.

Marie Takes Up Part Time Residence

Aghadoe Heights Hotel , the glamorous General Manager Marie Chawke is to join the team at Residence in Dublin on a short-term, part-time basis.

Marie will divide her time between Aghadoe in Killarney and the private members' club on St Stephen's Green, commencing her role as executive director of business development next month. She is due to work with the club until next March, and will combine her duties in Residence with her management role in Aghadoe, which will open for a three day week (Thurs-Sun) from December until February.

Joining Marie in Residence, which was recently purchased by Olivia Gaynor Long, is former Doonbeg Golf Club assistant manager Seamus Dooley. Seamus takes over as general manager and will work with Derek Phillips, the club's newly appointed chief operations officer.

Twins Christian and Simon Stokes, who launched Residence in 2008 and landed in high-profile difficulties with the High Court earlier this year, have exited the business. 'I want to put on record our gratitude to both Simon and Christian Stokes, who are no longer part of the Residence team going forward,' said Olivia Gaynor Long in a email to members.

She added that the club is planning 'significant upcoming investment in our members experience at Residence, enhancing the level of service and exclusivity'

Pub Sales Fall 14%

The pub sector is 'in meltdown' with sales plunging by more than 14% this year as consumers switch to drinking at home, the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (has claimed.

Off-licence sales have risen by 15% oveer ther same period. Pub customers are also drinking less and switching to draught beer and away from spirits. Ten years ago, people were drinking an average of 14.4 litres of pure alcohol annually, but this has dropped to about 11.2 litres today.

DIGI estimated that 25,000 jobs could be lost by the end of the year in the drinks industry from a high of 100,000.

Licensed Vintners Association chief executive Donall O’Keeffe said in the short to medium term there is 'absolutely no sign of market conditions improving for the pub trade'.

Figures from DIGI show the pub sector suffered a 14.1% decline in the first seven months of this year following a near 9% decline last year. This is part of a wider trend of decline in the trade over the last decade that has seen the volume of bar sales fall 25% since 2000.

On a positive note the DIGI said the Government’s excise cut in last December’s budget has stemmed cross-border alcohol sales.

DIGI is asking the Government, in its pre-budget submission, to cut excise duty on alcohol and reduce commercial rates.

Richards Corrigan’s renamed The Cliff Townhouse

Following the departure of Richard Corrigan, Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill on Dublin's St Stephen's Green has been re-named as The Cliff Townhouse.

The restaurant and townhouse is owned by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, chief executive Barry O'Callaghan and has been rebranded as a sister enterprise to his boutique Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford.

Ireland Hotels Cheapest in Western Europe

Ireland has the cheapest hotel rooms in Western Europe, with room rates falling an additional 4% in the first six months of the year, according to the latest survey from Hotels.com.

Its Hotel Price Index reports that while hotel rates are starting to stabilise globally with a 2% increase in the first half of the year, here in Ireland the recovery is taking longer.

The Index shows that room rates in Dublin fell 7% from €78 to €73, making the city one of the least expensive major city destinations globally. Rates in Killarney dropped by 16% in the months January to June, falling to €93 in the second quarter. In Galway, rates declined by 12% to €98.

Top Rates

Kilkenny toppled Killarney to take the title of the most expensive destination in Ireland. Despite prices falling 14% year-on-year, the average room rate for a hotel in Kilkenny is €123 per night according to Hotels.com. Sligo and Castlebar were the only two areas to record an increase in the period. Room rates in Sligo were up 5% from €82 to €86 while hotels in Castlebar increased by 4%, bringing the average hotel room price to €77 per night.

Cork hotel prices fell a further 5% year-on-year to €76. Waterford remains the cheapest city in Ireland (€50) with prices down a further 11% compared to this time last year.

With an average room rate of €79 Ireland is now the fourth most inexpensive in the Eurozone after the Czech Republic (€76), Poland (€74) and Hungary (€70).

Rise in bedbugs prompts 'pandemic' fears

Millions of homes could be hit by an explosion in the bedbug population, after pest controllers reported infestations of the parasite rose 24 per cent in a year.

The bites of bedbugs are not thought to spread disease, but can cause itching.

The growing problem of bedbugs, which feed on the blood of humans during the night, comes after a major epidemic in America where numbers are at their highest since the Second World War.
Pest controllers warned that the world could be on the verge of a "bedbug pandemic", which could be complicated in Britain by the millions of bugs expected to be transported in the clothing of tourists travelling to the 2012 Olympics.

A spokesman for Rentokil said: "Bedbugs are becoming more of a pest problem in this country and around the world.

"A recent international survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky suggests the world is on the verge of a bedbug pandemic".
The insects, which at about a fifth of an inch long are visible to the naked eye, tend to enter homes in clothing or furniture but can also move between properties through wall and floor cavities.

They live in mattresses, bed frames, furniture near the bed and the join between the wall and floor, and come out at night attracted by the warmth of sleeping bodies and the carbon dioxide in breath.

Their bites are not thought to spread disease, but can cause itching.

Bedbugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate but numbers fell in the 1980s and 1990s. Scientists believe their revival could be down to an increase in international travel.

Other theories suggest they could be developing a tolerance to pesticides, the Daily Mail reported.

Gold Medal Finalists Decided

The 14 members of the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards Jury gathered last Friday to vote for their selection of finalists for the 2010 Gold Medal Awards.

With a record number of entries this year competition was fiercer than ever and members of the Jury were delighted to note that, despite the tough economic trading environment, standards were exceptionally high across the industry.

A total of 66 businesses have been nominated as finalists in the 22nd Annual Gold Medal Awards and this year's list includes 40 new category finalists.

Entrants will be notified this week of their progress in the 2010 Awards programme.

Following a busy summer travelling through the four provinces of Ireland to judge hotels, restaurants and catering operations, the Gold Medal Awards Jury have voted for their selection of finalists in this year’s Awards. A total of 67 businesses have been chosen to progress to the final round of the Gold Medal Awards, including 40 new category finalists.

They are:

Five Star Hotels
- Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Dromoland Castle Hotel, Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare
- Fota Island Resort, Cork
- The G Hotel, Galway
- Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork
- Park Hotel Kenmare, Co Kerry

Four Star Hotels
- The Brehon, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Harvey's Point, Lough Eske, Co Donegal
- Inchydoney Island Lodge, Co Cork
- Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford
- Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo

Three Star Hotels
- Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
- The Blue Haven Hotel, Kinsale, Co Cork
- The Claregalway Hotel, Claregalway, Co Galway
- Downhill House Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo
- The Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, Co Meath
- Park Inn, Belfast

Country Houses & Guesthouses
- Gregan's Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
- Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co Galway
- Mount Falcon, Ballina, Co Mayo
- Tankardstown House, Slane, Co Meath
- Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co Donegal
- Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath

Hotel Groups
- The Doyle Collection
- The Moran & Bewleys Hotel Group
- Tifco

Fine Dining Restaurants
- The Dining Room at Gregan's Castle, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
- La Boheme, Waterford
- MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion, Co Cavan
- Moira's Restaurant at Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Dax Restaurant, Dublin 2
- One Pico, Dublin 2

Bistros & Brasseries
- Bijou Restaurant, Rathgar, Dublin 6
- Crackpots, Kinsale, Co Cork
- First Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16
- Louie's Bistro, Dublin 1
- Perrott's Garden Bistro, Hayfield Manor, Cork
- West at The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway

Casual Dining
- Itsa 4, Sandymount, Dublin 4
- Lord Kenmare's Restaurant, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Max's Restaurant & Wine Bar, Kinsale, Co Cork
- The Morning Star, Belfast
- The Tavern Bar & Restaurant, Murrisk, Co Mayo
- Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

Ethnic Restaurants
- Ananda, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16
- Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Co Wicklow
- Chameleon Restaurant, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
- Little Jerusalem, Rathmines, Dublin 6
- Rotana Café, Portobello, Dublin 2

Cafés & Coffee Shops
- Café Noir, O'Connell Street, Limerick
- Café No.11 at The Old Bank House, Kinsale, Co Cork
- Kay's Real Chefs, Real Food, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin 15
- Partridge's Artisan Café, Gorey, Co Wexford
- Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silver Visitor Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare

In House Caterers
- Aramark Ireland at Genzyme, Waterford
- Sodexo Northern Ireland at PSNI Seapark, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim
- Sodexo Ireland at APC Galway
- The Barristers Tea Rooms, The Four Courts, Dublin 7

Institutional Caterers
- Black Olive Catering at Barrettstown, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare
- St Brigid’s Hospital, Shaen, Co Laois
- Aramark Healthcare at Beneavin Healthcare Campus, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
- Aramark Healthcare at University Hospital Galway, Galway
- Masterchefs Munster at Moffetts Restaurant, National University of Ireland, Galway

Wine Experience
- Kelly's Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford
- Max's Restaurant & Wine Bar, Kinsale, Co Cork
- No.1 Pery Square, Limerick
- Pinocchio, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
- The Twelve Hotel, Barna Co Galway
- The Cornstore, Cork

Customer Experience
- Aghadoe Heights, Killarney, Co Kerry
- Cromleach Lodge, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo
- Doonbeg Lodge, Doonbeg, Co Clare
- Glenlo Abbey, Galway
- Harvey's Point Hotel, Lough Eske, Co Donegal
- Hayfield Manor, Cork
- The Merrion Hotel, Dublin

Liz Hurley's New Direction

Liz HurleyLiz Hurley is adding to her green credentials by launching a range of organic baby foods.

The new brand has apparently been inspired by her three-year-old son Damian.

She said: "I found all I wanted to do was give him perfect, unadulterated food. It would be wonderful to come up with good, maybe even convenience, food which is really healthy, low-calorie, organic and delicious."

Liz, 40, has already launched her own swimwear line.

The former partner of Hugh Grant, currently engaged to Arun Nayer, has recently become environmentally conscious.

She has joined the UK Soil Association - an organic food lobby - and is making her London home more eco-friendly.

New Fáilte for Kerry

Fáilte Ireland has establised a new tourism development forum for the Kingdom, Fáilte Kerry.

The forum will spearhead a three year development plan for tourism in the region with the active support from Fáilte Ireland.

Fáilte Kerry, which replaced the former South West Regional Tourism Development Board, is chaired by Padraic Liston, former managing director of Heineken Ireland.



He is joined on the forum by:

-Francis Brennan, Park Hotel Kenmare;
-Michael Buckley, Kerry Coaches and Buckley Tours;
-Patsy Cronin, national chairman of the Leader Network;
-Tom Curran, Kerry County Manager;
-Cllr Seamus Fitzgerald, nominated by Kerry County Council;
-Padraig Hanrahan, Ballybunion Holiday Homes;
-Nathan Kingerlee, Outdoors Ireland, Killorglin;
-Muireann Nic Giolla Rua, Benners Hotel and Dingle Tourism;
-Mary O'Connor, Derrynane House Hotel, Derrynane;
-Sean O'Driscoll, hotelier and chairman, Kerry Branch, Irish Hotels Federation;
-Mary Rose Stafford, Institute of Technology, Tralee;
-Fiona Buckley, head of operations, Fáilte Ireland South West.

"The establishment of 'Fáilte Kerry' will provide a renewed focus on what now needs to be done to grow tourism here in these testing times", said Fiona Buckley.

Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong to Be Highest Hotel in the World

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, will make a magnificent return to Hong Kong when it opens the world’s highest hotel in the city in the first quarter of 2011.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which will occupy floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Kowloon, will be a stylish and thoroughly modern hotel that truly reflects the sophistication, style and elegance of the Ritz-Carlton brand in a contemporary way.

Modern in design, the hotel will be the heart and soul of Hong Kong and will attract visitors from all over the world for its world-class style, design, service and its landmark location.

The hotel will offer 312 guest rooms all providing spectacular city and harbour views. Starting at 50sqm for a Deluxe Room, and reaching an incredible 365sqm for the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Suite, all rooms provide state-of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod docking stations and stylish flat screen TVs. In addition, Club room guests will enjoy the panoramic Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with complimentary food and beverage presentations 24 hours a day, as well as a dedicated Club Concierge, work stations, meeting rooms and WiFi throughout.

One of the unique aspects of the hotel, which reflects a move to more casual elegance of The Ritz-Carlton brand, will be its bars and restaurants, which have been stylishly designed by Japan’s Spin Studio and Wonderwall. With six dining venues starting on the 102nd floor, including state-of-the-art designer Chinese and Italian restaurants, and lobby lounge, the alfresco rooftop bar will be a truly stunning venue at 490 meters above sea level with outstanding views over Hong Kong. Asian-style tapas and contemporary cocktails will be served on the roof terrace, where fire pits and casual seating will create an atmosphere of stylish luxury. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will boast one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 930sqm. Elaborately decorated with a sea of crystal chandeliers, the décor is suited to weddings, meetings and gala events. Complimented by an additional four meeting rooms, the total of 1,300sqm of meeting space will become the new social centre for Hong Kong and will set the benchmark for events in the region.

For those wishing to relax and indulge, the ESPA located on 116th floor and consisting of 860sqm of treatment rooms and relaxation area, will re-define the urban spa experience in the city and across Asia. Featuring nine deluxe treatment rooms and three couples’ suites, every treatment room offers floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views where a world-class team of professional therapists ensure a spa experience like no other. The hotel also features a fully equipped fitness centre and an indoor pool on the 118th floor with a 28m x 7m LED screen on the ceiling that can display images. In the podium of the ICC tower, the 1,000,000sqm Elements shopping mall offers some of the finest shopping in Hong Kong with luxury brand names featured throughout this world-class location. The ICC will also host an Observation Deck on the 100th floor and offer direct connections to Hong Kong International Airport in 20 minutes and Central Hong Kong in five minutes. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will be very much at the heart of the city and will become a must-see tourist attraction when it opens in the first quarter of 2011.

Ireland: €29 mln welfare help for poultry farmers

Irish minister for agriculture, fisheries and food, Brendan Smith, has announced details of 2 new on-farm investment schemes designed to improve the standards of animal welfare for poultry production and sow housing. In a first reaction, the Irish Farming Association (IFA) said it is not enough.



The schemes – worth up to €29 mln – are part of a €113 mln targeted scheme for on-farm investment to support a series of specific categories of farmers, and focused on supporting productive investment, and are part of the revised Rural Development Plan 2007-2013. They follow an earlier €54 mln grassland sheep scheme, which the minister launched in April.

"These schemes reflect the continuing importance the government places on the maintenance of the highest standards of animal welfare in the Irish farming sector," Smith said.

"They represent a significant investment of a maximum of almost €30 mln in 2 key areas of production and will be of considerable benefit to pig farmers in the conversion of loose housing for sows as well as assisting poultry producers in the conversion to enriched cages, free-range or barn systems."

Both schemes

Under the terms of both schemes, grant-aid will be available at a standard rate of 40% for investment in sow housing and laying hen facilities, which will meet the standards laid down in the relevant EU Directives on animal welfare.

"Having launched the grassland sheep scheme in April, I was particularly anxious to give priority to the launch of these 2 schemes as the new EU Directives come into force at the end of 2011 and 2012 for the laying hens and sows, respectively," said the minister.

Both schemes are now open and applications for the new schemes will be accepted by the Department up to the end of June 2011, for poultry producers, and the end of June 2012, in the case of sow house investments.

Reaction

IFA pigs committee chairman Tim Cullinan said that the introduction of the scheme, while welcome is not enough to help pig producers comply with the regulations. Farmers in this sector already have to meet very high animal welfare standards imposed by EU Regulations but the fact remains that these costs are not reflected in market prices.

"Naturally a high standard of welfare is of the most utmost importance to Irish pig meat producers but European policies must allow producers to farm in an economically sustainable manner. Pig producers have suffered the worst losses ever recorded in the last number of years between low prices and high feed costs," added Cullinan.

"Minister Brendan Smith must now make it a priority issue to extend the implementation date or secure in Europe provisions to protect Irish farmers from lower standard imports and excessive regulations," Cullinan concluded

€190m Investment Pledged for Tourism

The Government is to invest €190m in upgrading and developing new tourist facilities over the next six years, Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin has announced.

The funding will be focused on completing the upgrading of major tourist attractions, developing a small number of key iconic attractions, improving infrastructure for recreational cycling, walking and water based activities and heritage attractions, said the Minister.

She also announced the provision of almost €4m of funding under Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Capital Investment Programme to support four projects; The Clare Coastal Walks, Lough Key Marina, Slieve League, and the Foynes Flying Boat Museum.

'Continually investing and renewing the tourist attractions we have to offer is vitally important if we are to grow visitor numbers in the coming years,' noted Minister Hanafin.