Monthly Archives: March 2012

Real Estate

Weak Job Market Will Drive Real Estate Price Cuts, Warns Property Guru Rick Otton

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A recent study shows that UK’s unemployment rate has increased since late last year. Property guru Rick Otton discusses the implication of this unemployment boom to the real estate market.

Finance experts consider unemployment as the most powerful sign  of an impending recession.

That is why UK economists are bothered by the recent study made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which showed evident deceleration in the economic activity of the country due to the increase in the unemployment rate. Many experts fear that this dilemma will surely lead to UK’s second recession.  Even property expert Rick Otton warns that the declining economy  will lead to property price cuts.

“It’s actually a snowball effect. A weak economy is characterized by an increase in unemployment. With more people getting laid off, the lesser the buying power. Now sellers are forced to cut prices just to accommodate the few qualified buyers,” Mr. Otton said.

The report said that the growth in the unemployment rate is affecting the whole Eurozone, including advanced economies like Spain, UK and Germany. The report also forecasted the joblessness to increase up to 9pc next year, which is the highest record so far.

“A lot of people are either losing their job or getting wage cuts. If this problem continues and the government doesn’t do something about this, this uncertainty in the job market  will surely drag down prices of properties for sale,” he said.

Mr. Otton also added that with the job market in a sensitive state, the banks will be less willing to lend money for purchasing property.

“One of the main aspects the bank looks into when it comes to loan is job security. So It’s hard to acquire loans today because of the unstable job market. How can you pay if you’re not employed? This is the reason why investors and home buyers are looking into the possibilities ofcreative real estate,” Mr. Otton explained.

“My strategies have helped a lot of people become successful in the property market through alternative lease options,” he said. Mr. Otton has been teaching his students—more than 30,000 to this day, how to purchase properties with no banks loans and with as little cash as possible.

Rick Otton shares his strategies by travelling to different countries and conducting real estate seminars where he explains each investment technique through examples and actual deals. The students also get to interact and share experiences among themselves, which is a very effective teaching method.

“This is a good opportunity for the youth, especially the unemployed, to gain financial freedom in the midst of our weak economic conditions. Unemployment is forecasted to rise in the coming years and it would be a good chance to start a career in real estate investment,” he added.

You can access Rick Otton’s strategy at : http://www.rickotton.co.uk/sales-page

 

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About Rick Otton

Rick Otton is an original pioneer of creative property strategies. He is founder and CEO of We Buy Houses, a leading property enterprise which operates in the property markets of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, USA and Australia.

In 1991 he uncovered an innovative strategy of buying and selling real estate and went on to amass a portfolio of 76 properties in his first twelve months of active investing.

Since 2001, Rick has taught over 30,000 students to buy, sell and trade residential property without banks, debt or risk. By employing these same strategies many of Rick’s students have made over a million dollars a year in cash and equity, using little or none of their own money, year after year.

In 2008 Rick revealed his strategies in the United Kingdom and became the creator of ‘Houses for a Pound’.

He has appeared in the following Australian TV programmes: 2004 ABC documentary ‘Reality Bites’ and on Today Tonight, Insight and A Current Affair. In October 2007 Rick gave a way a house on national TV during 2 episodes of Channel 9’s Hot Property.

Rick Otton has also been featured in Your Property Network, Australian Property Investor, Lifestyle Trader Magazines and in the books: The Secrets of Property Millionaires Exposed!, Ideas: Original Perspectives On Life and Business From Leading Thinkers, Think and Grow Rich in Property, Insider Property Secrets, and Walking With The Wise.

Rick Otton can be contacted via his website http://www.rickotton.com

 

Travel

Not Too Late: Baja’s Famous Whale Watching Now at its Height

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Thanks to La Niña, more “Friendlies” will remain in Baja until mid-April 2012.

San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico (March 8, 2012 — Ecotourism-Newswire.com)

Each year, gray whales migrate thousands of miles, from northern Alaska to Baja. It is the longest migration of mammals on earth. And this year, it is still going strong. The Sea of Cortez has also filled with blue, humpback, Bryde’s, and pilot whales – 2/3 of marine mammal species call this sea home in the spring.

In the shallow, protected waters of three Pacific lagoons, the gray whales congregate to mate, give birth, and — in the case of “the friendlies” — interact with curious travelers.

February is often thought as peak season for whale watching. However, the whales do not migrate all at once; there is a steady stream of whales heading south in December. This year La Niña has created cooler water temperatures, and more whales are going farther south and staying longer in the sub-tropical areas. Thanks to the favorable conditions, the San Ignacio Lagoon has seen a record breaking number of grays this season. The migration north typically begins in February with the single whales leaving first; the mothers and babies stay long into April.

About “The Friendlies”: whales seeking the company of humans

San Ignacio Lagoon is the acknowledged “home of the friendlies.” For 30 years now, the whales here have seemed to actively seek out human contact. Mother whales wintering here appear to teach their babies to approach human visitors. This is not a staged experience performed by captive whales. These are free, wild whales who play with humans by choice.

Baja is the only place in the world where whales are known to exhibit this behavior. It is because of the “friendlies” that Baja Expeditions’ head naturalist Jose Sanchez calls San Ignacio Lagoon “the most magical place on the planet to see gray whales.” Sanchez says people love the intimate feeling of connection they experience when visiting the whales in this, the smallest and most conservatively-protected of the three lagoons.

A close encounter with a friendly whale can be a life-changing experience. “Whale Watching in Baja” is a featured journey in author Patricia Schultz’s book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Schultz recommends Baja Expeditions as “the only operator to use,” praising the company’s naturalist guides, small groups, seasoned crews and local chefs.

For more information visit http://www.bajaex.com

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Note to Editors: pre-cleared photos and interviews are available upon request. “Spyhopping” photo, © 2011 by Jose Sanchez

SIDE BAR: HOW TO TAKE THIS TRIP YOURSELF

Baja Expeditions organizes premier whale watching trips that start and end in San Diego’s Old Town. These multi-day trips include a charter flight direct to the lagoon, making transportation simple and convenient.

Guests are picked up by a luxury shuttle in San Diego, and flown in a 14 passenger Cessna Caravan from Tijuana (Click to see video of border crossing) to the lagoon. In San Ignacio, guests stay in sturdy waterfront cabanas or safari-style tents. Guests enjoy three full days of twice-daily excursions into the whale watching area, delicious meals, and happy hours beneath a star-studded night sky.

Dates available: March 10-14, 14-18 and 18-22nd. Prices have been discounted from $2395 to $2150/person. Call to ask about custom trips from now through mid-April.

San Ignacio Lagoon, a part of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. This designation protects not only the gray whales, but also seals, blue whales, sea turtles, and many species of birds and terrestrial animals and plants. There are 890 World Heritage sites worldwide, from Stonehenge to the Serengeti.

Click for a PDF of the San Ignacio itinerary: http://bajaex.com/Documents/WWSI-Itinerary-2012.aspx

Click here to see a short video of a whale watching excursion filmed in at San Ignacio Lagoon in February 2012: http://youtu.be/XKooWgNZUKQ

Click for a backgrounder on gray whales: http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/05nekton/GWlagoons.htm

About Baja Expeditions

Baja Expeditions is the world’s leader in eco-adventures to Baja, and the oldest and largest adventure travel expedition operator in Baja California, Mexico. Founded in 1974, we have been protecting wild Baja for over 37 years by sharing the natural wonders with interested travelers. Baja Expeditions has offices in San Diego, California and La Paz, Mexico.

Whale watching, sea kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, hiking, scuba diving and natural history expeditions are Baja Expeditions’ featured trips. Guests include vacationers, families, school groups, honeymooners, corporate outings, as well as devoted ecotourists. The level of physical activity is tailored to the group, from “extreme” athletes to laid-back retirees.

Trips focus on education and preservation, and emphasize small group size, flexible itineraries, and the best guides and crew in the region. On service trips, laypeople can volunteer alongside scientists to tag whale sharks or monitor sea turtles. Conservation partners include: The Audubon Society, REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation), Broadreach (summer adventures for teenagers), The Nature Conservancy, Ecology Project International, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Revolution, and Grupo Tortuguero.

Media Contact:
Emily Evans
Baja Expeditions Inc.
409-877-4551
emily@bajaex.com
http://www.bajaex.com

Healthcare

Rapid Nutrition Appoints New Board Member

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Australian natural healthcare company Rapid Nutrition has appointed Vaidy Nateshan to its board of directors.

Nerang, Queensland, March 08, 2012 – Mr Nateshan’s career includes work in both the operational and strategic aspects of a wide range of industries ranging from oil and gas, Information Technology, business consulting and pharmaceuticals.

Having travelled extensively, he has worked in over 30 countries and executed and managed strategic alliances in over 12 countries, which includes managing a joint venture in China and setting up marketing operations in the Middle East.

He has also managed manufacturing, marketing and financial operations for companies in India, South East Asia and the Middle East.

Rapid Nutrition managing director Simon St Ledger says Mr Nateshan was instrumental in the recent acquisition of Indian manufacturing company Cheminnova, and with his specific experience within the healthcare sector, will prove to be extremely beneficial for the company.

“Mr Nateshan’s extensive experience in business consulting and pharmaceuticals will assist the company to grow both its offering and client base,” Mr St Ledger says.

“His appointment is key in enabling Rapid Nutrition to position itself as a world leader in natural healthcare as he has been identified as a business turnaround expert and a keen strategist.

“Having held senior management positions in his career, Mr Nateshan has served as a very useful interface between the expectations of the investor and the customer and will be invaluable as a director of our board.”

Mr Nateshan says his immediate plans are to meet with several key banks to investigate future finance options.

“Through my career I developed an aptitude to raising equity and debt capital in multiple countries and I intend to actively seek more revenues for capital raising for the company,” Mr Nateshan says.

“Through this I hope to build the profile of Rapid Nutrition and raise more awareness about the brand and products internationally.”

Rapid Nutrition recently announced its intention to list on the Deutsche Börse’s Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The listing proposal will be presented to Rapid Nutrition shareholders for final approval in the coming weeks with the aim of a company roll up into a UK based public limited company to be completed soon after.

For more information on the board members visit www.rapid-nutrition.com

For all media enquiries contact Bruce Nelson on +61 (0) 423 403 44 or media@rapid-nutrition.com

About Rapid Nutrition
Rapid Nutrition is a natural healthcare company focused on the research, development and production of a range of life science products.

The company was established on the back of its successful and proven weight loss supplement range which is exported worldwide, and now offers consumers a growing range of health and wellbeing solutions to meet existing and emerging societal health concerns, as well as a providing number of wider services to the life sciences industry.

Contact:
Bruce Nelson
Zakazukha Marketing Communications
3 Eden Court
Nerang, Queensland 4220
+61 7 5596 6634
bruce@zakazukha.com
http://www.zakazukha.com

Business

Accolo CEO Explains How to Turn Your Company into a Hiring Machine at Marin Business Forum Meeting March 22

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Quarterly Event Gives Marin Business Professionals an Opportunity to Network and Share Insights on Best Business Practices.

LARKSPUR, Calif. (March 8, 2012) — Need to find the best talent? Need help prioritizing your “hiring intelligence”? Or want to re-spark your employees’ work ethics? If so, join the Marin Business Forum (http://www.marinbusinessforum.com) on March 22nd for its quarterly networking event where the featured guest speaker will be John Younger, President and CEO of Accolo, the leading Cloud Recruiting company. At the next Forum gathering, Younger will explain how to “Turn Your Company into a Hiring Machine.” The networking event will take place at the Wood Island Office Complex, 80 East Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Larkspur at 5:00 p.m., and will give local Marin professionals an opportunity to meet one another and make business connections.

The highlight of the event will be Younger’s presentation on staffing strategies in a tight economy. For more than 23 years, John’s experience and passion has been to dramatically improve how companies find quality employees, and drawn from his deep understanding of technology, the recruitment process and a core belief that everyone deserves courtesy and respect. He will address effective strategies that work for small businesses with limited staffing and human resources capabilities, and how SMBs can identify and hire the perfect candidate to meet their needs.

“When there is an economic crunch, effective hiring becomes more of a challenge because the pool of qualified candidates suddenly becomes much larger,” Younger said. “It’s harder to sift through the applications to find the right candidate for your needs. I want to show attendees at the Marin Business Forum how to identify their real staffing needs and refine their search to uncover the right candidates without having to wade through a mountain of resumes.”

In addition to Younger’s presentation, there will be wine and appetizers, as well as time to mingle with other local Marin professionals and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas.

“Unique to Marin, Marin Business Forum provides informal networking opportunities with small local business owners and decision makers – a great way to expand your business network!” said John Thornton, Partner with Tregaron Capital after his experience from the last event.

Space is limited and an RSVP is required to attend. Interested parties can register at http://marinbusinessforum.com/event-registration or contact Franka Winchester at 415.461.2586, fwinchester@pcg-services.com.

About the Marin Business Forum
The Marin Business Forum was the brain child of Pacific Crest Group (http://www.pcg-services.com), Filice (http://www.filice.com), and Cypress Partners (http://www.cypresspart.com), who pooled their expertise to create a networking group to give local entrepreneurs and professionals a chance to meet one another and make new business connections. This event is to provide expert guidance, education and inspiration to take back to the office and concentrate on core business strategies for growth and expansion. For more information on the speaker and to keep abreast of future events, visit http://www.marinbusinessforum.com.

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Contact:
Franka Winchester
Pacific Crest Group
(415) 461-2586
fwinchester@pcg-services.com

Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
(415) 259-5638
tomw@woolfmedia.com

Business, Energy

CEO Armando Olivera Outlines FPL’s Commitment to Economic Development and Clean, Affordable Energy

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FPL’s Chief Executive Officer Armando Olivera described how FPL is promoting business and job creation in the state by offering some of the most affordable and reliable energy in the nation and a new rate program to encourage economic development.

Juno Beach, FL (March 8, 2012) — In a keynote speech to hundreds of business leaders at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Florida Power & Light Co. Chief Executive Officer Armando Olivera described how FPL is promoting business and job creation in the state by offering some of the most affordable and reliable energy in the nation and a new rate program to encourage economic development.

The average FPL residential customer has a bill that is the lowest among Florida’s 55 electric utilities, and about 25 percent lower than the national average, said Olivera. “In fact, over the course of an entire year, our typical customer saves an average of $357 compared to what they would pay in other parts of Florida. FPL’s business customers also have electric bills that are among the lowest in the state and well below the national average.”

The FPL chief executive told the audience at the Chamber’s Trustee Luncheon how his company is building on its commitment to help Florida businesses by offering an “Economic Development Rate.” With the approval of the state’s Public Service Commission, eligible commercial and industrial businesses can now receive reduced utility rates. The rate is available to new or expanding businesses that add at least 350 kilowatts of new demand on the grid and 10 new jobs per 350 kilowatts. According to Olivera, this economic growth initiative means an additional savings of up to $12,000 for the first year for a typical eligible customer

He told members FPL’s work on economic growth extends to the creation of its new Office of Economic Development, which offers a suite of professional services intended to assist businesses with planning, energy efficiency initiatives, and more. Information about the office is available at http://www.poweringflorida.com.

Olivera noted that the Chamber, like Miami itself, has evolved and grown dramatically over the course of its long history. “Forty years ago the population of Miami-Dade County was a little more than 1.2 million people; today, it has more than doubled to nearly 2.5 million,” Olivera told the Chamber members. “And just like the County and its economy, the Chamber has grown – and diversified.”

In the same 40 years, FPL has evolved as well, he said, and the audience was treated to highlights of the company’s pioneering role in the transformation of the energy industry. Vintage photography served as a backdrop to Olivera’s brief historical review. He explained that decades ago, Miami-Dade’s electrical power was generated primarily by burning fuel in a conventional boiler. Since that time, FPL has led the way in implementing new technologies for power generation that are designed to increase efficiency and save money for customers.

“We built Turkey Point, our state’s first nuclear power plant, in 1972, and we were one of the first utilities in the nation to build a power plant using a combustion turbine,” said Olivera. “We were also one of the first to build a combined-cycle power plant.” He told Chamber members that FPL’s focus on efficiency means lower bills for customers, and strides forward for the environment.

As further examples of the company’s focus on efficiency, the FPL chief executive discussed new power plant construction and new technology development. He pointed to Florida’s newest combined-cycle natural gas power plant – FPL’s West County Energy Center -which achieves a 50 percent increase in fuel efficiency compared to conventional boilers. Olivera also reviewed FPL’s Fleet Performance and Diagnostic Center, an industry-leading resource that continuously monitors more than one million data points in the company’s system, locating inefficiencies and potential operational problems.

FPL’s technology advances are paying big dividends for customers, according to Olivera. “The future of affordable and reliable energy in our service area is being built as we speak,” he said.

Before leaving, Olivera had one final message for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce – a message of thanks: “When I am at a Chamber event, I am not only spending time with leaders of the community, but also with great customers – and friends.”

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Healthcare

HealthEdSolutions.com Now Offers HeartCode® ACLS by the American Heart Association

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Leading Provider of Healthcare Certification Adds New ACLS Course to Catalog of Accredited Online Classes for First Responders and Healthcare Professionals

Lincoln, NE, March 07, 2012 – Health Education Solutions, a leading provider of online certification options for healthcare professionals and first responders, today announced that it has added American Heart Association HeartCode® Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Part 1 to its catalog of online courses.

HeartCode® ACLS by the American Heart Association (AHA) is the official, self-directed, comprehensive e-learning program from the AHA. Health Education Solutions offers Part 1, the cognitive portion of the course. Parts 2 and 3 – skills practice and check – must be completed with an AHA ACLS Instructor or a voice-assisted manikin (VAM) system. Students must complete all three parts in order to receive an AHA ACLS provider course completion card.

“Many healthcare and emergency response employers require their teams to not simply gain ACLS certification, but to specifically earn an AHA ACLS provider card,” said Melissa Marks, president of Health Education Solutions. “HeartCode® ACLS by the American Heart Association enables these busy professionals to conveniently complete the cognitive portion of the course in their own time and at their own pace.”

In the online, cognitive portion of the American Heart Association ACLS certification course, students will learn ACLS principles by reviewing 10 realistic patient scenarios that cover the ACLS algorithms, participating in a team dynamics lesson and taking a written exam. Students may incur an additional fee for parts 2 and 3 to complete the HeartCode® ACLS course.

For healthcare professionals and first responders whose employer does not require an AHA card for ACLS, Health Education Solutions offers an ACLS recertification course that can be completed in its entirety online. Click here for ACLS recertification information. Health Education Solutions additionally offers an alternate ACLS certification course, which reflects the 2010 AHA guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC). For pediatric emergency care professionals, Health Education Solutions offers pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification and recertification courses. These courses were developed in partnership with medical faculty at Union College in Lincoln, Neb.

Health Education Solutions offers ACLS practice tests and PALS practice tests to help professionals preparing for ACLS and PALS certification courses. The practice tests offer questions similar to those found on the actual certification exam. Free certification and recertification practice quizzes each offer three five-question sample tests. Full certification and recertification practice tests mirroring the actual certification exam, both complete with 50 timed multiple-choice questions, are available for $35. A portion of this fee can be applied to the purchase price of the full certification course.

Practice test-takers are immediately provided with answers to the questions that were incorrectly answered following the test to help them identify the areas that may need more study time and attention prior to the full certification exam.

For more information about online healthcare certifications, please visit http://www.healthedsolutions.com/articles/heartcode-acls-launch.

About Health Education Solutions
Health Education Solutions (HES) is a leading provider of continuing education solutions for healthcare professionals. HES, a subsidiary of Nelnet Inc. (NYSE: NNI), offers ACLS and PALS courses developed in partnership with medical faculty at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
CSG|PR
East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Real Estate

Metrolist to Provide Energy and ‘Green’ Data in Home Sales Listings

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State’s Largest MLS Adds Data To Align With Governor’s Green Initiative

Denver, CO, March 07, 2012 – Metrolist®, the largest real estate multiple listing service (MLS) serving Colorado real estate agents, today unveiled “Energy/Green fields,” a far-reaching initiative that integrates ‘energy/green’ data into the MLS search process.

By adding key attributes such as searchable fields, Colorado’s largest MLS will provide the industry with much-needed energy and ‘green’ data through home sales listings, a key component of quantifying market value and identifying comparison data for real estate professionals, homebuyers, and for appraisers that are valuating energy-efficient homes.

Metrolist’s new green-field initiative is the end result of work the company began with the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) in 2010.

“We identified two major reasons why we should move forward with searchable green fields,” said James T. Wanzeck, Metrolist Board Chairman. “The first is social responsibility. Buildings, after all, consume 39 percent of the nation’s energy use. The second is Realtor differentiation. Anything Realtors can do to differentiate themselves is good.”

Metrolist, which represents approximately 50 percent of Colorado’s Realtors and almost 70 percent of the state’s real estate transactions, designed its implementation of green fields to correlate with the recommendations of the GEO’s Appraisal Committee and has made available to its 15,000 members the state supplied Energy/Green Feature Addendum. An open and voluntary group, the Committee worked with key stakeholders in developing recommended searchable fields for integration into Colorado’s multiple listings services.

“Adding searchable green fields to Metrolist is very exciting” said Pete Rusin, a GEO residential program associate. “This effort will not only increase the coverage of energy efficiency fields in Colorado, it will help home owners and buyers find homes that can save them money on their utility costs.”

Consistent with the Appraisal Committee’s recommendations, Metrolist’s searchable fields are split into two categories, “Certifications” and “Features.” Sellers can also showcase additional common features of an energy-efficient/“green” home.

According to Mr. Wanzeck, compiling this data in Colorado is critical because green-building advocates say it will mirror what’s been happening in other parts of the country.

“We know that green homes sell faster and for more money than conventional, code-built comparables,” said Mr. Wanzeck. “I believe all of our re-tooling and data capture will help nearly everyone in Colorado see green.”

Contact:
Melissa Olson
Senior Manager,MarCom
(303) 850-9576
molson@metrolist.com

About Metrolist
Metrolist is the largest MLS in the state of Colorado, supporting the largest network of Realtors® with the most comprehensive database of real property listings throughout the Front Range. Realtor-owned since 1984, Metrolist provides leading technology solutions to real estate agents and brokers to better serve buyers and sellers. More information about Metrolist is available at www.metrolist.com. Metrolist provides a broad database of real property listings for real estate brokers to better serve buyers and sellers. Metrolist serves five Realtor associations: Aurora Association of Realtors, Douglas/Elbert Realtor Association, Mountain Metro Association of Realtors, South Metro Denver Realtor Association, and the Unified Association of Realtors (formerly Denver Board of Realtors, Jefferson County Association of Realtors, and North Metro Denver Realtor Association).

Contact:
Crystal Swan
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303)847-3174
cswan@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Automotive, Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Transportation & Logistics, Travel

Top UK Staycation Places Revealed by Leading Website Comparecarhire.co.uk

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According to leading car hire comparison website Comparecarhire.co.uk, Brits are booking staycations in their thousands for this coming May’s bank holiday weekend. With that in mind the website is advising tourists on the most popular places to stay in the UK ahead of that holiday.

Andy Hemmington, spokesperson for Comparecarhire.co.uk, comments: “We have seen a spike in bookings for UK destinations around the May Day holiday this year, with many more people searching for rentals in places throughout the British Isles.”

“We appreciate only too well that families are watching budgets still, but at the same time they also need a break and a bit of a getaway. Staycationing in the UK is one handy way to make the most of your money, and camping or booking a B&B in Cornwall or Scotland can work out as a decent value trip away.”

The Comparecarhire.co.uk Top 5 UK Staycation Destinations –

1. Cornwall
2. Wales
3. Lake District
4. Scottish Highlands
5. Devon

Available on Comparecarhire.co.uk right now are deals like four days’ car hire from Friday 4th May to Monday 7th May 2012 from £10* per day in Newquay, from £11* per day in Cardiff and from £17* per day in Inverness.

Andy Hemmington went on: “There are clearly going to be many more Brits taking staycations this May bank holiday, rather than travelling away overseas. As such our advice to people is to be organised and book a rental deal well in advance to get the best value and plenty of choice.”

Comparecarhire.co.uk is one of the leading car hire comparison websites in the UK, helping users compare car hire deals from over 40 suppliers in 15,000 locations worldwide. Destinations include the UK, Spain and Portugal, with pick up locations for car hire Faro deals and car hire Tenerife bookings.

To view and compare all the latest deals visit www.comparecarhire.co.uk.

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Automotive, Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Transportation & Logistics, Travel

UK Travellers Should Plan Ahead as Summer Shortages Hit Spain Car Hire – Carrentals.co.uk

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UK travellers taking their summer holidays in Spain this year have been warned to plan ahead as news emerged of a rental car stock shortage in Spanish resorts this year.

The advice on planning ahead comes from leading car hire price comparator Carrentals.co.uk, which has advised that there could be up to 18,000 fewer rental cars available in Spain following the news that AurigaCrown has gone out of business. The website warns that the impact of the shortage will see increased hire prices and lower stocks throughout the busy summer months.

Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “There is a real chance that people heading to Spain this summer will find a shortage of rental cars when they come to book. As such it is vital to book your rental car as soon as possible and as early as possible – since there is every chance the busiest Spanish resorts are going to have lowers stocks, no availability at all or very high prices this summer.”

“We can help Brits out by allowing them to compare car hire from up to 50 of the sector’s leading hire companies. Our service offers people the best chance possible of getting a good value deal from a smaller provider if the bigger providers are sold out this year.”

Hire deals for a week’s rental in Malaga are available from just £17* a day right now, with other deals to be had like £18* a day in Alicante, from £19* a day in Palma and from £21* a day in Ibiza.

Gareth goes on: “Rental suppliers who had their own customers’ reservations in place with AurigaCrown before they went bust have had to transfer those bookings to alternative providers. However, we do also advise any tourists who have got a deal in place already to rent a car in Spain this holiday season to check their paperwork and see who their supplier is. Then you can contact them to check the status and availability of your reservation.”

Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from up to 50 rental companies, including Alamo, Budget, Holiday Autos and Sixt in over 15,000 locations worldwide.

To compare the latest car hire deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk.

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Computers, Software, Technology

Zevrix Updates BatchOutput for Microsoft Excel: Improves Output Controls

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Zevrix Solutions announces BatchOutput XLS 2.1, a feature upgrade to its popular output automation solution for Microsoft Excel on Mac OS X. In addition to batch printing, the software lets users carry out automated professional PDF production directly from Excel eliminating the need for time consuming post-processing. Users can reduce PDF file size, optimize images, assign variable file names and encrypt PDF files. The new introduces new output controls for printing and exporting to PDF.

Toronto (ON), Canada – March 7, 2012 — Zevrix Solutions announces BatchOutput XLS 2.1, a feature upgrade to its popular output automation solution for Microsoft Excel on Mac OS X. The software provides advanced solutions for demanding enterprise and office publishing environments through automation of printing and professional PDF output. With BatchOutput XLS, users only need to select the files they wish to output and adjust the settings, and the software will do the rest automatically. For example, BatchOutput can be left to output hundreds of Excel files overnight, and the completed job can be picked up next morning.

In addition to batch printing, the software lets users carry out powerful professional PDF production directly from Excel eliminating the need for time consuming post-processing. BatchOutput XLS is the only program that brings advanced PDF creation options right to the user’s fingertips:

–Output batches of Excel files to PDF and printer automatically with a click of a button.
-Output entire workbook or active sheet.
-Compose variable output file names based on page number, user name, current date and other values.
-Optimize documents for various purposes such as web, print, or on-screen viewing.
-Reduce PDF file size dramatically by controlling image resolution and compression.
-Encrypt PDF files and password-protect them from unauthorized copying, printing and viewing.
-Apply the versatile Quartz filters to change PDF color tone, brightness and other qualities.

The new version lets users apply the page orientation and fitting settings to PDF output in addition to printing. It also lets specify output page scaling and addresses some stability and performance issues. BatchOutput XLS is a part of the Zevrix BatchOutput family, which also includes similar tools for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign.

Pricing and Availability
BatchOutput XLS 2.1 can be purchased for US$39.95 from the Zevrix website, as well as from authorized resellers. Trial is also available for download. BatchOutput XLS runs on Mac OS X 10.4.2 – 10.7, is a Universal Binary, and works with Microsoft Excel 2008 and 2011.

About Zevrix Solutions
Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, PDF and graphic file diagnostics, digital delivery and Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions makes it easier for professionals to achieve more while doing less by automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting down on production costs.

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Contact:
Leo Revzin
Owner
Zevrix Solutions
105 McCAUL St, Suite 301
Toronto Ontario M5T 2X4 Canada
Tel: 858-206-0607
E-Mail: media@zevrix.com
Web: http://www.zevrix.com