All posts by staronepr

Art

Santa Cruz Artist Mary Karlton Featured in Fresno Regional Foundation Exhibit

January 14, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

Santa Cruz fine artist Mary Karlton is to have two of her paintings on display in a show opening this week for the Fresno Regional Foundation.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., January 14, 2013 — Santa Cruz fine artist Mary Karlton is to have two of her paintings on display in a show opening this week for the Fresno Regional Foundation. Ms. Karlton’s featured acrylic paintings honoring the pomegranate are two of a few dozen works selected from those initially shown in Madera County Arts Council’s annual Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts show, held in October of last year. Having initially received a first place ribbon in MCAC’s Pomegranate Festival category, Ms. Karlton’s piece “How Are You, M’Lord?” as well as its companion “Kynthia” are now moving on to Fresno Regional Foundation’s exhibit. The selected works will be on display till June 30th throughout the offices and conference rooms at the FRF building, located at 5250 North Palm Avenue, Suite 424 in Fresno.

About Mary Karlton

Mary Karlton studied painting and printmaking in Chicago, San Francisco, and Santa Fe. Her style is eclectic with highly textured works that combine elements of collage, photography, and abstraction. She is captivated by the versatility and expressive potential of acrylic media. Her heroes in the art world are multifaceted and innovative – DaVinci, Lautrec, Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali, Magritte, Klimt, Kandinsky, Schiele, DeKoonig, and Richter.

Her work has been included in a wide array of exhibitions in Northern and Southern California, including various books, galleries, and wine labels.

Recently, her acrylic painting “Anima,” a timeless rendering of the female archetype, was honored by placing in the Top 5 from more than 700 submissions for the Light, Space, and Time Gallery’s juried 2012 Figurative Art Competition.

Mary lives and paints in the scenic coastal town of Santa Cruz, CA with her husband, musician and photographer Peter Sterbach. To learn more about Mary Karlton or to view her online gallery of artwork, please visit http://www.marykarlton.com.

About Fresno Regional Foundation
Established in 1966, Fresno Regional Foundation serves to better it the California’s Central Valley by encouraging philanthropy, charity, and investment. They seek to serve the needs of their donors by providing a wide variety of charitable causes and by grouping funds for the maximum positive impact in the local community. Their areas of focus cover everything from economic, social, environmental, and educational, as well as cultural and artistic endeavors. To find out more about the Fresno Regional Foundation’s purpose and history, please visit http://www.fresnoregfoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Mary Karlton
Mary Karlton Fine Art
303 Potrero St., Suite 12B
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
(831)-466-9660
mkarlton@earthlink.net
http://www.marykarlton.com

Business

Private Equity Networking in the Big Apple with KKR, Carlyle, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, J.P.Morgan, Morgan Stanley and More

January 13, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

Private Equity Happy Hour New York City (www.pehappyhour.com), Every 3rd Tuesday, Brings Together GPs, LPs, M&A Dealmakers and Investors for Evenings of Fast-paced Networking and Cocktails in Midtown Manhattan.

New York City, NY, USA (January 13, 2013) — Private Equity Happy Hour New York City (http://www.pehappyhour.com), January 15, is gearing up to congregate a terrific audience of general partners, limited partners, M&A and corporate M&A executives and key decision makers from firms as diverse as Blackstone and Morgan Stanley for an evening of networking and cocktails at Prime 333, an upscale steakhouse located in Midtown East with flat screen TVs adorning their bar. Private Equity Happy Hour New York City is held the 3rd Tuesday of every month.

The preferential tax rates that private-equity managers pay on some profits survived Congress’s Jan. 1 budget deal. That victory may not last, according to Bloomberg. For private-equity managers, changes in the tax treatment of so-called carried interest may affect them more than tax increases now on the books. Congress faces a series of deadlines in the next few months over spending cuts, the debt ceiling and the annual budget. Democrats including President Barack Obama want to raise more revenue, and carried interest is an obvious candidate. The share of profits in buyout deals, known as carried interest, is often taxed as capital gains, which receive preferential rates under the tax code compared with levies on wages. In the budget deal, lawmakers increased the top rate on long-term capital gains to 20 percent from 15 percent and the maximum rate on ordinary income to 39.6 percent from 35 percent.

Heads of private-equity firms including David Rubenstein, who co-founded Carlyle Group, indicated in November that they expect carried interest to be among the tax breaks that the new Congress will scrutinize. “Carried-interest taxation and a great variety of other issues will no doubt be addressed,” Rubenstein said Nov. 8. Billionaire George Roberts, who runs the private-equity firm KKR & Co. (KKR) with his cousin Henry Kravis, said on Nov. 14 that “it would be good to look at everything in the tax code” to make it simpler and fairer. Roberts has an estimated net worth of $4.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Still, the tax treatment of carried interest may not be changed because the budget deal didn’t include an overhaul of deductions or expenses in the tax code, said Libby Cantrill, who focuses on public policy issues for the asset management firm Pacific Investment Management Co. based in Newport Beach, California.

Private Equity Happy Hour New York City is produced by Golden Networking (http://www.goldennetworking.net), the premier networking community for business executives, entrepreneurs and investors. Companies represented in past editions of Golden Networking’s Happy Hour include Alaris Trading Partners, Andrews Securities, Apollo Advisors, Atlantic Advisory Group, Avatar, Blackstone, Capital Advisors, Citadel, Citi, CNBC, Comscient, Credit Suisse, DE Shaw, Deutsche Bank, Duane Morris, Eagle View Asset Management, Falcon Technology Systems, General Atlantic, GETCO, Goldman Sachs, Greyfields, IBM, Infinium Capital, KKR, Lightspeed, Lime Brokerage, Mahogany Partners, MNG Capital , Monolith Capital Trading Partners, Morgan Stanley, MSF Capital Advisors, Nirvana Capital, Nobilis Capital, OneMarketData, OneTick, Providence, RBS, SBS Securities, Silver Lake, The Carlyle Group, Twin Capital Management, UBS, among others.

Panelists, speakers and sponsors are invited to contact Golden Networking by calling +1-414-FORUMS0 or sending an email to info@goldennetworking.net. Golden Networking has been frequently featured in the press, including recent articles in The Wall Street Journal, “Happy Hour for High-Frequency Trading”, The New York Times, “Golden Networking Helps Job Seekers Make Overseas Connections”, Los Angeles Times, “Speed-addicted traders dominate today’s stock market” and Reuters, “Revamp looms as trading experts huddle at SEC”.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
Golden Networking
1-414-FORUMS0
jpetrova@goldennetworking.net
http://www.goldennetworking.net

Art

Major Format Change to Art Photography Website Completed

January 13, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

John R. Math photography is pleased to announce that it has completed its first ever major format change to their art photography website.

Jupiter, Florida, USA – January 13, 2013 — John R. Math photography is pleased to announce that it has completed its first ever major format change to their art photography website.

The website http://www.johnrmath.com has now been updated, expanded and enhanced with new photography and new subjects along with a new easy to read format. In order to make it easier and quicker for a viewer to navigate the website, the Home page is now the Portfolio page.

John R. Math, the owner of John R. Math photography states this about the format change, “With the increase of website traffic from corporate art reps, art collectors and art galleries we believed that it was time to make the website easier to navigate in the hope of helping the viewer to access the art Portfolio more quickly and efficiently.”

Math went on to state that, “By placing the art Portfolio section on the Home Page an art rep or other interested party can view and make a determination quickly whether they want to see any more art or obtain additional information. We also stripped out any parts of the former website which would also slow the viewing experience, such as any Flash features and large loading files. We are very happy with results and we believe that sometimes it is necessary to go backwards (with technology) in order to go forwards for our clients and future visitors.”

About John R. Math photography

John R. Math photography is based in Jupiter, Florida. Mr. Math specializes in photographic abstracts and impressionistic landscapes. Mr. Math’s photographs have not been manipulated with any type of digital software or by any digital filter system or technique. His art is regularly sold to the corporate art market and to art collectors through selected art galleries. His portfolio can be viewed here at http://www.johnrmath.com.

Media Contact:
John R. Math
John R. Math photography
118 Poinciana Drive
Jupiter, FL 33458
888-490-3530
jmath@johnrmath.com
http://www.johnrmath.com

Healthcare

IAPAM Adds NEW Member Spotlights to its Comprehensive Website

January 10, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

The IAPAM has added NEW content to its respected website: The IAPAM Member Spotlight showcases the many physicians who have successfully completed the IAPAM’s hCG training and Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Training, and have successfully added aesthetic medical modalities like Botox and hCG to their practices.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – January 10, 2013 — Today, the IAPAM announces the launch of a series of new pages of content on its website http://www.iapam.com. These NEW Member Spotlights at http://iapam.com/category/member-spotlight, focus on IAPAM Members and their practices.

Providing physicians, their staff and patients with DYNAMIC CONTENT is the mission of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Comprised of physicians, business experts, researchers and communications specialists, the IAPAM Team is driven to ensure that its website, IAPAM.com, is the best one-stop ‘window’ for both physicians new to aesthetic medicine modalities such as botox, dermal fillers, lasers, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and hCG for medical weight management, as well as patients looking for physicians who are expertly training in offering these treatments.

The new Member Spotlight pages (http://iapam.com/category/member-spotlight) provide video testimonials by IAPAM Members about their training, their practices and their service offerings, from botox to lasers to microdermabrasion to hCG.

Come and use the ever-expanding content on the IAPAM’s Website. Also, follow the IAPAM’s Executive Director, Jeff Russell, as he provides timely advice to physicians and patients, in his weekly blog (http://iapam.com/category/iapam-blog) to receive breaking news about aesthetic medicinal advances and the business of aesthetic medicine.

For more information regarding the IAPAM’s suite of physician-led training programs, including its Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Training and its Physician Clean Start hCG Training, OR TO REGISTER for an upcoming training session, please contact the IAPAM at 1-800-219-5108 ext 704, or visit http://www.iapam.com.

Botox is a trademark of Allergan, Inc.

About the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary global association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession worldwide. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits to members around the globe. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: Botox training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 x704

Healthcare

Add hCG to a Medical Practice in 2013: Attend the IAPAM’s January 25 hCG Training

January 9, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

Physicians will learn and receive everything they need to start safely and profitably offering hCG for weight loss to their patients this New Year.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – January 9, 2013 — In 2012, there was unprecedented positive interest in hCG for weight loss. To meet the ongoing consumer demand for the hCG diet in 2013, the IAPAM is helping physicians enter this lucrative, cash-based market, by offering their NEW and IMPROVED physician-led Clean Start hCG Training in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 25, 2013. Physicians will learn and receive everything they need to start safely and profitably offering hCG for weight loss to their patients this New Year.

The IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com) has trained over 750 physicians on how to effectively offer hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) for “substantial early weight loss” to their patients. To date, well over 30,000 patients have successfully lost weight on hCG using the IAPAM’s Exclusive Clean Start hCG Diet (http://www.hcgtraining.com), based on Dr. Simeons manuscript, Pounds and Inches (http://www.iapam.com/dr-simeons-pounds-and-inches-manuscript.html).

Join the IAPAM for its first hCG Training session of 2013, on January 25, 2013, and prepare to offer the IAPAM’s Clean Start hCG Weight Loss program to the flood of New Year’s Resolution patients who want to lose weight.

The IAPAM’s exclusive Clean Start hCG Weight Loss Training Program and Patient Resources Kit includes everything a physician needs to add this program to a practice, such as:

– Detailed IAPAM hCG Program Protocols
– Patient selection criteria
– Common medical hCG contraindications
– Consent forms, medical history forms
– The Clean Start Patient hCG Resource Kit (including the ENHANCED hCG Patient Guidebook, NEW hCG Cookbook, A Daily Food Journal, An Instructional DVD and 2 hCG Program Tip Sheets)
– Patient PowerPoint presentations for the waiting room
– Phone scripts & call logs for your staff
– Legal/Insurance considerations, and current FDA status
– hCG ordering information and special pharmaceutical hCG pricing
– Special hCG Facebook discussion forum and access to the IAPAM’s exclusive hCG “Ask an Expert” panel
– VLCD/LCD diet programs
– Meal replacement diet programs
– Ketogenic based diet programs
– Utilizing B6/B12 injections in weight loss
– Using prescription appetite suppressants in weight loss
– Metabolism testing as a profit center
– Laser assisted lipolysis
– Listing of one’s hCG Clinic in the IAPAM’s NEW hCG Diet Clinic Directory (http://www.hcgtraining.com/hcg-diet-clinics)

The IAPAM’s respected Clean Start hCG program is taught by true hCG experts who operate hCG weight loss clinics, and who have completed the hCG Protocol themselves. This allows physicians and their staff to learn from the faculty’s vast experience.

Finally, the IAPAM’s hCG Training is the only Physician hCG Training program in North America approved for a special medical malpractice rate for those who have attended and have been certified by the IAPAM. This medical malpractice coverage is not offered to any other hCG training program.

For additional information or to REGISTER for the January 25th, 2013 hCG Training, please contact the IAPAM, at 1-800-219-5108 ext. 708, or visit http://iapam.com/physician-weight-loss-training-using-hormones.

About the IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary global association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession worldwide. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits to members around the globe. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), dentists (DDSs/DMDs) physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: botox ® training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 ext. 708

Business

NanoMarkets Issues Latest Report on Opportunities for Silver Inks and Pastes

January 9, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

NanoMarkets today announced the release of its latest report on industrial silver markets titled “The Silver Inks and Pastes Market 2013-2020.”

Glen Allen, Virginia – January 9, 2013 — Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets today announced the release of its latest report on industrial silver markets titled “The Silver Inks and Pastes Market 2013-2020.” The report quantifies the opportunities for printed silver in electronics applications over the next eight years. While the industry will continue to drag from declining demand from the solar industry, NanoMarkets still sees opportunities for silver inks and pastes manufacturers both in traditional thick film markets as well as emerging display, lighting and electronics markets.

Additional details about the report are available on the firm’s website at: http://nanomarkets.net/market_reports/report/silver2013

About the report:

This report analyzes the opportunities for silver inks and pastes in all the relevant, major markets for printed silver circuitry, including PV, displays, lighting, RFIDs, sensors, and the traditional thick film applications. The report also discusses the product development and marketing strategies of some of the leading suppliers of silver inks and pastes, including DIC/Sun Chemical, DuPont, Ferro, Harima Chemical, Henkel, Heraeus, Ink-Tec, Methode, and others. Finally, the report includes a detailed eight-year forecasts for the materials in both volume and value terms and broken out by application, by ink/paste type (high-firing vs. low-temperature curing products), by ink/past composition (nanosilver vs. conventional silver), and by printing method (screen-printing, ink-jet, and other methods).

From the Report:

Conventional photovoltaics (PV) are extremely cost-sensitive and expensive silver circuitry is increasingly being replaced with cheaper alternatives, especially in backside PV metallization. NanoMarkets projects that silver inks and pastes in the PV sector will decline from a value of $4.9 billion in 2013 to about $3.4 billion in 2020. Amid the gloom, however, there is some good news:

Silver’s superior conductivity and compatibility with low-temperature processing means that it is hard to replace in many applications, including traditional applications for printed silver in the thick film electronics market. Traditional thick-film applications for printed silver will use $2.4 billion worth of silver inks and pastes in 2013, and this sector will grow to a value of about $3.4 billion by 2020.

In addition, the ongoing megatrend toward miniaturization of electronic circuitry means that manufacturers will be looking for higher value-added inks that target specific, new niches. This trend will lead to increasing opportunities for higher resolution printing inks designed for deposition by ink-jet, flexographic, gravure, and other printing methods. While the market in 2013 for silver inks is expected to a modest $260 million, the value could grow to well over $1 billion by the end of the decade.

Finally, several new sectors may turn out to be big users of printed silver circuitry. Possibilities are flexible displays – perhaps still three to five years away – but also OLED lighting, which could turn into a big user of silver if the technology takes off as expected, and the sensors market, which is growing as part of the ubiquitous electronics trend that seeks to create a world of pervasive computing and an “Internet-of-Things.”

About NanoMarkets:

NanoMarkets tracks and analyzes emerging market opportunities in energy, solid-state lighting, electronics and other markets created by developments in advanced materials. The firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts for the silver inks and pastes business and has been covering this market for more than six years.

Visit http://www.nanomarkets.net for a full listing of NanoMarkets’ reports and other services.

Media Contact:
Robert Nolan
NanoMarkets, LC
PO BOX 3840
Glen Allen, VA 23058
(804) 938-0030
rob@nanomarkets.net

Home

Travel

Top Five Newest and Trendy Luxury Hotels and Resorts Across Vietnam

January 8, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

Based on customers’s satisfaction and recommendations, as well as his personal experiences, Pham Ha, reveals his picks for the top five new, trendy hotels and resorts in Vietnam for 2013.

Hanoi, Vietnam, January 8, 2013 — Pham Ha is a CEO and founder of Luxury Travel Ltd (http://www.luxurytravel.com.vn), the first luxury tour operator in Indochina. He is also a travel guru, tourism speaker, writer, consultant and a leading designer of luxury tourism industry training programs.

1. An Lam Saigon River Private Residence
Managed by Epikurean, An Lam Saigon River Private Residence is a captivating and exquisite luxury lifestyle boutique hotel. It is located on the fringe of Ho Chi Minh City, just a 15-minute boat ride from the city’s centre.

The property blends utmost privacy with serenity and exclusivity, and occupies a site of more than 6,000 square meters. The hotel comprises seven luxurious riverside villas set in vibrant tropical gardens, and offering extraordinary views of the Saigon River. The villas host a total of fifteen guest rooms, each exclusively designed and furnished with its own contemporary identity and with elegant Vietnamese touches.

Daring and dramatic, offering style, elegance, efficiency and sensational service, the focal point of the hotel are the Saigon River views, which are enjoyed from almost every room in the resort. (http://www.epikurean.ws)

2. Six Senses Con Dao
Set on the untouched island paradise of Con Dao, about 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Six Senses features luxurious villas with private infinity pools and unobstructed views of the East Sea.

True to Six Senses philosophy of selecting remote but accessible destinations in areas of outstanding natural beauty, Con Dao is an untouched and breathtakingly beautiful area, protected for decades as a national and marine park.

This is the first five-star resort in the archipelago and is reached by daily flights of just 45 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City. (http://www.sixsenses.com/condao)

With a passionate commitment to supporting and protecting the environment, Con Dao has been built with the very lightest ecological footprint. Elegantly designed modern accommodations offer generous personal space.

The resort offers 50 villas along a mile of sandy beach, sheltered by the green forested hills behind and with stunning vistas of the deep blue sea and the curve of the bay. Styles range from single-level to duplex and offer one, three and four bedrooms, with indoor-outdoor bathrooms. The efficient design reduces air conditioning whilst providing additional natural ventilation.

3. An Lam Villas Ninh Van Bay Nha Trang
A new property, with a total of 35 luxury villas, An Lam Ninh Van Bay Villas come in several styles providing the discerning traveller with the ideal choice of accommodation type. Every villa is open and spacious, with air-conditioned bedrooms.

The style is a blend of eco-modern with traditional Vietnamese touches and state-of-the-art technology. Details have been intelligently addressed to ensure comfort and wellbeing, from an indulgent rain-shower to a personalized in-villa bar.

And of course, there are the private plunge pools to refresh guests who may not feel like walking to the beach. (http://www.epikurean.ws)

4. InterContinental Peninsula Danang Sun Spa
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is redefining the luxury resort experience.

Embedded in the hills of the famous Son Tra Peninsula, the resort features beachfront villas with private pools and a range of more than 20 suites.

The resort will have a wide selection of cuisine that offers both local and international delights. From the spectacular views at Citron, to unforgettable world-class dining at La Maison 1888, to a dining in the sand experience at the Barefoot Café, there is abundant variety and excitement to cater to all. (http://www.danang.intercontinental.com)

5. Banyan Tree Lang Co
Framed by a three kilometre beach and lush countryside, the 280 hectare community resides near Lang Co Bay in the Chan May region overlooking the East Sea, an area renowned for its pristine coastline, tropical jungles, rugged mountain peaks and proximity to the country’s most storied UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the ancient imperial capital of Hue, the historic town of Hoi An and the relics of My Son.

Laguna Lang Co is ideally situated to offer travellers the best of both worlds. Discover the rustic charms of nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites, and enjoy the plethora of services and facilities located at the resort, including exciting sports activities and award-winning signature spa treatments.

Banyan Tree Lang Co is built on a unique crescent bay offering privacy and unparalleled exclusivity. It is the most deluxe edition of the resort and hotel collection of the Laguna Lang Co complex. Designed and conceptualised for the sophisticated traveller, this five-star villa is primed to redefine standards of the ideal holiday destination.

Angsana Lang Co commands an unrivalled beach frontage with views of the shimmering East Sea. As part of the Laguna Lang Co integrated resort complex, the contemporary Angsana Lang Co resort features 229 stylish suites varying from 52 sqm to 179 sqm in size, and more than 100 of which come with their own private pools. (http://www.banyantree.com/en/lang_co)

Media Contact:
David Nguyen
Sales and Marketing Manager
Luxury Travel Group Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120
marketing@luxurytravelvietnam.com
http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com

Business

US leads way for Commercial Property Investment, claims AAA

January 8, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

The US is leading the way in the bid to attract commercial property investors, according to a report from Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), which has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, January 8, 2013 — The US is leading the way in the bid to attract commercial property investors, according to a report from Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), which has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The annual survey from AFIRE has found that four of the top five cities in the world for commercial property investment are in the US for the first time since the annual survey started in 2001. AAA claims that this suggests that the outlook for the US economy is perhaps even more positive than expected, with businesses keen to move into the country and commercial property deals increases reflecting this.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “Investing in real estate in US cities could bring very strong returns for those looking for alternative investments to balance their portfolios. Real estate, along with timberland, is a good medium to long-term investment prospect and can offer individuals with just a relatively small amount of cash to invest with a significant pension income, for example.”

New York was still number one in terms of commercial property investment, with London hanging on to the number 2 spot. However, numbers three, four and five were more of a surprise to investment experts, explained AAA.

San Francisco rose to third from fifth, followed by Washington DC, with Houston, Texas coming in at number five, despite not being ranked at all last year.

“Houston was a surprise to us,” James Fetgatter, the chief executive of AFIRE told Reuters. “San Francisco and Houston being in the top five global cities, it shows that this is where our people think the economy is going to revive. They believe these are where the drivers of the economy are going to be – in energy and tech.”

AAA advocates alternative investments, such as real estate investment and investment in timberland through sustainable models like those used by Greenwood Management in its Brazilian plantations.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

Timber Prices set to continue to Rise, claims FRA

January 8, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

FRA has welcomed a report from Investorplace.com, claiming that timber prices are not set to fall in 2013, making the asset class a good bet for investors looking to diversify this year.

Seattle, United States, January 8, 2013 — Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed a report from Investorplace.com, claiming that timber prices are not set to fall in 2013, making the asset class a good bet for investors looking to diversify this year.

There are several reasons that the article gives for retaining faith in timber prices in the US. Writing for Investorplace.com, Aaron Levitt says, ‘Driven by several forces – including a rebound in the US housing market, expanding pulp sales and a few issues with Mother Nature – timber became the commodity du jour during the last year.’

He goes on to talk about the gains in the US housing market that are expected this year. Increases in house prices in 2013 will be the first since 2006 and, in response to this, new home building is up by an impressive 42 per cent on a year ago.

This increase in housing starts is the main reason for the increase in lumber prices, according to Levitt, and FRA has welcomed this news. Its analysis partner, Peter Collins, said, “The knowledge that 42 per cent more homes are being built than a year ago in the US is a strong indicator that timber prices will be on the up in 2013 and beyond.”

“Now is great time to invest in timber and timberland for a medium and long-term investment that is likely to diversify a portfolio against risk and act as a hedge against inflation,” he went on to say.

To illustrate this point, the price of framing timber, which is used in new homes, has increased by 38 per cent in 2012 to around $373 per 1,000 board-feet.

FRA supports a wide range of sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative investments, including investing in sustainable plantations of non-native trees in Brazil and Canada. Investments in these kinds of plantation can be taken out through firms like Greenwood Management.

About Forestry Research Associates

Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.

Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Travel

Top Five Luxe Travel Trends in Vietnam To Watch in 2013 from Luxury Travel Group Ltd

January 7, 2013 staronepr Leave a comment

Keeping with its annual tradition, Luxury Travel (Vietnam’s first luxury tour and travel operator and most successful luxury travel brand) announces its forecast on the travel trends to watch in 2013 in the Vietnam tourism industry.

Hanoi, Vietnam, January 7, 2013 — Keeping with its annual tradition, Luxury Travel (Vietnam’s first luxury tour and travel operator and most successful luxury travel brand) announces its forecast on the travel trends to watch in 2013 in the Vietnam tourism industry.

Multi-Generational Family Travel:

In the current fragile economy, people tend to go back to family values and enjoy holidays together. For them, life is a collection of special moments and family reunions. Geographically, families live farther away from each other than at any time in history, and millions of post 50s travelers are trading briefcases for roller bags. With time, health and disposable income on their hands, they are taking the kids and grandkids along. Luxury Travel (http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) has received more bookings for multi-generational private family vacations.

Wellness and Spa:

Vietnam has followed the lead of Thailand and begun embracing spa culture with a wide selection of resorts and day spas that are the equal of any in the world. Spa vacationers now choose Vietnam for various wellness and spa options, such as the 6 star spa at the Nam Hai, heritage spa at Pilgrimage Village Resort Hue, the all inclusive spas at Fusion Maia Danang, thefamily spa at Six Senses Nha Trang, day spas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the beach spa at Princess d’Anam or Antara Mui Ne or the destination spas at Emeralda Ninh Binh, Six Sense Con Dao or Life Resort Quy Nhon.

Active Vacations:

Travelers are seeking out ways to stay active and healthy on the road. They want to go to places where they have plenty of options to take day trips and enjoy active excursions from trekking to diving in Vietnam. The thrills offered are endless and span a wide range, including hiking, trekking, biking, kayaking, climbing, rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, hot air ballooning, camping, yachting and more. Some of the locations where these activities can be enjoyed include Sapa, Halong Bay, Cu Lao Cham, the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta, Phan Thiet, Con Dao, the Phu Quoc Islands and many more.

Bespoke Itineraries With a Sense of Place:

It is all about the experience and a storytelling. Travel should be personalized and luxury travel advisors are learning to blend experiences that are tailored to personal desires along with truly special options that reflect the destination. Luxury travel is no longer just about fine dining and five-star hotels. With so many new experiences on offer, it’s the stories travellers can tell afterwards that confer status.

Seeking Out What’s Next & New:

High-end travelers always want new and exotic experiences, plus value, both in terms of personal value and value for money. They seek new destinations, roads less travelled, new hotels and new experiences. They want to be the first to discover a destination. Many have moved towards a quieter understated luxury and plan their trips with a focus on authenticity and experiential travel, focused on enriching once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For travel experts, it is essentially about creating a package that is personal as well as authentic and memorable.

Pham Ha is a CEO and founder of Luxury Travel Ltd (http://www.luxurytravel.com.vn), the first luxury tour operator in Indochina. Pham Ha is also a travel guru, tourism speaker, writer, consultant and a leading designer of luxury tourism industry training programs.

Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd (http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers with luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel excels in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/luxurytravelcompany.