All posts by staronepr

FRA Welcomed USA Today Endorsement of Timber Investment

August 9, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

FRA has welcomed a new article published by USA Today predicting a boom in timber investment returns if the real estate industry returns to a strong position.

Seattle, United States, August 9, 2012 — Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed a new article published by USA Today predicting a boom in timber investment returns if the real estate industry returns to a strong position.

The housing collapse in the US brought with it a fall in timber prices. Now things are looking up again and, as a result, timber stocks are looking rather attractive once more, according to USA Today’s John Waggoner. Since timber futures prices’ lowest spot in early 2009, they have increased by an impressive 93 per cent. Although this is slightly less than the recovery in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, the improvement in the real estate market indicates a good reason to buy up timber REITs.

In the past 12 months, new home starts have jumped by 23 per cent and the fact that housing is now a lot more affordable than the last time housing starts increased, suggests that the turnaround will last longer and be more notable this time, claims FRA.

The forestry investment advocacy group supports the USA Today article, claiming that timber REITs are very attractive, but that there are also other options for those who are interested in investing in timber. “We promote investment in sustainably managed plantations, such as those operated in Brazil by firms like Greenwood Management,” stated FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins.

These plantations allow investors to directly invest in a piece of forestry land for as little as $10,000, which is a lot less than is involved when buying forestry independently. Then, firms like Greenwood manage these plantations for the owners and start paying returns to investors as soon as money starts coming in from any mature trees on the entire plantation.

Mr Collins claims that this option mean that investors enjoy the diversification benefits of forestry investment, but also get to see returns sooner than they would through other direct investment routes.

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

Business

First Edition Design Publishing Signs Best-Selling Author David J. Darling

August 8, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Darling expands to potential audience of 2 billion readers through First Edition Design Publishing’s world-wide eBook distribution.

Sarasota, FL, USA – (August 8, 2012) — World renowned best-selling British astronomer and science author David J. Darling, Ph.D., has signed with First Edition Design Publishing. Darling was previously published by Hyperion, Delacorte, Harper Collins, Random House and Wiley.

David Darling is the author of more than 40 titles including narrative science titles: Megacatastrophes!, We Are Not Alone, Gravity’s Arc, Equations of Eternity, a New York Times Notable Book, and Deep Time. He is also the author of the bestseller–The Universal Book of Mathematics: From Abracadabra to Zeno’s Paradoxes. Darling’s other titles include The Universal Book of Astronomy, and The Complete Book of Spaceflight, as well as more than 30 children’s books. His articles and reviews have appeared in Astronomy, Omni, Penthouse, New Scientist, the New York Times, and the Guardian, among others.

Darling’s revised works, with new cover art created by First Edition Design Publishing, will now be published in eBook format by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed world-wide.

“I’m delighted that some of my favorite books, including Soul Search, Zen Physics, and Equations and Eternity, are to be made available in digital form,” Darling said. “These titles, which explore everything from the origin of the universe to the nature of life, death, and mind, will now be able to reach a new, wider audience.”

Darling served as manager of applications software for the supercomputer company Cray Research in Minneapolis, US for several years, and it was during this time that his two children were born. While at Cray he wrote in his spare time for Astronomy magazine. In 1982 he decided to take the plunge into full-time freelance writing, which has been his occupation ever since, interspersed with lectures, school talks, and travel. He and his family moved back to England (Cumbria) around the time of his career change, spent the next 16 years there, returned to the US in 1999, and re-emigrated again to the UK in 2004. He now lives in Dundee, Scotland.

About First Edition Design Publishing
First Edition Design Publishing is the world’s largest eBook and POD (Print On Demand) book distributor. Ranked first in the industry, First Edition Design Publishing converts and formats manuscripts for every type of platform (e-reader). They submit Fiction, Non-Fiction, Academic and Children’s Books to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, and over 100,000 additional on-line locations including retailers, libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company’s POD division creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network. First Edition Design Publishing is a licensed and approved Aggregator and holds licenses with Apple and Microsoft. Visit: http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com.

Media Contact:
Tom Gahan
Director of Marketing
First Edition Design Publishing
PO Box 20217, Sarasota FL 34276
631-369-0063
tgahan@firsteditiondesign.com

Home

Business

Careers Without Borders – Experts Connection Explains How to Launch an International Job Search

August 8, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Global Career Management Expert Patti Wilson Predicts the Professional Career Pool Will Be Global, and Shows You How to Dive In.

NOVATO, Calif. (August 8, 2012) — Career opportunities and job growth are global, and even domestic companies are looking to expand overseas. Smart executives are expanding their job search, looking for opportunities across the border where they can prove themselves by building new markets. In the next session of Experts Connection (http://www.experts-connection.com), global career expert and CEO of The Career Company Patti Wilson will discuss, “Going Global: How to Launch A Cross Border Job Search.” The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET, (1:00 – 2:30 p.m. PT), and is sponsored by NETSHARE® (http://www.netshare.com).

The days of the corporate ex-patriot assignment are gone as more companies look to expand their reach into emerging markets. They tend to hire talent to work on location, rather than importing executives from the home office, and as a result, recruiters are working globally and professionals are choosing to pursue advanced education and career paths internationally. “I believe that there is a sea change in how and where we will be employed in this decade,” explains Wilson. “The scale is global in terms of visibility, opportunities and markets. There are no local jobs, careers or marketplaces anymore.”

In this Experts Connection webinar, Patti will explain the ins and outs of conducting a cross border job search. Included in the presentation will be a discussion of how to determine the best location for your career, creating a cross-border online presence, how to prepare for relocation, and building a network of contacts and researching opportunities using country, regional and global channels. Specific discussion points will include:

– Determining your search goals based on your personal career criteria.
– Creating a game plan to find the opportunities that best fit your experience.
– Identifying potential countries, regions, industries, and sectors to pursue.
– Finding information and conducting complete in-depth industry and company research across borders.
– Building a substantial network localized in countries and regions on your target list.
– How to set up banking, immigration and business requirements in advance.
– Preparing for the financial, social, housing, educational and multi-cultural challenges.
– Negotiating beyond salary in terms of taxation and other kinds of compensation, benefits, and perks, and what to look for.
– Handling the interview process and determining the cultural fit of both the company and the country.
– Taking the long view and planning an ongoing international career.

“Today’s business is clearly global, and so are career possibilities, so executive job seekers need to understand how to compete on an international level,” said Katherine Simmons, CEO of NETSHARE and host of the Experts Connection webinars. “Patti has worked with hundreds of executives developing successful international relocation strategies. This is a must-attend event for any professional thinking about taking their career beyond the borders.”

The Experts Connection teleseminar series gives executives access to leading career experts. The cost of the seminar is $60, $50 for NETSHARE members, and access is provided via web and telephone. For more information, visit the Experts Connection online at http://www.experts-connection.com.

About Patti Wilson
Patti is Managing Principal of The Career Company and author of The Digital Resume. She delivers career management services to executives wanting to advance their careers globally, enabling her clients to land cross-border opportunities. Her experience includes organizational structures and cultural nuance for companies of all sizes and the successful functioning of high value talent within these companies. She has held positions at Sun and Apple. Patti holds a Master’s Degree in Career Development. She continues to author articles and present seminars and webinars to a wide audience including MBA schools such as INSEAD, UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley and London Business School. An early adopter of technology, she consulted with the CEO of LinkedIn in 2003 and uses cutting edge internet tools to advance her clients cross-border careers.

About NETSHARE
NETSHARE (http://www.netshare.com) is a confidential, membership based organization dedicated to providing executives across all disciplines and industries with quality $100K plus job lists. NETSHARE also offers networking opportunities and a community of peers for the exchange of strategic information related to job search, professional development and best practices. NETSHARE has been recognized by Fortune and Forbes magazines as the best online destination for executive positions. For more information, visit http://www.netshare.com.

Contact:
Annette DiSano
NETSHARE, Inc.
(415) 883-1700
Annette@netshare.com

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

Software, Technology

LinkOptimizer for InDesign is now available on the New Adobe Exchange

August 8, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Zevrix Solutions announces that LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign CS6 is now available on Adobe Exchange, a new Creative Suite extension marketplace. It is available as a panel within a variety of CS6 applications. The Adobe Exchange panel provides a new way to search, discover, and install plug-ins, extensions, and other content for Creative Suite products. LinkOptimizer allows users to automatically reduce InDesign link size, perform essential image adjustments, convert image formats and more.

Toronto (ON), Canada – August 8, 2012 — Zevrix Solutions today announces that LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign CS6 is now available on Adobe Exchange, a new Creative Suite extension marketplace. It is available as a panel within a variety of CS6 applications. The Adobe Exchange panel provides a new way to search, discover, and install plug-ins, extensions, and other content for Creative Suite products. LinkOptimizer automates complex image manipulation tasks allowing to significantly reduce the size of InDesign links, save processing time and reduce production costs.

“We are delighted to have products like LinkOptimizer from Zevrix Solutions available on Adobe Exchange”, says Jonathan Ferman, Adobe Exchange Product Manager. “This provides users with an easy way to install products and see updates as and when they become available.”

InDesign CS6 users can download the Adobe Exchange panel from adobeexchange.com. After the installation, the panel will be available in the Window > Extensions menu.

LinkOptimizer is a powerful automation solution, whether users target print, web or mobile devices. The software works automatically with Adobe Photoshop to eliminate the excess image data of InDesign links, perform essential image adjustments and convert image formats. For example, with just a click of a button users can:

-scale and crop images to match their dimensions in InDesign,
-change their resolution to 300 ppi,
-convert all RGB images to CMYK,
-resave all JPEG images as TIFF,
-run a Photoshop Action on each image.

At the end of processing, LinkOptimizer reimports images to InDesign at 100% in their precise position. In addition, the software can apply sharpening filters, merge layers and delete hidden ones, and process copies of InDesign documents and images instead of original files. As a result, users can save gigabytes of disk space and countless hours of optimizing images manually; accelerate document output; reduce job turnaround and cut costs through faster processing.

Pricing and Availability:
LinkOptimizer for InDesign CS6 can be purchased from Adobe Exchange for US$259.95. The software for earlier versions is also available on Zevrix website and through authorized resellers. Trial is also available for download. LinkOptimizer is available for Mac OS X 10.4.2-10.8, a Universal Binary, and works with Adobe InDesign CS3-CS6.

About Zevrix Solutions

Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, PDF and graphic file diagnostics, as well as Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions is dedicated to helping professionals increase their profits through automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting production costs. For more information, visit http://www.zevrix.com.

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

Solutions for Adobe InDesign & the Graphics Industry

Business

Tweeting for Business: Experts Connection Webinar Offers Course in How to Use Twitter to Build Your Business

August 7, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Social Media Expert Neal Shaffer Offers Step-by-Step Instruction on How to Build Successful Twitter Marketing Campaigns for Any Organization.

NOVATO, Calif. (August 7, 2012) — This month, Experts Connection for Business (http://www.experts-connection.com/business.aspx) will present Neal Schaffer, social media strategist and author of “Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter,” who will share his expertise into how to apply Twitter as part of any strategic marketing campaign. The webinar, entitled “Twitter for Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter,” is hosted by NETSHARE® (http://www.netshare.com), and scheduled for August 21, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET, (1:00 – 2:30 p.m. PT).

Twitter continues to be one of the most powerful most misunderstood social networks. While many marketing professionals are still struggling to perfect their microblogging strategy, Schaffer has been designing successful marketing campaigns for clients for a number of years and will provide specific strategies and a step-by-step approach to show how to get the most out of Twitter for sales and marketing.

Among the insights Schaffer will share are the Twitter secrets used by major brands. The instruction will include:

– What opportunities Twitter provides to business;
– How Twitter is currently being used within corporations;
– How to build an effective Twitter marketing strategy;
– How to include Twitter as part of a broader marketing program;
– Understanding hash tags, Twitter chats, and how to build a following;
– Examples of successful Twitter campaigns; and
– Twitter tools that are available to make Tweeting more efficient.

“Social media levels the marketing playing field so any business can compete effectively,” said Katherine Simmons, CEO of NETSHARE and host of the Experts Connection webinar series. “Neal has designed winning Twitter campaigns for global companies, and we are fortunate to be able to share his expertise through Experts Connection. This is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to learn how to harness Twitter and social media for effective marketing.”

The Experts Connection teleseminar series allows business professionals to connect with experts in a wide range of areas, gathering information about business-critical topics presented with an eye toward the practical, not just the theoretical. Experts Connections recruits the most knowledgeable specialists to address problems facing small companies, multi-national corporations, B2B, B2C; businesses of any size serving any market. The cost of the seminar is $100, and access is provided via web and telephone. For more information, visit the Experts Connection online at http://www.experts-connection.com/business.aspx.

About Neal Schaffer
Neal Schaffer helps organizations strategically leverage and maximize return on investment from social business. He is currently Senior Vice President of Social Media Strategy for Social 5150 and Vice President of Social Media Strategy for Green Dream Social, as well as the author of two books on LinkedIn and the soon-to-be-published “Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter”. Neal is a frequent speaker at media events sponsored by ABC and CBS and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, Yahoo! and the American Express Open Forum. He also has counseled Fortune 500 companies and celebrities with nearly one million social media fans.

Contact:
Annette DiSano
NETSHARE, Inc.
(415) 883-1700
Annette@netshare.com

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

Business

Edgar Perez, The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, Featured in The New York Times on High-Frequency Trading Regulation

August 7, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Edgar Perez, the author of “The Speed Traders: An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That Is Transforming the Investing World” and the forthcoming “Knightmare on Wall Street: Do Facebook’s Botched IPO and Knight Capital’s Technology Error Mark the Beginning of the End of Equities Investing?,” featured in The New York Times’ Room for Debate, with “Don’t Ban the Trades; Regulate Them in Real Time”.

New York City, NY, USA (August 7, 2012) — Edgar Perez, author of The Speed Traders, and former McKinsey & Co. consultant and New York University Adjunct Professor, was featured in The New York Times’ Room for Debate opinion page on How to Regulate High-Frequency Trading, alongside other recognized experts on the subjects of speed trading and regulation. Perez is currently presenting The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, How High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX (The Speed Traders Workshop 2012), in a number of cities around the world, including Moscow, Shanghai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, New York, Chicago, Dubai and London.

In his article, “Don’t Ban the Trades; Regulate Them in Real Time”, Perez argued that wrongdoing in financial markets has existed long before the advent of high-frequency trading, and it would always be a part of markets. High-frequency trading is simply a tool, he said; it can be positive or negative for investors and markets. To maximize the benefit and minimize the downsides, regulators need to catch up with the technology.

“High-frequency trading has been under a microscope since the infamous ‘flash crash’ in 2010. Let’s remember, though: The market rebounded that day almost as fast as it fell, and regulators ultimately determined that the crash was initiated by human error. But many in the financial sector and in government were uncomfortable at the thought that high-frequency trading programs could vaporize huge amounts of equity in a matter of minutes.”

Perez concluded that real-time policing for potential malfeasance was the most efficient way to regulate high-frequency trading. Analysis of real-time data would provide for effective regulation of these trades. This in turn would provide peace of mind for market participants big and small.

Mr. Perez is widely regarded as the preeminent global expert in the specialized area of high-frequency trading. He is author of The Speed Traders, An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World, published in English by McGraw-Hill Inc. (2011), in Mandarin by China Financial Publishing House (2012) and currently being translated into Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese, and the forthcoming Knightmare on Wall Street: Do Facebook’s Botched IPO and Knight Capital’s Technology Error Mark the Beginning of the End of Equities Investing?. He is course director of The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, How High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX (Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Warsaw, Kiev, New York, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Ho Chi Minh, New York, Dubai and Chicago), and was Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, where he taught Algorithmic Trading and High-Frequency Finance. He contributes regularly to China’s International Finance News.

Mr. Perez has been interviewed on CNBC Cash Flow, CNBC Squawk Box, BNN Business Day, CCTV China, Bankier.pl, TheStreet.com, Leaderonomics, GPW Media, Channel NewsAsia Business Tonight and Cents & Sensibilities. In addition, Mr. Perez has been featured on Caixin, Futures Daily, Xinhua, CBN Newswire, Chinese Financial News, ifeng.com, International Finance News, hexun.com, Finance.QQ.com, Finance.Sina.com, The Korea Times, The Korea Herald, The Star, BMF 89.9, iMoney Hong Kong, CNBC, Bloomberg Hedge Fund Brief, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Valor Econômico, FIXGlobal Trading, TODAY Online, Oriental Daily News and Business Times.

Mr. Perez has been engaged to present to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington DC), CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, University of International Business and Economics (Beijing), Hult International Business School (Shanghai) and Pace University (New York), among other public and private institutions. In addition, Mr. Perez has spoken at a number of global conferences, including Harvard Business School’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference (Boston), High-Frequency Trading Leaders Forum (New York, Chicago), MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference (Cambridge), Institutional Investor’s Global Growth Markets Forum (London), Technical Analysis Society (Singapore), TradeTech Asia (Singapore), FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul) and Private Equity Convention Russia, CIS & Eurasia (London).

Mr. Perez was a vice president at Citigroup, a senior consultant at IBM, and a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. in New York City. Mr. Perez has an undergraduate degree from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru (1994), a Master of Administration from Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru (1997) and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School, New York, with a dual major in Finance and Management (2002). He belongs to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Mr. Perez resides in the New York City area and is an accomplished salsa and hustle dancer.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
The Speed Traders
516-761-4712
jpetrova@thespeedtraders.com
http://www.thespeedtraders.com

Business

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal Ranks Rosendin Electric Third Among Largest Private Companies for 2012

August 7, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Rosendin Electric Named Number Three in Revenue for the Second Year in a Row.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (August 7, 2012) – For the second year in a row the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal has placed Rosendin Electric, one of the nation’s largest private electrical contractors and a 100% employee-owned company, as number three in its 2012 list of top private companies as ranked by revenue.

The rankings for the annual list have been published in the current issue of the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal and are determined by earnings for the preceding fiscal year. This year, Rosendin Electric was named third based on earnings of $817.3 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. For the list published in 2011, Rosendin Electric also ranked third with earnings of $727 million for the year ending December 31, 2010.

“Rosendin Electric’s reputation continues to grow, not only here in Silicon Valley but throughout the country as well as in international markets where we have an established presence,” said Tom Sorley, Chairman and CEO of Rosendin Electric. “Business is booming because our partners and clients know they can rely on Rosendin Electric to bring the latest design-build techniques and innovation to any job. We continue to attract the best talent in the construction business, and our commitment to excellence and creating a safe and friendly workplace continues to put us ahead of the competition in productivity and reliability.”

About Rosendin Electric
Rosendin Electric, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, is a 100% employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider and is one of the largest privately held electrical contractors in the United States. With over 2,500 employees and experience nationwide, Rosendin Electric has built upon a 90-year reputation for quality design and installations. For additional information, visit http://www.rosendin.com.

Contact:
Shelly Goulart
Marketing Manager
Rosendin Electric, Inc.
880 Mabury Road
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 534-2819
sgoulart@rosendin.com
http://www.rosendin.com

Business, Travel

TripInsurance.com Launches New Web Site to Simplify Buying Travel Insurance And Extend Support for Travelers

August 7, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Travel Insurance Website Streamlines Online Comparison and Gives Consumers More Options, More Savings, and More Support When Traveling.

LOS GATOS, Calif. (August 7, 2012) – TripInsurance.com, the most trusted online resource to help travelers find the trip coverage they need, has launched a new web site designed to help travelers find the trip insurance coverage that ideally suits their travel needs and give them more support while they are on the road. This new website now provides the easiest way to compare travel insurance coverage and save money when buying the right coverage for you.

The new TripInsurance.com now features improved, easier-to-understand quote results that simplify the comparison of insurance plan options. TripInsurance.com provides side-by-side comparisons of plans grouped by Good, Better, and Best options. Options include a professional review of each plan that lists the pros and cons for each coverage package as well as comparative pricing. A popup window provides instant details about each option, including trip cancellation coverage, trip interruption coverage, cancel for any reason, medical expense coverage, medical evacuation coverage, non-medical evacuation coverage, accidental death and dismemberment, and more. In addition, instant price quotes are provided based on basic criteria, such as age, dates of travel, and the state of residence.

“Buying travel insurance was too complex, so we decided to simplify the process,” said Dan Skilken, CEO and founder of TripInsurance.com. “By grouping our plans based on the coverage categories of Good, Better, and Best, we empower our customers by giving them a better understanding of their options and the associated costs. We are the only comparison website that lets you file your claims online on our website, and we have enhanced all our customer support facilities and documentation to make it easier to get help before during and after your trip.”

TripInsurance.com offers exclusive products from the leading travel insurance companies at consumer direct prices. By eliminating middlemen TripInsurance.com can pass the savings directly on to the consumer. On average, travelers can save 40 percent or more on comparable travel insurance coverage when they buy from TripInsurance.com.

TripInsurance.com’s travel insurance is backed by 24/7 telephone support. Customers can call any time with insurance questions about coverage for any situation that might arise, or to file a claim. The TripInsurance.com response team is highly trained and consists of U.S.-based, licensed insurance professionals who are prepared to answer any question. Customers also can use the web site to file a claim online or gather more information. The new web site features a comprehensive online Help section with information to help travelers before and during their trip.

All customers who purchase from TripInsurance.com also receive e-travel alerts to warn them of any problems that could affect their trip. TripInsurance.com has expanded its online resource section to include hourly updates with travel warnings from the U.S. State Department, the British Government, the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the National Hurricane Forecast.

“We don’t just sell travel insurance, we offer peace of mind while travelling. We want our customers to feel protected and supported before, during, and after their trip. We know travelers appreciate the service we offer as well as the money they can save on our trip insurance.”

About TripInsurance.com
TripInsurance.com is the online resource for comprehensive and affordable travel insurance. Most travelers really don’t understand the details and benefits of travel insurance, and buy based on recommendations from a travel agent or a third party. TripInsurance.com simplifies buying travel insurance by providing comparison-shopping online for the best coverage at the lowest prices. TripInsurance.com is committed to making insurance terms easy to understand, providing the best available coverage categorized by customers’ specific needs, and allowing travelers to buy direct from leading underwriters to achieve savings of 40% or more. The company is fully licensed for Property and Casualty, Life, and Accident and Health insurance in all 50 states, and the staff are fully trained and licensed insurance professionals.

For more information, visit http://www.tripinsurance.com.

Contact:
Dan Skilken
TripInsurance.com
(408) 337-2345
info@tripinsurance.com

Tom Woolf
Gumas Advertising
(415) 621-7575
twoolf@gumas.com

Business

AAA Welcomes Report into Pensions Investing in Alternatives

August 7, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

AAA has welcomed new research from Towers Watson consultancy, which found that pension funds are still putting more and more of their funds into alternative investments.

Boston, MA, USA, August 6, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed new research from Towers Watson consultancy, which found that pension funds are still putting more and more of their funds into alternative investments.

The survey found that there has been a 7.9 per cent rise in the total pension fund assets under management by the top 100 asset managers. The total sum is now $1.03 trillion, up from $951.7 billion in 2010.

The rise is partly due to the fact that the survey now includes figures from insurers, foundations, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. Much of the assets under management are being invested in alternatives such as hedge funds and private equity, according to Towers Watson.

A spokesman for Towers Watson, Craig Baker, said, “Our client base is quite different today from when we started this survey. We do a lot of work with insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and endowments.”

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson said that these latest figures show that institutional investors are increasingly looking towards alternatives to diversify their portfolios and offset the impact of inflation. He stated, “We are seeing an increase in interest in alternatives with individuals and institutional investors realizing in their droves that alternatives can offer a wise option.”

AAA claims that individual investors are now “spoiled for choice” when it comes to interesting alternatives asset classes that can offer a hedge against inflation and a less risky investment than the equity markets. “Timberland is one of the best-performing alternatives,” added Mr Johnson.

“Investing directly in timberland through the kind of schemes run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, for example, ensures people get something tangible in exchange for their investment.”

“Not only this, but timberland returns on investment have typically outperformed equities over a number of years and can offer a good long-term investment option for people looking for a pension investment.”

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

Travel

Luxury Travel Unveils Discover The Golden Central Coast of Vietnam in Luxury Style in 10 days

August 6, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

This newest tour lasts 10 days which helps visitors to see the top highlights of Central Vietnam (including Danang – Hoi An – Hue – Quang Binh), discover new destinations, stay in the newest and trendiest hotels and resorts, as well as experience the finest cuisine.

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 6, 2012 — This newest tour lasts 10 days which helps visitors to see the top highlights of Central Vietnam (including Danang – Hoi An – Hue – Quang Binh), discover new destinations, stay in the newest and trendiest hotels and resorts, as well as experience the finest cuisine.

Vietnam has always had extraordinary charm, in part because of the French colonial influence still evident throughout much of the country. Its jaw dropping scenery, fabulous food and friendly locals all contribute to the country’s appeal to travelers. But in recent times the destination’s luxury offerings have also had great appeal, due to new luxe hotels, beautiful resorts and world class golf courses, especially in Central Vietnam. Danang now has a new International airport and launched direct international flights throughout Asia, which has given a boost to local tourism. This makes movement in the central area much easier than it had been previously.

This tour focuses on local life and food. Starting in Hanoi or Saigon, visitors will then fly directly to Danang International Airport. From here, they will gradually access each spot of the central area with the help of an experienced guide and, along with local experts, they will discover the most charming aspects of each destination.

“The Golden Central Coast of Vietnam boasts a rich mix of attractions. Besides the stunning beaches, sumptuous resorts and golf links, there are numerous UNESCO accredited cultural heritage sites, including the centuries-old former port town of Hoi An, once an international hub for merchants in Asia. There is also the former imperial city of Hue (home to the throne of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802-1945) and the My Son ruins, the spiritual home of the Kingdom of Champa, dubbed the “Valley of Kings” by French archaeologists. There are also mountain retreats, the Vinh Moc tunnels and the natural wonders of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, making this trip one with something to offer for everyone.” said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

The tour price starts from US$2,445 per person. Accommodations for two people are in twin, shared rooms at luxury five-star hotels. Price includes all transportation, return domestic flights from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, meals, entrance fees, boat trips and the services of an English-speaking guide. This offer is valid until 30 December 2012.

“One of the attractions of this tour is that visitors will visit colonial sites by Jeep. They will also experience street food with an expert in local cuisine. Each region of Vietnam has different flavors of food, but the central region really offers something that cannot be compared with any other type of food in the world. Central Vietnam has a wide array of activities and landscapes that appeal to a mix of travelers, including tropical beaches, post-colonial towns, world heritage sites, top cuisine and more. Each tour is designed with flexibility to suit travelers’ personal interest, schedule and energy level.” said Hong Linh, Marketing Executive at Luxury Travel Ltd.

For more information and booking, visit: http://luxurytravelvietnam.com/EN/Vietnam_tours/Culturetours/Discover_The_Golden_Central_Coast_of_Vietnam_10days.htm

About Luxury Travel Ltd

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, in 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.

Media Contact:
Doan Hong Linh (Ms.)
Marketing Executive
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
+ 84.4.39274120 Ext 122
marketing3@luxurytravelvietnam.com
http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com