The Hay Festival Maldives will celebrate 2,000 years of Maldivian island culture and provide a platform for focusing international attention on the challenges faced by the archipelago due to climate change, bringing together international and local artists from the fields of literature, art, science, music, poetry and comedy.

The Festival will be staged on Aarah island near Male, the Maldives capital, with Soneva Gili’s sponsorship focusing on three key projects:

Monty Don workshop for Maldivian youth

Monty Don, the much loved British BBC TV presenter and celebrity gardener, will be staying at Soneva Gili for the entire festival.   Monty will conduct a workshop with a number of Maldivian students from the North Male Atoll, in a bid to teach them how to create compost from waste and how to grow their own fruit and vegetables. This educational awareness is to play a major part in the Maldives’ aim to reach carbon neutrality by 2020 and will help the local islanders learn more about self sufficiency with the ultimate aim of reducing dependency on the transportation of supplies.

Monty will run the workshop from Soneva Gili’s organic garden which provides the resort with salads, herbs, fruit and vegetables.

The Reef Project – A century of Maldivian life

Soneva Gili will also be supporting the Hay Festival’s workshops throughout 2010 and 2011 that will teach children how to interview their parents and grandparents in order to gather stories about their life experiences over the last hundred years. These stories will be collected in an online library and form the launchpad for the Hay Festival Maldives in 2011.

Festival finale at Soneva Gili

Finally, Soneva Gili will host the grand finale at the end of the Festival, with an invitation-only celebration. Guests will dance to popular Maldivian band Zero Degree Atoll and meet with Festival authors including Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, novelist Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, local Maldivian writers Ogaru Ibrahim Waheed and Fathmath Nahula to name just a few. Many more will be announced in the coming weeks.

Soneva Gili will be running daily shuttles from the resort to the Festival for resort guests to enjoy the talks, exhibitions and fun.

For further information on Soneva Gili please contact Sophy Williams, Soneva PR/Marketing Manager on sophy@sixsenses.com

Valid for new bookings made now until 30 September 2010, the 14-day Antarctica Classic Package is now available from $6858* per person, a saving of $2621*; and the 17-day Quest for the Antarctic Circle Package from $6553* per person – $2456* below the regular cost.

The price is valid for expeditions in December 2010 and February 2011 only and based on a category 2 grade cabin.

The Antarctica Classic Package explores the rugged, remote South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, home to some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes and impressive wildlife, while the Quest for the Antarctic Circle Package crosses the Antarctic Polar Circle where few other vessels are able to reach.

The Antarctica Classic Package includes 9 nights onboard the M/S Expedition, all onboard meals, roundtrip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, landings by Zodiac boats, tango show and farewell dinner in Buenos Aires and 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast.

The Quest for the Antarctic Circle Package includes 12 nights onboard the M/S Expedition, all onboard meals, roundtrip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, landings by Zodiac boats, tango show and farewell dinner in Buenos Aires and 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast.

Contact 1800 221 712 or visit www.bentours.com.au

*Terms and conditions apply. Prices are subject to change and availability.

The technology will allow guests to access to a wide range of pay Video-on-Demand services in crystal clear image and sound, as well as to key travel information such as real-time flight information, weather, world time, Youtube, Google Map via in room wireless keyboard and LCD screen.

Information and highlights of the dining services and facilities of the hotel, including billing, will also be available within a fingertip on the user-friendly remote control and will be on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad in the future.

To support the Unified Communications (UC) concept through IPTV and IP Phone systems, the building is also cleverly engineered with the installation of a “Fiber Optic Backbone” to ensure bandwidth efficient delivery of internet connection and high quality of telephone signal, allowing business and leisure travelers to connect with business and friend with high levels of performance and reliability.

Moreover, Sivatel is designed to be environmental-friendly with the “VRF - Variable Refrigerant Flow System” and an automatic electricity-controlled system. The”RFID - Radio Frequency Identification card” and “IP CCTV or IP-based Closed Circuit TV” systems are installed to offer convenient, and at the same time, security of hotel and residence guests and office tenants and visitors.

Sivatel’s General Manager, Mr. Apichan Sivayathorn, said that “Sivatel Tower is designed to answer the calls for modern lifestyle amid concerns over the environment and the safety and security from corporate business and leisure travelers.”

easyHotel Jebel Ali is part of the super budget hotel brand founded and owned by serial entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The hotel’s brand new six-story building, with its trademark orange trimmings, has 216 air-conditioned bedrooms, each equipped with basic amenities like en-suite bathroom, wireless Internet access and a work desk space for the busy traveller.

easyHotel Jebel Ali, operated by Istithmar Budget Hotels, an Istithmar World company, is Dubai’s first 1-star hotel that offers a clean room equipped with basic amenities and the first budget hotel with a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, a widely accepted benchmark for high-performance green buildings.

easyHotel Jebel Ali remains true to the brand’s great value ‘no frills’ approach and is completely transparent on its services and pricing structure. Services such as housekeeping, luggage storage, early check in, late check out, vended snacks and drinks and wi-fi Internet access are available for a small additional charge to those guests who require them.

Announcing the opening of the easyHotel Dubai, Jebel Ali, Andy Watson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Istithmar World, said:
“Istithmar World is pleased to introduce to the regional market the concept of remarkable value for money through the easyHotel brand. We believe there is a real gap in the hotel sector here for quality accommodation at affordable prices and easyHotel Jebel Ali fills that void beautifully. We are confident that our offer of purpose-built hotel rooms at highly attractive rates and our policy of leaving upgrade decisions solely in the hands of our guests will find resonance in an increasingly cost-conscious market.”

easyHotel Jebel Ali is conveniently located inside the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) with easy access from Sheikh Zayed Road and has parking for up to 50 cars. Guests arriving at Dubai International Airport can take a Metro Train to Ibn Batuta Mall Station or a quick taxi ride to reach easyHotel Jebel Ali.

easyHotel Jebel Ali is the first hotel to be established in Jafza, Dubai’s premier free zone, which is home to more than 6,500 companies and is adjacent to Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest container terminals in the world.

*Source: ME NewsWire

View this release online by clicking the following link: http://www.me-newswire.com/news/2330

For more details about easyHotel, please visit: http://www.easyhotel.com

The three properties represent the latest round of additions to Concord Hospitality Enterprises’ growing 3^rd party management portfolio. Concord currently owns and/or operates more than 70 hotels, offering more than 9,000 rooms, with several hotels under development.

“The recovering economy has encouraged us to actively seek out institutional partners with upscale select service hotels who want to rebound quickly,” said Mark G. Laport, president and CEO of Concord. “We have had more significant company growth in the last 24-month period than in our 24-year history. Our focus in this phase of the cycle will be to continue growing our 3^rd party management portfolio, supported by development. Our current portfolio mix is split about evenly between third-party management and owned hotels.

“All three of these properties will undergo some capital enhancement renovation projects, including the latest Marriott innovations, such as the new Refreshing Business lobby, to keep the properties fresh and highly competitive,” Laport added.

The Lizard King, real name Anson Wong, was apparently en route to Jakarta, where he hoped the snakes would fetch a high price. His plan fell apart when his bulging hand luggage burst open at the airport and the snakes made a bid for freedom. The BBC reported that the 95 boa constrictors “shared the bag with two rhinoceros vipers and a matamata turtle”.

Wong, a Malaysian, had already served prison time for wildlife trafficking in the United States, the Associated Press said. In 2001, a US court sentenced him to almost six years jail for running an animal-smuggling racket. Prosecutors said he had imported and sold more than 300 protected reptiles native to Asia and Africa. Wong had been arrested in Mexico in 1998.

Authorities had expected Wong to receive a heavy sentence in the Malaysian Court this week. They were aghast when he got off with six months prison and a fine of about AUD60,000.

WWF Malaysia called the penalty a “slap on the wrist”. The Malaysian Attorney General’s office agreed and has filed an appeal. It lodged the appeal almost as soon as the sentence was handed down.

Meanwhile, Malaysian airport authorities are very curious to know how Wong managed to board a domestic flight from Penang with a suitcase full of live snakes. The incident followed other incidents elsewhere in the world, including a woman who tried to smuggle a baby tiger on a plane and a twitchy-looking man with 18 monkeys down his trousers, arrested at an airport in Mexico.

Written by Peter Needham

Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) kicks off in exactly one year’s time and tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011) says preparations are well on track for New Zealand to stage an excellent tournament.

“We are making good progress because of the team behind us at every level up and down the country,” said RNZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden.

“But we acknowledge this is a tough time for Canterbury, one of the key members of our team. Our hearts go out to the people of Canterbury at this difficult time.

“We are monitoring potential impacts on our planning for RWC 2011, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest the region will not be able to play its part in hosting this event.  Stadium Christchurch, venue for seven RWC 2011 matches, was given the all clear by structural engineers yesterday and that is great news.

“We also acknowledge that people have much on their plate at the moment so we have decided to make a special allocation of tickets for Christchurch matches which will be made available at a later date.

“Cantabrians have shown great spirit in coping with this disaster – it is that spirit which gives us confidence that they will bounce back and put on a fantastic tournament next year.”

“The foundations are being laid for a tournament all New Zealanders will be proud of,” Snedden said.

“Communities, Rugby clubs and other organisations up and down New Zealand are really getting behind this tournament and the opportunity it provides to showcase our country to the world.”

He added that much progress has been made at every level over the past year in terms of delivering the tournament.

“Eden Park will be open for business on October 10 and that is a great achievement. All other major stadia redevelopments will be finished this year and the new Otago Stadium is on track for completion next year.

“Tomorrow marks another milestone when applications open for Phase 2 of ticketing – individual match tickets. This is the last chance to enter the ballot for semi-final and Final tickets so we urge fans to take advantage of this four week period to apply.

“Phase 1 sales were in line with expectations with 503,000 tickets sold, including sales to 20,000 fans living overseas.

“We promised a Stadium of Four Million New Zealanders would help deliver this Tournament and make it a uniquely New Zealand flavoured RWC.”

Bernard Lapasset, Rugby World Cup Limited chairman, said: “The year-to-go milestone is a special time for the tournament and also for the people of New Zealand. I am confident the whole country will be proud of RWC 2011 and become involved through its wonderful mix of matches, live sites, festival and legacy activities and volunteering opportunities.”

“Planning and preparations are at an advanced stage, the commercial program is on track and as the countdown enters its final year, the global Rugby community awaits a tournament that will provide the seventh chapter of the RWC story in a country that is totally immersed in Rugby’s tradition and culture. I have no doubt that it will be a resounding success.”

Written by Peter Needham

The longer you stay the better rates you will receive per night.

The sale is valid until 30 November 2010 and valid for travel until 31 March 2012.

With Captain Cook Cruises discovery-style cruises guests will enjoy an intimate and personal experience of the Yasawa Islands aboard small ship, MV Reef Endeavour, where passengers wake up at a new and exciting destination every morning.

If finding ‘My’ Fiji involves culture, the MV Reef Endeavour visits unspoiled Fijian villages where passengers can interact with the locals, take part in a traditional village sevusevu ceremony and Meke and Lovo feast and even tour a village school.

If water and relaxation is more your Fiji, there is plenty of time every day to snorkel over amazing coral reefs, swim in crystal clear waters, dive in spectacular blue lagoons or relax on the warm white sand. Passengers can also take a glass bottom boat ride to witness the abundance of marine life that thrives on Fiji’s coral reefs.

Stay on-board and find ‘My’ Fiji by being pampered at the ships Senikai Day Spa, or simply relax on the sun deck by the pool or spa or enjoy a cocktail at the pool bar.

Fares for the 3 night Southern Yasawa cruise start from $639 per person twin share, normally $1199 per person. For the 4 night Northern Yasawa cruise fares start from $855 per person twin share, normally $1499 per person and fares for the 7 night Yasawa Islands and 7 night Northern Fiji Dateline Expedition cruise start from $1389 per person twin share, normally $2499 per person.

Great value family cabins are also available from just $1548 for up to 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years or a separate child’s stateroom is available from only $414 per room when parents or guardians travel in stateroom accommodation.

Prices include all meals, daily island and water activities, guided island, village and school tours, snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours, use of snorkelling equipment and mini gym, a Lovo feast and kava ceremony, entertainment, child minding during meal times, 24 hour self-service tea and coffee bar and transfers from Nadi and Denarau hotels.

“Modern audiences are no longer scared by creepy castles, haunted manors, and a guy in a hockey mask,” says Scott Simmons, creative director and co-owner of The ScareHouse®.  ”Entering our haunted house is like stepping into a real-life horror movie, and our guests want thatexperience to match the same level of intensity and realism that they would expect to see and feel in movies like SAW or Paranormal Activity. ”

So what scares Pittsburgh’s fright fans this year?  Angry clowns, lunatics with power tools, failed exorcisms, and…

“A giant rabbit,” Simmons says with a laugh. “Very few people like being in a dark room with a guy in a bunny suit, especially when he’s holding an axe.”

The ScareHouse® has been named as one of America’s scariestHalloween attractions by Travel Channel and also ranked as one of the country’s top haunted houses by both Haunted Attraction and Fangoria magazines.  This fall, The ScareHouse® will present three terrifying attractions for just one price: RAMPAGE, Delirium 3-D, and a brand new haunt: The Forsaken.

The Forsaken is the most intense haunted attraction ever created by The ScareHouse® team of artists and designers. The carnival offers only pain, the abandoned ruins offer no protection, and the basement offers little hope of survival.  Plus, the party inside Delirium 3-D is longer and louder than ever before while the steampunk-influenced RAMPAGE has been enhanced and expanded with even more creatures and carnage.

The ScareHouse® is open on select dates from September 24 through October 31.  Hours are 7pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 7pm to 10pm on all other nights.

Visit www.scarehouse.com for tickets, dates, directions, and more information.

Related Links:

The ScareHouse is “Pittsburgh’s Ultimate Haunted House”

One of America’s scariest Halloween attractions is located in Pittsburgh: The ScareHouse