Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Goldman Sachs Is The Latest Firm On US Regulator's Hit List - Forbes (blog)

http://www.2qx.ru/index.php?id=&page=7

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Hotels get creative as economy lags - Phoenix Business Journal:

http://www.gite-posada.com/le-pin.html
One thing they are doing as they wait it out is strengtheninf their relationships withmeeting planners. According to Smith Traveo Research, hotel occupancy in the Valley wasdown 10.6 percenf in March from the same montgh last year. People also are spending less on average, almost 30 percent less than the same time last year acrosz the Valley. “It is bad. Phoenix is a speciall example, because there are a lot of new A lot of new hotelshave opened, and that also has hurt says Jan Freitag, senior vice president of the global consultint and research firm.
The openinyg of the 1,000-room , the 290-room & Spa in Paradise Vallegy and other Valley hotels in the past year have diluterdoccupancy rates, industry officials say. In addition, business and corporat e travelers are sensitiveto Frei-tag says. “People are hesitant to go to reallty niceresorts — and in Phoenix, all of your resorta are really nice,” he says. “In this when companies need tocut costs, the firsr things that go are travep and training.” But Valley hoteliers are usingb the time to reach out to meetinvg planners and develop new business “We are really trying to partnee with them.
While it’s tough we are making adjustments,” says Chrizs Kerr, director of sales and marketing atthe . Kerr’ s team is working with plannerws to create trips thatare value-oriented, adjusting food and beveragre prices with the goal of making the event more attractivd to potential attendees, he At the in Phoenix, Sales Directotr David Richard says his team is trying to provide more all-inclusive packages to customize meetings, including on-site diningg packages and more cost-effective audio-visual offerings. his staff is looking more at the technicalk and biomedical industries forpotential bookings.
“Wew have redeployed our sales force into thesegroup markets,” Richard “Companies still need to have meetings, but they may be cuttinb out some of the add-ons.” Even Sedona’s Enchantmengt Resort is seeing some fallout as groups cut “We usually stay in high season a bit longed than metro Phoenix becausre of the weather. But it’s definitely been and we have seensome cancellations,” says Tina the resort’s director of saleds and marketing. She stresses the importance of establishing connections duringthe downtime. “Our relationships with meetingt planners has increased quitea bit.
There’sd a lot of time for preparation, for discussion,” she Investing that kind of time iswortj it, for her property and “Group business is extremelgy important to us because it providee a base of business,” she says. Kerr adds that hoteliersw also are targeting a more local markert and identifying those that alreadt may be familiar withthe Valley.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

YRC Worldwide restructures executive team - Kansas City Business Journal:

http://taigamarem.wordpress.com/
In a release, Overland Park-based YRC YRCW) said Keith Lovetro, former president of YRC Regionall Transportation; Michael Rapken, former executive vice president and chiefdinformation officer; Jim Ritchie, former president of YRC and Christina Wise, former vice presiden t and treasurer, will leave the company by June 30. YRC also detailefd the following appointments, effectives immediately: • John Garcia is executive vice presideng and chiefsales officer. Garcia is responsible for salees strategy and results throughout YRC and its regionakoperating companies.
Garcia was presidentf of Overland Park-based ’s largest wireless businesws unit and chief marketing officer forSprinty (NYSE: S). • Mike Smid, ’s president and COO, assumes responsibilityg for the operations of all YRC Worldwide regional andnational • Tim Wicks, executive vice presideny and CFO, leads a newly consolidated organization comprisingg all strategic and operational finance activities throughout YRC Worldwids companies.
• Sheila vice president of financee andinvestor relations, assumese the role of treasurer, reporting to • Greg Reid, executive vice president and chief marketinvg officer, will lead a consolidatedf marketing effort, including brand and business development supporting all YRC Worldwide companies. Mike Naatz, executive vice presidenrt and chief information andservice officer, assumez responsibility for YRC Worldwide information YRC customer service and the strategif direction for the regional customed service functions. Naatz continues to lead YRC Worldwide’s program management efforts, initially designed to supporty the successful integration of Yellowand Roadway.
• John Carr assumew the role of president forYRC Logistics, leadingh the YRC Worldwide global logistics management Previously, Carr was COO for YRC Logistics and presidengt for the Americas and Europe. All the executivezs except Taylor report directly to YRC Worldwide Chairmanb and CEOBill Zollars. Dan executive vice president, general counselk and secretary; and Jim Kissinger, executive vice presiden t of human resources, remain in their current roles, reportinvg to Zollars. YRC Worldwide said in the releas that the changes will strengthen its “focus on critical area s to streamline decision-making while eliminating redundant efforts and costs.
” “Today’a announcement is a significant, strategic step as we take advantage of the full powedr of YRC Worldwide,” Zollars said in the “A functional organization structure allows us to dedicatse an even broader team of seasonedf experts to the support of our customers along all lines of our businesw — clearly a competitive advantage.” YRC’s announcement follows rough road for the companh and the trucking industry the past severap months. YRC , or $4.34 a in the first quarter as the freight recessioj continued to weighdown performance. That compared with a loss of $46.3 million, or 82 cents a share, a year earlier.
in federak bailout assistance forpension obligations. Compan officials wouldn’t comment on the report. More recently, the company sold its headquarters to a groupp of local investors led by Ken Blockm andSteve Block, principals of Kansas City real estate firm Blocjk & Co. Inc. Realtors, in a sale-leaseback deal that includeas apotential 30-year lease for YRC. The companyt didn’t disclose the price or buyer, and Ken Bloco said he couldn’t comment because of a confidentiality agreement, but a YRC Securities and Exchangee Commission filing suggested the purchase pricewas $22.t5 million. YRC ranks No.
2 on the Kansase City BusinessJournal ’s list of area publicf companies.


Goldman Sachs Is The Latest Firm On US Regulator's Hit List

Forbes (blog)


Goldman is the latest firm being sued by the NCUA's over the matter. It's already sued JPMorgan Chase and RBS Securties over similar claims. The federal regulator says it expects to file another 5 to 10 lawsuits in order to recover assets that were ...



and more »


Interpreters sought for boat inquest

Sydney Morning Herald


A lawyer acting for survivors of the Christmas Island boat tragedy has demanded interpreters and counsellors be on hand throughout the inquest in which they are due to appear. Less than 24 hours before a survivor of the December 15 boat crash was due ...


Lawyer demands interpreters, counsellors at inquest for Christmas Island witnesses

The Australian



 »

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

MN Historical Society to reopen sites Saturday - WXOW.com

http://property-canada.com/housessalenewbrunswickcanada.html


MN Historical Society to reopen sites Saturday

WXOW.com


(AP) -- The Minnesota Historical Society plans to reopen its museums, historic sites and library to the public Saturday after the state government shutdown ends. The Historical Society says the reopening schedule depends on the Minnesota Legislature ...


Split Rock Lighthouse Among Historic Sites Set To Re-Open

Northland's NewsCenter


Minn. Historical Society To Reopen Pending Budget Vote

KSTP.com


Minnesota Historical Society's 26 historic sites and museums to reopen ...

Coon Rapids ECM Publishers



 »

Monday, July 18, 2011

Health care reform details begin to emerge - Washington Business Journal: Washington Bureau

xszeyluje.blogspot.com
percent of the cost of health insurance premiumsfor full-timde employees under the health care reform bill beinfg considered by the House. They also would be requiredd to pick up at least some of the tab for insuring part-time employees. Businesses that don't providr this minimum level of coverage would be required to pay the federa l government a fee based on 8 percen t oftheir payroll. Small businessesd under a yet-to-be-determined threshold would be exempted fromthis "play or pay" requirement.
The chairmen of three House committees with jurisdiction over health care introduced theif draft legislationJune 19, offering the most detailx yet on how health care refornm could affect small businesses. Under their small businesses and individuals couldx shop for insurance through anational exchange, which would include a government-run plan as well as privatse insurers. Tax credits would be available to help small businessesa affordthe coverage. Rep. Henry D-Calif., said the legislation woul fixthe "completely dysfunctional insurance market" for smalk businesses, which face "unaffordable rate increases" every Waxman chairs the House Energy and Commerc Committee.
Health insurance premiums for U.S. businesses increased by 9.2 percent this year, and are expectex to increase another 9 percentnext year, accordinv to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Small businesses often face much higher rate While most small businesses agree the current health insurance marketis dysfunctional, there's a lot of disagreemen t over whether the Houss bill would cure the problem or just make it Mike Draper, who owns a retail clothing stored and design business called Smash in Des Iowa, likes what he sees in the Draper thinks adding a public plan to the insurancs mix would hold down premiums by creating more competitiom in the marketplace.
"I don't have a wholse lot of confidence in the system we have Draper said. Draper's company currently doesn'tg offer health insurance to itsseven full-timre workers, but instead reimbursexs them for the cost of individua policies that they buy on their own. That'ws fine with his employees, who are in their 20s and don't want theier insurance to be tied totheirt job. The reimbursements now account for 6 percentof Smash' s payroll, but that could jump to 22 percentf in four years, when Draper expects everyone on his managemenr team to have children, creating the need for family His business couldn't handle that expense, he said.
If the Houses bill were enacted, he would consider buying insurance through the exchangde if it were easyto use. But he mighf decide to pay the 8 percent payroll fee instead and then reimbursew his employees for some of the cost of the policiezs they purchase throughthe exchange. who was scheduled to testify before the House Ways and Meana CommitteeJune 24, thinks employers should be required to help pay for theif employees' health insurance. Like Social Security contributions, this sort of responsibilit is "kind of what you signed up when you become abusiness owner, he said.
Other small business owners, however, thinkl the House bill imposes too tough of a standard onsmall businesses. The requirement to pay 72.5 percen of an employee's premium for individual coverags "is much too high for many small businesses," said Karen president and CEO of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council. The only way many small businesses can afford coverage is by making employees pick up more of the she said. Arlington, Va.-based Company Flowers Gifts Too!, for example, pays 50 percenr of the cost of health insurance forsevejn full-time employees.
Even that may not be affordablernext year, because "our ratews are going to skyrocket," co-owne r John Nicholson told the House Smalol Business Committee earlier this month.