Emirates Inflight Entertainment Secures Fourth Consecutive Skytrax Award

14th August 2008 Emirates has again received plaudits for its innovative inflight technology after scooping the much-coveted Skytrax 2008 Best Airline Inflight Entertainment Award for the fourth consecutive year. The airline’s ice (information, communication and entertainment) and ice Digital Widescreen systems received top honours based on a passenger survey carried out by Skytrax. From August 2007 to June 2008, more than 15 million travellers of 93 nationalities took part in Skytrax’s World Airline Survey, which covered several areas of the airline industry. The criteria for the award included the quality of inflight entertainment, best movie selection, TV and documentary programmes, and best audio choices. Quality of headsets and sound, audio programming, games selection and screen size were also considered. Patrick Brannelly, Vice President Passenger Communications and Visual Services, said: “To win this award for the fourth consecutive year is a fantastic achievement, proving yet again that Emirates significant investment in the inflight entertainment product is appreciated by our customers. We also make significant investments in the latest technology to ensure our passengers enjoy not only the widest range of entertainment, but also the capacity to communicate with family and friends on the ground. Emirates has invested huge sums to provide passengers the very best inflight entertainment since 1992, when it became the first airline in the world to offer personal TV screens in all classes on its entire fleet. In 2003, Emirates launched ice and quickly developed it into the airline industry’s leading entertainment system. Passengers have hundreds of films, TV and audio options available at their fingertips, with more than 600 channels of entertainment on offer. The content available covers several languages, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Chinese, Japanese. The ice system, which was conceived in-house, has pushed the boundaries of traditional entertainment-only products by offering unique services. These include the pioneering inflight mobile phone technology offering the first such service to be launched by any airline in the world. The mobile phone system allows passengers to communicate with people on the ground by making or receiving calls and sending or receiving text messages. Other inflight features that Emirates provides includes seatback SMS and email services, and live text news updates throughout the flight. Reaffirming its position as an inflight technology pioneer, Emirates launched the new ice Digital Widescreen, which offers even more movies, TV and audio, as well as some 100 games. The airline is the first in the world to introduce closed captions on movies for passengers with hearing difficulties. New features include My USB, enabling passengers to view photos and pdf files, and My Playlist where travellers can create personal music compilations by choosing from nearly 10,000 tracks of available music. ice Digital widescreen also offers the largest wide-screen televisions in the airline world. Each individual seat-back system is equipped with an advanced ice TV remote control; handset with a qwerty keyboard doubling up as a satellite telephone and games controller; laptop charging points and 3D animated Airshow. In premium classes, a unique wireless handset controller allows passengers to select entertainment, adjust seat positions and lighting, and choose massage functions. More than 60% of Emirates fleet carry the ice or ice Digital Widescreen systems, both of which offer travellers significantly more inflight entertainment choice than any other airline. “Four must be a lucky number for Emirates, said Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted. “The standards of inflight entertainment have improved considerably across the airline industry in recent years, and passengers simply expect their chosen airline to provide AVOD programming, so product differentiation becomes more difficult to achieve for the world leaders in this section. The Skytrax Awards for Airline Excellence is among the most prominent recognitions of outstanding quality excellence for product and customer service delivery across the airline industry. These independent aviation awards recognise front-line service realities and are considered a fair measure of actual product and service being delivered.

Auctionwire Unites with Scrolls from China and Rise up International to Help Chinese Orphans Through eBay Auction

Toronto March 4, 2008

Auctionwire, in conjunction with Scrolls From China, and Rise Up International announced today their upcoming auction of unique, handcrafted artisan pieces.

Beginning March 4th, select, high-quality Chinese scrolls will be up for auction, with proceeds to benefit orphaned children in their goal to become self sufficient. Please visit the auction site: http://www.auctionwire.com/scrollsfromchina.

The award-winning scrolls being offered are the work of artistically-gifted children working out of vocational schools. The sales of the scrolls will provide the funding of the children&39;s educations and allow them to develop skills attractive to employers.

The scrolls themselves feature a range of attractive images common in China from wildlife to landscapes. The scrolls are hand painted using traditional inks on both paper and silk. Each scroll comes with either wood or porcelain hanging rods. Custom scrolls will also be available for purchase.

For those wishing to truly make a long-term difference in these children&39;s lives, each donation of $100 USD will contribute a symbolic &39;brick&39; in the new Rise Up International Education Center being developed. The goal is to sell the 400 bricks needed to launch the new school in China for these orphans. The funds will assist in the launch and maintenance of the school. Each donor will be rewarded with a special certificate and will have his or her name placed on the school&39;s commemorative plaque.

The money generated from the sales of the scrolls art will fund trade school education and also provide living quarters for the children. Clothing, food, staffing and educational materials also come from the sales of the scrolls. Building on the success of this project, Scrolls From China aims to build additional similar schools.

The song featured in the Scrolls From China auction is "Love Is All We Need", written by Gerry Stober and France Robert and performed by popular "Canadian Idol" finalist Audrey de Montigny (courtesy of UniteM Music - a group working with "artists for causes").

About Scrolls From China and Rise Up International: The Scrolls From China project came to fruition when Robert and Stephanie, a couple from Bend, Oregon, travelled to China to adopt a child. There they met Kenny, an orphan himself, who was tutoring art in orphanages in Chongqing. To assist Kenny in his efforts, Robert and Stephanie partnered with him in helping to provide trades to children, upon leaving their orphanages.

Rise Up International consists of a collective of entrepreneurs, artists and anti-poverty campaigners. Rise Up desires to empower those they serve and to create self-sufficiency versus dependency. In China, Rise Up is in the process of building vocational schools for orphans who are forced out of orphanages at the age of 16. Combining both a living space, and a trade school, Rise Up assists in placing disadvantaged children on the road to careers and also aids their reintegration into society.

About Auctionwire: As the leading online auction agency, Auctionwire works with the world&39;s largest corporations, foundations, ad agencies and non-profit organizations to create successful online auctions that raise money, increase brand awareness and generate positive publicity. Auctionwire recently conducted the highly publicized Singapore Airlines A380 auction (jumbo jet maiden voyage), raising over $1.2 million for charity. For more information visit: http://www.auctionwire.com

The Scrolls From China auction will be available March 4th, 2008 to international eBay bidders.

Corporate Head Office Contact:
Auctionwire Inc.
Anthony Heath
anthony@auctionwire.com
416.636.8678 ext 229

Los Angeles Contact:
Auctionwire / Venture Studios
Steven Liberman
(sliberman @ venturestudios.net)
(steven @ auctionwire.com)
310 289 2255

Guide to journey through spice land|china travel

Hunan province is a place where the spice of life is a life of spice, where the chili pepper fuels the fire that burns in local people's souls.

That's perhaps why images of two of the fiery fruits crisscross the cover of Hunan: The Hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong, framing the quote: "Spice, embodying the essential spirit of Hunan people, is like a signpost leading straight to (their) hearts".

And it's perhaps why the book's opening sentence reads: "It goes without saying that the person at the table who likes the spiciest food is from Hunan province."

The chili pepper continues to flavor the book until the back cover, serving as a uniting theme that brings the various ingredients of what makes Hunan, Hunan, to the same table.

Hunan: The Hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong is an essential primer to the province, a book of spells that conjures the best of what makes this land enchanting. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the local culture, politics, history, geography, geology and travel offerings - everything everyone should know about the place.

It introduces a cast of characters from the province's past and present, including revolutionary heroes, giant salamanders, ancient sages, dragons, real-life mummies and magical medicine men. And, of course, it details the exploits of its namesake protagonist, that son of Hunan who became the father of New China, Chairman Mao Zedong.

The book takes readers from the bottoms of the province's deepest caves to the peaks of its highest mountains, from its primeval forests to its rapidly developing cities, and from the darkest trials of its war-stricken past to the brightest points of its harmonious future.

The book is filled with fun factoids, sprinkled throughout its staple narratives like so many chilis.

Readers learn about nu shu, the language written exclusively by the ethnic Yao women of Hunan's Jiangyong county. And they can discover how these "mosquito-shaped words", which for at least two millennia have been created using only four kinds of strokes, may provide a lasting link to China's matrilineal past.

And readers will also discover that Hunan is home to not only the oldest known specimen of farmed rice, discovered in Daoxian county, but also to the latest innovation in rice cultivation - the hybrid "super rice" variety developed by agrarian scientist Yuan Longping in the provincial capital, Changsha.

And readers will learn about the legacies of Shennong, the "Divine Farmer", who is credited with inventing agriculture about 5,000 years ago. They will also delve into the tales of Cai Lun, who invented plant-fiber paper in 105 AD, and Wei Yuan, who created China's first atlas of foreign geography in the 1840s.

Hunan: The Hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong is a must-read book about a must-see place.

Reading this book will entice travelers to visit Hunan and add spice to their journeys through the province.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/11/2011 page19)

GotoBus.com Markets I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change in Mandarin Version

Cambridge, MA April 2, 2007

GotoBus.com, a leading online market place for bus tickets and bus tours, is working with Love Lemmings, Co. to sell show tickets for the popular Broadway musical, I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change in its first Chinese version. The Chinese/American co-production was the first foreign production of an American musical to be performed in the US. I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change will be performed entirely in Mandarin, with English subtitle projected above the stage.

"We are trying to expand our ticketing services, including concerts and shows, to provide our customers with more comprehensive recreational services on our website," says Jimmy Chen, President of GotoBus.com. "We are very excited to promote and market the first Chinese/American co-produced broadway musical. The Chinese/American co-production I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change will cater to those who speak Mandarin as their first language as well as those who want to watch the show from a different cultural perspective."

Originally written by playwright/lyricist Joe DiPietro and composer Jimmy Roberts, I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change is a celebration of the modern-day suburban mating game that explore the joys of dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws. I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change is co-produced by The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center and Broadway Asia Entertainment and directed by Joel Bishoff, who helmed the original New York production as well as productions in 17 cities worldwide. Not just a recreation of the New York show, Joel Bishoff worked with translator Nick Rongjun Yu to incorporate local Chinese attitudes and references, allowing the material to resonate with Shanghai audiences.

This production premiered in Shanghai in December 2006 and has been selected as the special opening ceremony attraction at the prestigious 2007 Beijing Theater Festival on Tuesday, April 17 before the entire company makes the move the New York City. After the New York engagement, the company will return to Beijing to launch an extended multi-city tour throughout China. Featured in the talented cast of four is Lin Yilun, one of China&39;s most popular singing stars and the winner of the 2006 Best Male Singer of China Award at the CCTV&MTV Music Awards, along with Yu Yi, Wen Yang, and Ma Qingli.

I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change opens at New York&39;s Westside Theater for a limited 23-performance engagement from Wednesday, May 9 to Sunday, June 3. Show tickets are available for purchase from GotoBus.com: I Love You, You&39;re Perfect, Now Change or GotoBus Shows.

About GotoBus

GotoBus is the leading online marketplace for bus tickets and tours. The GotoBus online booking system, similar to those used by major airlines, makes it easy for travelers to quickly compare schedules, prices, and pickup/drop-off locations for over 100 bus companies throughout the United States and Canada. GotoBus.com is the fastest growing gateway for bus travel on the Internet. In February 2007, The Washington Post featured GotoBus.com as one of the best travel websites and named it "Best of the Web" in the "Motorcoaches" category.

Noritake.com Unveils New Website Design, Expanded Features, Special Offers

New York, NY September 8, 2010

Noritake is thrilled to announce the launch of their redesigned tableware website. Now live at Noritake.com, the site combines enhanced features and product interaction with social sharing and interactivity among family and friends. In addition, to celebrate the launch of the site, Noritake is offering up to 80% off on selected patterns in the Everyday Elegance collection.

“For more than a century, Noritake has made an art of setting the table and can help you collect pieces that cater to both casual and elegant dining experiences. Our new website is a representation of Noritake’s knowledge of the dinnerware customer, whether it is a couple creating their wedding gift registry or an individual looking for dinnerware that matches their lifestyle and personal taste,says Peter Goldberger, Executive Vice President.

The launch of the new tableware website marks the enhancement of such basic features as the product purchase process and the site search, but also the debut of a number of new site features. The Shop section has been completely revamped; users can search for patterns based on seven preferences including color, material, and shape. The newly-introduced gallery section allows the user to view a number of lifestyle images, giving them an idea of the product’s impact in a realistic scenario. A ShareThis button appears on each page to promote effortless sharing and discussion via Facebook, Twitter, and other social channels.

The Learn and Help sections provide site visitors with basic information on customer service, retail locations and the return policy, but also offer deeper information on the origins of fine dinnerware. Included in the Learn section is a five-part video called The Standard of Perfection, which provides an overview of the history of fine ceramics as well as a trip through the process of creating fine china and stemware.

Adding to the potential for interactivity over tabletop choices is the Favorites section. Users can add any individual product to their favorites, and then easily send an email to friends and family for opinions. The site collects votes on a scale as well and comments, and provides a collective rating back to the user.

In addition to the new content and functionality of the website, Noritake will also be offering special offers and opportunities through social networks as well as via an HTML email campaign. Future plans for the site include a blog (featuring content on bridal registry, home d&233;cor and entertaining) and a “mix and matchfeature allowing users to design custom place settings.

Since 1904, Noritake has been bringing beauty and quality to dinner tables around the world. Superior artistry and craftsmanship, attention to detail and uncompromising commitment to quality have made Noritake an international trademark during this past century.

Today, Noritake is an acknowledged leader in tableware manufacturing and marketing with subsidiaries, factories and affiliates around the world. Our products are sold to customers in over 100 countries and are used in hotels, restaurants and airlines throughout the world. Join us in continuing the Noritake tradition... distinctive designs, innovative technology and superior product quality.

Shangri-Las Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang Triumphs at World Travel Awards for the Second Consecutive Year

November 30, 2010

Shangri-La&39;s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang, was named Malaysia&39;s leading spa resort for the second consecutive year during the Regional Finals of the 17th World Travel Awards held at The Claridges, Surajkund in India on 14 October 2010.

The World Travel Awards are widely regarded as the travel industry’s Oscars and bestow the highest accolades within all geographic regions, including Europe, North, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East. The Regional Finals ceremony was attended by senior management and decision-makers in the global travel and tourism fraternity.

Over 185,000 industry professionals including senior executives from travel agencies, tourism organisations, airlines, hospitality trade, tour and transport companies from 160 countries participated in this year’s voting process, which was monitored and independently audited.

"This award is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our 450 employees who have worked tirelessly to contribute to the resort’s success. We are extremely thankful to be recognised by our guests and industry partners for our efforts in the World Travel Awards twice, and such appreciation will continuously motivate the Rasa Sayang family to delight our guests with our special brand of hospitality from the heart,said Desmond Hatton, general manager of Shangri-La&39;s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang.

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang, located at Penang Island’s popular Batu Feringgi beach, is set amidst 30 acres of tropical landscaped greenery interspersed with centuries-old rain trees. This luxury Penang beach resort, with its traditional Malaysian-inspired architecture and decor, comprises 304 guestrooms and suites, some with private soaking tubs right on the balcony with tranquil sea and garden views.

CHI, The Spa, Shangri-La’s signature spa brand, has an Asian-inspired structure and rustic wooden roofscape, and is one of the country’s most spacious spas at 3,800 square metres complete with a garden sanctum, yoga pavilion and 11 private treatment villas. Other facilities consist of a health club, tennis courts, two swimming pools, six restaurants and bars, and 14 meeting and function rooms, including a ballroom with a capacity of 300 that is ideal for business and leisure events.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 68 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 30,000. Shangri La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Russia, Qatar, Seychelles, Turkey and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at http://www.shangri-la.com.

Goertek Selects Phitek Active Noise Rejection Technology for New Noise Cancellation Earphones

Hong Kong Electronics Fair October 15, 2008

Phitek Systems Limited, the global leader in advanced noise cancellation technologies, announced today that its Component-ANR(tm) Active Noise Rejection technology has been adopted by Goertek Inc. for use in a new range of exciting advanced active noise cancelling earphones.

Phitek Component-ANRtechnology comprises the world&39;s first integrated solution for active noise cancellation providing tomorrow&39;s consumers with an opportunity to enjoy an authentic Premium Personal Audio listening experience free from background noise.

Phitek Component-ANRtechnology comprises a low power, low noise ANRsolution in a System-In-Package (SiP) format, which connects to a compact and optimized acoustic subsystem. The acoustic subsystem may be implemented in a wide range of physical formats compatible with the end customer&39;s unique design language.

Goertek spokesperson Jack Reynolds said, "We were looking for a technology that could deliver superior noise cancellation in the smallest possible form factor to meet the requirements of the mobile phone and portable audio markets. The Phitek single chip solution achieves this goal and offers Goertek a strong competitive advantage."

Mark Donaldson, Phitek CEO expressed his delight in securing Goertek as a customer. "We are confident that our Phitek Component-ANRtechnology combined with Goertek&39;s world leading capabilities in headphone and earphone ODM will provide both companies with a unique opportunity to further advance the noise cancellation category."

For further information please contact:

Mark Donaldson, CEO Phitek Systems: Mobile: +64 29 291 6550
Nicola Gray, Marketing Communications Manager, Phitek Systems: +64 21 593331
Julien Leys, JML Communications, Ph +64 21 655 598

About Phitek Systems Ltd

Phitek Systems Ltd is the world&39;s leading supplier of audio enhancement and noise rejection technologies. Focused on innovation and invention, Phitek provides its key global customers with creative state of the art analogue and digital signal processing designs for audio enhancement and noise rejection. Phitek manufactures high quality and award-winning premium noise cancellation headphones and ear buds for prestigious global brands. These products have been successfully sold to leading CE brand partners for global distribution. A leader in the commercial aviation market, Phitek proprietary Active Noise Rejection (ANR technologies including its remote-jack-unit SmartJackANRplatform have been installed on the aircraft of major airlines.

The company&39;s headquarters is located in Auckland, New Zealand with operating offices, production facilities, and worldwide sales locations in Hong Kong, San Jose - California, Canada, Yokohama - Japan, and Shenzhen - China.

For more information about Phitek Systems Limited please visit http://www.phitek.com.

About GoerTek Inc.

GoerTek Inc. is a leading microphone and speaker/receiver supplier headquartered in Weifang, China. Since 2001, the company has started to provide ECM and SMD microphone solutions to leading handset, headset and NB manufacturers worldwide.

Beginning in 2003, the company has developed and delivered turn-key audio products, including Bluetooth headsets, to world-recognized brands in the audio, communication and gaming industries. There are about 4,500 employees worldwide.

For more information about Goertek Inc, please visit http://www.goertek.com.