Floating mess could be MH370
Twelve planes and Chinese ship Xue Long are working with South Korea to search for any debris. Mr Hussein said that there is no clear assurance that the objects are actually parts of the plane. “ Extra ships have already been searching the zone, after weather prevented them from looking further than the 1500 search zone about 2,500 km west of Perth. Satellite images showing 122 floating objects in the Indian Ocean could be the remains of MH370. Malaysia’s acting transport minister, Hishamuddin Hussein, said the pictures of the objects, which are between 1 to 23 metres was the most fruitful lead yet in the search, the Guardian reported. A US law firm is also currently beginning proceedings against Malaysia Airlines and Boeing –Chicago – Ribbeck Law is leading the case, reportedly worth millions of dollars. As for the strange flight path pf the plane, flight analysts are at odds about whether the change was part of an emergency procedure or a deliberate action. Source = ETB News: Tom Neale “[The area] is not far from the objects sighted by China and Australia. This is still the most credible lead that we have,” Mr Hussein said.
Phenomenal week for Royal CaribbeanSince announcing that bookings were open for Ovation of the Seas’ Australian itineraries, Royal Caribbean Australia has seen a phenomenal response over the course of just a few days, receiving thousands of bookings and far exceeding expectations.From the time that bookings opened at 9am on Thursday 18 June, the phone rang off the hook with over 200 percent more calls than average in a 24 hour period. Similarly, on Thursday the www.royalcaribbean.com.au website visits increased by 70 percent. Via Espresso, the number of agent enquiries increased by 177 percent.“We knew Australians would be excited about Ovation of the Seas, especially since more than 20,000 people pre-registered their interest when we first announced that she was to be home-ported in Australia. However, the response we’ve seen has exceeded our expectations and is testament to the strength of the demand of the Australian market for our style of cruising, and the newest, largest and most technologically advanced cruise product Australia has ever seen,” says Sean Treacy, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International, Australia & South East Asia.“In preparation for the increased level of online activities, our team were on hand in case of any technical issues, and while the increase in calls, Espresso and website traffic certainly pushed capabilities, we are pleased to report that we’ve received positive feedback from our friends and fans.”“Ovation of the Seas is certainly the star of the show this week, but we’re also seeing an increase in interest in our brand and fleet more widely in Australia and New Zealand. Ovation joins our other five outstanding ships based in Australia – Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, as well as Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice.” said Sean. Cruise with Royal CaribbeanSource = Royal Caribbean
Tourism Authority of ThailandVisit ThailandSource = Tourism Authority of Thailand Sherly HandjojoTourism Authority of ThailandTourism Authority of Thailand announces new marketing representation in AustraliaThe Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today announced a key appointment to its marketing team.Effective 1st October 2015, Sherly Handjojo will take over marketing responsibilities for the Australian market, in her new role as TAT’s Australian Marketing Manager.Sherly Handjojo has over 9 years experience in sales and marketing in the travel industry, most recently with Qantas Holidays as a National Account Executive. In this role Sherly managed national key accounts including helloworld, Travellers Choice, Magellan and CT Partners, preparing and managing effective sales strategies for trade partners and maximize marketing opportunities.“I’m very excited to be working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, promoting one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations. I look forward to seeing Thailand going from strength to strength this year in terms of destination and branding,” said Sherly.About the Tourism Authority of Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sydney office has been in operation for over 20 years and is funded by the Government of Thailand. TAT Sydney operates as a marketing, public relations and administration branch of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Head Office in Bangkok.The Sydney office is responsible for the regional area of Australia and New Zealand. The main objective of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is to promote the country of Thailand as a holiday, convention and business destination to Australians.Tourism Authority of Thailand Level 20, 56 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
All four of the Hurtigruten ships used on Collette’s Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Scandinavian Capitals cruise tour are to be remodelled.Replacing the 1990s style interior and furnishings will be a modern Scandinavian interior, inspired by the spectacular scenery of the region. This roll out includes the MS Polarlys, MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp, and MS Nordnorge.Collette’s 14 day Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Scandinavian Capitals land and cruise tour explores Scandinavia’s fascinating capital cities and sails by majestic mountains, breathtaking fjords and charming fishing villages. Take in Stockholm’s deep history in the Old Town (Gamla Stan), a maze of charming streets lined with colourful townhouses.Spend time in Denmark, “Scandinavia’s greatest little kingdom” and see why Copenhagen is Northern Europe’s cosiest capital. In Norway see regal Oslo, travel the Bergen Railway to experience Euorpe’s most scenic rail journey and meander through the streets of Bryggen, the ancient trading port of Bergen founded in the 11th century.Then sit back, relax and discover Norway’s rugged coastline and pristine waterways with six nights on a Hurtigruten ship, an ideal way to travel “the most beautiful voyage in the world.” Cruise the stunning Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in Europe and cross the Artic Circle to sail along Norway’s northernmost region.Late May through July affords the opportunity to experience the “midnight sun,” offering up to 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle. In addition the northern lights are in the Northern Hemisphere from September through April, visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds.October 30, 2016 departure is from $6,524 per person twin share inside cabin MS Polarlys, land, cruise and internal flights from Stockholm to Oslo, book by 31 Dec 2015. ColletteSource = Collette
Paul Carmona-Sydney Opera HouseTrippas White Group appointed to manage internal Opera House dining venuesThe Sydney Opera House has appointed Trippas White Group to supply food and beverage services to a number of venues within the building from mid-June 2018, following its successful tender application.The contract includes the Theatre Bars and functions in the Northern Foyers as well as the Southern Foyers of the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre; The Lounge (located in the Entry Foyer); the Utzon Room and the Function Centre.Louise Herron, Sydney Opera House CEO, said: “As we renew the Opera House for future generations, we’re constantly looking for ways to provide our audiences and visitors with services that live up to the excellence of the building and the art on its stages. The expiry of contracts for these venues, combined with the anticipated completion of the new Function Centre later this year, provided an ideal opportunity to go out to market.“Trippas White Group presented an impressive proposal for these House venues, with an innovative approach that responded to the wide range of Opera House events, audiences and visitors. We were impressed by their creativity and commitment to ensuring excellence and variety. They will make a strong contribution to the Opera House’s diverse portfolio of public restaurants and bars, which also includes Bennelong, Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside.”Trippas White Group has engaged chef, restaurateur and media personality Karen Martini as Ambassador Chef for the House venues, bringing new vision to the Opera House’s dining offerings in good company alongside Bennelong’s Peter Gilmore and Opera Bar’s Matt Moran. Martini will create refreshing new menus that draw upon her French Italian heritage and her love for Australian produce.Joseph Murray, Trippas White Group Managing Director said: “It is a great honour and privilege to once again partner with the Sydney Opera House on this extraordinary journey of renewal. The tender presented a unique opportunity for our group to further expand our operational reach across the Opera House, perfectly complementing our Portside and Western Foyers operations. We now look forward with great pride and commitment as we bring the Opera House a timely ‘generational shift’ specifically designed to inject intelligent service models, stylish, practical designs and a food and beverage offering that will truly enrich the visitor experience.”Trippas White Group will commence trading the Theatre Bars, The Lounge and the Utzon Room in mid-June 2018, with the Function Centre expected to open by early 2019.Source = Trippas White Group
Lufthansa Airbus_A350_900.jpgLufthansa Group orders 40 state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraftThe Lufthansa Group is consistently forging ahead with the modernization of its long-haul fleet. In today’s meeting, based on the recommendation of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board approved the purchase of a total of 40 state-of-the-art aircraft for the group’s airlines. The 20 Boeing 787-9 and 20 additional Airbus A350-900 planes will primarily be replacing four-engine aircraft. The new planes will be delivered between late 2022 and 2027.The order has a list-price investment volume of 12 billion USD. As is usual with such orders, Lufthansa Group has negotiated a significant price reduction. The parties have agreed not to disclose the actual purchase price.“By replacing four-engine planes with new models, we are laying a sustainable foundation for our future in the long run. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision. Our responsibility for the environment is becoming more and more important as a criterion for our decisions,” says Carsten Spohr, CEO and Chairman of Lufthansa Group.The decision regarding which airline will deploy the aircraft at which hub will be made at a later date.The investment in new technology, efficiency and passenger comfort is a continuation of the ongoing fleet modernization of the group’s airlines. The arilines of the Lufthansa Group currently operate a long-haul fleet of 199 aircraft (as of December 2018), including twelve state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Beginning in 2020, Lufthansa will be introducing the new Boeing 777-9.Investment in modern, fuel-efficient and low-noise aircraftWith the Airbus A350-900, the Boeing 777-9 and the Boeing 787-9, Lufthansa Group will own the most fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft of their class in terms of kerosene consumption per passenger and 100 kilometers flown. This order highlights the company’s desire to invest in cutting-edge technology in the interest of the environment. On average, the new aircraft will only consume around 2.9 liters of kerosene per passenger and 100 kilometers flown. That is 25% below what is used by predecessor aircraft, which will likewise have a positive impact on the CO2 footprint.The Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 aircraft that have been ordered will primarily be replacing four-engine aircraft. By the middle of the next decade, the entire long-haul fleet will have been modernized. The possible fuel savings alone add up to 500,000 metric tons per year. This is equivalent to a CO2 reduction of 1.5 million metric tons.A consistent focus on costWith the new, more economical aircraft, the operating cost compared to the earlier models will sink by around 20 percent. In addition to this, Lufthansa Group will be significantly reducing the diversification and complexity of its fleet over the next few years and taking seven aircraft types out of service, which will reduce cost and complexity for maintenance and the supply of replacement parts, among other things.After the long-haul aircraft rollover, the company will be offering its customers one of the world’s most modern fleets. This will also involve a significant increase in comfort and reliability.Sale of six Airbus A380 aircraftIn today’s session, the Lufthansa Group Executive Board also informed the Supervisory Board of the sale of six of its 14 Airbus A380 planes to Airbus. The aircraft will be leaving Lufthansa in 2022 and 2023. The parties have agreed not disclose the purchasing price. The transaction will not affect the group’s earnings performance.Lufthansa continuously monitors the profitability of its world-wide route network. As a consequence, the group is reducing the size of its Airbus A380 fleet from 14 aircraft to eight for economic reasons. The structure of the network and the long-haul fleet, fundamentally optimized according to strategic aspects, will give the company more flexibility and at the same time increase its efficiency and competitiveness. This will of course also benefit Lufthansa’s customers.Source = Lufthansa Group
MBA: Mortgage Apps Jump as Low Rates Draw Consumers Agents & Brokers Attorneys & Title Companies Fixed-Rate Mortgage Investors Lenders & Servicers Mortgage Applications Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Rates Processing Service Providers 2011-06-15 Ryan Schuette Share in Data, Origination
June 15, 2011 463 Views Representing a nudge in the right direction for the origination market, the “”Mortgage Bankers Association””:http://www.mortgagebankers.org (MBA) reported a 13 percent swell in home loan applications submitted last week, up from the record low reported by the trade group just one week earlier. It was the biggest gain recorded in three months. [IMAGE]According to the MBA’s “”Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey””:http://www.mortgagebankers.org/NewsandMedia/PressCenter/76876.htm, which measures trends in the mortgage lending industry across 15 indices, overall loan application volume increased by 13 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis and 24.5 percent on an unadjusted basis.””Low rates are driving consumers back to loans,”” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s VP of research and economics. “”Mortgage rates had dropped over eight [of] nine weeks and we’re [at] four and a half percent for [30-year] fixed rates. For refinance borrowers, the [low] rate is the primary driver in their decisions to apply for new loans.””MBA’s Refinance Index jumped 16.5 percent for the week ending June 10. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 70.0 percent of total applications from 67.3 percent the previous week. This is the highest refinance share since late January.[COLUMN_BREAK]The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index was up 4.5 percent compared to a week earlier. Unadjusted, the index climbed 14.2 percent from the previous week, representing a 6.1 percent boost from the same week in 2010.Meanwhile, the four-week moving averages for the seasonally adjusted Market and Purchase Indices leapt 2.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively, while the same for the Refinance Index rose 3.1 percent. MBA reported that interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell from 4.54 percent to 4.51 percent, hitting bottom for the first time since November 19th of last year. The points for these rates increased from 1.05 to 0.94 for 80 percent of the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. Fifteen-year fixed mortgages also held their lowest rate since November, remaining at 3.67 percent from last week, with points staying at 1.06 for 80 percent LTV.Fratatoni said that the “”fairly big jump in [refinance] applications”” occurred in a market where homebuyers have less equity in their homes. He added that refi apps are still 28 percent below where they stood seven months ago.He predicted an increase in loan rates “”over the next year to 18 months”” despite the low origination volume, attributing the hopeful rise to a “”slow but steady recovery in the broader economy and some improvement in the job market.””As long-term treasury and mortgage rates follow short-term rates, Fratatoni added, fixed-year mortgage rates will trend upward, with refinance volume dipping. He anticipates short-term rates keeping home prices low, a variable that household income could complement if job growth trends upward.MBA is a national association that represents the real estate finance industry.
December 27, 2012 463 Views New home sales jumped 4.4 percent in November to 377,000, the highest level since April 2010, the “”Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development””:http://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/pdf/newressales_201211.pdf reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected the report to show a sales pace of 375,000. Both the average and median price for a new home rose as well.[IMAGE]Sales for October were revised downward, making the month-month increase larger.The number of homes for sale at the end of November increased to 149,000 ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô the highest level since January ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô from 147,000 in October. The months’ supply of new homes for sale fell to 4.7 from 4.9 in October. The months’ supply has averaged 4.8 this year, the lowest since 2005 when the average was 4.5.The report covered the same month in which Census and HUD reported builders completed 520,000 single family homes. The home sales report confirmed the sharp jump in the National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index, a measure of builder confidence for November when the index, shot up four points to 45, its highest level since May 2006 when Census and HUD reported a new home sales pace of 1,086,000, a drop of 37,000 from the previous month.New home sales are up 15.3 percent from November 2011, slightly faster than the 15.0 percent year-year gain registered in October.The median price of a new home in November was $246,200, up $8,700 or 3.7 percent from October and $31,900 or 14.9 percent from November 2011. The average home price in November was $299,700, an increase of $27,500 or 10.1 percent from October and $49,700 or 19.9 percent from November 2011. The year-year increase in the average price was the largest since Census and HUD began tracking average prices in 1975.This report is based on sales contracts, not closings and may have been affected by Hurricane Sandy as the revised data showed a sharp drop in October sales in the storm-impacted Northeast.The parallel report from the National Association of Realtors ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô its Pending Home Sales Index ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô will be issued Friday.The increase in inventory relieved pressure on prices which rose ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô both average and median — for the first time since August. Homes with price tags of more than $300,000 represented 10 percent of November sales, up 5 percent in October, cracking double digits for the first time since August. Homes priced below $200,000 represented 34 percent of November sales, down from 36 percent in October.Regionally, sales increased in two of the four Census regions, up 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 218,000 in the Midwest and 3,000 in the Northeast to 27,000. The sales pace fell 18,000 in the West to 83,000 and 7,000 in the Midwest to 49,000.Despite the increase in sales in November, single family housing starts dropped in the same month as did permits._Hear Mark Lieberman every Friday on P.O.T.U.S. radio, Sirius-XM 124, at 6:40 am and again at 9:40 am eastern time._ Share in Data, Government, Origination, Secondary Market, Servicing
November New Home Sales At 31-Month High Agents & Brokers Attorneys & Title Companies Census Bureau For-Sale Homes Home Prices Home Sales Home Values Homebuilders Housing Permits Housing Starts Investors Lenders & Servicers National Association of Home Builders National Association of Realtors Pending-Home Sales Processing Residential Construction Service Providers 2012-12-27 Mark Lieberman
Home Prices Home Sales Housing Supply RE/MAX 2014-10-17 Scott_Morgan in Daily Dose, Data, Headlines, News September Home Sales Beat 2013 Figure Though September home sales were down 10.4 percent from August—an expected seasonal trend—September is the first month in 2014 in which home sales exceeded those one year prior, according to the latest National Housing Report from RE/MAX.The firm found that home sales last month were 0.9 percent higher than in September 2013, which is no small feat, considering that 2013 was marked by double-digit growth in home sales nationwide.On top of the higher sales numbers last month, the median sale price in the 52 metros RE/MAX surveyed was $195,000, 5.4 percent higher than in September 2013.”It’s significant that September was the first month this year to see higher sales than last year,” said CEO Margaret Kelley. “This demonstrates that there are interested buyers and the market is strong enough to rival last year’s brisk sales. While the change of seasons usually sees reduced sales, it’s good to see that home prices continue to rise at a more sustainable rate.”The average days on the market for homes sold in September was 65, which matches last year, but is three days more than in August. This marked the 28th consecutive month in which the average days on the market came in below 90.This also signifies low inventory of homes for sale. According to RE/MAX, inventory was 5.8 percent lower than last year, but leveled out nationally at 4.9 on a scale on which 6.0 means a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. Still, it was a steeper drop from August, when national inventory fell 4.4 percent. The latest shrinkage in inventory is the seventh in the last 10 months. The lowest inventories remain in San Francisco ( 1.6 on the 6.0 scale) and Denver (1.7 ).
October 17, 2014 510 Views Share
September 28, 2018 494 Views OpenClose Hires FinTech Expert Share Mark MichelOpenClose, a multi-channel loan origination system (LOS) and mortgage fintech provider, announced the hiring of Mark Michel, an industry veteran in enterprise-level mortgage technology systems. According to OpenClose, Michel has an extensive track record of successful execution during his tenure at lending entities as well as mortgage technology providers. At OpenClose, he will serve as a software integration analyst where he will focus on the company’s LenderAssist LOS, RESTful API suite, as well as other digital mortgage solutions.Michel brings to OpenClose more than 15 years of experience as a subject matter expert in mortgage fintech. Before OpenClose, he was a senior product manager at Altisource where he was responsible for a next-generation LOS as well as a new POS portal, while also acting as a subject matter expert on all LOS integrations. Prior to that, Michel was a senior business consultant and project manager at Fiserv Lending Solutions for more than fifteen years.In addition, he has held senior business analyst and project manager roles at banks, mega lenders and an investment firm focusing on outsourced technology solutions for mortgage originators, secondary market conduits and investors.OpenClost states that “this unique combination of lender and vendor experience arms him with highly sought after mortgage experience and is an extraordinary addition to the OpenClose Integration team.”“We are pleased to welcome Mark to the OpenClose family and know that he will have an immediate impact, ” said Jason Regalbuto, CEO/CTO of OpenClose. “Mark has a very rich, through-and-through background in the mortgage industry, working for both lenders and mortgage software firms. He’s exactly the type of professional we like to hire to advance our enterprise. ”
OpenClose 2018-09-28 Seth Welborn in News, Technology
AI AI Foundry Automation Platform Lending mortgage Optical Character Recognition Underwriting 2019-03-05 Radhika Ojha AI Foundry Introduces Agile Platform for Mortgage Processing March 5, 2019 807 Views in Headlines, News, Technology
Massachusetts-based AI Foundry, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform company, announced the launch of its next-generation Cognitive Business Automation Platform along with a new Agile Mortgages solution on Tuesday. This patent-pending technology incorporates the latest in AI, machine learning, and machine vision to deliver a higher level of problem-solving and decision-making ability for enterprises. The company’s Agile Mortgages solution which is built on top of the platform, automates manual, labor-intensive mortgage processes, enabling lenders to dramatically accelerate the lending lifecycle.In a statement, AI Foundry said that its vision was to enable lenders to provide a much faster pre-approval and underwriting approval process for their customers. The company said that its Agile Mortgages solution would allow the mortgage industry to use AI to replace multi-week manual processes to help mortgages get processed from “application to underwriting” in days, not weeks. This capability would help lenders enhance customer experience while reducing the cost of mortgage processing. For homebuyers, these capabilities accelerate the home loan process and provide the digital experience that today’s consumer demands.“Competition in the mortgage lending industry is intense and while many companies have deployed POS solutions for the customer, the back-end processes have not undergone a digital transformation, until now,” said Steve Butler, Founder and General Manager of AI Foundry. “We will truly disrupt the ‘status quo’ by automating the mortgage application process and enabling lenders to complement those front-end capabilities with one-day mortgage approvals. This not only opens the enormous potential for acquiring and delighting new customers; it also drives down the cost per mortgage, so lenders can be more profitable.”The AI Foundry Cognitive Business Automation Platform is built with a model-driven, microservices architecture that enables rapid design, development, and operation for faster decision making. The platform automates processes by quickly extracting data from electronic images and documents with accuracy and minimal manual intervention. It uses machine vision to extract and classify data and information that delivers accuracy rates of 90 percent or higher. This is significantly more accurate than Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology that is commonly used today. Share
March 10, 2019 698 Views in Headlines, News Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Gateway Mortgage Group Ken Harrison Stephen Curry 2019-03-10 Donna Joseph Share
Ken Harrison Joins Gateway Mortgage Group Gateway Mortgage Group, a full-service mortgage company licensed in 40 states and the District of Columbia, announced Ken Harrison, CMB as its VP of Agency Relations. In this role, Harrison will be responsible for managing relationships with Gateway’s most consequential investors, government and industry partners. In addition, he will play a key role in product development activities for the firm.“Ken is a signature hire for us; the depth of his experience at the agencies over the years provides us a wealth of insight, and helps inform our actions both strategically and tactically,” said Stephen Curry, CEO at Gateway. “We are excited to have him on our team, helping to build relationships and advocate on our behalf. He will be a great asset to Gateway.”Most recently, Harrison served as a customer account team leader at Fannie Mae, where he managed strategic relationships, business results, and performance for select clients including Gateway. Before Fannie Mae, he served at Freddie Mac from 1995 to 2017 in key roles including strategic client management, external operating risk management, servicing relations, and performance management.“I am excited to join such a great company, known for their strong culture,” Harrison said. “Gateway has had a long tradition of success in the mortgage industry, and I look forward to what the future holds as we evolve.”Gateway is one of the largest privately held mortgage origination and servicing companies in the United States. Established in 2000 and headquartered in Oklahoma, the company employs more than 1,100 team members in over 160 offices nationwide and currently services $18 billion in residential mortgages.
Hong Kong’s five star Harbour Grand Kowloon is offering travel industry rates when accommodation is booked seven days prior to arrival. The 42% room rate discount is on fully flexible rates (HP Club Members’ rate) and is available between 1 July and 30 December, 2017.The hotel is also offering a free upgrade to a Harbourview room for a minimum stay of three nights.Some blackout dates and other T & Cs apply.For bookings or information contact martinc@harbourgrand.com at the Harbour Grand Kowloon. Hong Kongindustry discountsIndustry rates
From today (21 June 2017), Rail Plus is introducing an exclusive new luggage storage and transfer service in Paris that ‘relieves’ travellers of their luggage, on arrival in the city by air or train, so they are free to explore the city and its surrounds immediately without having to lug around suitcases.The new service entails being met on arrival by a concierge who collects customers’ bags and delivers them to their hotel at a convenient time – which can range from check-in on the same day to one, two or even three days’ later.At check-out, the concierge collects the bags and then delivers them to the train station or airport in time for departure.The service can be used on arrival and/or departure and must be booked through Rail Plus seven days prior to luggage pick-up. Prices range from $61 for two pieces of luggage for same day delivery, to $129 for five pieces of luggage stored for three days.Rail Plus Commercial Director Ingrid Kocijan says the new service allows customers to make the most of their time exploring Paris.“As soon as the concierge relieves customers of their luggage they can start enjoying Paris, rather than lugging suitcases around for hours while waiting for their hotel check-in. “And when it’s time to depart, they can hand over the bags and enjoy all the city has to offer – whether its strolling through the Louvre, relaxing in cafes or shopping in the city’s stylish boutiques – until it’s time to board their train or flight.” ParisRail Plus
For the first time Costsaver has created an agent incentive, as part of its new agent Incentive program – Costsaver Clique – with the reward of an exclusive trip. The travel brand will be flying top Costaver achievers to a mystery destination, taking them to see some iconic spots with amazing experiences along the way. Every booking will get agents one step closer.Places on the Costsaver Clique are limited and one place will be awarded to the top 20 agencies, as well as five wildcard spots.Costsaver Sales Managers can assist with further training and cooperative marketing support to help trade partners secure their place. agentsCostsaverIncentive
However, Arians added that if a quarterback needs a complete overhaul, well, that’s not exactly an enticing option.“At this level that’s tough to do,” he said, noting how it took golfer Tiger Woods a couple years after redoing his swing to get back on top of his game. “We don’t have two years to wait, but I think you can fix them some.”No, Arians does not have two years to wait. The Cardinals have spent the last three seasons unsuccessfully trying to replace Kurt Warner, and have tried everything from the high-priced (Kolb, Matt Leinart) to the discount rack (Derek Anderson, Max Hall). Preferring the term “reloading” to “rebuilding”, Arians said he believes the Cardinals are “not very far off.”Many would agree, provided the Cardinals can get quality play from the quarterback position.Which brings things back to the group that’s currently assembled. Arians said he believes there are about six quarterbacks in this year’s draft class that will play in the NFL, though he isn’t sure how many will be productive starters. He had good things to say about West Virginia passer Geno Smith — who has been rumored to be Arizona’s choice at No. 7 — but said the team will only draft a quarterback in the first round if they feel like it’s the right pick based on talent, not need. Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires That direction led the Cardinals away from Kolb and his hefty contract and towards an even more uncertain future. Because as far as quarterbacks go, the team now has Drew Stanton, Brian Hoyer, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley. While the group may have some skill, it certainly lacks in experience and, well, a track record of success.Stanton, the new guy, has experience in Arians’ system but has thrown nearly more than twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Hoyer, who the team signed late last season, has started one NFL game. And both Skelton and Lindley, while blessed with good size and big arms, have struggled with accuracy. Arians said coaches can help someone like Skelton or Lindley improve on their accuracy problems, but only to a point. Comparing it to a golfer who goes to the driving range, he said much of it comes down to quarterbacks practicing specific parts of their game.“A quarterback needs to be out there with his coach or two coaches doing those same things, working on his craft,” Arians said. “His accuracy, his mobility, his movement in the pocket, his deep ball. Everything in a progression, his red zone windows that he’s throwing into, all those things have to be coached extremely well during the week.” Comments Share Top Stories 
And it’s very possible that Smith, who has had an impressive offseason, will not even be around for the Cardinals to take.So, should the Cardinals not add another quarterback to the mix and instead roll with Stanton, Hoyer, Skelton and Lindley, it would appear Arians has his starter in mind: Stanton.“Once we get the roster set, if that room hasn’t changed, he’s our starter,” he said. “It’s that easy.” The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said part of the reason the team decided to part with quarterback Kevin Kolb was because the two were never able to sit down and talk football. Blame the collective bargaining agreement.“Obviously he can throw it, obviously he can move around, but to tell me why he was throwing it and why he was doing the things he was doing, we could not do under the CBA,” he said at the NFL owners meetings Wednesday. “So that part of the evaluation process was hard for me, and we made an organization decision that we would go in a different direction.” Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling
Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Top Stories Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.Peterson had two interceptions in the final four minutes of the Cardinals’ 13-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium Sunday. The first set up the game-tying touchdown while the second iced the game with :56 to play.It was Peterson’s first career multi-interception game.The weekly defensive honor is the first for Peterson, who has won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award twice in his career — both coming back in his rookie season in 2011. The interceptions were the first for Peterson in 2013. The two-time Pro Bowler now has 11 in his career. Comments Share 
Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires After football, Dierdorf moved to the broadcast booth, where he spent the next 29 years as an analyst for ABC and CBS. His last game behind the mic came Saturday night in New England’s AFC Divisional Playoff win over Indianapolis.Saturday, the Arizona Cardinals — the team that employed Dierdorf for his entire playing career — took out an ad in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, thanking him for his contributions to the game. Classy move, Cardinals. And congrats on a great career, Mr. Dierdorf.DD by random_sports Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact Top Stories Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling
The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo If someone were to sit down and compile a list of the greatest players ever to wear a Cardinals uniform — whether in Chicago, St. Louis or Arizona — it wouldn’t be long before the name Dan Dierdorf came up.The St. Louis Cardinals selected Dierdorf in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft out of Michigan, and he spent his entire 13-year career wearing the red and white. Dierdorf was a six-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. 0 Comments Share 
Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires Top Stories Comments Share Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Your browser does not support the audio element. The Arizona Cardinals have done just about everything right through the first half of the 2014 season, including boasting an NFL-best 7-1 record and knocking off playoff-caliber teams like Dallas and Philadelphia.Bruce Arians’ group has won its last four games and looks nearly unbeatable of late, so the team would appear to be an early favorite to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIX, right? Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact LISTEN: Jake Plummer, former ASU and Cardinals quarterback The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo
Top Stories Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact “The Arians Family Foundation does a lot of special stuff, but the one organization that they support, that I really appreciate, is CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, where they help abused and neglected kids get through tough times. So his wife, Christine Arians, has been involved with that for years and tonight we’re going to raise a lot of money for them, so it’s exciting.”More on the Arians Family Foundation can be found here, and while the final tally of what was raised Sunday has not been released, no doubt the night was just another notch in the belt for a Cardinals brand that is experiencing success in multiple arenas.“I’d like to think that we’re trying to be champions on the field and champions off the field,” Bidwill said.Buzz, thy name is CardinalsIt’s fair to say this upcoming Arizona Cardinals season is the most anticipated one in franchise history.Such is life following a 13-win season that saw the team fall short in the NFC Championship Game but appear to significantly upgrade the roster over the ensuing months.Might it all lead to a trip to Houston next February? Time will tell, but for now, as the saying goes, waiting is the hardest part. “Now we understand what it’s like to have that bulls eye on our back.”Keep blitzing? You BettcherLast week, as a guest of Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians earned some attention when he was asked if the team will continue blitzing at the rate it did in 2015 after the addition of pass rusher Chandler Jones and rookie Robert Nkemdiche.The belief is, of course, that with players like that along with Markus Golden, Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker, among others, the team will not need to send extra defenders after the quarterback nearly as often because they’ll be able to apply pressure with base defenses.“If I’m calling them we’re still blitzing,” Arians said, with some laughter. “I’m not a big four-man rush guy, I don’t care how good they are.”Arians said if they have four good pass rushers they have five or six, and noted they have enough coverage in the secondary to allow them to keep blitzing.Of course, Arians is not the one calling the defense, as that responsibility falls on coordinator James Bettcher. So, what says him?“Well, it definitely gives you versatility to have guys up front like that,” he said of the team’s base pass rushers. “But we are who we are on defense: we’re an aggressive, attacking defense. We’re not going to sit back and be dictated to. We’re going to find a way to approach each and every week with a gameplan that attacks the things that we want to attack, not sit back and wait to react. “This has definitely been the most excitement,” Calais Campbell said. “But really, every year is exciting — I can’t lie to you and say that, but it’s a little bit more exciting because I really believe we have a real chance. And not only do we have a real chance, but probably a lot of people expect us to make a run for it. I like that; I like the pressure that comes with it.Campbell added the important thing is taking everything one day at a time and not getting ahead of themselves, which was the message all last season, too.It worked out pretty well then and it stands to reason they will keep the same approach now, if only because they have no choice but to. The second of three weeks of OTAs begins Tuesday, and from there the team will still have to get through a week of mini-camp and then training camp and preseason before the games start to count.But make no mistake, fans are not the only ones with a hightened sense of anticipation.“No, no,” receiver Larry Fitzgerald said when asked if he’s ever been part of an offseason with these kind of expectations. “This is definitely uncharted in terms of what we were able to accomplish last year, winning the most games in franchise history. Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires “I’m just excited to finally be healthy, to be able to go out and compete with those guys and contribute to the offense and to the team as well as I can,” he said.Ellington has never been one to demand carries or anything like that, and as he enters the final season of his contract, appears to have no plans on doing so now. Whether he is slated to have a significant role this season or not, he understands there’s a good chance he will be called up on often during the course of the year.He may be one of three starting-caliber running backs on the roster, but that kind of depth is not a bad thing.“That’s what makes it so special,” he said. “Injuries are bound to happen in this game and we’re kind of fortunate to have a lot of guys that can kind of step in there at any time. And even when we’re all healthy, we can all just switch and rotate and keep the offense moving.”Campbell’s contractAccording to recent reports (and Tyrann Mathieu himself), it appears the Cardinals and the defensive back are close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension.The same is not being said of the team and Campbell.Campbell is about to enter his ninth NFL season, and like many other players on the roster, the two-time Pro Bowler is slated to become a free agent at the end of the 2016 campaign. Photo by @AriansFF
The 29-year-old is carrying a salary cap hit of $15.25 million this season, which, along with his impending free agency, has led some to believe the team would look to redo his deal, too. But so far, all is quiet on that front.“Nah, not yet,” Campbell said. “Just being patient.”Campbell said all he can do is be patient while he waits, because these things take time.“I hired an agent, put him in place to do all the hard work for me,” he said. “I’m just going to continue to do what I do on the football field and try to be the best player I can be and lead this team to a championship. That’s all I can control.” The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo Comments Share “That’s my personality and I know that was part of Coach promoting me in this position is because that’s my personality as well. That’s our personality as a team. If you watch how we play overall, from offense, defense and special teams. We are who we are, period.”Since Arians took over in 2013, with Todd Bowles leading the defense the first two seasons and Bettcher last year, the Cardinals blitzed on 46.1 percent of opposing dropbacks, which is by far the most in the NFL.Remember Andre?About this time two years ago, Andre Ellington was being talked about as the focal point of the Cardinals’ offense, a player who could touch the ball 25-30 times per game.Now, there are questions about whether or not he still fits with what the team is doing.Since posting an impressive rookie campaign in which he tallied 652 rushing yards and 371 receiving yards in 2013, Ellington has battled injuries and amassed just 949 rushing yards and 543 receiving yards over seasons two and three.The starter entering each of the last two campaigns, he now appears to find himself behind second-year pro David Johnson and veteran Chris Johnson in the pecking order for touches. Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling PHOENIX — Sunday evening in Phoenix, members of the Arizona Cardinals organization descended upon Steak 44 in Phoenix to support the Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser Dinner.It was one of many charitable events led by head coach Bruce Arians, and just another in what has been an ever growing list of community-oriented ventures held by the team’s coaches and players.“Extremely proud of it,” Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said of the charitable nature. “The coaches and players understand how much of an impact they can have, not only leading and personally getting involved, but also raising money, like tonight, and it’s fantastic.