Houses built for passive solar efficiency, with big windows facing the Sun and little ones on non-sunny sides look anything but conventional. It is, after all, the look of our windows and doors that help us define the style of our homes inside and out. (Window manufacturers, correctly, remind us of this over and over again.)

Yet if the goal is to have a home that is heated by the Sun through windows, then sunlight will have to be brought to windows that have no direct exposure.

The world’s largest solar power purchase to date has been announced by Southern California Edison and BrightSource Energy. Within the next few years BrightSource will be building solar power plants that employ mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight on a single receiver. Temperatures at the receiver end will get rather high, as you can imagine, enough so that water will be boiled to make steam that will drive turbines to generate electricity.

The power plants that BrightSource plans to build in the California desert, will rely on hundreds of heliostats to keep light focused on the receiver throughout the day as the sun arcs across the sky. With the wonders of tracking devices made of computer controls and electric gear motors, the mirrored heliostats can be kept in perfect alignment with the receiver from dawn to dusk.

While it wouldn’t be a good idea to build a solar thermal power station in your backyard, it is now possible to buy one or a few heliostats that are technically similar to those to be used in California. The heliostats now offered by Practical Solar of Boston, Massachusetts, can be used to reflect and direct sunlight to the dark side of a house to those windows, and the rooms within, that will never have direct sunlight. The reflected sunlight can add daylight to a room where there was none before or to heat it. The company says that on a clear day (even in winter) each heliostat can reflect 600 watts of heat and the light output equivalent to forty 100-watt incandescent bulbs. Each heliostat delivers 3000 times more power than it consumes in its tracking operation.

The company’s software that keeps the heliostat tracking the Sun can drive up to 200 units individually for separate targets. The software includes timer settings so the heliostat can be switched on and off during the day. Aside from heat and natural lighting, the heliostats may eventually be teamed up with photovoltaic cells for concentrated solar generated electricity.

Practical Solar’s heliostats can be installed by handy homeowners and are of course not limited to homes. Any building that needs more daylight and would benefit from clean solar heat could employ one or multiple heliostats.

The price? Right now under $1000 per unit. The control system with software, driver box, cables and sighting tool under $500.

Source: www.green-energy-news.com/

Directors’ and officers’ exposures
Growing economic uncertainty and an apparent appetite for class actions have spurred an unprecedented surge in demand for management liability insurance among companies, according to the insurance broker Marsh.

Marsh says it anticipates more litigation from disgruntled employees and shareholders. Enhanced scrutiny from regulators, who are collaborating across borders, is piling the pressure on top executives, it adds.

According to Marsh, two years ago only 10% of FTSE 250 companies were buying directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance to protect the personal assets of their directors: today, the figure is nearer to 50%.

Terms and conditions: fit for purpose
Matthew Rolph, a managing director of Marsh’s financial and professional practice, says: “As the economy deteriorates the likelihood of litigation increases. We have seen that companies buying insurance are less concerned about price than ensuring that the terms and conditions of their cover are fit for purpose. Increasingly, this includes a much greater emphasis on the personal liability of directors.”

Legal claims brought by insolvency practitioners against directors will be the biggest source of credit crunch related claims in the UK and Europe, legal experts believe.

Edward Smerdon, a partner at law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP (RPC), said that an insolvency practitioner will often try to recover money for a company's creditors by bringing a claim against a company director for either a breach of duty of care, fraudulent trading or wrongful trading.

Redundancy risks
The implications of redundancy are probably at the forefront of most people’s minds right now.

Unsurprisingly, companies can therefore expect an increase in grievances and employers’ liability (EL) claim notifications, according to Guy Malyon, Head of Casualty at Aon Global UK.

This is happening at all staff levels, from the shop floor into management positions, and the upward trend is being encouraged by the growing number of solicitors firms promoting their services on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Employers' liability
For buyers of employers’ liability (EL) insurance, the outlook is somewhat contradictory: businesses could see a reduction in EL premiums as their wage rolls fall; on the other hand, Malyon says, if insurers experience increased EL claims activity combined with reducing exposures, premium rates are likely to increase.

An economic downturn can cause an increase in EL claim notifications linked to occupational injuries or disease.

When there is a recession, assets or processes that are not viewed as essential or productive can sometimes be cut, says Gary Marshall, group risk manager Polestar Group and head of the liability special interest group at UK risk manager association AIRMIC.

Businesses need to be careful when taking such action. Their first concern is to ensure the cutbacks don’t have repercussions for employees. Increased employers’ liability claims due to more accidents could soon follow.

Unfair dismissal
When mass redundancies happen, there is a potential for employees to take legal action against companies for unfair dismissal.

Indeed, Hiscox released a press statement earlier this month saying the company had seen a "threefold rise in insurance claims over the last quarter from SME employers being sued by former employees.”

Be aware of regulations
“Many SME owners will not necessarily have lived through a recession where redundancy has been a fact of working life and are unaware of what they need to do," Gary Head, SME expert at Hiscox , says in the release.

"All businesses should seek professional advice when it comes to making redundancies or they might find that what started out as a cost cutting exercise could cost them far more in the long run.” 

Employers need to be mindful of the regulations and follow the procedures. If they don’t, they might find their reputation affected and at risk of legal action where the awards aren’t capped.

Corporate governance and disclosure
Meanwhile, action by regulators is giving some businesses cause for concern. In the UK, a number of quoted companies are being probed by the Financial Services Authority over possible failures to disclose key trading data to the stock market.

City lawyers say they have seen a surge in inquiries by the financial watchdog about whether businesses kept investors properly informed ahead of profits warnings that caused shares to fall in value.

Renewed regulatory focus
Lawyers say renewed regulatory focus on disclosure could lead to disputes with companies over what information should have been revealed and when, especially given the wider circumstances surrounding such decisions during the credit crisis.

The FSA’s inquiries have led to an increase in cases referred to its enforcement department for full investigation, people familiar with the matter say. Such probes could lead to executives being prosecuted for market abuse or fines for companies that break listing rules.

Pollution and products liability
In an economic downturn, cuts in maintenance and capital expenditure can impact on all sorts of liability exposures.

Where measures are not in place to prevent spillages/leakages from processes or storage facilities, it could mean environmental liability claims, for example, AIRMIC’s Gary Marshall said.

Similarly, product liability and associated recall costs could result from a product contamination event.

Such exposures are pernicious in a recession because when budgets are squeezed, some companies may opt to buy less coverage, through lower limits or higher deductibles.

In some cases, companies may risk not buying cover at all. Environmental impairment liability (EIL) cover, for example, is sometimes seen as expensive and inessential. Such an approach could be shortsighted, particularly in the light of new European environmental laws, said Aon’s Guy Malyon.

Stay focused on liability risk
Everyone feels under pressure to do more with less during a downturn. But those running businesses must not lose sight of two imperatives.

First, boards must always think through the full range of liability exposures that a changing business strategy brings, especially where cutbacks are involved.

Second, despite economic pressure and other competing priorities, CFOs should be in no doubt about the importance of investing in risk management and reviewing risk management controls at times like this.

Risk experts agree that reducing the focus on risk management in a downturn is a false economy at best—and at worst the financial consequences could have a very serious impact on the business.

Source: www.lloyds.com

Situated in Cape Town's central city, the new 5-Star Oscar Pearse Hotel, which is scheduled to open in May 2010.

While the global economic slowdown continues, South Africa's hospitality industry remains upbeat with ongoing positive growth reflected in the hotel market, and with major global operators clamouring to gain a presence, says Joop Demes, CEO of Pam Golding Hospitality.

"To understand why our country is faring so well when compared to the rest of the world we need to bear in mind that in South Africa overall approximately 91 percent of every single bed night that is sold in the hotel industry is sold to someone who lives in Africa. Over the past five years we have experienced exceptional growth in GDP and while this has slowed considerably, our economy is still growing. In addition, South Africa has two other unique global competitive advantages. Strong liquidity, and being host for the prestigious 2010 Soccer World Cup which takes place in less than 500 days," says Demes.

During 2008, and for the third year in succession, the SA hotel market as a whole experienced a double digit increase in Revpar, i.e. revenue per available room, with 2008 up by an impressive 10 percent compared to 2007. There are some highly attractive areas to consider in terms of investment, generally referred to as 'honey spots'. Topping the priority list is Gauteng's 3, 4 and 5 Star market, which recorded an overall 22.8 percent increase for 2008 with the six-month period ended 31 December 2008 up by a notable 18.8 percent compared to the same period the previous year ? As quoted in a recent Smith Travel Research Global Survey.

"The constant growth of South Africa's hospitality industry and significant potential in a number of areas within the country is not unnoticed and has manifested itself with unprecedented interest from developers, listed property companies and institutions? During the past 11 months Pam Golding Hospitality and Tourism Consultants was engaged for 17 hotel development feasibility studies and we estimate that these alone will convert to R4.3 billion in investment which in turn will create 2 060 permanent jobs," adds Demes.

"In addition, Pam Golding Hotels is currently engaged in the facilitation of no less than nine new hotel developments in Cape Town. Combined with a number of other hotels that are currently being completed, we anticipate that over the next two years alone this will result in an estimated investment of approximately R4 billion, with the creation of some 2 500 permanent jobs. Nearly every major branded hotel operator in the world has registered their requirements and credentials with us in search of an opportunity to be present or to expand in Southern Africa.? Further to this, Pam Golding Lodges and Guest Houses are receiving an increasing number of enquiries for quality guest houses, boutique hotels and restaurants. Right now the time and place for investment in the hospitality industry seems to really favour South Africa.

"At present leases are favoured by a number of hotel operators, however, in our opinion this will change as and when South Africa experiences further much-anticipated reductions in interest rates? With a meaningful reduction in cost of capital, the appetite for private residence clubs and condominiums will also re-emerge and will feature strongly in the years ahead," adds Demes.

For further information contact Joop Demes on 082 883 2231 or email jdemes@goldinghotels.co.za.

Source: Received via email from Gaye de Villiers | On behalf of Pam Golding Hospitality | 12 February 2009

This year’s awards took place at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.

The judges gave South Africa an overall point score of 5.09 out of a possible 6 points. Thailand, with a point score of 5.18, won the “Best Country” award.

South Africa was placed ahead of six other destinations in this category - the USA, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za/

According to FIFA the ticket prices for the 2010 World Cup are comparable to 2006 prices with an average of USD 139 per ticket compared with USD 136 in 2006. The most expensive tickets will cost a hefty US900 (Category 1 ticket for the final) while the cheapest tickets will cost USD 20 (category 4 ticket for a group stage match). In 2006, the cheapest ticket cost USD 51.

The Category 4 tickets will only be available to South Africans. “FIFA and the LOC felt there was a need to offer a significantly cheaper ticket to meet the demands of grassroots football fans who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend a FIFA World Cup match and thus be part of this once in a lifetime experience,” said FIFA in a statement.

In addition, 120 000 free World Cup tickets will be distributed to South Africans through the FIFA Ticket Fund. Through the fund, some 40 000 tickets will be given to construction workers who helped build the 2010 stadiums while FNB will be giving away 16 000 tickets through the bank’s 2010 promotional activities.

The ticket sales that start this Friday mark the first phase in a total of five sales phases, with tickets being allocated by a random selection draw for over-subscribed matches and ticket categories.

The second ticket phase will run from 4 May to 16 November 2009. During this period, tickets will be attributed based on the order in which the application is received and, of course, subject to availability, says FIFA.

Tickets can either be ordered online through FIFA, by first signing up (for free) on FIFA Club. Alternatively South African fans can buy tickets through the FNB Visa Official Mascot Pre-paid card; the unique ticket payment card for those who are successfully awarded tickets through the official paper application forms handed in at FNB branches around the country.

Ticket prices 2010 FIFA World Cup

"Since our opening we have installed a basic facility at the Towers, but it is really a fore-runner of what we are becoming," says Orlando Towers founder Bob Woods. "The DSBA loan will allow us to take the site format further with more extreme activities as well as creating a pleasant tourism environment for those who don't have an appetite for the extreme."

The Orlando Towers team hopes to be running abseiling, bungee jumping, basic climbing and even inner-tower swings at the facility by June this year.

Phase two of the development will include entertainment facilities, such as restaurants and bars and will also lend itself to retail opportunities. Phase three will see the team open up one of the towers in order to recreate the typical environment found inside a Magaliesberg kloof, with large, vertical rock walls, landscaping, flora and water.

The DBSA believes that the tourism offering presented by the Orlando Towers will have spinoff benefits for Soweto.

"Adventure tourism is a major growth market around the world, and the creation of an adventure tourism facility will undoubtedly contribute towards Soweto's economic diversification and tourism attractiveness," says DBSA tourism specialist Kate Rivett-Carnac.

The idea to create an adventure tourism facility at the iconic Orlando Towers was born in 2000 when Woods' rope-access company, Skyriders, was called in to advise on suspension equipment for the painting of the towers.

"The towers are so beautiful. Everyone that goes up there, even just for a view, comes down so impressed. There is magic in them. We are just trying to find ways of bringing that out."  

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za/

Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe is not at war, therefore there is no reason for the country to be described as an unsafe destination.

The west, especially Britain and Australia, have described Zimbabwe as an unsafe tourist destination, in some instances banning their cricket teams from touring the country.

Source: www.eturbonews.com/

That said, Namibia does not expect a slump or depression in their tourism sector, but they do expect a decrease in the steady five-year growth that the tourism sector has been experiencing, both in tourism product demand and in annual arrivals figures.

The tourism industry boom is over, but the industry is neither pessimistic nor fatalistic about 2009 given the current favorable exchange rates, lower fuel rates, and lower interest prime rates. Many tourism operations secure deposits and confirmed bookings (some are fully pre-paid) 6-12 months in advance; this means that some may have a substantial number of regular clients from wholesalers with whom they have existing business relationships, already confirmed for the 2009 peak season. It is still relatively early in 2009 and many clients could likely book later this year due to the uncertainty.

As of now, there are no mass cancellations in the tourism sector, in fact, the upper end/higher-end market has reported a few operators with a slight increase over last year's bookings. Namibian tour bus operators are already seeing declines in advance bookings for trips in 2009. These currently look like they will be down by 15-20 percent.

Professional hunters reports slower sales at the recent trade fairs. There were mixed reports with some outfits booking the normal level of hunts and others stating that their bookings were down as much as 20 percent. Some hunters are predicting a 3 percent decline in growth for 2009, with some foreign hunters postponing their Namibian hunts to 2010 to 'wait-and-see' before they commit.

The car hire industry does not project mass losses or job reductions. Many of the larger car hire companies provide most of the available rental vehicles in Namibia. These are usually booked to business clients and, at this time do not show major fluctuations in advance bookings (comparing this year to 2007). Those renting vehicles primarily to overseas self-driving leisure tourism clients may have a significant decline in revenues in 2009.

Tourism arrivals to Namibia in 2007 were up 11 percent over 2006. 2006 arrivals were 7.1 percent up over 2005. Overall arrivals for 2008 are expected to turn out to show an increase in arrivals of only between 3-5 percent (this is difficult to predict accurately as the first half of 2008 was showing a larger increase, with the second half of 2008, showing drop-offs of up to 25 percent), with 2009 projected to have increased arrivals of possibly 0-2 percent and some predictions are showing a 2 percent decrease in arrivals in 2009.

Fenata expects that the leisure and business tourists that do come could chose to be more cautious. They may stay for a shorter period of time, reduce the number of activities they book while here, stay in a 3–star facility rather than a 5 star, buy less souvenirs and reduce impromptu spending, fly economy rather than business class, or other cost-saving choices.

Fenata believes that tourism (demand growth) in 2009 in Namibia could likely be in line with international expected rates, 0-2 percent, down from 7 percent in 2008 (UNWTO, January 2009), on average.

They are confident that there will likely be no mass job cuts in the tourism industry in 2009. However, the rate of new job creation will slow; the extent will be difficult to quantify in order to make an accurate projection. Some in the industry, who usually hire temporary or seasonal employees, may not do this at all or in the same amounts, nor at the same time as before, particularly if clients are confirming bookings late.

Investment in the tourism industry, i.e., new lodge constructions, renovations, expansions, or new vehicle purchases for tour operations, etc.., will be down significantly in 2009. The amount of beds available in Namibia increased in 2008 over 2007 between 8-9 percent. This will reduce significantly in 2009 (to possibly a 0-3 percent increase in numbers of beds available). The industry will become more cautious about initiating new capital projects and wait to see confirmed bookings for 2009 before building new rooms, hiring new employees, buying new tour vehicles, or expanding office or other facilities.

In 2007, over 250,000 South Africans arrived in Namibia as tourists. The global crisis has hit South Africa to some degree, and there will be a negative impact on outbound tourists. However, on the whole, Fenata feels this will not be to the extent that it will cause a slump in demand from SA. In Namibia, the South African Rand can be equally spent without converting to a hard currency at the existing unfavorable exchange rates. Wealthier south Africans who still intend to take some kind of holiday, and who could have taken holidays in Europe or North America, may well decide to holiday in the region in 2009 to save money.

Fenata believes that Namibians will continue to travel around the country in 2009. 33 percent of all bed nights in May, 2008 were sold to Namibians. This trend of domestic tourism may increase as Namibians who take leisure holidays, also cut back on any overseas travel (due to the exchange rates) and may chose to travel within the country in the off-peak season where packages for domestic tourists are readily available.

In light of this information, Fenata recommended the following to the industry. They asked the industry to consider that now is not the time to invest in any new ventures without a serious re-think about projected market share and market exposure for that particular enterprise during a flat tourism growth year.

The tourism industry should focus on value-for-money pricing strategies and package deals for tour operators with advance advertising so that wholesalers abroad can advertise and sell them in time. But the industry should avoid price-slashing wars with each other. They should also avoid raising prices to attract the overseas clients (given the exchange rates) for mid-market products to the detriment of regional/local tourists. In the end, such pricing strategies are usually short-sighted, largely unsustainable and can lead to a deterioration of the positioning of Namibia's tourism products in the markets.

The industry should invest in marketing strategies aimed at the domestic tourism market, the SA self-driving market, and the regional ex-patriot market to fill the gaps caused by the decrease in overseas tourist arrivals.

The industry should look inwards at their existing products - take time to revamp, re-examine all running costs, invest in training for employees, position themselves in clearly-defined market segments to capitalize on the potential for growth in those segments.

Source: www.eturbonews.com

Its objective is to recognize the achievement of individuals, governments, business and organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to the growth of sustainable tourism investment in Africa.

Balala was picked by a panel of five judges chaired by Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Special Adviser of the World Tourism Organization.

Others were Ms. Irene Visser, Tourism Programme Manager at the International Finance Corporation, Mr Trevor Ward, the Managing Director of the W Hospitality Group and Ms Kate Rivett-Carnac of the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

The Minister was recognized for his efforts in leading the tourism recovery programme in Kenya in 2008 and raising Kenya's tourism profile as a global leader in sustainable tourism.

He was also rewarded for leading the implementation of government policy on promoting sustainable tourism.

Kenya and Gabon were cited as countries that have focused their resources on promoting their countries as eco-friendly tourist destinations.

The tourism investor summit and awards are designed to showcase Africa's opportunities and achievements to the rest of the world, collectively raise awareness about Africa as a tourist destination and reward groups developing the African tourism industry as a vehicle to drive sustainable economic growth.

The Africa Tourism Minister of the Year Award is the most competitive among 14 categories of awards.

This year, it had entries from African leading ministers including Najib Balala (Kenya), Shamsa Mwangunga (Tanzania), Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia), Fernando Sumbana Jr (Mozambique), Mohammed Boussaid (Morocco), Khelil Lajimi (Tunisia), Charles Xavier Luc Duval (Mauritius) and Marthinus Van Schalkwyk of South Africa who was the 2008 winner of the award.

Five other Kenyan organizations were short-listed for various awards but did not win.

They included the Kenya Tourism Board in the category of Tourism Promotion Agency of the Year and the Tourism Trust (TTF) under the Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment.

Other entries were Kenya Airways (Best Airline), Eagle Africa Insurance Brokers (Business Travel Insurer), Ol Malo Eco-Lodge and Trust (Sustainable Tourism Investment) and Nairobi City (Tourism Investor City of the Year).

"My victory and the recognition of seven other tourism entities from Kenya in the award show that Kenya is a major player in tourism development in Africa and the world. The award is an honour for the entire tourism industry in Kenya," said Balala.

Source: www.eturbonews.com/