You are in: Home > Editor’s blog

Entrepreneur Plans Vodka Petrol

By admin on August 25, 2010

William Chase, the creator of the Tyrrells Crisp and Chase Vodka brands, believes that waste from his Herefordshire (UK) vodka distillery could be used to make a high grade vehicle fuel.

‘We have known for a long time that potato starch is an excellent source of bio ethanol but this new scheme will tap the resources left behind in distillery waste,’ he says.

Chase hopes the fluid left behind in the coppers after Chase Vodka has been distilled are still fermentable along with the potato waste.

‘There has been research completed at Edinburgh Napier University that has demonstrated that “pot ale” (the fluids left behind from the distilling process) can be fermented into biobutanol. I don’t see why we can’t do the same in Herefordshire,’ he adds.

Biobutanol is believed to be the next generation of biofuel. It gives internal combustion engines 30% more output power than ethanol. And more importantly it can fuel ordinary cars without the need for expensive adaptations to the engine.

‘We would need local partners to create enough biomass to make the project commercially viable,’ says Chase, ‘but I firmly believe that vegetable matter will provide the world with the next generation of fuels.’

Global brands McCain and Heinz are both believed to be exploring the use of potato peel as a source of biofuel.

http://www.chasedistillery.co.uk/

Posted in Editor's blog | Leave a response

Monarchy Boosts British Tourism

By admin on July 30, 2010

Britain’s monarchy generates well over £500 million a year from overseas tourists, according to research from VisitBritain.

The survey found that culture and heritage, in the widest sense and including theatres, galleries, castles and stately homes – generated £4.6 billion in total spending by overseas tourists in 2009, and supported 100,000 jobs.

Within that total one in eight sites – ranging from the Tower of London to The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and Ruthin Castle in Wales – are associated with monarchy. The report reveals that foreign tourists who visited them generated £500 million of spending, directly and indirectly.

Of the 30 million overseas visitors who came to Britain last year 5.8 million visited a castle, 5 million an historic house and 6.4 million a religious monument such as a cathedral.

The Tower of London, scene of the beheading of Anne Boleyn, was the top royal attraction for international visitors in 2009 with 2.4 million visitors. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich which incorporates The Queen’s House, home to the wives of James I and Charles II and the Royal Observatory was second on 2.3 million.

Edinburgh Castle received 1.1 million visitors. Windsor Castle, a principal residence of both Queen Elizabeth I and II, attracted 987,000.

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: ‘This fascinating research shows Britain’s monarchic heritage draws foreign tourists to just about every corner of the country from Scotland to Cornwall. Her Majesty the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, a feat last accomplished back in 1897 by Queen Victoria. This report suggests that year she is going to generate a bonanza for British tourism.’

www.visitbritain.org

Posted in Editor's blog | Tagged , | Leave a response

Etihad adds Seoul

By admin on July 21, 2010

Etihad Airways plans to commence operations to the South Korean capital, Seoul, on 12 December.

The airline will operate a daily return service to Seoul’s Incheon Airport from its home base in Abu Dhabi, operating Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route. The aircraft will be configured with three cabins, offering 2,800 seats each week to and from Seoul.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive officer, said: ‘South Korea is emerging as a key partner for the UAE, and the decision to commence services to Seoul reflects this strengthening partnership. Over the past two years, Korean business has been building a strong presence in the UAE, particularly in the clean energy sector, construction, technology and small to medium enterprises.

‘We expect the increasing trade relations between the two countries will lead to growing numbers of business travellers, as well as people from both regions visiting friends and relatives.’

At present, there are over 5,000 Korean nationals living and working in the UAE.

www.etihadairways.com

Posted in Editor's blog | Tagged , , , | Leave a response

The Return Of A Great

By admin on July 14, 2010

There’s always something exciting in the idea of one of the world’s grand hotels reopening – hopefully beautified and modernised but still recognisable as the place that appealed to travellers of a bygone age.

One exceptional example of this phenomenon is the Kempinski Taschenbergpalais in Dresden.

Built as a palace in the 18th century, it was wrecked during World War II and stayed in a state of dereliction during the time of communist east Germany. Trees are said to have been reaching maturity in its courtyard by the time of German reunification.

Visit the hotel today and you would never believe it. You would also be forgiven for thinking that the Taschenbergpalais had ever been anything other than a luxurious residence for the fortunate.

Its resurrection took three years – between 1992 and 1995 – and cost almost €130m (£160m), but it was one of the first buildings that could be said to mark Dresden’s return to its place among the cultural highpoints of Europe and today is somewhere that is worth a detour for any visitor to the city.

The same will hopefully be true of the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. This is scheduled to re-open its doors on 1 September, just in time for the birthday of one of its most famous regular guests – the writer Agatha Christie, born on 15 September 1890.

By all accounts, she found the hotel an inspiring place. She visited many times in the Twenties and Thirties and it was here – in room 411 – she is believed to have written Murder on the Orient Express. The Pera Palace was a favourite with travellers on that train – whose last stop was in Istanbul in those glory days of elegant travel.

It seems Christie will be a prominent part of the refurbished hotel. Her former room has been decked out with antique furniture and contains a collection of new and vintage editions of her novels, written in several languages.

The hotel’s restaurant has also been named after the writer and its specialities pay homage to the major stops of the Orient Express – Paris, Venice and Istanbul.

The Pera Palace originally opened in 1892 in a combination of art nouveau, neo-classical and Oriental styles. In its latest incarnation it will have 115 rooms, 16 of which are suites, and promises to become once again one of the most prestigious addresses in Istanbul.

www.perapalace.com

Posted in Editor's blog | Tagged | Leave a response

Savoy Hotel to re-open in London

By admin on June 28, 2010

London’s Savoy Hotel is scheduled to re-open on 10 October this year.

The historic hotel has been undergoing the most ambitious restoration in British history. It closed in December 2007 for work that encompasses the entire building, from the iconic entrance and the American Bar to the Savoy Grill and the 268 guestrooms and suites.

‘We are very excited to reopen The Savoy,’ says general manager Kiaran MacDonald. ‘This project has not been without its challenges, but we are looking forward to unveiling the results of nearly three years of hard work and dedication. We are very aware of the place that The Savoy holds in many people’s affections and we firmly believe that the hotel will exceed people’s expectations and reclaim its position as one of the world’s great hotels.’

The hotel’s new interiors have been designed by Pierre Yves Rochon, who has won acclaim for his work on other landmark hotels. A team of over 1,000 craftsmen and women, artists and artisans have worked to create interiors that are in the spirit of the hotel’s two main design aesthetics, Edwardian and art deco.

The Savoy’s reopening will reveal a number of notable highlights, including the complete remodel of the legendary River Restaurant, the addition of a luxurious new two bedroom Royal Suite and the relaunch of 38 River Suites and guestrooms with views over the River Thames.

New to the hotel will be the Beaufort Bar, a glamorous art deco bar that will offer champagne, cocktails and cabaret and Savoy Tea, a bijou teashop selling Savoy tea, accessories and fresh patisserie. Within the Thames Foyer, the re-introduction of a winter garden gazebo beneath an ornate glass dome will provide an attractive venue for afternoon tea.

In addition, the Savoy Grill will return under the operation of Gordon Ramsay Holdings with Chef Patron, Stuart Gillies and Head Chef, Andy Cook. There will also be a contemporary, glass enclosed fitness gallery and rooftop swimming pool.

Room rates at The Savoy will start from around £350 per room per night and reservations will open on 10 August.

There’s more about the restoration at www.the-savoy.com

Posted in Editor's blog | Tagged , , Comments Off

Air Astana Adds Routes

By admin on May 17, 2010

Air Astana, the Kazakh airline, has announced plans to begin services to Urumchi in western China; Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan and Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan during the second half of 2010.

Regional services already operate from Almaty to Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan and Novosibirsk in southern Russia. Additional new routes to other cities in southern Russia, including Omsk and Yekatenburg are also under consideration.

The airlines will be using Embraer E-190 airliners on its expanding Central Asia network, with the first of three leased aircraft scheduled for delivery in early 2011. Airbus A320 Family aircraft will operate these services in the interim.

Peter Foster, President of Air Astana, said: ‘Services launched from Almaty to Central Asian destinations in 2008/09 have proved enormously popular with government, business and leisure travellers and we are delighted to now start offering more destinations in China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Passengers travelling from Central Asian cities have the opportunity to conveniently connect to Air Astana’s long-haul services from Almaty to major cites in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.’

Air Astana achieved a profit after tax of $49 million on revenues of $546m for the full year 2009, a gain of 176% over 2008 and a 34% increase over the previous best year of 2007. This was in spite of a decline in revenues of 16%.

The airline flies an all western fleet comprising of two Boeing 767s, four Boeing 757s, ten Airbus A320 Family and six Fokker 50 aircraft. Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association and is the only airline in Kazakhstan with EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification.

www.airastana.com

Posted in Editor's blog | Tagged , Comments Off