Author: Buy2Greece

Buy2Greece.com – Steep rise in hotel prices this July in Greece Average hotel prices in Greece, Mykonos will rise by 61 percent this July compared to last year. The average night rate for July in Mykonos will be 332 euros compared to 220 euros in 2013 at this time.

Many destinations in Greece have seen a definite increase in prices since 2013, Lefkada with a 38 percent rise in average hotel rates (109 euros a night). Lefkada is followed by Zakynthos (+21 percent), Ios (+19 percent), Elounda (+18 percent), Kos (+17 percent), Hersonissos (+17 percent), Chania (+16 percent) and Rhodes (+15 percent).

Folegandros,has observed a drop in average price of hotel rooms . An overnight stay would cost an average 97 euros compared to 133 euros same time in 2013. The fall is about 27 percent.

Skiathos follows Folegandros with an average nightly rate at 108 euros (-24 percent) compared with 142 euros last year.

Spetses, a favorite choice for short escapes, is next among Greek destinations where hoteliers have cut their prices (-23 percent). The average price for a double room per night on Spetses in July stands at 139 euros, against 181 euros a year ago.

Price reductions have also been recorded in Ermoupoli on Syros (-13 percent) and Lindos on Rhodes (-10 percent).

Buy2Greece.com – Telkonet, Inc., a leading and cutting-edge solution-provider for reducing energy consumption, is excited to announce the JW Marriott Miami luxury hotel has selected their EcoSmart Energy Management System to be installed in 307 guest rooms. Selecting the EcoSmart system offers JW Marriott Miami substantial reductions in energy consumption – resulting in significant savings to their bottom line.
Developer of the revolutionary EcoSmart energy management platform which provides comprehensive savings, management and reporting of a building’s energy consumption.
Energy usage is a major operating cost for hotels across the country. According to a recent EnergyStar report, on average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend $2,196 per available room each year on energy. This represents about 6% of all operating costs. Energy efficiency provides hotel owners and operators cost savings that benefit their bottom line. The EcoSmart energy management system aggressively reduces energy consumption and run-time by 20-45%; while maintaining room comfort.
Securing the contract was a huge success for Telkonet’s partner, Evolutix. They performed rigorous testing for over a year to exhibit the numerous benefits and competitive advantages of the EcoSmart energy management system. “Through our perseverance, dedication, and hard work, we were awarded the contract based on quality, cost savings, product and service,” says Pedro Moreira, owner of Evolutix. He also stated, “Having the support of the Marriott engineers was influential in securing the contract.” Installation of the units will begin August 3, 2014. “Evolutix was instrumental in sealing the deal with the JW Marriott Miami, and, we are very pleased that EcoSmart will be installed in such a high caliber hotel,” says Chad Burow, Director of Sales and Marketing with Telkonet.
All rooms will include the EcoSmart suite of product and services – including the EcoCentral Virtual Engineer? which is a robust cloud-based monitoring and control system that allows property and asset managers the ability to monitor cost savings room-by-room; the EcoInsight, energy management thermostat and the EcoView, in-room occupancy sensor. The entire EcoSmart Platform will connect to the existing Property Management System (PMS) providing state-of-the-art monitoring.
ABOUT EVOLUTIX
Evolutix, headquartered in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, is a world leader in developing and implementing sustainable energy consumption strategies for both new construction and also retro-commissioning projects to maximize return on investment. For more information, visit, http://www.evolutix.net
ABOUT TELKONET
Telkonet, a leading US-based energy management technology provider offers hardware, software and services to commercial customers worldwide. The EcoSmart suite of products, which includes EcoInsight and EcoWave intelligent thermostats, the EcoView occupancy sensor and the EcoGuard energy management outlet, can be deployed in most building environments to cut utility costs and enable remote monitoring and control using the EcoCentral management platform. Telkonet’s energy management products have the power to reduce energy consumption, minimize carbon footprints and help reduce the need for the construction of new power plants. For more information, visit http://www.telkonet.com.
Its EthoStream division is one of the world’s largest High-Speed Internet Access (HSIA) network providers.

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Buy2Greece- 

Buy2Greece.com – Royal Caribbean International today announced it is changing the way how people plan their vacations by working with Google to be the first cruise line to launch Google Maps Business View using Google’s Street View technology onboard the world’s largest and innovative cruise ship Allure of the Seas.

By using Street View technology, Royal Caribbean International will provide consumers with an immersive and interactive experience when they are searching for a vacation.

“Business View allows people all over the world to explore a range of businesses and organizations in great detail in just a few clicks” said Deborah Schenker – Program Manager at Google UK, “You can check out anything from restaurants to aircraft in Google Maps, and now for the first time you can sail the seas too with the first ever cruise ship coming on board.”

With just a few clicks, guests will be able to virtually walk through the various decks of Allure of the Seas including the Royal Promenade, a boulevard that runs nearly the length of the ship, flanked by restaurants, boutiques and lounges; Central Park, an outdoor park longer than a football pitch complete with over 12,000 live plants and trees; the Boardwalk, featuring a hand-crafted carousel, two rock-climbing walls and the AquaTheater, a high-dive aquatic performance venue with the deepest pool at sea; Entertainment Place, with an elaborate theatre, night club, comedy club, jazz club and ice-skating rink, which offers professionally produced ice shows; the Pool and Sports Deck featuring a zip line, twin FlowRider surf simulators, full-size basketball/sports court, nine-hole mini-golf course, 15 pools and whirlpools and 22 restaurants, and many, many more.

Vacationers will be able to access the technology, a first for the cruise industry at http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/royalview or via Google Search results, Google Maps and Google+ whether they’re using their computers, smartphones or tablets.

Jo Briody, director of marketing & PR, Royal Caribbean International commented: “We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of the industry when it comes to delivering innovative consumer facing technologies, whether it be Roboscreens and digital shows on our newest ships or Google Street View technology on our website. Consumers go online to research their vacations and this is the closest they can get to actually being onboard. We are confident that once people get virtually immersed in Allure of the Seas’ various decks and features thanks to Google Street View technology, they’ll be eager to experience the real thing.”

Over 20,000 images were taken over the course of 60 man hours and eight days to complete the virtual representation of the ship which stands taller than Nelson’s Column (165 feet) at 240 feet high and can accommodate more guests per sailing than the capacity of the Royal Albert Hall (5,544 seats).

The images were taken using a basic DSLR camera using a fisheye lens and a panoramic head resting on a tripod. This method takes twelve photographs at each point and uses high-dynamic-range imaging to ensure the best exposure for areas of different light.

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 45-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea. The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 11 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.

Rent2Greece.com – The Catalan government has slapped the US-based website Airbnb with a €30,000 fine for illegally commercializing short-stay apartment rentals that are not listed on the Catalan Tourism Register.

Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, Airbnb has become the world’s most popular site for vacation accommodation. It has listings in more than 34,000 cities in 190 countries, and around 15 million people have used its services.

Some of the Barcelona properties listed for rent on Airbnb don’t have the legality according to the government of Catalonia which is why the regional government announced a heavy fine of €30,000 (£24,000) on the ground of breaching the local laws.

In Barcelona, in the recent years, hundreds of thousands of private lets are on offer to cater to a growing number of tourists. Hoteliers have taken aim at the flats over what they deem unfair competition; while several neighbourhood associations blame private lets for driving up housing prices in central districts.

The fine against Airbnb is the Catalan’s government’s second shakedown on the sharing economy in recent months – in June it announced fines of up to €6,000 for drivers who use the ride-sharing app Uber.

Buy2Greece.com –
Media reports resurfaced on July 4 that billionaire Greek-American John Catsimatidis has agreed to buy the prestigious Athens Hilton Hotel from Alpha Bank’s subsidiary Ionian Hotels.

According to Sofocleous.gr the price of the hotel has been agreed to stand above the company’s market value. This means that Alpha will earn substantial capital gains from the sale of Ionian’s shares in the hotel. According to Athens Stock Exchange data, the capitalisation of Ionian Hotels stands at 93 million euros, down from 100 million euros in the beginning of the year.

The fall in the price of Ionian is, according to the reports, a strategem related to the Hilton sale because the bank mustn’t appear to sell Hilton at a large discount. But the real performance of the hotel remains profitable despite the crisis which has hit its numerous expensive restaurants and cafes.

Hilton’s turnover in 2013 reached 26.1 million euros against 23.4 million euros in 2012, recording inreases in revenue for all its basic sources of revenue, while profits before tax reached 800,000 euros in 2013 compared to a loss of 4.1 million euros in 2012.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization – EBITDA – were 4.1 million euros in 2013, up from 1.3 milion euros in 2012.

John A. Catsimatidis (born 7 September 1948) is the owner, president, chairman, and CEO of Gristedes Foods, the largest grocery chain in Manhattan, and the Red Apple Group, a real estate company with about $700 million to $800 million in holdings.

Catsimatidis also owns the Hellenic Times, a Greek-American newspaper based in Manhattan. He is also the chairman and CEO of the Red Apple Group subsidiary United Refining Company. He currently hosts a talk-radio show on WNYM.

The Red Apple Group also has holdings in aviation and real estate interests in New York, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

He was a Republican mayoral primary candidate in the 2013 New York City primary mayoral election.

Source: Sofokleous.gr