Toozla, le développeur d'audioguides basés sur GPS,..."/>
 

MOSCOU, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --



Toozla, le développeur d'audioguides basés sur GPS, vient de créer un système pour publier des guides de voyage mobiles disponibles via le web. Cela signifie que « l'outil carte » peut désormais être utilisé pour créer un guide de voyage mobile complet, en trois heures seulement.

Toozla est un acteur majeur sur le marché des audioguides de voyage GPS couvrant toute la planète. Les guides Toozla sont disponibles sur la plupart des principaux systèmes d'exploitation mobiles : iOS, Android, Symbian, bada, Java2ME, MeeGo - et incluent déjà plus de deux millions d'unités de contenu audio en 16 langues couvrant des destinations du monde entier.

Le rapport sectoriel du World Travel Market 2011 précise que les nouvelles technologies, dont les téléphones portables, resteront une tendance de consommation essentielle dans l'industrie touristique d'aujourd'hui jusqu'en 2016. Mais ce n'est pas seulement la demande des consommateurs pour les applications mobiles qui est en hausse : aujourd'hui, un nombre croissant d'entreprises veulent aussi développer leurs propres applications.

Le système de publication Toozla pour guides de voyage est désormais disponible via une interface web. Pour créer un guide, il suffit aux utilisateurs d'avoir une connexion internet et la volonté de partager leur contenu avec d'autres. Le système peut même automatiquement convertir du texte écrit en audio, et il suffit d'environ trois heures pour créer un audioguide mobile complet (qui fonctionne immédiatement sur toutes les plates-formes) à partir d'un bloc de texte. L'ajout d'une autre langue ne prend que deux heures supplémentaires. Les propriétaires de contenu (éditeurs de guides de voyage imprimés et MP3, musées, bloggeurs, tour-opérateurs, offices de tourisme de villes et régions, hôtels, etc.) peuvent en outre utiliser l'outil carte pour établir leur propre « flux » d'information.

« Les utilisateurs n'ont besoin d'aucune connaissance spécialisée pour créer un guide de voyage mobile ; le système est complètement intuitif, » explique la directrice du marketing de Toozla, Alesya Chichinkina. « Et la publication de votre premier guide est gratuite. »

Toozla est un projet mondial, multilingue, destiné aux voyageurs indépendants et acheteurs de voyages à forfait, sans oublier les simples curieux. Toozla est un système de guides de voyage mobiles interactifs que les utilisateurs peuvent consulter dans le monde entier à partir de leur téléphone portable.

http://www.toozla.com


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Millions of Britons are losing valuable sleep each night because they are..."/>
 

LONDON, February 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Millions of Britons are losing valuable sleep each night because they are addicted to social networking according to findings from a new sleep report.

Gone are the days when Britons liked nothing better then to be tucked up in bed with a mug of cocoa and a good book. In today's modern society, 72% of adults spend their time in bed before falling asleep updating or checking their friends status updates on Facebook.

The study commissioned by Travelodge hotels surveyed 6,000 adults to explore the nation's bedtime habits and key findings revealed we have become a nation of 'Online-A-Holics'. So bad is the problem that seven out of ten Britons are tweeting, poking, surfing and writing on each others' walls instead of going to sleep. In addition 18% of adults send a daily night-time tweet to their followers and one in five Britons catch up on tweets from their favourite celebrities and friends in bed.

On average each night Britons are spending 16 minutes in bed socially networking with pals - with the peak chatting time being 9.45pm. This time spent social networking is affecting Britons sleep quota as on average respondents reported they are getting just six hours and 21 minutes sleep per night. (This is one hour and 39 minutes below the recommended quota of eight hours of sleep per night.)

Dr Michael Hastings, an expert in sleep patterns and body clocks and a research scientist for the Medical Research Council at Addenbrooke's Hospital (Cambridge University Hospitals), said "From a sleep point of view, this news is not good at all as it's having a huge negative effect on people's sleep. Adults don't realise what impact using computers, mobile phones and other gadgets before falling sleep is having on their night's sleep. Being exposed to bright light from computer and mobile phone screens while in bed completely delays the brain and body's ability to get to sleep."

"As a result, people are not able to get to sleep as quickly as they should and aren't getting the required amount of sleep they need each night. A lot of people think that when they go to sleep their brain is turned off but that is not the case. The brain simply engages in a different activity where it stores important memories and gets rid of information that is not needed. If people aren't getting enough sleep each night their long-term memory is most definitely being affected and using social networking sites and technology before they go to sleep is worsening this."

"The sad thing is social networking is doing exactly what it was invented for - to grab people's attention and make them addicted.

Corinne Sweet, Psychologist, comments on the research findings: "We have become a nation of 'online-a-holics'. This addiction for social networking supports Maslow's theory of humans having three basic needs. One of these being the need for love, affection, belonging and self-worth and Facebook provides the perfect solution to fulfil this requirement. By socially networking we can fulfil our need to communicate and share our news in one hit with all of our contacts across the world 24/ 7 and obtain a comprehensive snapshot of what they are up to at any given time."

"Like all things there is a time and place and social networking should not take place between the sheets as it can be detrimental to our well being. By texting, tweeting, surfing and writing on our walls in bed we are nodding off with a busy mind which impacts upon our quality of sleep during the night. Bedtime should be associated with calming down and chilling out with a good book, listening to easy music, catching up with your partner or enjoying a love-making session in order to get a night of deep, nourishing sleep. Make time earlier in the evening for social networking as it will help you distress after a hard day and prepare you for bedtime".

Further research findings revealed that 65% respondents stated the very last thing they do before nodding off at night is to check their mobile phone for text messages. On average Britons will spend around nine minutes every night texting before falling asleep. Four out of ten adults reported they have a regular text communication with friends in bed every night.

So bad is the obsession with bed-texting that 20% of Britons surveyed confessed they have stopped mid-way whilst making love with their partner to check on an incoming text message.

Corinne Sweet, Psychologist said: "'No sex, Im texting' is the new British bedtime motto, it seems but couples need to be aware it can feel quite insulting to come second (as it were) to a text which can result in serious problems within a relationship. It's a good idea for love and intimacy to really blossom, if all mobiles and laptops can be left out of the boudoir, at least during love-making. Nothing is more annoying than the constant bleep of electronics to interrupt your night-time bliss".

Twenty seven per cent of adults surveyed also reported they are regularly awoken during the night by an incoming text message. Whilst a quarter of workers (25%) reported they frequently get a late night work related text from their boss.

Fifty one per cent of British adults surveyed stated the very first thing they do when they wake up - before even getting out of bed is to check their mobile phone for new texts or emails. One in ten respondents reported they will respond to any texts that have come through the night before getting out of bed.

As well as socially networking, a quarter of the nation (25%) does their weekly grocery shopping between the sheets. Whilst one in ten adults settles any outstanding bills online before nodding off. Over a third of the nation (35%) likes to surf celebrity news websites in bed for the latest showbiz gossip before slumbering.

With the festive season fast approaching 47% of respondents reported they are spending their time before falling asleep shopping for Christmas presents and making the necessary festive season arrangements.

One in ten Singletons surveyed admitted they like to check out online dating websites before falling asleep in the hope of finding their perfect partner.

The study also revealed the timehonoured, faithful alarm clock is set to become obsolete with 84% of adults now using their mobile phone as an alarm clock to help wake them up in the morning. In contrast in 2008 only 34%* of Britons used their mobile phone as a wake-up call. On average 36 of adults will get out of bed immediately once the alarm goes off whilst 42% like to press the snooze button a couple of times.

One in ten adults will set their daily alarm half an hour earlier than they need to get - so that have 30mins of snooze time every day.

Travelodge Sleep Director, Leigh McCarron said: "Alarm clocks have been shown to cause heart rhythm irregularities which can cause a heart attack. The alarm clock's strident ringing tone can be a shock to the body and mind. My recommendation is to wake up naturally as the awakening is part of a natural sleep-wake cycle and it can help you feel less groggy. Make your last thought before sleeping to be your intention to wake up at a particular time and sleep in complete darkness to aid a natural wake-up call.

About Travelodge:

The first budget hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985, Travelodge now operates over 490 hotels and over 35,400 rooms across the UK, Ireland (11) and Spain (4). Travelodge plans to grow its estate to 1,100 hotels and 100,000 rooms by 2025. Over 13 million people stayed with Travelodge last year and 90% of reservations are currently made online at travelodge.co.uk, where room rates start at £19 per night. The chain employs over 6,000 staff.

For further information, please contact: Emma Arthurs, T: +44(0)1844-358703

SOURCE Travelodge

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 As spring rapidly approaches, so too does the open sport..."/>
 
 

FindTheBest's Sport Fishing Destinations Comparison can help Users Prepare for the Upcoming Season.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As spring rapidly approaches, so too does the open sport fishing season. FindTheBest's Sport Fishing Destination comparison tool allows enthusiasts to plot out their future fishing endeavors with precision and selectivity.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120103/LA28987LOGO)

FindTheBest's data-driven, Smart Rating system allows users to compare regions of the world by key factors including the monthly quality of fishing from country-to-country based on expert data from Fishtrack's Fishing Charts.  FindTheBest's Sport Fishing Destinations also allows users to sort and filter by species of fish, month of the year, region, and sub-region.

Each individual listing provides details about not only where, when, and how to catch your favorite fish, but also the average size, distinctive features, tips for capturing the species and even the nutritional values of that particular aquatic prey.

Looking to compare whether Costa Rica or Puerto Rico has better Mahi Mahi sport fishing?  FindTheBest's unbiased, Sport Fishing Destinations comparison allows you to compare the data side-by-side.  Whether you want to find out the top rated places to fish for Yellow fin Tuna in February, or you want to find out which species of fish to sport fish when you're on vacation in Hawaii this summer, FindTheBest's Sport Fishing Destinations comparison can help.

Eager to pursue White Marlin off the shores of Jamaica this summer but worried about airfare prices or finding top rated resorts that offer fishing? FindTheBest's airline, resort, and fishing report comparisons can help you make the most informed decisions.

Be prepared this season; use FindTheBest's Sport Fishing Destinations comparison to make sure you'll get the most out of your next fishing vacation. Visit FindTheBest's Sports Fishing Destination comparison and get ahead of the curve this season.


ABOUT FindTheBest
FindTheBest is an unbiased, data-driven comparison engine. We organize and present data in a consumer-friendly format so that you can make quick and informed decisions based on what's important to you.

 

 

 

SOURCE FindTheBest

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Paul Gauguin Cruises Completes _7 Million Renovation
February 20, 2012

 Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of..."/>
 
 

Largest Renovation in the Ship's 14-Year History

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is proud to reveal the completion of a $7 million renovation – the largest in the ship's 14-year history. The renovation took place during the ship's 10-night crossing from Tahiti to Brisbane, Australia, as well as during the 11-night drydock that followed, when extensive enhancements were made to both the interiors and exteriors of The Gauguin.

Renovations throughout the ship include new flooring and replaced carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel.

Additionally, all suites and staterooms feature new teak railings on the balconies and new bathroom flooring. On the culinary front, La Veranda offers guests a redesigned entrance, refinished indoor and outdoor furniture, and solar shades throughout. Le Grill boasts new decorative partitions and divider walls, as well as a new buffet area and new lighting. L'Etoile also features a redesigned entrance in addition to video equipment for conferences.

Promenade Deck 5 boasts a new built-in banquette and expanded casino in Le Casino, and Deck 6 received a new integrated display case for books and art. La Palette features a decorative stone band along the front of the bar and an updated lighting system, as well as new outdoor furniture. Le Grand Salon and La Palette offer refurbished dance floors to provide the perfect venue to dance the night away.

Guests now cruise aboard a vessel that has been thoroughly updated and redecorated for even greater luxury and comfort, reflecting Paul Gauguin Cruises' level of commitment to the ship and the importance of the overall guest experience.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia's leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. The Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, 513 feet long and 71 feet wide, has a draft of 16.9 feet and can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 217. It is one of the top Exclusive Charter and Incentive Group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements, with an additional $7 million completed in January 2012. The Gauguin has been impressively named the 2011 Silver Magellan Award Winner in the Small Cruise Ship category by Travel Weekly and earned the "#1 ranking for Dining" in the Small Ship Category in Cruise Critic's 2011 Cruisers' Choice Awards.

Paul Gauguin Cruises also recently announced the acquisition of a second ship, which will begin sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner in December 2012. With plans to sail to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Latin America, this ship will be christened m/v Tere Moana after completing a multifaceted renovation in December 2012.  The Moana features 45 staterooms accommodating 90 guests. 

For additional information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please visit www.pgcruises.com.

Media Contact:
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Vanessa Bloy, Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com

 

 

SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Visit O'ahu April 14-16
February 20, 2012

The Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF) today announced that it will sponsor..."/>
 
 

Cultural exchange and public presentations to focus on themes of compassion, peace, diversity and Hawaiian culture

HONOLULU, Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF) today announced that it will sponsor two public talks in Honolulu featuring Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, April 14th and 15th, 2012. The talks are part of the Dalai Lama's three-day stay on O'ahu (April 14-16), where he will participate in a series of conversations with local leaders and visits to important cultural and historical sites. The Dalai Lama is visiting O'ahu at the invitation of Pierre and Pam Omidyar. Support is being provided by a lead grant from the Omidyar Ohana Fund in addition to other partners providing in-kind and cash donations.

The Dalai Lama's visit marks the launch of a new HCF initiative entitled "Pillars of Peace Hawai'i: Building Peace on a Foundation of Aloha." The program aims to bring global peace leaders to Hawai'i to exchange ideas about the many forms of peace that exist here at home in Hawai'i, and around the world.

"The people of Hawai'i, their welcoming 'spirit of aloha' and the blending of many cultures are facets that make our islands a special place to live," said Kelvin Taketa, President and CEO of the Hawai'i Community Foundation. "We take pride in our ability to embrace our diversity and peacefully co-exist, and are honored to be able to share this valuable lesson with others around the world. Through the Pillars of Peace program, we hope to share these examples with global peace leaders such as the Dalai Lama, while also absorbing the wisdom they have to share from their own cultures and experiences."

The visits from global leaders are designed to spark dialogue about the roles of compassion, diversity, and culture as key components for practicing peace.

"Peace is an active state of being—it is not passive," said Pierre Omidyar. "We hope that the Dalai Lama's visit will inspire people to consciously embrace compassion and apply peace in their everyday lives."

The Dalai Lama will speak at two public events during his visit to O'ahu; both will take place at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawai'i campus at Manoa. The first event, for high school and college students titled, "Educating the Heart," will be held on April 14th, at 1:30 p.m. HAST. More than half of the tickets for this student talk are free and being distributed through public and private high schools on O'ahu.

The second event, intended for the general public, "Advancing Peace through the Power of Aloha," will take place on April 15th at 1:45 p.m. HAST.  

Tickets for both events can be purchased online starting February 22nd at 6:00 p.m. HAST. Beginning February 23rd, tickets will also be sold at the University of Hawai'i Stan Sheriff Center box office. Additional ticket and event information is available at www.pillarsofpeacehawaii.org.

For those unable to attend in person, both events will be available for playback after the events conclude on the Pillars of Peace Hawai'i website.  

For more information about the Dalai Lama's visit to O'ahu, please call 1-855-PEACE00 (1-855-732-2300), email info@pillarsofpeacehawaii.org or visit www.pillarsofpeacehawaii.org.

About His Holiness the Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace.  In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.  He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning 6 continents.  He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations.  He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists. Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.  His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books. His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. For more information about the Dalai Lama, please visit: www.dalailama.com

About the Hawai'i Community Foundation
With 95 years of community service, the Hawai'i Community Foundation is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. The Foundation is a steward of more than 600 funds, including more than 160 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2011, more than $43 million in grants and contracts were distributed statewide. The Foundation also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector.  Visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org for more information.

About Pierre and Pam Omidyar
Active philanthropists who are guided by their belief that people are inherently capable and basically good, Pierre and Pam Omidyar have committed more than $1 billion to help individuals improve their lives and ignite change across a variety of sectors and geographies. The Omidyars received the 2011 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in recognition of the lasting impact of their work and generosity. In 2009, Pierre and Pam made an historic $50 million commitment to the Hawai'i Community Foundation to establish the Omidyar 'Ohana Fund, which is being used to launch several community initiatives. To learn more about the Omidyars' commitment to Hawai'i and ongoing philanthropic interests around the world, go to www.pillarsofpeacehawaii.org/hosts.

Gina Lindblad
gina.lindblad@porternovelli.com
Phone: 206-770-7082

SOURCE Hawai‘i Community Foundation

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