South African Tourism appoints new country manager
Source = e-Travel Blackboard: N.J South African Tourism team at end of year celebrations South African Tourism (SAT) appointed Nobulali ‘Lalie’ Ngozi as the new country manager for Australia and New Zealand. At the South Africa Tourism end of year celebrations held in the garden of The Mint last night, the tourism groups marketing and communications manager Tommy Lindblad said Ms Ngozi joins the team from North West Province Tourism and will commence her new role from early next year. “We are delighted to welcome Ms Nobulali ‘Lalie’ Ngozi to lead our South African Tourism team,” he said. “We are thrilled to have Lalie on board, and with her expertise in media as well as her knowledge and insight in the tourism industry, we’re confident it will prove indispensable as she takes up her new role.” Mr Lindblad also took the time to mention South Africa’s achievements in tourism over the past year. According to Mr Lindblad up to 12,000 Australians travelled to South Africa during the World Cup, coming in fifth in the highest ticket sales around the world. “The World Cup’s legacy and the significant benefits that remain for local communities will greatly benefit the tourism industry and generations of South Africans to come,” he said. “We are looking forward to the year ahead and implementing our marketing and communications plans to generate excitement among Australians and New Zealanders to travel to South Africa in 2011 and beyond.” Mr Lindblad concluded his speech wishing everyone a “great Christmas and a safe New Year”.Check out photos from SAT’s authentically South African celebrations tomorrow on e-Travel Blackboard. 
Source = e-Travel Blackboard: G.A On the hunt for fresh faces to front its 2013 brochures, G Adventures has launched an international competition and wants travel agents in on the action.“We’ve already received a number of inspiring entries. However, in addition to encouraging their clients to enter, we’re hoping agents themselves will enter too,” G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip said. “It would be fantastic to have one of our valued agent partners be one of the faces of G Adventures.”Part of the You’ll Never Forget It global campaign, the competition will take winners to one of the hundreds of destinations where G Adventures operates to be filmed and photographed on location. To be considered, candidates can write, film or photograph their ‘unforgettable travel moment’ and post it on www.youllneverforgetit.com. Written submissions must not exceed 420 characters including spaces; and videos cannot surpass three minutes. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2011.Twenty finalists will be shortlisted for public voting between January 9 and February 10, 2012. Winners will be announced on February 14, 2012 and must be available to travel between March 1 and August 31, 2012.
Source = Emirates SkyCargo Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, reinforced its position as an industry leader by claiming a top prize at the annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA). Organized by ITP, publisher of arabiansupplychain.com and Logistics Middle East, Emirates SkyCargo was named ‘Cargo Operator of the Year’ in recognition of its continued leadership and innovations in global air logistics. Further, the award recognized the benefits that Emirates SkyCargo brings to customers utilizing e-freight technology and providing a variety of quality solutions, with a relentless focus on improving service. Emirates’ Vice President Cargo Commercial UAE Sales, Jassim Saif accepted the ‘Cargo Operator of the Year Award’ on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo’s during a gala dinner held at the Jumeriah Emirates Towers in Dubai. “This award is testament to the hard work, talent and dedication of everyone at Emirates SkyCargo,” said Jassim Saif. “Emirates SkyCargo is the first carrier to implement Electronic-Air Waybill (e-AWB) shipments under the industry’s multilateral e-AWB standard and our home base in Dubai is now 100 percent e-AWB across its operations. We have tirelessly worked towards the adoption of e-freight with our customers, while also ensuring that processes are more widely understood and adopted in the industry as a whole.” “Emriates SkyCargo will see increased adoption of e-AWB processes and will continue to remain at the forefront of these developments and advise those interested in taking the steps to ‘go green’ and adopt a paperless cargo system.” Added Mr Jassim. The annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards recognise corporations in the in the areas of professional training, technology advancement, corporate social responsibility and outstanding achievement. Awards were handed out to companies in the sea freight, air cargo and logistics sectors respectively.The SCATA award comes shortly after Emirates SkyCargo received the prestigious ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2013’ award from Air Cargo News and the ‘Best Middle East Cargo Airline’ for the 25th consecutive year. Emirates’ Vice President Cargo Commercial UAESales, Jassim Saif accepts the Cargo Operator ofthe Year at the Jumeriah Emirates Towers.
NT Tour operators are using Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, to get their message out about the attractiveness of the Top End. A tour operator from the Western Edge of Arnhem Land, Neville Namarnyilk said that Asian tourists visiting the region could visit elders on his tours leaving them with a deep understanding of Indigenous peoples’ connections to the land. The number of tourist operators visiting Australia’s Top End has doubled and indigenous tour operators are ready to cash in on the opportunities. Tourism operators are marketing the Top End as like China but without the pollution.
Darryl Guppy of the NT Australia China Business Council said the Northern Territory was a very marketable location for Chinese tourists. Source = ETB News: Tom Neale
By Bayswater marina (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia CommonsRecord numbers of international and domestic visitors to Auckland has resulted in a record-breaking contribution of NZ$6.5 billion to the local economy.The Regional Tourism Estimate (RTE) figures released today by Statistics New Zealand revealed total tourism expenditure in Auckland increased by 15 per cent in the year ended March 2015, with international visitors contributing $3.227 billion (up 18%) and domestic visitors $3.268 billion (up 8%).Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says Auckland welcomed more than two million international arrivals as well as four million domestic guest nights in commercial accommodation between March 2014 and March 2015.“More people are visiting Auckland than ever before and they’re generally spending and doing more evident in the 13 per cent increase in attraction and activity spend, all contributing in this significant boost to the local economy,” he says.“These record-breaking results are fantastic for Auckland and are hitting ATEED’s own aspirational targets, and delivery of the goals outlined in the Auckland Visitor Plan. It’s particularly good to see that Auckland is attracting more domestic visitors than any other region in the country helping smooth out seasonal peaks.”Auckland’s massive 2014/15 line-up of events – which included two world cups – pumped more than $85 million into the regional economy based off an investment by ATEED, on behalf of Auckland council, of $14 million. These events generated more than 426,500 visitor nights, and saw more than two million people attend the different major events around the city.Mayor Len Brown says, “This unprecedented year of events, along with regular proactive tourism marketing campaigns, a growing business events sector, record numbers of international students studying in Auckland, and increases in air capacity have all played a significant role in achieving these results.“It’s truly been an industry wide effort and the flow-on effects from the visitor economy can already been seen throughout the city with new developments to support better infrastructure, more investment and most importantly more jobs for the Auckland economy.”SKYCITY Auckland Hotels and Sky Tower General Manager, Bradley Burnett, says SKYCITY has delivered exceptional results for the last financial year with strong growth across the entire site.“And now as we head into FY15 Sky Tower visitation is up seven per cent compared to the same period last year, which is a positive indication as we head into the busy summer season. Our SKYCITY hotels also continue to perform strongly with both enjoying a lift in rates, which is consistent with what we’re seeing across Auckland, while also running at capacity.”EcoZip Adventures Managing Director Gavin Oliver says his Waiheke-based business has seen fantastic growth since it started operating in 2012.“The Auckland tourism industry has every right to be proud of these excellent results. The 2015 season for EcoZip marked an upturn in both revenues and yield and this season we’re already experiencing consistent, double-digit growth.”The Auckland Visitor Plan – created on behalf of Auckland Council – aims to grow the region’s visitor economy from a $4.8 billion industry in 2012 to a $7.2 billion sector in 2021. Visit AucklandSource = Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development
Travelport vice president Global Sales Strategy Air Commerce Damien Hickey with Tigerair Taiwan chief commercial officer Ai-Ling NgTravelport, a leading Travel Commerce Platform providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the global travel and tourism industry, and Tigerair Taiwan, the first Low Cost Carrier (LCC) based in Taiwan, today jointly announce their first ever global content and merchandising agreement.The new multi-year agreement will enable Travelport-connected travel agents worldwide to search and book Tigerair Taiwan’s services via Travelport’s innovative Travel Commerce Platform.With this agreement Tigerair Taiwan will also become the latest airline and the third LCC in Asia to sign up for Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding technology, a key component of its industry-leading Travelport Merchandising solutions.More than 120 airlines have already signed-on for Rich Content and Branding, which enable carriers to more effectively control how their flights and ancillaries are visually presented and described on travel agency screens, in a similar way to the airline’s own website experience.As Tigerair Taiwan expands across North Asia and Southeast Asia, the travel agency channel will become an increasingly important part of its growth strategy. Travelport is Tigerair Taiwan’s key global distribution partner.Ai-Ling Ng, Chief Commercial Officer, Tigerair Taiwan, commented: “Tigerair Taiwan is embarking on an expansion drive. We are doubling the size of our fleet by the end of this year.“And our routes are all non-domestic, which means we need to project our brand strongly across to all our regional markets in order to grow our market share. We believe that Travelport’s global network and its Rich Content and Branding solution will help us to achieve those objectives.”Damian Hickey, Vice President, Asia Pacific and Global Sales Strategy, Air Commerce, Travelport, added: “We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with Tigerair Taiwan.“I am confident that they will be able to fully leverage Travelport’s global reach to grow their bookings via our Travel Commerce Platform, while projecting their brand across their target markets with our Rich Content and Branding technology.” Fly TigerairSource = Travelport
Dream Cruises to set a New world record for World dreamDream Cruises to set a New world record for World dreamDream Cruises is making a big splash in the market ahead of the much-awaited arrival of World Dream with a grand kick-off celebration showcasing all the new fun experiences that await guests, and getting everyone to take part in breaking a world record.The excitement begins with Dream Cruises’ innovative “#TogetherWeBuildDreams” campaign, which engages consumers in the building of the world’s largest LEGO® cruise ship. The 8.44-meter cruise ship replica of Word Dream is expected to be certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and completed in time for World Dream’s arrival in Hong Kong.This November, Dream Cruises will take families, couples and groups into a world of wonder on board World Dream with fascinating journeys to exotic and popular destinations in Asia, enhancing every voyage with new world-class entertainment and recreation features, including a state-of-the-art virtual reality and game zone, dazzling laser and fireworks displays and new signature shows, as well as new dining concepts and expanded duty-free shopping and marketplaces.World Dream began construction in February 2016 with the traditional steel cutting ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Her recent float out from the shipyard was another key milestone, and soon, she will travel across the River Ems to the North Sea to embark on an epic journey home to Asia.“World Dream will play a key role in Genting Cruise Lines’ growth strategy in Asia. By building on the success of her twin sister ship Genting Dream, World Dream is expanding our capacity and strengthening our marketleadership in the region,” said Mr. Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines. “ We are as excited to welcome World Dream at her homeports in Hong Kong and Nansha this November to further grow the Pearl River Delta as a cruise centre and increase the FlyCruise market in this part of Asia.”World Dream will start sailing from Hong Kong on 17 November and from Nansha on 19 November, and take guests on two weekly alternating 6-day/5-night itineraries to exotic and popular destinations including Boracay and Manila in the Philippines and Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang in Vietnam, as well as 3-day/2-night weekend cruise from Hong Kong around the Pearl River Delta.“The making of World Dream is a truly monumental endeavour and we are delighted to celebrate the anticipated arrival this November of our newest luxurious ship with this remarkable LEGO® project. At Dream Cruises, we aim to inspire and push the boundaries in vacation experiences. This project is a great metaphor for our remarkable journey,” said Mr. Thatcher Brown, President of Dream Cruises Lines. “We are focused on consistently delivering the Dream Cruises’ luxury brand experience which is ‘Asian at Heart and International in Spirit’. World Dream will reinforce our commitment to exceptional service. With our new facilities, we are creating enhanced and targeted vacation experiences for families and couples as well as MICE and special interest groups. We are also setting a new standard for our Dream Palace with our new all-inclusive concept.”Maintaining its market leadership position in the Pearl River Delta, World Dream will proudly continue Genting Cruise Lines’ 24 years of commitment to cruising in Asia, supporting tourism and related industries at large.“We are excited to welcome the maiden voyage of World Dream and her first homeport season in Hong Kong. The deployment of World Dream to Hong Kong, offering a world-class cruising experience, strengthens the city’s position as Asia’s cruise hub and enhances its attractiveness as a cruise destination. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will continue to work closely with Genting Hong Kong and other cruise partners through collaboration and regional alliances to attract more visitors and fuel the growth of Hong Kong’s cruise and tourism industry, “said Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.Purposely built for Asia, World Dream will have a capacity of 3,400 guests and 1,686 staterooms with triple and quad sharing, 70 percent of which will have magnificent views of the ocean. New features and facilities include: Dining: New Vintage Room chef table in partnership with Penfolds Wine, and two new seafood and steakhouse restaurants, which will be among the 35 restaurants and bar concepts.Entertainment: The largest virtual reality game zone at sea including state-of-the art Vesaro car racing simulators, new signature shows including “Sogno” and “Some Like It Hot” crossover classic and Latin ballroom show, new laser shows and ongoing fireworks displays, redesigned outdoor plaza, and new programs for families, children and teenagers.Dream Palace: New all-inclusive concept designed to enhance the first-class experience for Dream Palace suites and garden penthouses with an unparalleled array of complimentary on-board and in-room services, including the new al fresco seafood dinner at the private pool deck.Retail: Expanded duty-free shopping with new shops and brand partners, a beauty bar with personal beauty consultants, interactive product wall, and new marketplace and bazaars.Wellness: New specially-designed spa packages based on organic products and traditional and western treatments, which are combined with fitness for a truly holistic and healthy holiday at sea.To build on the excitement of World Dream’s impending debut, consumers and LEGO® enthusiasts will have the chance to join fellow LEGO® builders from around the region to take part in this unprecedented world record attempt by logging into www.facebook.com/dreamcruiseshq for live feeds. The world-record breaking initiative will be led by Andy Hung, the first LEGO® Certified Professional in Greater China region.“I am truly honoured to take part in this meaningful project to commemorate the inaugural voyage of World Dream, which will once again put Hong Kong on the map as the first homeport of Asia’s newest luxury cruise ship,” said Andy Hung, Director of Legend Creative. “This will be our biggest LEGO® ship structure challenge to date, and we are very excited to make history in collaboration with fellow LEGO® enthusiasts from different regions in Asia. We look forward to make this dream a reality!”As part of the campaign, Dream Cruises will hold roadshows where consumers who booked their 5-night cruise (balcony deluxe and above) can participate in the actual building of the balcony cabin model, which will be included in the final record-breaking ship replica of World Dream.For more information about Dream Cruises, please visit dreamcruiseline.com and follow us on Facebook, Weibo and Weixin.Source = Dream Cruises
Qatar Airways welcomes the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft to DohaThe State of Qatar was the first stop for the Airbus Demonstration Tour to showcase the world’s most advanced widebody aircraft throughout the Middle East and Asia Pacific Qatar Airways is the global launch customer of the A350-1000Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, welcomed the arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft to Qatar, as part of a special Demonstration Tour by Airbus. The visit was the first stop by the advanced aircraft to 12 destinations throughout the Middle East and Asia Pacific, designed to showcase the aircraft’s exclusive features to airlines and passengers. The arrival of the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft comes just a month before Qatar Airways will become the global launch customer for theworld’s very first A350-1000.The aircraft performed an impressive fly-by over the iconic Doha corniche to commence its international tour. During its stop in Doha, the test aircraft was visited by local dignitaries and VIPs who were given a guided tour of the A350-1000 hosted by H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker. Among the VIPs were the Ambassador of France to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Eric Chevallier; the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Hans-Udo Muzel; the Ambassador of Spain to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ignacio Escobar; and the British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ajay Sharma. Also in attendance was Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, Mr. Badr Al Meer. Senior members of Qatar Airways Flight Operations, Cabin Services, Technical and Corporate Planning departments who are all involved in its extensive delivery programmewere also given a tour of the aircraft.Qatar Airways has ordered 37 of the world’s most advanced passenger aircraft. Next month it will take delivery of the very first aircraft off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse. The aircraft has been tailor-made with superior-quality cabins to meet Qatar Airway’s exacting specifications for its valued passengers.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Airbus A350-1000 test aircraft to Doha as part of its Demonstation Tour. Its arrival in Doha, as the first stop on this tour, has extra special significance for the people of Qatar, as Qatar Airways is the global launch customer for this incredible technologically-advanced aircraft. With this addition to our existing modern fleet, we will continue to set the standard in air travel for years to come.“The delivery of the world’s first commercial A350-1000 next month is highly-anticipated by Qatar Airways passengers and employees. Our expert delivery staff have been working in partnership with Airbus to ensure a prompt entry into service so we can deliver outstanding levels of comfort, thanks to the A350-1000’s spacious cabins and advanced technology. We very much look forward to welcoming the A350-1000 into our growing fleet of more than 200 aircraft.”Airbus Chief Operating Officer and President Commercial Aircraft, Mr. Fabrice Brégier, said: “We are delighted that one of our A350-1000 test aircraft visited Doha as the first stop on a global Demonstration Tour to salute Qatar Airways, the global launch customer for the aircraft. At Airbus we look forward to delivering the world’s first A350-1000 to Qatar Airways in the coming weeks.”The test A350-1000 aircraft undertaking the 30,000 nautical mile tour, is one of three owned by Airbus, and is equipped with fully functional Business Class and Economy Class cabins. The tour follows a highly successful test flight campaign which demonstrated the aircraft’s exceptional design and performance capabilities. The mid-sized long-haul aircraft is assembled by Airbus at its facility in Toulouse, France. The A350-1000 is 23 feet longer than its sister aircraft, the Airbus A350-900, for which Qatar Airways was also the global launch customer. The A350-1000 offers a substantial increase in capacity with extra seating onboard, a more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, a modified wing trailing edge and a new six-wheel main landing gear. It also provides enhanced levels of passenger comfort, thanks to its advanced light-weight carbon composite design and high-quality interior finish.Qatar Airways operates a wide range of Airbus passenger and cargo aircraft in its fleet, which is one of the youngest in the world, with an average age of just five years. In 2017 Qatar Airways was voted Skytrax ‘World’s Best Airline’ by travellers from around the world, as well as winning a raft of other major awards at last year’s ceremony, including ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’Qatar Airways flies to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. The airline is launching a host of exciting new destinations in 2018, including Penang, Malaysia; Canberra, Australia; and Cardiff, U.K, to name just a few.Source = Qatar Airways
Royal Orchid HolidaysCelebrates 30th Anniversary of Bangkok Nagoya RouteThai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) celebrates the 30th anniversary of operating flights from Bangkok to Nagoya with the launch of the Classic Nagoya Tour Package in Kanazawa, Japan, for travel during 17-23 September 2018.Mrs. Alisara Kidmai, THAI Director, Royal Orchid Holidays, said that THAI is pleased to introduce the “Classic Nagoya” tour package to visit the historic city Kanazawa, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its Bangkok-Nagoya route. This special package tour offers customers the opportunity to experience the traditional handicrafts village, 1000-year old Wajima morning market, Kanazawa gold museum, lantern festival museum, relax in a Japanese onsen, and enjoy fresh seafood. The tour will be for seven days and four nights during 17-23 September 2018, with prices beginning at 65,600 baht per person (inclusive of air ticket, accommodation, and meals).For more information, please visit www.royalorchidholidays.com, call Royal Orchid Holidays at Tel. 02-288-7335, or email sales@toureurngluang.comSource = Royal Orchid Holidays
Another World Cup SecuredAnother World Cup Secured for Regional NSWThe world’s best cross country runners are set to race to Bathurst to fight it out for podium title with the NSW Government securing the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championships in 2021.Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro joined Member for Bathurst Paul Toole today to announce the successful bid as part of the NSW Government’s 10 World Cups in 10 Years strategy.Mr Toole said Bathurst is home to some of the best trail running terrain and scenery in the country making it the perfect place to stage the oldest competition on the IAAF calendar.“This is another coup for Bathurst and the wider Central West community with the Australian-first event expected to inject an estimated $2.6 million into the local economy,” Mr Toole said.“The Central West offers first class hospitality and has a proud track record of hosting major sporting events and I am delighted the NSW Government has partnered with Athletics Australia to secure this major event for our community.”Mr Barilaro said the win is the sixth World Championship to be secured since the ambitious plan was launched six months ago and is the second event to be held in regional NSW. “The NSW Government is committed to ensuring every corner of NSW gets its fair share of the record tourist dollars and investment coming into our State and major sporting events are an excellent way to drive more visitors to regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.The 2021 event will be held in Bathurst in March, and will bring together more than 700 competitors from 60 countries around the world. Source = Destination NSW
Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department in collaboration with Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) recently organised 1st all India sports lead climbing competition in Nowgam. A two-day event witnessed the participation of 103 climbers from 22 states of India who participated in various categories including sub-junior, junior, men and women categories. The competition was adjudged by the group of professionals from various parts of India.The event was inaugurated by Rigzian Sampheal, Secretary of tourism. Col HS Chauhan, President, IMF, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director of tourism amongst others who were present on the occasion.Speaking about the event, Chauhan said that climbing sport is now an Olympic game, which will be introduced in 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo. He said three events in Speed, Bouldering and Lead are held in the championships. In Kashmir we are organizing Lead only while as Speed and Bouldering are organized at other destinations, he said adding there are seven zones of IMF.Speaking on the occasion, Sampheal said that in the coming days, Tourism Department will sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IMF so that some fruitful thing will come out of it. While thanking the participants for coming to Kashmir to participated in the competition, Sampheal asked them to share their experiences with their friends and fellows once the go back to their respective states.Director of Kashmir tourism confirmed that the department has been training local climbing enthusiasts for such events. “We have trained local boys and girls who have imparted skills in sports climbing for past few years. The best among them were given fresh training for past three days who are participating in this championship,” he said.
in Data, Government, Origination, Secondary Market, Servicing, Technology Share Relisting his pricey pad in the Hamptons, artist Ross Bleckner has put his palatial estate on the market for $15 million. Located in Sagaponack, New York, Bleckner’s abode boasts multiple structures, including a main home with an ocean view, a cedar-shingled guest cottage, and an art studio.””According to RealEstalker””:realestalker.blogspot.com/2012/10/ross-bleckner-gives-it-another-go-in.html, however, the listing’s price tag is also influenced by the property’s rich history. Originally made famous as the long-time home of Truman Capote, who lived there for more than two decades, the estate was under the ownership of Capote’s companion, Jack Dunphy, who left the residence to the Nature Conservancy following his death in 1992. Making an incredibly smart–and lucky–purchase, Bleckner bought the luxurious property from the organization for only $800,000.[COLUMN_BREAK][IMAGE] October 31, 2012 384 Views 
Artists’ Hamptons Abode Back on the Market for $15M Agents & Brokers Attorneys & Title Companies Celebrity Homes Investors Lenders & Servicers Processing Service Providers 2012-10-31 Abby Gregory
Allegiance Bank Furthers Fair Lending Compliance with Wolters Kluwer Allegiance Bank Company News technology Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer Financial Services 2018-04-16 Staff Writer April 16, 2018 611 Views Share
Wolters Kluwer, a leading worldwide provider of comprehensive compliance, risk management, and audit solutions for the financial services industry, announced that Allegiance Bank, headquartered in Houston, Texas, has selected the company’s CRA Wiz and Fair Lending Wiz solutions to help the bank manage fair lending compliance across its entire organization. Allegiance Bank operates 16 full-service banking locations and one loan production office and has serviced the Houston metropolitan area since 2007. The bank has and has an asset size of $2.86 billion.Fair Lending Wiz is a complete and automated fair lending management solution allowing Allegiance Bank to identify potential risk—such as underwriting and pricing risks—and promptly take corrective actions where needed. CRA Wiz helps the bank apply a range of fully customizable automation technologies to its CRA reporting process, including guaranteed accurate geocoding, to speed up data preparation for CRA reviews and, ultimately, to ensure banks meet the credit, service, and community development needs of the communities they serve.The CRA Wiz and Fair Lending Wiz are part of the Wiz solution suite, a collection of compliance intelligence software solutions that can be customized to meet a variety of needs and budgets. The CRA Wiz is designed to apply a wide range of fully customizable automation technologies to CRA reporting processes and is designed to give a total CRA compliance program that fits clients’ services and market. The Fair Lending Wiz is designed to position client institutions for growth by providing robust analysis allowing easy identification of potential risk and immediate corrective action to remedy unfair lending practices. Fair Lending Wiz analyzes, verifies, and documents compliance with all fair lending regulations. “As a former Officer of Thrift Supervision (OTS) examiner, I am accustomed to using Wolters Kluwer CRA and Fair Lending Wiz technology in my examinations, and I trust the data these solutions provide,” said Marcus Vasquez, VP and Fair Banking Officer at Allegiance Bank. “We are a growing commercial bank, and I want to have the assurance that our data would be comparable, if not exact, as to what regulators are using when conducting our examinations. The peace of mind these solutions provide is invaluable.” in Headlines, journal, News, Servicing
November 30, 2018 645 Views Share The midterm elections are history but Democrats and Republicans are still arguing with each other over who won. The answer may be that we did – Americans who want their government to work. As freshmen members of Congress are trying to figure out how they will afford a home in DC while maintaining one in their district, they should consider how housing can be an issue on which a divided government can come together.Many Republicans and Democrats, already understand that the affordable housing crisis is a top line agenda item. So, a Republican-led Senate and a Democrat-led House can serve the American home well if Members of Congress are given thoughtful answers to the questions they are being asked by their constituents such as: Why is it still so hard to get a mortgage on an affordable house? Why is my rent so high? Why are there so many people experiencing homelessness in my city? Why do I still live with my parents? Where am I going to live when I retire on Social Security? Asking these questions is the easy part. Answering them with action and results is much harder. Here’s what legislators can do in the first six months of the new Congress before the 2020 campaign overwhelms their ability to work together:Fund Affordable HousingAffordable housing production creates jobs and helps take pressure off low and moderate-income renters struggling to make ends meet. According to the National Housing Conference’s Paycheck to Paycheck database, a carpenter can’t afford to buy a modest home in DC.Senators Orin Hatch (R-UT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have written bipartisan legislation to expand the housing tax credit. Congress should take that up immediately. It’s not enough by itself to solve the affordable housing crisis, but it’s a good start.A responsible housing component of a national infrastructure bill can also help families spend more of their time and money on raising their kids and saving for the future instead of worrying about how they can afford to buy a home or make their next rent payment. Fix What’s Wrong With Our Housing Finance SystemLeaving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship is not the answer. The parts of our housing finance system that remain broken can be fixed without creating an entirely new system out of whole cloth that no one will capitalize. “If you build it, they will come,” is not a strategy for repairing nearly one-fifth of the world’s largest economy, it’s a tagline for a movie. Congress will follow if Treasury Secretary Mnuchin leads. America has never had a Treasury Secretary who understands the complexities and opportunities of the housing market as well. Mnuchin should put together the same kind of nonpartisan and diverse group of housing leaders to consult with and offer a plan for administrative as well as statutory reform that worked well for him with Dodd-Frank Reform. All deficit spending is not equal, and neither are all tax cuts. The last tax bill slashed estate taxes to help 10,000 dead rich people. It also created Opportunity Zones, which could bring hundreds of billions of dollars off the sidelines and into communities that need it most. Expand the Federal Finance Bank’s Multifamily Risk Share ProgramSince 2014, this little-known program has closed or committed $2.4 billion in financing for 24,857 affordable apartments in 14 states. Under the FHA-FFB partnership, lenders must take 50 percent of the credit risk and have the financial capacity to support this commitment – an extraordinary mitigation of federal risk. The FHA-FFB platform is also sufficiently streamlined and efficient to accommodate the modest-sized loans that rural and other smaller and more affordable properties need; 35 percent of all FHA-FFB loans closed as of June 30, 2018, had original balances below $5 million. There’s simply no good reason for the Trump administration not to embrace and expand this program.This country’s first comprehensive housing act was passed in 1949 and it was developed and fought for by a diverse group of social advocates and homebuilders, labor unions and investors, brought together by the National Housing Conference. It was passed by a divided government and signed by a President who barely won his first election as president. The bill promised “a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family.” It’s not too late to make good on that commitment.Today, America is overdue for a comprehensive national housing policy. If Democrats want to show how they can govern, and Republicans want to prove they are more than the President’s closing arguments on immigration, housing can be the place they come together. in Commentary, Daily Dose, Featured, Government, News
Looking for Bipartisan Solutions Affordability Borrowers Congress David Dworkin Dodd-Frank reform Fannie Mae FHA Finance Freddie Mac homes House HOUSING Lenders mortgage National Housing Conference Senate tax Treasury 2018-11-30 Radhika Ojha
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Nevada officials reach out to D-backs on potential relocation Indeed, the Cardinals can ill-afford to give away opportunities, and while it would be nice to find a quarterback who can light up the scoreboard, the coach feels like cutting down on turnovers could be equally important.“To me, number one at that position, we cannot turn the ball over the way we’ve done in preseason.”It would probably be fair to say the QB competition has not gone exactly according to plan, because most were hoping (or expecting) one of the two options to really stand out. Unfortunately neither of the two has really staked claim to the job, which is pretty disappointing. Arizona Cardinal quarterbacks have combined to throw seven interceptions in four preseason games.Three of those picks belong to Kevin Kolb and two to John Skelton, meaning each QB has had some issues with ball control.That’s going to have to change, according to Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. “If you look at where we are as a team, if we don’t turn the ball over we’ve got a pretty good football team,” Whisenhunt told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Monday. Cardinals expect improving Murphy to contribute right away D-backs president Derrick Hall: Franchise ‘still focused on Arizona’
Top Stories Comments Share What an MLB source said about the D-backs’ trade haul for Greinke
Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling CBS NFL Insider Jason La Canfora also tweeted Cribbs to the Cardinals could be premature.Contrary to reports, Josh Cribbs not only doesn’t have a deal with the Cards, I’m told it’s not even close. He is still playing the field…— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 14, 2013 However, conflicting reports surfaced late Wednesday about Cribbs’ rumored deal with the Cardinals. Cribbs took to Twitter on Wednesday night and thanked the Browns organization, signaling he’s indeed leaving.It’s been a blessing to be in Cleveland, wishing the best to the city & the Team. If I could stay I… instagr.am/p/W0go4DtItb/— Josh Cribbs (@JoshCribbs16) March 14, 2013 The Arizona Cardinals appear to be on the brink of landing another coveted free agent.According to Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot, Josh Cribbs is headed to the Valley.Josh Cribbs to Arizona, source told Pd.— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 14, 2013 Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo A few minordetails to be worked out for Cribbs to #cardinals, should be finalized by morning.— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 14, 2013 NFL Network and NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport tweeted that while Cribbs wants a deal with the Cardinals, one hasn’t yet been agreed upon.My understanding of what’s happened with Josh Cribbs: He decided he wants to go to #Cardinals. But no deal has been struck or negotiated yet— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2013 Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires Top Stories Cribbs was named to his third Pro Bowl last year as a kick returner.He posted a career-high 41 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, but finished with just seven catches last season. 0 Comments Share 
Comments Share Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Your browser does not support the audio element. The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo “Some of it was technique, some of it was just getting whipped at the line of scrimmage.”Keim added it is something that needs to be improved, saying the issues stem from a combination of personnel and technique. “We’re certainly going to continue to work our butts off to address that position,” he said. It is unclear what, if anything, Keim and his staff can do to fix the personnel. The team traded left tackle Levi Brown to the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago, but the veteran’s replacement, Bradley Sowell, has struggled.And as ProFootballFocus noted, Sowell has allowed 24 pressures in three starts, including nine in Thursday’s loss. Right tackle Eric Winston, who was a free agent pickup, allowed nine hurries and one sack to the Seahwks, while guards Paul Fanaika and Nate Potter (who replaced an injured Daryn Colledge) each struggled up front. The site graded only center Lyle Sendlein and guard Daryn Colledge positively in the loss. – / 36 Top Stories 
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was sacked seven times in Thursday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he was pressured on 31 of his 54 dropbacks, meaning he was under duress more often than not. “Our offensive line, quite frankly, played their worst game of the season,” Cardinals GM Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Monday. “Three of the five guys struggled significantly. LISTEN: Steve Keim, AZ Cardinals GM Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact
Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo .@Mathieu_Era deserves serious consideration for defensive rookie of the year, even though he’ll miss the final 3 games. #AzCardinals— Dave Pasch (@DavePasch) December 9, 2013 Prayers up to my dog @Mathieu_Era ! Minor setback for a major comeback— Tony Jefferson (@tonyjefferson1) December 9, 2013 Jump back like 23. Comeback like 32. #GodSpeed— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) December 9, 2013 From teammates to opponents to national analysts, many tweeted their well wishes for Mathieu.Hang in there @Mathieu_Era. The #AZCardinals Nation is behind you! Go #HoneyBadger!— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 9, 2013 All prayers go to the fam @Mathieu_Era hope you have a speedy recovery bro! #teamfoe— Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) December 9, 2013 0 Comments Share Top Stories Praying for a speedy recovery @Mathieu_Era— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) December 9, 2013 I KNOW MY BROTHERS GOT MY BACK.. #Birdgang ! I’m with y’all every step of the way !— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) December 8, 2013 Man I just want to wish my boy @Mathieu_Era for a speedy recovery. Hurt me to my heart to see a King go down like that. We gone hold it down— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) December 9, 2013 Jump back like 23. Comeback like 32. #GodSpeed— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) December 9, 2013 In the third quarter of Sunday’s 30-10 win over the St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals’ rookie sensation Tyrann Mathieu suffered a torn ACL and LCL. He was carted off the field and, on Monday, the team announced that the injury would require surgical repair, keeping the safety off the field for a significant period of time, perhaps until mid-next season.Given Mathieu’s fantastic start, general likability and feel-good comeback story from a history of off-the-field trouble, Twitter was flooded with messages of support for the 21 year old. Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Prayers up for my lil bro @Mathieu_Era! I know he gonna come back stronger than ever! Still D. rookie of the year in my opinion! #BadgerEra— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) December 9, 2013 Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact
Go back to the e-newsletterCelebrate your love and retie the knot at InterContinental Bali Resort. Whether your marriage is long and seasoned or still young and fresh, a renewal of vows ceremony in a romantic bale pavilion overlooking Jimbaran Bay is a wonderful way to reaffirm the promises you made to one other on your wedding day.Perhaps you wish to commemorate a significant wedding anniversary and want the world to know that you’d do it all over again in a heartbeat? Or maybe you are starting a new chapter in your lives together? Whether you’ve already got grandchildren or have only celebrated a mere handful of anniversaries, there are no rules for when to say ‘I still do’. Unlike weddings, a renewal of vows ceremony is not a legal ceremony. Instead it is a symbolic statement by a couple of their continuing affection, love and commitment to one other. Therefore, a license is not required and legal paperwork is not needed.InterContinental Bali Resort’s heartfelt renewal of vows ceremony in a stunningly decorated bale pavilion, within the gorgeous gardens of the Resort, will enable you to honour your love with a private celebration shared by up to 12 of the people who mean the most to you.Preparations for your magical day will begin with the exclusive use of a Bridal Room at either the Beauty Salon or one of the Spa Uluwatu Villa Retreats, followed by a fun and simple pre-wedding photo session utilising your own cameras. The package includes fragrant flower decorations, the service of an English-speaking celebrant, the gift of gorgeous Bridal Bouquet and matching Groom’s Boutonniere, and the provision of a sound system and two umbrella boys dressed in Balinese costume. Against the spectacular backdrop of Jimbaran Bay, your guests will be seated on ceremonial chairs and welcomed with cold scented towels. Upon completion of the ceremony, you will tread a bridal pathway scented with the sweet aroma of flower blossoms, and be showered with yet more petals by your guests.InterContinental Bali Resort’s dedicated team of event planners will provide expert assistance and make sure the occasion feels every bit as special as your original wedding day. The team will help you arrange every detail, creating a unique event that the two of you will treasure and your guests will remember.Continuing your journey of togetherness at InterContinental Bali Resort, your unforgettable day will conclude with a romantic dinner, complete with a bottle of sparkling wine, in your own private Gazebo Bale or under the stars on Jimbaran Beach.Go back to the e-newsletter