Friday, January 16, 2009
Verizon Wireless upgrades Westchester network
Verizon Wireless upgrades Westchester network
By Jay Loomis • The Journal News • January 16, 2009
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless said the addition of five new transmission sites will improve wireless reception in Westchester County.
The nation's largest wireless carrier said the expanded coverage will mean fewer dropped calls as customers use their wireless phones to send and receive e-mail, text, picture and video messages. The company added that the new cell transmission sites will particularly help improve service in parts of Peekskill, New Rochelle, Croton-on-Hudson, Mount Pleasant and Port Chester.
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Verizon Wireless said it has invested more than $2 billion to improve its New York/New Jersey metro network and more than $48 billion nationally during the past nine years. Verizon Wireless serves more than 83.7 million customers across the country.
Wachovia Securities plans move within White Plains
Wachovia Securities, recently acquired by Wells Fargo & Co., will leave downtown White Plains in May for the Platinum Mile along the I-287 corridor.
Wachovia will move from offices at 10 Bank St. and 360 Hamilton Ave. and consolidate on a 74-acre campus at 1133 Westchester Ave., owned by RPW Group. Wachovia signed a minimum 10-year lease for 26,000 square feet at 1133 Westchester, commercial brokerage Cushman & Wakefield said.
The deal is the first large office lease to be announced in 2009. RPW President and Chief Executive Officer Robert P. Weisz said about 80 to 100 Wachovia employees are moving. Wachovia officials could not be reached for comment.
Weisz said the financial company was drawn by 1133's amenities, including a conference center, an executive dining room, shuttle service to trains and on-site day care. Provident Bank has signed a lease to open a branch office at the building in March, he added.
About 150,000 of the 640,000 square feet at the building are available. Other tenants include ITT Corp., IBM, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and EMC Corp. Asking rent at the building is $35 a square foot, said Glenn Walsh, senior director at Cushman & Wakefield.
Hudson Valley Holding says TARP not needed
Hudson Valley Holding Corp. of
Yonkers said it does not need to use the asset protection services the U.S. government is providing to banks. The assistance effort, the Treasury Department's Capital Purchase Program, is widely known as TARP. Hudson Valley Holding Corp. is the parent company of two local banks, Hudson Valley Bank and New York National Bank.
"Hudson Valley is extremely well capitalized," James J. Landy, president and chief executive officer, said in a written statement.
Provident Bank's parent company earns $6.3 million in fiscal 1Q
Provident New York Bancorp reported net income of $6.3 million, or 16 cents a share, during its fiscal first quarter. That was higher than the net income of $5.9 million, or 15 cents per share, a year earlier. The Montebello-based parent of Provident Bank said loans grew by $15.1 million, mainly in the commercial sector. "I'm pleased to report solid earnings for the quarter despite the continuing economic challenges facing the Hudson Valley and the nation," George Strayton, president and chief executive officer, said in a written statement.
Verizon Stitches Mobile Phone Into Bundles
Verizon Stitches Mobile Phone Into Bundles
DSL Available In 26 States and D.C.; In 17 States For FiOS Internet Customers
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 6/17/2008
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Communications—responding to consumers who are giving up their landlines and using wireless as their primary voice service—rolled out a new double-play offer that combines broadband Internet and wireless on one bill.
The telco’s Flex Double Play bundle consists of any national Verizon Wireless calling plan of 450 minutes or greater and a FiOS Internet or DSL Internet service at 3 Megabits per second.
FiOS TV service, if available, can also be added to create a triple-play bundle. Verizon offers DSL in 26 states and Washington, D.C. FiOS Internet is available in 17 states, and FiOS TV is available in 13.
Verizon's One Bill system must be used with all Flex bundles, and consumers must commit to a one- or two-year contract depending on the package. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone.
According to Verizon, customers can save money with the bundles.
For example, a 450-minute Verizon Wireless nationwide calling plan can be combined with a mid-tier FiOS Internet plan for a Flex double play starting at $84.99 monthly—about $13 per month less than unbundled prices. If FiOS TV is added to those two services, the triple-play bundle pricing starts at $124.99 per month ($15 off standalone pricing).
“This comprehensive bundle provides us greater flexibility to meet the evolving communication preferences of customers," Verizon Telecom president Virginia Ruesterholz said, in a statement. "Consumers who have chosen to use a wireless phone as their sole voice connection, or who are thinking about that, can now marry the industry's best networks for wireless, broadband Internet and television in one high-value Verizon bundle."
DSL Available In 26 States and D.C.; In 17 States For FiOS Internet Customers
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 6/17/2008
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Communications—responding to consumers who are giving up their landlines and using wireless as their primary voice service—rolled out a new double-play offer that combines broadband Internet and wireless on one bill.
The telco’s Flex Double Play bundle consists of any national Verizon Wireless calling plan of 450 minutes or greater and a FiOS Internet or DSL Internet service at 3 Megabits per second.
FiOS TV service, if available, can also be added to create a triple-play bundle. Verizon offers DSL in 26 states and Washington, D.C. FiOS Internet is available in 17 states, and FiOS TV is available in 13.
Verizon's One Bill system must be used with all Flex bundles, and consumers must commit to a one- or two-year contract depending on the package. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone.
According to Verizon, customers can save money with the bundles.
For example, a 450-minute Verizon Wireless nationwide calling plan can be combined with a mid-tier FiOS Internet plan for a Flex double play starting at $84.99 monthly—about $13 per month less than unbundled prices. If FiOS TV is added to those two services, the triple-play bundle pricing starts at $124.99 per month ($15 off standalone pricing).
“This comprehensive bundle provides us greater flexibility to meet the evolving communication preferences of customers," Verizon Telecom president Virginia Ruesterholz said, in a statement. "Consumers who have chosen to use a wireless phone as their sole voice connection, or who are thinking about that, can now marry the industry's best networks for wireless, broadband Internet and television in one high-value Verizon bundle."
Wireless company offers tips for protecting phones in cold weather
Wireless company offers tips for protecting phones in cold weather
Verizon Wireless
With temperatures plunging across the nation, Verizon Wireless offers these tips to prepare wireless phones for the cold weather:
• Charge phones/PDAs frequently. Cold temperatures can run down the battery’s charge more quickly. Use a car charger if you get stranded or stuck in traffic due to winter weather.
• Handle handsets with care. The display cover can become brittle when exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time.
• Keep phones in a warm place. Avoid leaving it in an outside pocket or backpack or in the car overnight. Prolonged exposure to the cold may affect the display screen. When outside, carry devices in an inside jacket pocket, keeping it close to your body for warmth.
• Check your phone’s signal strength in a non-emergency situation to know where the signal is strong and where it’s not.
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• Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers — police, fire and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers; etc. — and program them into your phone. Add highway department and school numbers to check for local road and school closings and “no tow” orders.
• Be prepared before heading outside by checking weather, traffic and news reports available on most wireless phones.
With 83.7 million customers, Verizon Wireless is the nation’s largest wireless provider.
Verizon Wireless
With temperatures plunging across the nation, Verizon Wireless offers these tips to prepare wireless phones for the cold weather:
• Charge phones/PDAs frequently. Cold temperatures can run down the battery’s charge more quickly. Use a car charger if you get stranded or stuck in traffic due to winter weather.
• Handle handsets with care. The display cover can become brittle when exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time.
• Keep phones in a warm place. Avoid leaving it in an outside pocket or backpack or in the car overnight. Prolonged exposure to the cold may affect the display screen. When outside, carry devices in an inside jacket pocket, keeping it close to your body for warmth.
• Check your phone’s signal strength in a non-emergency situation to know where the signal is strong and where it’s not.
Advertisement
• Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers — police, fire and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers; etc. — and program them into your phone. Add highway department and school numbers to check for local road and school closings and “no tow” orders.
• Be prepared before heading outside by checking weather, traffic and news reports available on most wireless phones.
With 83.7 million customers, Verizon Wireless is the nation’s largest wireless provider.
Wireless Phone Users in Lenexa, Kansas Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless
Wireless Phone Users in Lenexa, Kansas Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Thursday January 15
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Activates New Cell Site
LENEXA, Kan., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the only major carrier with a 30-day network test-drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier, has activated a new cell site in Lenexa that expands network coverage and increases capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
This new cell site improves Verizon Wireless' voice and data network in Lenexa, from K-7 Highway east to I-435, and from 95th Street north to 72nd Street.
"This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said Brendan Fallis, president-Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless.
Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry, as measured by the company's low percent of customer turnover.
"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fallis said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."
This new cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Kansas and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $14.5 million was spent in Kansas in the first half of 2008.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Wireless Phone Users in Lenexa, Kansas Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Thursday January 15
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Activates New Cell Site
LENEXA, Kan., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the only major carrier with a 30-day network test-drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier, has activated a new cell site in Lenexa that expands network coverage and increases capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
This new cell site improves Verizon Wireless' voice and data network in Lenexa, from K-7 Highway east to I-435, and from 95th Street north to 72nd Street.
"This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said Brendan Fallis, president-Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless.
Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry, as measured by the company's low percent of customer turnover.
"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fallis said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."
This new cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Kansas and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $14.5 million was spent in Kansas in the first half of 2008.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Wireless Phone Users in Jackson County, Missouri Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless
Wireless Phone Users in Jackson County, Missouri Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Thursday January 15
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Activates New Cell Site in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the only major carrier with a 30-day network test-drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier, has activated a new cell site in Kansas City, Mo., that expands network coverage and increases capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
This new cell site improves Verizon Wireless' voice and data network around the Brookside neighborhood, from Wornall Rd. east to Prospect Ave., and from 59th Street north to 39th Street.
"This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said Brendan Fallis, president-Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless.
Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry, as measured by the company's low percent of customer turnover.
"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fallis said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."
This new cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Missouri and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $26 million was spent in Missouri in the first half of 2008.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Wireless Phone Users in Jackson County, Missouri Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Thursday January 15
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Activates New Cell Site in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the only major carrier with a 30-day network test-drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier, has activated a new cell site in Kansas City, Mo., that expands network coverage and increases capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
This new cell site improves Verizon Wireless' voice and data network around the Brookside neighborhood, from Wornall Rd. east to Prospect Ave., and from 59th Street north to 39th Street.
"This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said Brendan Fallis, president-Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless.
Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry, as measured by the company's low percent of customer turnover.
"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fallis said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."
This new cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Missouri and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. More than $26 million was spent in Missouri in the first half of 2008.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Verizon Wireless to fill 160 jobs in Wilmington
Verizon Wireless to fill 160 jobs in Wilmington
Jan 15, 2009
by Lynda Figueredo
Verizon Wireless
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Verizon Wireless is looking to fill more than 100 customer service positions in Wilmington by August 2009.
The phone has been ringing nonstop at the Employment Security Commission in Wilmington, and Verizon is giving the unemployed some hope.
"Anything is good right now," said newly unemployed John Roeck. "I did customer service with a restaurant, so I would be more than comfortable with a customer service job."
With businesses across town laying off employees and cutting down on supplies, Verizon Wireless is keeping its lot full and plans to fill many spots in the near future.
Verizon Wireless is looking to fill 160 position at its Call Center in Wilmington. Those jobs pay about $27,000 a year, plus benefits.
People like Roeck are in luck because the company is looking for people with a background in customer service.
Sherwood Southerland, the regional manager for the Employment Security Commission, said with unemployment rates up 122%, these open positions are a big help to the community.
"Anytime we hear about additional job openings especially 100 plus, it is a great thing locally, and probably to a certain degree maybe a little unusual," said Southerland.
Southerland said it's rare that he can transfer some of the calls from his office to Verizon.
To learn how you can start a career at Verizon Wireless, click here.
Jan 15, 2009
by Lynda Figueredo
Verizon Wireless
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Verizon Wireless is looking to fill more than 100 customer service positions in Wilmington by August 2009.
The phone has been ringing nonstop at the Employment Security Commission in Wilmington, and Verizon is giving the unemployed some hope.
"Anything is good right now," said newly unemployed John Roeck. "I did customer service with a restaurant, so I would be more than comfortable with a customer service job."
With businesses across town laying off employees and cutting down on supplies, Verizon Wireless is keeping its lot full and plans to fill many spots in the near future.
Verizon Wireless is looking to fill 160 position at its Call Center in Wilmington. Those jobs pay about $27,000 a year, plus benefits.
People like Roeck are in luck because the company is looking for people with a background in customer service.
Sherwood Southerland, the regional manager for the Employment Security Commission, said with unemployment rates up 122%, these open positions are a big help to the community.
"Anytime we hear about additional job openings especially 100 plus, it is a great thing locally, and probably to a certain degree maybe a little unusual," said Southerland.
Southerland said it's rare that he can transfer some of the calls from his office to Verizon.
To learn how you can start a career at Verizon Wireless, click here.
Manhattan Residents Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion
Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless
Manhattan Residents Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion
Wednesday January 14
Verizon Wireless
Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Calling, Data Access and Music as Area Businesses and Consumers Increasingly Rely on All-in-One Wireless Devices
ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless calling, text messaging and surfing the Mobile Web for email and information now are easier and faster for Verizon Wireless customers in Manhattan, thanks to the activation of a new cell site.
The new cell site improves network coverage and capacity in Manhattan along Edgecombe Avenue from 130th to 153rd streets.
With the improved network coverage, more customers can use their wireless phones to send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; view high-quality videos; and access turn-by-turn directions, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
"Reliable networks aren't built overnight," said Pat Devlin, president of the company's New York Metro Region. "Today's wireless customers demand much more than voice service and this network expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to stay ahead of the curve. New and exciting multimedia devices, like the BlackBerry® Storm, leverage the high-speeds of the Verizon Wireless 3G network. We will continue to efficiently invest in network enhancements to deliver the most reliable voice, data and multimedia services available."
Verizon Wireless has invested over $2 billion to enhance its New York/New Jersey Metro network and more than $48 billion across the nation since it was formed in 2000. The company's 3G wireless broadband network is the largest and most reliable in the U.S.
Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the third quarter of 2008 when the company added 1.48 million new customers, and continued its industry-leading customer loyalty rates. Verizon Wireless now serves more than 83.7 million customers nationwide. During the third quarter, the company delivered nearly 80 billion text messages and completed nearly 1.5 billion picture/video messages and 43 million music downloads.
Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 98 specially equipped vehicles nearly one million miles each year on the country's most frequently traveled roadways to confirm that voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.
For more information on Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia
Manhattan Residents Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion
Wednesday January 14
Verizon Wireless
Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Calling, Data Access and Music as Area Businesses and Consumers Increasingly Rely on All-in-One Wireless Devices
ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless calling, text messaging and surfing the Mobile Web for email and information now are easier and faster for Verizon Wireless customers in Manhattan, thanks to the activation of a new cell site.
The new cell site improves network coverage and capacity in Manhattan along Edgecombe Avenue from 130th to 153rd streets.
With the improved network coverage, more customers can use their wireless phones to send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; view high-quality videos; and access turn-by-turn directions, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
"Reliable networks aren't built overnight," said Pat Devlin, president of the company's New York Metro Region. "Today's wireless customers demand much more than voice service and this network expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to stay ahead of the curve. New and exciting multimedia devices, like the BlackBerry® Storm, leverage the high-speeds of the Verizon Wireless 3G network. We will continue to efficiently invest in network enhancements to deliver the most reliable voice, data and multimedia services available."
Verizon Wireless has invested over $2 billion to enhance its New York/New Jersey Metro network and more than $48 billion across the nation since it was formed in 2000. The company's 3G wireless broadband network is the largest and most reliable in the U.S.
Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the third quarter of 2008 when the company added 1.48 million new customers, and continued its industry-leading customer loyalty rates. Verizon Wireless now serves more than 83.7 million customers nationwide. During the third quarter, the company delivered nearly 80 billion text messages and completed nearly 1.5 billion picture/video messages and 43 million music downloads.
Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 98 specially equipped vehicles nearly one million miles each year on the country's most frequently traveled roadways to confirm that voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.
For more information on Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia
Has Sprint Started a New Wireless Price War?
January 15, 2009, 5:56 pm
Has Sprint Started a New Wireless Price War?
By Saul Hansell
Cell Phones
If you you pay $100 a month or more to AT&T or Verizon Wireless on your wireless bill, don’t expect your bill to drop in half quickly. But the new $50-a-month unlimited wireless calling plan from Sprint’s Boost Mobile brand may well set off some significant price-cutting by wireless carriers.
Sprint is starting a price war as a way to wring value from the underutilized network of Nextel, the wireless company it disastrously bought in 2005. Nextel’s claim to fame was its push-to-talk feature that let people communicate with other Nextel phones without paying per-minute rates. Now that most wireless operators offer plans that let people call anyone else on their network at no additional charge, demand for this feature is dropping. The limited selections of phones that use Nextel’s iDen technology also has discouraged customers.
Boost Mobile is Sprint’s brand that mainly sells prepaid wireless service meant to appeal to young people, who talk a lot but are very price-sensitive. Boost had 3.9 million customers at the end of last September. (Prepaid service is less expensive to operate than more traditional postpaid service, where customers get a monthly bill for use after the fact, because there are no credit losses. In addition, carriers don’t subsidize the purchase of handsets and often spend less on customer service.)
Last year, the four largest wireless carriers introduced $100-a-month postpaid wireless calling plans. Sprint includes text message and Web surfing at that price, while AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile charge extra for those features.
So far, these plans, which cut the bills for some very heavy talkers, haven’t led to price cuts for more typical users. The average revenue to wireless carriers for each user has been increasing slightly as more customers buy data and text-message services. The revenue from voice calling has been falling, largely because more customers are buying family plans with more users sharing a bundle of wireless minutes.
Prices have been falling, however, in the market for prepaid wireless service, which has mainly appealed to young people in urban areas. Two growing regional carriers, Leap Wireless and MetroPCS Communications, have been offering prepaid unlimited wireless service at prices around $50 a month, but Sprint’s network is much broader. Shares of Leap and Metro PCS fell sharply today as investors worried about the competition.
Boost, which has 3.9 million customers, is promising a heavy marketing campaign that will try to broaden its appeal to customers who have been using postpaid plans. Its $50 offer includes voice, text messaging, wireless Web surfing and most taxes, making it a better value than most of the entry-level postpaid plans, which often start at about $40 a month before including taxes, text messages and data.
“We believe the offer we have in these challenging economic times will make people take a harder look at Boost … and we believe that will open us up to a much broader piece of the population,” Matt Carter, Boost’s president, told The Associated Press.
The discount may attract customers from Sprint’s main brand and from T-Mobile, which have been a bit more price-competitive than the market leaders, AT&T and Verizon. But the bigger carriers will be under some pressure to fight back with cheaper plans.
Craig Moffett, the telecom analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein, says that AT&T and Verizon are in a bind because they want to keep individual subscribers, yet they don’t want to undercut the pricing to business accounts.
“The worst of all possible outcomes would be for the big guys to cut their prices to match Boost,” he said, thinking about the situation from the perspective of investors. “But it’s not a picnic if they leave prices alone and lose subscribers to Boost either.”
Mr. Moffett says the shift in the market to flat-rate, all-inclusive price plans will ultimately increase competition because such plans make it easier for consumers to shop around.
“For years, the wireless industry had a halo of price protection because users had no idea what price they really were paying,” he said, noting that it was hard for people to figure out which calls were included in various buckets of free airtime, etc. “Once you cross the Rubicon of flat-rate pricing, there is no going back.”
Has Sprint Started a New Wireless Price War?
By Saul Hansell
Cell Phones
If you you pay $100 a month or more to AT&T or Verizon Wireless on your wireless bill, don’t expect your bill to drop in half quickly. But the new $50-a-month unlimited wireless calling plan from Sprint’s Boost Mobile brand may well set off some significant price-cutting by wireless carriers.
Sprint is starting a price war as a way to wring value from the underutilized network of Nextel, the wireless company it disastrously bought in 2005. Nextel’s claim to fame was its push-to-talk feature that let people communicate with other Nextel phones without paying per-minute rates. Now that most wireless operators offer plans that let people call anyone else on their network at no additional charge, demand for this feature is dropping. The limited selections of phones that use Nextel’s iDen technology also has discouraged customers.
Boost Mobile is Sprint’s brand that mainly sells prepaid wireless service meant to appeal to young people, who talk a lot but are very price-sensitive. Boost had 3.9 million customers at the end of last September. (Prepaid service is less expensive to operate than more traditional postpaid service, where customers get a monthly bill for use after the fact, because there are no credit losses. In addition, carriers don’t subsidize the purchase of handsets and often spend less on customer service.)
Last year, the four largest wireless carriers introduced $100-a-month postpaid wireless calling plans. Sprint includes text message and Web surfing at that price, while AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile charge extra for those features.
So far, these plans, which cut the bills for some very heavy talkers, haven’t led to price cuts for more typical users. The average revenue to wireless carriers for each user has been increasing slightly as more customers buy data and text-message services. The revenue from voice calling has been falling, largely because more customers are buying family plans with more users sharing a bundle of wireless minutes.
Prices have been falling, however, in the market for prepaid wireless service, which has mainly appealed to young people in urban areas. Two growing regional carriers, Leap Wireless and MetroPCS Communications, have been offering prepaid unlimited wireless service at prices around $50 a month, but Sprint’s network is much broader. Shares of Leap and Metro PCS fell sharply today as investors worried about the competition.
Boost, which has 3.9 million customers, is promising a heavy marketing campaign that will try to broaden its appeal to customers who have been using postpaid plans. Its $50 offer includes voice, text messaging, wireless Web surfing and most taxes, making it a better value than most of the entry-level postpaid plans, which often start at about $40 a month before including taxes, text messages and data.
“We believe the offer we have in these challenging economic times will make people take a harder look at Boost … and we believe that will open us up to a much broader piece of the population,” Matt Carter, Boost’s president, told The Associated Press.
The discount may attract customers from Sprint’s main brand and from T-Mobile, which have been a bit more price-competitive than the market leaders, AT&T and Verizon. But the bigger carriers will be under some pressure to fight back with cheaper plans.
Craig Moffett, the telecom analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein, says that AT&T and Verizon are in a bind because they want to keep individual subscribers, yet they don’t want to undercut the pricing to business accounts.
“The worst of all possible outcomes would be for the big guys to cut their prices to match Boost,” he said, thinking about the situation from the perspective of investors. “But it’s not a picnic if they leave prices alone and lose subscribers to Boost either.”
Mr. Moffett says the shift in the market to flat-rate, all-inclusive price plans will ultimately increase competition because such plans make it easier for consumers to shop around.
“For years, the wireless industry had a halo of price protection because users had no idea what price they really were paying,” he said, noting that it was hard for people to figure out which calls were included in various buckets of free airtime, etc. “Once you cross the Rubicon of flat-rate pricing, there is no going back.”
Man coughs up rat in hard-hitting advert about dangers of buying viagra online
Man coughs up rat in hard-hitting advert about dangers of buying viagra online
By Jenny Hope
15th January 2009
Drugstores Online
Thousands of men are being warned that buying fake medicines such as Viagra from internet sites could put their lives at risk.
A hard-hitting cinema advertisement being screened from tomorrow shows a man coughing up a dead rat after taking a pill bought online.
The 50-second commercial is supposed to illustrate how rat poison has been found among the rogue ingredients used in counterfeit drugs bought on illicit websites.
The public health campaign comes after a survey revealed that one in ten men admitted-to buying prescription only medicines from unregulated sources.
Half are using the internet to buy products such as Viagra, smoking cessation medicines and weight loss pills.
But research shows between 50 per cent and 90 per cent of all medicines purchased online are likely to be counterfeit or substandard, including medication to treat heart, brain and mental health conditions.
Among ingredients found in fake medicines are high levels of toxic solvents, rat poison, boric acid and lead based road paint.
Experts at the World Health Organisation say fake medicines can lead to death either as a direct result of dangerous ingredients or because they supplant genuine medication.
More than £10million is being spent by British men on fake medicines each year.
The £650,000 cinema and online advertising campaign was created by Viagra manufacturer Pfizer. It is backed by the UK drug safety watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and leading patient groups including the Patients' Association, Men's Health Forum and HEART UK.
Dr David Gillen, Pfizer's medical director said: 'The time has definitely come to issue a clear, unified message to people about the dangers of purchasing medicines from illicit and unregulated sources.'
Mick Deats, group manager of enforcement at the MHRA said: 'We will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine public health.
'There is considerable risk to the public from obtaining medicines through unregulated websites.'
By Jenny Hope
15th January 2009
Drugstores Online
Thousands of men are being warned that buying fake medicines such as Viagra from internet sites could put their lives at risk.
A hard-hitting cinema advertisement being screened from tomorrow shows a man coughing up a dead rat after taking a pill bought online.
The 50-second commercial is supposed to illustrate how rat poison has been found among the rogue ingredients used in counterfeit drugs bought on illicit websites.
The public health campaign comes after a survey revealed that one in ten men admitted-to buying prescription only medicines from unregulated sources.
Half are using the internet to buy products such as Viagra, smoking cessation medicines and weight loss pills.
But research shows between 50 per cent and 90 per cent of all medicines purchased online are likely to be counterfeit or substandard, including medication to treat heart, brain and mental health conditions.
Among ingredients found in fake medicines are high levels of toxic solvents, rat poison, boric acid and lead based road paint.
Experts at the World Health Organisation say fake medicines can lead to death either as a direct result of dangerous ingredients or because they supplant genuine medication.
More than £10million is being spent by British men on fake medicines each year.
The £650,000 cinema and online advertising campaign was created by Viagra manufacturer Pfizer. It is backed by the UK drug safety watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and leading patient groups including the Patients' Association, Men's Health Forum and HEART UK.
Dr David Gillen, Pfizer's medical director said: 'The time has definitely come to issue a clear, unified message to people about the dangers of purchasing medicines from illicit and unregulated sources.'
Mick Deats, group manager of enforcement at the MHRA said: 'We will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine public health.
'There is considerable risk to the public from obtaining medicines through unregulated websites.'
Brazilian clubs say they won't use Viagra to enhance play
Brazilian clubs say they won't use Viagra to enhance play
1/14/2009
Drugstores Online
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Two Brazilian soccer teams denied they are considering combatting the effects of playing at high altitudes during Copa Libertadores by using Viagra, a drug being studied by the World Anti-Doping Agency for its potential use as a performance enhancer.
The issue emerged this week when Brazilian reporters asked a Gremio trainer, Alarico Endres, about possibly using Viagra -- the blue pill commonly associated with treating sexual dysfunction in men -- during the South American championship.
Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, suppresses an enzyme that regulates blood flow and allows vessels to relax and widen. It also was used to treat pulmonary hypertension by relaxing the arterial wall.
In the case of athletes, increased cardiac output and more efficient transport of oxygenated fuel to the muscles can enhance endurance.
"We're going to analyze everything that could benefit the players in (high) altitude," Endres responded.
But Gremio physician Marcio Bolzoni said Endres was misinterpreted.
"Gremio would never use professional athletes to experiment with a drug," Bolzoni said. "If it is proven that it enhances an athlete's performance, its use will be immediately considered as doping."
Palmeiras team doctor Claudio Pavanelli told the GloboEsporte Web site: "Viagra may be a potent vascular dilator, but it is no use pumping more blood to the muscle if it does not have the capacity to receive it. It would be like equipping an old car with a bigger gas tank but keeping the same engine."
WADA is sponsoring a study to determine whether Viagra should be banned from sports.
1/14/2009
Drugstores Online
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Two Brazilian soccer teams denied they are considering combatting the effects of playing at high altitudes during Copa Libertadores by using Viagra, a drug being studied by the World Anti-Doping Agency for its potential use as a performance enhancer.
The issue emerged this week when Brazilian reporters asked a Gremio trainer, Alarico Endres, about possibly using Viagra -- the blue pill commonly associated with treating sexual dysfunction in men -- during the South American championship.
Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, suppresses an enzyme that regulates blood flow and allows vessels to relax and widen. It also was used to treat pulmonary hypertension by relaxing the arterial wall.
In the case of athletes, increased cardiac output and more efficient transport of oxygenated fuel to the muscles can enhance endurance.
"We're going to analyze everything that could benefit the players in (high) altitude," Endres responded.
But Gremio physician Marcio Bolzoni said Endres was misinterpreted.
"Gremio would never use professional athletes to experiment with a drug," Bolzoni said. "If it is proven that it enhances an athlete's performance, its use will be immediately considered as doping."
Palmeiras team doctor Claudio Pavanelli told the GloboEsporte Web site: "Viagra may be a potent vascular dilator, but it is no use pumping more blood to the muscle if it does not have the capacity to receive it. It would be like equipping an old car with a bigger gas tank but keeping the same engine."
WADA is sponsoring a study to determine whether Viagra should be banned from sports.
$31 Million Holiday Inn Hotel Opens in Long Island City
08 January 2009
$31 Million Holiday Inn Hotel Opens in Long Island City
New-build property features new sign and brand standards as part of the worldwide brand relaunch
Holiday Inn Hotels
ATLANTA (Jan. 8, 2009) – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the 136-room Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View has opened.
The property will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. First announced in 2007, the relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.
“We are thrilled to welcome this property to the Holiday Inn family of hotels with the brand new sign and everything it represents. Holiday Inn hotels are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travelers in need of a full-service lodging experience, and this property fits well within that offering,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. “Development in the New York City market is key to expanding our Holiday Inn consumer base and growing an even stronger presence across the Americas.”
Situated in Long Island City in the Queens borough, the new-build 75,000 square foot hotel boasts modern décor throughout the lobby and guestrooms. The property is within walking distance to the New York City subway system, making guests just minutes away from popular Manhattan attractions, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Silvercup Studios, LaGuardia Community College and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are also nearby. The hotel is located just a short drive from all three of New York’s high-traffic international airports: La Guardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View offers a variety of amenities including an indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and wireless internet access throughout the hotel. Many rooms have balconies with views of the Manhattan skyline.
The hotel’s dining facility, 39 Below, features the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast® menu, featuring signature items such as Cinnamon Supreme French Toast™ and Skillet Inspirations™. Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult. Room Service Right…On Time™, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s lounge, Swirl which will offer contemporary American cuisine and an outdoor patio. With nearly 1,000 square feet of function space, the hotel will also be available for business meetings.
Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities. Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers.
“We’ve invested $31 million to build this property and are pleased with the end result,” said Juan Bueno, general manager. “The New York City area is one of the most well-traveled markets for both tourism and business in the U.S., and it’s a perfect fit for the Holiday Inn product.”
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has 40 million members. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s more than 4,100 hotels worldwide.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View is managed by InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc., on behalf of Queens Plaza North. The hotel is located at 39-05 29th St., Long Island City, N.Y., 11101.
About Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
With nearly 1,400 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world. In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges. The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, and the ability to earn Priority Club Rewards points that can be redeemed for great merchandise, airline miles or free room nights, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as “America’s Favorite Hotel.” For more information about Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.holidayinn.com.
About The Hotel Management Group
IHG's management portfolio is one of the largest in the world. As of Sept. 30, 2008, the company operates 589 hotels and more than 150,000 rooms around the world. In the Americas alone, IHG's The Hotel Management Group manages 207 hotels comprised of more than 44,000 rooms with another 25 hotels and more than 5,200 rooms in the region’s management pipeline. The Hotel Management Group provides a proprietary hotel management program called Performance Advantage, which allows for adaptation of its management services and contract terms based on the needs of each individual property investor.
$31 Million Holiday Inn Hotel Opens in Long Island City
New-build property features new sign and brand standards as part of the worldwide brand relaunch
Holiday Inn Hotels
ATLANTA (Jan. 8, 2009) – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the 136-room Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View has opened.
The property will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. First announced in 2007, the relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image, increase quality and drive consistency. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.
“We are thrilled to welcome this property to the Holiday Inn family of hotels with the brand new sign and everything it represents. Holiday Inn hotels are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travelers in need of a full-service lodging experience, and this property fits well within that offering,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. “Development in the New York City market is key to expanding our Holiday Inn consumer base and growing an even stronger presence across the Americas.”
Situated in Long Island City in the Queens borough, the new-build 75,000 square foot hotel boasts modern décor throughout the lobby and guestrooms. The property is within walking distance to the New York City subway system, making guests just minutes away from popular Manhattan attractions, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Silvercup Studios, LaGuardia Community College and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are also nearby. The hotel is located just a short drive from all three of New York’s high-traffic international airports: La Guardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View offers a variety of amenities including an indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and wireless internet access throughout the hotel. Many rooms have balconies with views of the Manhattan skyline.
The hotel’s dining facility, 39 Below, features the Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast® menu, featuring signature items such as Cinnamon Supreme French Toast™ and Skillet Inspirations™. Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult. Room Service Right…On Time™, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s lounge, Swirl which will offer contemporary American cuisine and an outdoor patio. With nearly 1,000 square feet of function space, the hotel will also be available for business meetings.
Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities. Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers.
“We’ve invested $31 million to build this property and are pleased with the end result,” said Juan Bueno, general manager. “The New York City area is one of the most well-traveled markets for both tourism and business in the U.S., and it’s a perfect fit for the Holiday Inn product.”
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has 40 million members. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s more than 4,100 hotels worldwide.
The Holiday Inn Long Island City-Manhattan View is managed by InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc., on behalf of Queens Plaza North. The hotel is located at 39-05 29th St., Long Island City, N.Y., 11101.
About Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
With nearly 1,400 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world. In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges. The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, and the ability to earn Priority Club Rewards points that can be redeemed for great merchandise, airline miles or free room nights, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as “America’s Favorite Hotel.” For more information about Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.holidayinn.com.
About The Hotel Management Group
IHG's management portfolio is one of the largest in the world. As of Sept. 30, 2008, the company operates 589 hotels and more than 150,000 rooms around the world. In the Americas alone, IHG's The Hotel Management Group manages 207 hotels comprised of more than 44,000 rooms with another 25 hotels and more than 5,200 rooms in the region’s management pipeline. The Hotel Management Group provides a proprietary hotel management program called Performance Advantage, which allows for adaptation of its management services and contract terms based on the needs of each individual property investor.
IHG Ranked #1 For Fifth Straight Year in the Hotel & Motel Category of Entrepreneur Magazine's 2009 Franchise 500
12 January 2009
IHG Ranked #1 For Fifth Straight Year in the Hotel & Motel Category of Entrepreneur Magazine's 2009 Franchise 500
InterContinental Hotels
IHG is the only hotel company in the Top 10, ranking #5 across all industries
ATLANTA (Jan. 12, 2009) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, has garnered the #1 ranking among all hotel companies in the 2009 Entrepreneur Magazine's 30th Annual Franchise 500® in the Hotel & Motel Category. IHG has held the top spot in the category since 2005.
"From a business standpoint, IHG excels with franchisees because of its strong brands, reservation system, field operations staff and its Priority Club Rewards program that is instrumental in driving new and repeat business to my hotels," said Mike Monchino, owner and operator of various hotel brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.
Entrepreneur Magazine is a U.S.-based business publication that focuses on business owners and provides information that helps them operate their businesses. The Franchise 500 list is in its 30th year and measures the financial strength, stability, growth rate and size of the system of franchise companies. These factors are entered into the publication's exclusive Franchise 500 formula, rating each company with the highest scores. The publication's website is located at: www.entrepreneur.com
In addition, IHG also ranked fifth across all industries, joining Subway, McDonald's, Liberty Tax Service, Sonic Drive In Restaurants, Ace Hardware Corp., Pizza Hut, The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc., Circle K, and Papa John's Int'l Inc., in the Top 10 of the Franchise 500 rankings. Each year since 2005, IHG has been in the Franchise 500, ranking 31st or higher.
"Our ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine is a strong proof point that we are a tremendous value for franchisees who sign with one of our seven brands - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites," said Jim Anhut, chief development officer, North America, IHG. "We take
great pride in the collaborative relationship we have with our franchisees at more than 4,100 hotels globally and the hard work put forth on their behalf every day by our team at IHG."
Also as part of the rankings, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked IHG 22nd among the Fastest-Growing Franchises across all industries.
IHG Ranked #1 For Fifth Straight Year in the Hotel & Motel Category of Entrepreneur Magazine's 2009 Franchise 500
InterContinental Hotels
IHG is the only hotel company in the Top 10, ranking #5 across all industries
ATLANTA (Jan. 12, 2009) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, has garnered the #1 ranking among all hotel companies in the 2009 Entrepreneur Magazine's 30th Annual Franchise 500® in the Hotel & Motel Category. IHG has held the top spot in the category since 2005.
"From a business standpoint, IHG excels with franchisees because of its strong brands, reservation system, field operations staff and its Priority Club Rewards program that is instrumental in driving new and repeat business to my hotels," said Mike Monchino, owner and operator of various hotel brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.
Entrepreneur Magazine is a U.S.-based business publication that focuses on business owners and provides information that helps them operate their businesses. The Franchise 500 list is in its 30th year and measures the financial strength, stability, growth rate and size of the system of franchise companies. These factors are entered into the publication's exclusive Franchise 500 formula, rating each company with the highest scores. The publication's website is located at: www.entrepreneur.com
In addition, IHG also ranked fifth across all industries, joining Subway, McDonald's, Liberty Tax Service, Sonic Drive In Restaurants, Ace Hardware Corp., Pizza Hut, The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc., Circle K, and Papa John's Int'l Inc., in the Top 10 of the Franchise 500 rankings. Each year since 2005, IHG has been in the Franchise 500, ranking 31st or higher.
"Our ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine is a strong proof point that we are a tremendous value for franchisees who sign with one of our seven brands - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites," said Jim Anhut, chief development officer, North America, IHG. "We take
great pride in the collaborative relationship we have with our franchisees at more than 4,100 hotels globally and the hard work put forth on their behalf every day by our team at IHG."
Also as part of the rankings, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked IHG 22nd among the Fastest-Growing Franchises across all industries.
20 hotel agreement to boost Germany's Holiday Inn portfolio
14 January 2009
20 hotel agreement to boost Germany's Holiday Inn portfolio
InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a franchise agreement with Foremost Hospitality GmbH to introduce 20 new Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties across the country's key cities by 2016.
Speaking about the signing Karl-Heinz Pawlizki, IHG's director of operations, Germany, said: "As IHG's sixth biggest market globally by number of rooms and seventh by hotels, Germany remains a priority market for us and Foremost Hospitality an important strategic partner.
"With 55 hotels currently operating under the Holiday Inn brand family in Germany* of which nine** are already open with the new Holiday Inn brand flags, this new agreement demonstrates our owner community's support of the worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family. Furthermore, we believe this agreement will ensure we are ideally placed to continue our growth within one of Europe's best performing markets."
Of the 20 properties within the agreement, seven hotel contracts are already signed and development underway. These include the November signing of two additional hotel contracts; the 328-room Holiday Inn Berlin City Centre - Potsdamer Platz, expected to open March 2011, and the 150-room Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Centre - Alexander Platz, scheduled to open March 2010.
Notes:
*There are currently 55 hotels operating under the Holiday Inn brand family in Germany, of which 41 are Holiday Inn and 14 are Express by Holiday Inn properties. As of 30 September 2008 Germany's pipeline of signed deals was three Holiday Inn and nine Holiday Inn Express properties, which includes five signed deals with Foremost Hospitality.
**Of the nine hotels in Germany complete with the new Holiday Inn signage seven are Holiday Inn Express hotels (Berlin City Centre - West, Essen, Frankfurt - Messe, Munich Airport, Nürnberg - Schwabach, Singen and Stuttgart Airport) and two are Holiday Inn hotels (Frankfurt City - South, Conference Centre and Munich City Centre).
20 hotel agreement to boost Germany's Holiday Inn portfolio
InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a franchise agreement with Foremost Hospitality GmbH to introduce 20 new Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties across the country's key cities by 2016.
Speaking about the signing Karl-Heinz Pawlizki, IHG's director of operations, Germany, said: "As IHG's sixth biggest market globally by number of rooms and seventh by hotels, Germany remains a priority market for us and Foremost Hospitality an important strategic partner.
"With 55 hotels currently operating under the Holiday Inn brand family in Germany* of which nine** are already open with the new Holiday Inn brand flags, this new agreement demonstrates our owner community's support of the worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family. Furthermore, we believe this agreement will ensure we are ideally placed to continue our growth within one of Europe's best performing markets."
Of the 20 properties within the agreement, seven hotel contracts are already signed and development underway. These include the November signing of two additional hotel contracts; the 328-room Holiday Inn Berlin City Centre - Potsdamer Platz, expected to open March 2011, and the 150-room Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Centre - Alexander Platz, scheduled to open March 2010.
Notes:
*There are currently 55 hotels operating under the Holiday Inn brand family in Germany, of which 41 are Holiday Inn and 14 are Express by Holiday Inn properties. As of 30 September 2008 Germany's pipeline of signed deals was three Holiday Inn and nine Holiday Inn Express properties, which includes five signed deals with Foremost Hospitality.
**Of the nine hotels in Germany complete with the new Holiday Inn signage seven are Holiday Inn Express hotels (Berlin City Centre - West, Essen, Frankfurt - Messe, Munich Airport, Nürnberg - Schwabach, Singen and Stuttgart Airport) and two are Holiday Inn hotels (Frankfurt City - South, Conference Centre and Munich City Centre).
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