More than 99 percent of all arc flash incidents occur when a panel door is open, exposing workers to potentially lethal amounts of energy. The new Fluke® ClirVu CV Series IR Windows eliminate the need to open the panel door to take infrared camera readings, and with an installation time of five minutes or less, there’s no excuse not to protect workers’ safety.
The ClirVu CV Series offers the ultimate protection for the electricians, engineers, and inspectors who work around high-energy equipment. They are Torture Tested™ to the highest arc blast test ratings and, when properly installed, maintain a panel arc test rating of up to 63 kA.
Once installed, there’s no need to power down or remove panels — inspections can be conducted quickly, easily, and, most importantly, safely, often with little, if any, personal protective equipment.
Installation takes one technician five minutes or less. Simply lockout-tag out, punch one hole with a standard conduit punch without removing the panel door, attach, and secure the cover.
The AutoGround™ feature instantly grounds the IR window to the metal enclosure, eliminating the need to separately ground each metal component of the window.
The hinged cover is easily opened with a quarter-turn latch or key to perform infrared inspections. It also protects the window from accidental exterior impact.
Hong Kong, November 11, 2013 —Imagine a beyond 5-star “barefoot retreat” on an unspoiled Thai island accessible by private plane, or an exotic paradise being developed in Asia’s hottest new tropical destination on the ‘Cambodian Riviera’. Two new discreet luxury retreats are offering just that, and are helping to redefine the philosophy that ‘Privacy is the New Luxury’.
Located less than 200 kilometres apart in the Gulf of Thailand, Soneva Kiri, in Koh Kood, Thailand and Alila Villas Koh Russey in Cambodia represent two of the best examples of private island luxury lifestyle, both within a three-hour flight from Hong Kong, and are being introduced at the CBRE Luxury Resort Property Exhibition in Hong Kong from November 30 – December 1, 2013.
Two different design concepts developed for a luxury property investment opportunity, in two of Southeast Asia”s most stunning destinations; combining discreet, idyllic tropical surroundings with innovative design, a sustainable luxury lifestyle, attractive returns, and long-term value growth.
BAREFOOT LUXURY ON AN UNSPOILED THAI ISLAND PARADISE
Soneva Kiri
Soneva Kiri – Beach Villa Suite
Soneva Kiri – Junior Beach Retreat
Eva and Sonu Shivdasani require little introduction as the founders of Soneva Kiri, where 34 vast private homes remain for sale in this resort – voted “Best Development” in the Thailand Property Awards 2011 – and prices start at US$ 1.33 M for a one-bedroom pool villa and up to US$ 15M for a six-bedroom villa.
Since developing Soneva Fushi, the first ‘castaway’ resort as well as their home in the Maldives in 1995, their intensely personal vision of locally crafted, environmentally responsible lifestyle formed the basis of a successful collection of world-class resorts and spas. They pioneered the trend for back-to-nature luxury resorts.
Koh Kood, an unspoilt island to the east of the Gulf of Thailand, is a destination with few equals; perfect beaches, a lush tropical landscape, dramatic waterfalls and crystal clear waters. Soneva Kiri is the perfect hideaway on this unspoiled island 20 minutes by boat from Koh Chang Marine National Park.
And the Soneva Private Residences represent the ultimate expression of the signature experience and style for which Soneva has become world renowned; understated design and luxuriously spacious accommodation, uncompromising quality and service, and environmental sensitivity.
Built with materials from sustainable sources, they tread lightly on the earth by applying construction techniques that are adapted to preserve the integrity of the environment and local communities that surround them, remaining true to the Soneva values of SLOW LIFE (Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences) and the brand mission of Intelligent Luxury.
Substantial in size, the villas occupy a built-up area of up to 840 sqm, on up to 6,250 sqm of land to ensure privacy. Purchasers can choose between one to six-bedroom Beach, Hill, or Cliff villas, for which each individual site has been selected with great care to combine seclusion and panoramic sea views, all with easy access to the resort’s facilities.
With abundant natural light amid verdant foliage, the villas comprise detached living areas joined by walkways. The sumptuous accommodation includes a master bedroom suite, guest suites, dining, seating and relaxation areas, steam room, spa suite, gym, pool (some with water slides), and spacious bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. Bose sound systems are installed throughout and subtly hidden, while plasma screens are discreetly hidden in leather trunks at the bottom of king size beds. State-of-the-art technology provides efficient communication.
Each villa is fully serviced, including a 24/7 Mr./Ms Friday butler service.
Villa owners benefit from the resort’s services and amenities, which include a world-class spa, state-of-the-art gym, a myriad of water sports, and top quality restaurants. Electric buggies and bicycles are the mode of transport within the resort, which is landscaped with pathways lined with palm trees, lemon grass and local fauna right down to the pristine beach.
Discounted transfers to and from Soneva Kiri are by the resort’s private aircraft, just an hour’s flight from Bangkok to an island that feels like the Thailand of a bygone era.
David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia comments: “Soneva Kiri is undiscovered Thailand, Ancient Siam as it should be. Amid 150 acres of untouched tropical rainforest fringed with pristine beaches and enchanting オンライン カジノ mangroves, Soneva Kiri is, quite simply, the ultimate Thai escape and barefoot luxury at its best”.
A managed rental scheme means owners can earn income when not in residence, so the villa could prove to be a tax-efficient long term investment with no capital gains or acquisition tax.
With secured property ownership laws and a growing residential market, overseas purchasers can invest with even greater confidence and benefit from the lifestyle associated with it. These benefits begin the moment owners disembark at Bangkok International Airport, greeted by Soneva Kiri’s private airport representative, and escorted to the First Class Lounge to refresh and relax while customs facilities are taken care of. Owners or guests then board the private transfer to Koh Mai Si, Thailand’s only private resort airport, to be greeted with a smile by their Mr./Ms. Friday.
“With attractive returns, in addition to a range of owners’ privileges, Soneva Kiri has already sold over 15 private residential villas”, added CBRE’s Mr Simister.
Villa owners also benefit from a 20% discount on all resort facilities and services, as well as membership of the Soneva Club, its exclusive global private members only club.
CAMBODIA’S FIRST PRIVATE ISLAND BRANDED RESIDENCES
Alila Villas Koh Russey
A view of Koh Russey where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be developed
Alila, voted the coolest hotel brand since 2011 and rated in the top 40 global luxury brands in 2012, will be making its foray into Cambodia with Alila Villas Koh Russey. Having pioneered lifestyle investment projects with its crafted luxury branding for Alila Villas in Bali, its Villa Residences are home to the rich and famous. Both its Alila Villas projects in Bali have sold-out since it was first launched in the market.
Cambodia’s resort market only opened three years ago with the launch of Song Saa Private Island, a 45-minute boat ride from Sihanoukville in Asia’s newest tropical destination. The original villas launched in 2010 were sold out and prices doubled from launch to completion.
Now with the first luxury branded resort residences on Koh Russey under development, less than 25 minutes to Sihanoukville Airport and 15 minutes by speedboat from the Cambodia Coast/Sihanoukville town, this pristine private island on the deserted coastal archipelago is primed to be the next most sought after investment.
Framed by the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare and unparalleled location for an exclusive lifestyle experience, uniquely positioned as the only internationally branded resort and villa development along this coastline in the heart of the new Cambodian Riviera.
Managed by Alila Hotels & Resorts, this exclusive island development will feature 48 hotel suites, and a range of one, two- and four-bedroom pool villas for private ownership where owners can enjoy usage of their properties and maximise the rental income potential through a professionally managed rental programme operated by Alila.
Prices start from US$480,000 one-bedroom pool villas of 116 sqm, rising to US$770,000 for two-bedroom pool villas (209 sqm) and four-bedroom pool villas (620 sqm) at US$2 million. Additional two-bedroom duplex units (156 sqm) will be launched at a later stage, from US$480,000.
In a spectacular location amid Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, the island paradise is a haven of tranquillity, embracing powder sand beaches, tropical forests, pristine bays, and dramatic headlands.
The development occupies an expansive 25 hectares, nestled between the Western Cape and a 2-km long bay, south of the island, assuring magnificent vistas and absolute privacy for residents and guests.
The master plan by renowned Singaporean architect Chioh-Hui Goh of Studiogoto is for a low-density villa community incorporating design elements sensitive to the Khmer Culture. With its adherence to Alila’s ‘Environs’ sustainability policy, Chioh-Hui’s architecture will similarly adopt the principles of Earthcheck’s benchmarking and certification criteria to minimise impact on the environment.
Chioh-Hui Goh , Principal Architect of Studiogoto states: “When you design for a destination, it is important to understand its geography, history, and culture – not to mimic, but to interpret with an architecture that enhances the essence and contextual relevance and yet remain timeless”.
Each villa features 75% of open space with terraces, a private pool, and garden. Considerable attention has been given to the location and aspect of each villa, maximising vistas and privacy with landscaped breaks between them.
The villas offer the luxury of private open space, with land plots ranging from 400 sqm to 3,500 sqm for the four-bedroom villas.
The entire hotel and villa project has a low building density of only 15% to total site utility, resulting in an abundance of natural and landscaped green space, which underlines the ecological credentials of the development.
“Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare opportunity to own one of the most beautiful residences imaginable, with timeless, ecological design, influenced by the Khmer culture and professionally managed by a well respected hospitality brand”, says David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia.
“The partnership with Alila Hotels & Resorts ensures that owners maximise their rental income potential, whilst enjoying the personal use of their villas. Obviously, renting attracts highest returns in peak holiday seasons”.
The two-bedroom pool villas embrace space and tropical resort living with over 200 sqm of built area in a 720 sqm land plot, enjoying stunning ocean and cape vistas, whilst the four-bedroom pool villas afford generous indoor and outdoor living areas set in over 600 sqm. Designed to accommodate families and guests, each of the villas feature a large living area, contemporary kitchen, sumptuous master bedroom, three guest bedrooms and an expansive outdoor terrace and pool area. Surrounding landscaping ranges from 1,800 to 3,500 sqm, with each villa orientated to capture the stunning land and ocean scapes. These Residences at Alila Villas Koh Russey compare to the best of Phuket and Bali, at a fraction of those prices.
Ownership of the two-bedroom and four-bedroom villas offers the flexibility to tailor for personal use and rental of the property, while benefiting from a range of à la carte hospitality services from Alila Villas Koh Russey.
Backed by an award-winning design team of architects, designers and artisans, Alila Villas is designed, built and operated to EarthCheck standards, integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of the enviroCityStar concept.
“Alila Villas represent a new generation of ultra-luxurious yet sustainable developments in some of the most spectacular locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, design and architecture, personalised hospitality and destination experiences”, concludes Mr Simister of CBRE.
“It is a unique opportunity for those wanting to secure a ‘first in market’ investment opportunity, with access to world-class facilities in a spectacular location, and benefit from the peace of mind of a professionally managed rental programme”.
A view of the 2km beach on Koh Russey. The island where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be completed
Flowcrete Group provided specialist flooring solutions for Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Flowcrete Group has provided solid foundations for a landmark construction project at Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in East Kowloon.
The USD 1 billion new cruise terminal has been built on the site of Hong Kong’s former airport, which was long regarded as one of the most spectacular flight approaches in the world with a runway that jutted straight out into the sea.
Now, passengers approaching the runway will do so at crawl speed from some of the world’s most impressive and largest cruise liners.
Gleaming silver and representing an area roughly a half-mile long, the new terminal building designed by architects Foster + Partners, features a two berth dock capable of handling liners of up to 220,000 gross registered tonnage and processing more than 3,000 passengers an hour.
Inside, the terminal features airy check-in, immigration and waiting halls as well as retail and dining facilities alongside a vast rooftop garden offering panoramic views of the Kowloon peninsula and Hong Kong skyline.
With Asia increasingly being recognised as a hotbed for cruise industry growth, the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is expected to act as the gateway to the East for up to 3.7 million passengers by 2017.
Over 40,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s cementitious subfloor screed system, Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed, have been applied by Flowcrete Hong Kong, to serve as a surface underlayment within the main terminal facility prior to the application of floor tiles.
Flowcrete’s heavy-duty screed system, in thicknesses ranging from 40-60mm, has been installed in the customs, clearance and departure halls as well in baggage handling areas, back-of-house maintenance facilities and the spectacular overhead rooftop garden.
Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed is a robust, semi-dry cementitious screed system incorporating a proprietary K additive to produce an early drying, high-strength screed allowing for the early installation of moisture sensitive floor finishes or floor coverings.
The material is recommended for areas where heavy foot or wheeled traffic is expected on a continual basis. The system can be laid bonded, unbonded or floating – for weight saving and thermal or sound insulation – and can also be installed in conjunction with sound-proofing systems.
10,000 square metres of a second Flowcrete system, Flowcoat SF41 – a seamless epoxy floor coating material – has also been used to provide a hardwearing and slip-resistant floor finish in specialists back of house maintenance and baggage handling areas.
Representing a soft launch, the new terminal opened its doors to the Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas in June 2013 ahead of the facility’s full opening later in the year. A commemorative park, adjacent to the terminal, with an aviation theme is in the pipeline to pay homage to the former Kai Tak Airport.
The airport, which was moved to a new site at Chek Lap Kok some 15 years ago also featured 250,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s fast-cure Isocrete K-Screed system, representing – at the time – the company’s largest screed project undertaken.
Germany/Munich, 12 November 2013 –Allplan is setting standards in CAD through collaboration, 3D modeling, Cloud and SaaS.
The claim: The best planning tool for architects
Accuracy, speed and cost-effectiveness are the requirements that architects have to meet. The right software solution enables them to exercise the design flexibility and creativity they need to be successful. Allplan was designed with this in mind: Software that is easy to use, ensures smooth collaboration with planning partners and optimizes work processes.
Location-independent collaboration with Allplan 2014
Thanks to the enhanced workgroup functionality, architects can integrate project partners and employees in their working environment across office and company boundaries as though all were working around the same table on the same design. This means location and time-independent access for virtual teams. No “e-mail ping-pong”, no loss of data – everyone works with the most recent version. Access rights are used to define who has what rights in the respective project. Data encryption ensures additional security.
Faster and easier 3D modeling
Allplan 2014 has a new extrusion function to make work with the 3D modeler even more intuitive. As a result, users can easily move or redraw outlines and extrude this vertically in the next step. This is particularly useful in urban design and for the fast “raising“ and changing of cubic volumes in the design process.
Further steps towards Open BIM, Cloud and SaaS
With Allplan 2014, Serviceplus customers also benefit from bim+ and Nevaris as connected SaaS solutions. The cloud solution bim+ with BIM server and innovative apps also enables the interlinking and visualization of Allplan BIM models on mobile devices. The interface to Nevaris is also new. With web-supported processes and cost control in real time, Nevaris is setting new standards for tender, award and billing.
Conclusion: Project work is easier, faster and more cost-effective. Errors are reduced. “With the Allplan BIM solution, our aim is to make the exchange of data and the collaboration between all those involved in the building process as flexible as possible, in the spirit of Open BIM,” says Dr. Jörg Rahmer, CEO Nemetschek Allplan Systems GmbH.
About Nemetschek Allplan
Nemetschek Allplan, with headquarters in Munich/Germany, is one of Europe’s leading BIM (Building Information Modeling) solution providers. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG, Nemetschek Allplan develops powerful software for architects, structural/civil engineers, contractors and facility managers. The core product Allplan provides a flexible and efficient toolset for the seamless planning of visionary architecture and innovative engineering projects. Currently available in 19 languages worldwide, Allplan covers every usage level of a BIM focused CAD system: from straightforward 2D drawings to 3D modeling including quantity take off and cost calculation. It also supports the OpenBIM initiative and the IFC standard to assure interoperability throughout the building life cycle.
Singapore, 7 November 2013 – GreenUrbanScape Asia, the first dedicated urban greenery exhibition in Asia, will be running from 7-9 November at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over 130 international brands from 19 countries will be exhibiting at GreenUrbanScape Asia, and they will be showcasing innovative solutions aimed at improving productivity in all aspects of landscape and urban greenery, including planning, design, construction and management.
The inaugural event runs alongside the second edition of the International Skyrise Greenery Conference. Jointly organised by the National Parks Board (NParks), Landscape Industry Association Singapore (LIAS), Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA), and Singex Group, the three-day trade exhibition and conference will facilitate the sharing of ideas and solutions with a cross-section of industry stakeholders on a global platform. It is expected to attract over 4,000 participants, including 650 conference delegates and speakers from 25 countries around the world, making it the first time an event of such scale and range has been organised in Asia.
Running in parallel with the trade exhibition is a business forum on 8 November, where regional experts will discuss key global trends, potential opportunities and case studies. A public forum on 9 November will share the latest technology and best practices in urban greenery. Admission to these events is free.
2nd International Skyrise Greenery Conference will feature renowned international thought leaders and local experts
With the theme of Density & Greenery: Evolving into Collaborative Cities, the 2nd International Skyrise Greenery Conference will feature the following:
(i) A list of internationally acclaimed distinguished speakers, including Kathryn Gustafson from the USA. She is best known for her award-winning projects in Europe and casino the United States, such as the Princess Diana memorial fountain at Kensington Palace Gardens. Italy’s Stefano Boeri is also one of the speakers; he is renowned for his role in ‘Bosco Verticale’, the highly-anticipated, first vertical forest in Milan.
(ii) Home-grown industry luminaries behind some of the region’s pioneering greening projects, including Singapore’s Dr Liu Thai Ker, best known for spearheading major revisions to the Singapore Concept Plan and key directions for heritage conservation; and WOHA’s founder, Wong Mun Summ, the award-winning architect behind Singapore’s PARKROYAL on Pickering.
(iii) Technical tours for on-site exposure to industry-acclaimed and award-winning projects in Singapore. The tours will include guided visits to sites such as PARKROYAL on Pickering, 158 Cecil Street, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, ITE College Central, 6 Battery Road, Nanyang Polytechnic and Punggol New Town, where green roofs, green walls, and other forms of greenery have been fitted seamlessly into the built environment.
Singapore, 6 November 2013 – The new concept for the highly anticipated Terminal 4 (T4) at Singapore Changi Airport has been unveiled at the T4 groundbreaking ceremony on 5 November 2013.
Appointed by Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore’s award-winning SAA Architects, the lead consultant and executive architect of the Architect & Design Consortium (Consortium), collaborated with UK-founded design firm Benoy Limited on the concept and interior design of the new terminal.
Set to redefine the travel experience, Changi Airport’s new terminal will be located along Airport Boulevard, and will accommodate up to 16 million passengers a year.
The 195,000m² building has been designed to celebrate both physical and visual transparency. The arrival experience will be surrounded by lush vertical landscaping and an impressive double-storey glazed façade. Inside, the concept is dynamic, vibrant and colourful with feature skylight lanterns illuminating the terminal. Gardens have been incorporated to enliven the airport interiors with green walls and an abundance of elegant tall trees growing beneath the natural light.
Yeo Siew Haip, Managing Director of SAA Architects, explained the complexity of the large-scale project, ‘Since winning the project in mid February 2013, the SAA-led Consortium worked hand in hand with CAG and Benoy to bring the design of T4 from concept to commencement of piling works on-site. SAA provided the Consortium leadership in managing concept refinement, stakeholder engagement, fast-track scheduling and value engineering.’
‘Finalising the overall design of T4 for the Main Contract Tender within the time frame we had is a feat in itself for the industry, especially with over ten consultants and specialists collaborating intimately in the intricate work scope, keeping the project on schedule.’
‘The planning agenda has centred on introducing efficiency and comfort to the travel experience’, explained Meeta Patel, Director at Benoy. ‘State-of-the-art facilities including self check-in kiosks and self bag-drops will provide travellers with a quick and easy airport journey. To shape the boutique atmosphere of T4, Benoy has created walk-through retail zones, Peranakan-inspired shop fronts and mezzanine dining hubs which will offer views over the central interior gardens.’
The main focal point of the building is the ‘Central Galleria’; a glazed, open space that visually connects the departure, check-in, arrival and transit areas across the terminal.
David Buffonge, Director at Benoy said, ‘We are extremely excited about Terminal 4 at Changi Airport. We believe in the concept that has embraced energy and motion; creating a dynamic yet timeless design in a welcoming environment. The terminal has been designed to provide visitors access to a new level of travel comfort outside their traditional airport experiences’.
‘SAA’s role as lead consultant and architect is not unlike a music conductor in orchestrating all processes to bring the design of Terminal 4 at Changi to reality. With CAG and Benoy, we strive to create a unique T4 experience that pushes the boundaries and inspires the traveller like never before,’ said Yeo Siew Haip.
The Consortium comprises a number of members responsible for various aspects of T4 including: architecture, design, civil & structural engineering, mechanical & electrical engineering, landscaping, acoustics and safety.
MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM
SAA Architects Pte Ltd – Lead Agency
Benoy Ltd
AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd
Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEA) Pte Ltd
PROJECT FACTS
Project location: Changi, Singapore
Developer: Changi Airport Group
Size: 195,000m²
Consortium Leader/Executive Architect: SAA Architects Pte Ltd
China – Keppel Land China Limited (Keppel Land China) has acquired a 10.37 ha prime residential site in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (Tianjin Eco-City) for RMB241.1 million (approximately S$49.1 million).
The land acquisition agreement was signed between Mr Ho Cheok Kong, President of Keppel Land China, and Mr Ho Tong Yen, CEO of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. (SSTEC), at the 6th Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council meeting in Singapore this morning. It was witnessed by Singapore’s Minister for National Development Mr Khaw Boon Wan and Mayor of Tianjin Municipal Government Mr Huang Xingguo.
Keppel Land China plans to develop about 350 landed homes on the new site, which is located within the Start-Up Area and close to the future city centre in the Tianjin Eco-City. Situated along the historic Ji Canal, the new development is also near the Commercial Sub-centre.
Targeted at the upper-middle income homebuyers, the new landed homes will be launched progressively, starting from the second half of 2014.
Residents can look forward to easy and direct access to major locations including one of China’s fastest growing regions, the Tianjin Binhai New Area, which will be a 15-minute drive from home. The new site is also a 30-minute drive from the Tianjin Binhai International Airport, 20 minutes to the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway I and 10 minutes to the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway II.
In line with Keppel’s commitment to the vision for the Eco-City, the new homes will be developed according to the Tianjin Eco-City’s Green Building Evaluation Standard, which is a combination of China and Singapore’s green building standards.
Keppel Land China’s first eco-homes in the Tianjin Eco-City, the 1,672-unit Seasons Park, was launched in 2010. As at end-September 2013, about 77% of the 1,105 launched units have been sold. Phase 2, Seasons Garden, comprises about 1,190 homes and was launched in August 2013. The commercial development, Seasons City, will comprise three office towers and retail premises with a total gross floor area of 162,000 sm. The first phase will feature one office tower and a retail complex, and is expected to be completed by 2017.
The above transaction is not expected to have any significant impact on the net tangible asset per share or earnings per share of Keppel Land Limited for the current financial year.
Singapore – Travellers to Yangon can soon look forward to more quality hotel rooms when phase two of Sedona Hotel Yangon is fully completed in 2016.
Keppel Land broke ground for the new 29-storey hotel wing in a ceremony this morning in the presence of His Excellency U Hla Myint, Mayor of Yangon City. The event was witnessed by His Excellency Mr Robert Chua, Singapore Ambassador to Myanmar; His Excellency Dr Tin Shwe, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism; Mr Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land; officials of the Yangon Regional Government; and business associates.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ang said, “The opening up of Myanmar has seen the number of visitors, both corporate and leisure travellers, to the country increase significantly in the last three years. The upgrading and extension of Sedona Hotel Yangon is timely to meet the corresponding rise in demand for quality hotel rooms, which is currently in short supply in Yangon.”
In the first eight months of 2013, local authorities reported that Myanmar has already received more than one million foreign visitors, about 60% higher than the same period last year. Tourist arrivals are forecasted to reach between 1.8 and 2 million by end-2013, almost double that for the whole of 2012.
Sedona Hotel Yangon is part of only a handful of international-grade five-star hotels in Myanmar. Phase one of the hotel was completed in 1997 and comprises 366 rooms. The hotel has established itself as the accommodation of choice for business and leisure travellers alike.
Phase two of the development will see an addition of about 420 rooms, bringing the hotel’s total room capacity to 786. At 29 storeys tall, the new tower block will be one of the tallest structures in Yangon when completed in end-2015. The total development cost for the new hotel wing is about US$80 million, and when completed, will be fully integrated with the existing Sedona Hotel Yangon.
At the same time, phase one of Sedona Hotel Yangon is undergoing refurbishment works to feature a modern look and feel, whilst maintaining the original heritage character of the hotel. Areas that will be upgraded include the rooms and common areas such as the lobby, main entrance and common corridors. The renovation works, which will cost about US$25 million, are expected to be completed by end-2013.
Keppel Land will also be commencing renovation works to Sedona Hotel Mandalay, its second hotel property in Myanmar, early next year. The works, which includes the upgrading of rooms and common facilities such as the ballroom and restaurants, is expected to cost about US$7 million.
Mr Ang added, “Through the operation of our hotel over the years, we have participated and contributed to the creation of jobs in the country’s economy. We are confident that the expansion of Sedona Hotel Yangon, as well as the refurbishment of both Sedona Hotel Yangon and Mandalay, will continue to have a positive impact on the country.”
The Keppel Group’s relationship with Myanmar began as early as the 1980s when Keppel FELS, the Group’s offshore division, supplied tin dredgers to the Ministry of Mines. Through its marine division, Keppel Shipyard has also upgraded and repaired a diverse range of vessels for the Ministry of Ports.
In property, Keppel Land entered Myanmar in 1993 and currently owns and manages two hotels – Sedona Hotel Yangon and Sedona Hotel Mandalay. Over the years, both hotels have established themselves as the choice accommodation provider in the country, garnering numerous awards, including the titles of Myanmar’s Leading Hotel 2013 (Sedona Hotel Yangon) and Myanmar’s Leading Resort 2013 (Sedona Hotel Mandalay) at the recent World Travel Awards.
Sitting majestically on eight acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Sedona Hotel Yangon is a 15-minute drive away from the Yangon International Airport and the city centre. With commanding views of the Inya Lake, Sedona Hotel Yangon is also close to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
In April 2013, Keppel Land co-funded the Water for Life (Yangon) project, a joint initiative between the Singapore International Foundation and non-profit organistion, Mingalar Myanmar. The three-year project will provide more than 7,000 villagers in the townships of Kaw Hmu and Kungyangon better access to clean drinking water. Beyond monetary contributions, Keppel Land employees will also volunteer time and effort to be part of this worthy cause.
SINGAPORE – Building owners in Asia markets are motivated by savings and government programs to drive energy efficiency decisions, according to the 2013 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) study by Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings. The survey revealed a 10 percent increase in interest in energy efficiency since 2010 in Asia, and a lack of capital and insufficient payback as key obstacles to implementing energy projects.
This is the seventh annual EEI study of global building leaders that tracks key energy efficiency trends, drivers for action, and barriers around the world. More than 3,000 decision-makers in 10 countries participated in the survey this year. In Asia, 1,263 executives who manage energy decisions for buildings from Australia, China, India, and for the first time, Singapore, were surveyed.
“Findings from this year’s study show a growing interest in energy efficiency in Asia, but also suggests that public policies and private investment must work together to transform interest into action in Asia,” said Soren Bjerg, vice president and managing director of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Asia.
Drivers in Asia Markets
Interest in energy efficiency and the importance of energy management is growing in Asia. The study showed that respondents from China and India have the greatest interest levels in energy efficiency globally, with 61 percent and 58 percent respectively saying that their organizations are paying a lot more attention to energy efficiency. In Australia and Singapore, which have a more mature market in this area, a majority of respondents (71 percent and 73 percent respectively) indicated that energy management is either extremely or very important.
The top energy efficiency driver for Asia is energy cost savings, consistent with businesses globally. Government incentives, rebates, and policy are also deemed important. Other notable findings include the criticality of energy security to China and India; as well as India and Singapore being the only countries surveyed worldwide to rank enhanced brand or public image as one of the top five drivers.
Possible Areas to Address
The study identified that barriers which hinder energy efficiency adoption are similar around the world. In Singapore and India, respondents cited online casino barriers such as the lack of available capital; insufficient payback; uncertainty regarding savings/performance; the lack of technical expertise to evaluate or execute projects; and the lack of awareness about opportunities as being equally challenging in their pursuit for energy efficiency. For organizations in China, insufficient payback as a barrier was significantly higher, while in Australia access to available capital was the top challenge.
Globally, a quarter of the respondents cited lack of funding as a top barrier to energy efficiency projects, declining from 30 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2012. Uncertainty about savings and performance in energy efficiency projects increased globally, from 12 percent to 15 percent.
Despite the diverse nature of the markets across Asia, the countries surveyed generally favored the use of tax credits or incentives as the energy policy for greatest impact, with Australia showing a particularly high preference at 30 percent. For China, stricter building codes as well as green appraisal standards are on par with tax credits or incentives. Singapore also accords a notably high level of importance to carbon pricing compared to the other countries in Asia.
The seventh annual survey of more than 3,000 building owners and operators around the world was led by the Johnson Controls Institute for Building Efficiency, the International Facility Management Association, and the Urban Land Institute.
Kuala Lumpur, October 13, 2013 – Hilton Kuala Lumpur, an award winning flagship hotel for Hilton Hotel and Resorts in Asia, continues to push the envelope with a new urban park design concept that is inspired by themes and motifs from nature.
This new design language totally transforms the entire lobby area of the hotel and infiltrates into its five new concept dining outlets. With a bold and contemporary modernist approach,
it is a complete departure from traditional hotel design with its open concept, alfresco like environment.
Taking inspiration from the wonderful green vista of the Lake Gardens that acts as a backdrop to the hotel, the urban park concept is designed to bring the serenity of this natural landscape into the hotel’s main public areas and new concept dining outlets, creating an oasis of serenity and calm for hotel guests, a sanctuary from the hectic frenzy of urban existence.
Motifs, colours, patterns and textures inspired by nature along with organic shapes and structures are used to create a holistic design language. However, they are interpreted and expressed in different ways so each area in the オンライン カジノ hotel still has its own distinct character.
In addition, in keeping with its reputation as a leading hotel for the international business traveler, all the redesigned public spaces feature data points to support electronic devices and internet access.
The new design concept was part of a major refurbishment the hotel underwent in the first half of this year to create a dynamic new environment in its main public areas for it hotel guests and to introduce five new F&B concept dining outlets.