Get ready for Imperial Leisures next outrageous cava-drenched skank-a-thon across the UK in March and April. The tour will celebrate the release of Imperial Leisures latest fan-funded album Death To The One Trick Pony – a happy fusion of ska, punk, and hip hop featuring their cheeky lyrics and trademark high octane sound.
The Times
DRAGHI UNDER PRESSURE AS EU BANKS SEEK HELP
The ECB is under pressure to unveil new emergency loans to
the regions wilting banking sector on Thursday after its
figures revealed a frantic scramble for dollar funding.
SEVEN VON ESSEN HOTELS TO GO AT A HUGE DISCOUNT
The financial fallout from the collapse of Von Essen Hotels
is set to deepen as administrators prepare to announce the sale
of the package of seven of its hotels at a big discount to the
asking price.
The Telegraph
HSBC ACTS TO STEM MIS-SELLING FALLOUT
HSBC has taken a dramatic step to stem the growing
scandal over its mis-selling of long-term care bonds to elderly
customers by offering to compensate investors who bought NHFA
products long before the bank bought the scandal-hit investment
adviser.
EU COMES UNDER THREAT OF DOWNGRADE BY SP
Standard Poors, the rating agency that shocked markets by
threatening a mass downgrade of eurozone debt, has issued a
warning on European Union credit too.
POTENTIALLY WORTHLESS BLACKS LEISURE PUT UP FOR SALE
Camping and outdoor clothing retailer Blacks Leisure
saw its shares crash 50 percent on Wednesday after the
company admitted it was running out of options and had put
itself up for sale.
The Guardian
EU SUMMIT SIGNALS CRUNCH TIME FOR UK
British Prime Minister David Cameron arrives in Brussels on
Thursday night for a European summit, buffeted by the
conflicting pressures of a Eurosceptic cabinet rebellion over an
EU referendum and increasing isolation in key capitals across
Europe.
The Independent
OSBORNE SAYS EURO CRISIS IS A THREAT TO UK
British finance minister George Osborne admitted on
Wednesday his plans for Britains economic recovery could be
blown out of the water unless European leaders find a solution
to the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.
Snowsports Industries America (SIA) and Leisure Trends Group released a recent survey from the past three months (Aug-Oct 2011) in sales surrounding the snow sports industry. The survey suggests that retail sales started off strong, and hardgood equipment is leading. Several trends for the 2011-12 are also pointed out in the report, including the popularity of the reverse and mixed camber ski/snowboard sales, and popularity of backcountry gear like beacons and shovels, up by almost 20%. All three sales channels (online, chain stores, specialty retailers) prove successful for preseason sales, but specialty shops remain dominant in the snow sports market. Read the official summary from SIA on the report based primarily on preseason sales for the snow sports market:
Olympic champion unveils state-of-the-art club in official ceremony
London (PRWEB UK) 7 December 2011
Olympic gold winner Denise Lewis OBE has officially opened the new David Lloyd Leisure club in Farnham, Surrey.
Denise cut a ribbon on Tuesday, December 6, to mark the opening of the £15m health, sports and leisure club, which offers myriad facilities including the groups largest Amida Spa.
The champion heptathlete said: â??David Lloyd Leisure Farnham is an absolutely stunning club, offering the community a fantastic array of sports, health and fitness facilities for the whole family.
â??With the countdown progressing to the London Games, this is a very exciting time for communities to get involved in sport and this club will offer its members a superb environment in which to achieve their health and fitness goals.â?
At the unveiling, David Lloyd Leisure chief executive Scott Lloyd said: â??The Farnham club demonstrates our efforts to invest in the best health, sports and leisure facilities for local communities. We are also proud that so many new jobs â?? some 70 â?? have been created, particularly during the current economic environment.â?
The 6,000 sqm-plus complex, which is next to Farnham Rugby Clubs new site in Monkton Lane, boasts a 1,200 sqm Amida Spa including six treatment rooms, four relaxation rooms, sauna, steam and experience rooms, and a spa plunge pool. An outdoor area features sauna cabins and a hydro spa pool.
Other attractions include a 500 sqm DL Kids facility – featuring family lounge areas and a wide range of activity and holiday programmes. DL Kids features scores of activities each week for children, focusing on fun, participation, learning and sport. The programmes, designed to complement the national school curriculum, include age-specific classes, holiday activity weeks, sports coaching, creative play and more.
David Lloyd Leisure Farnham provides some of the best racquets facilities in the region; as well as eight outdoor tennis courts, there are two squash courts and a multi-purpose sports hall housing three badminton courts.
The groups Tennis All Stars programme, accredited by the Lawn Tennis Association, will be available to children aged 3-11, while adults at all levels will be offered instruction by a dedicated team of LTA-qualified coaches.
The complex includes a 25m indoor swimming pool and separate childrens pool. The Swim All Stars quality swimming programme â?? endorsed by the Amateur Swimming Association and undertaken by ASA-qualified coaches â?? will be available for all abilities, from absolute beginners to rising stars.
There is also a 1,400 sqm gym, two exercise studios hosting a wide array of classes, and a specially designated spinning studio, plus two physiotherapy rooms and a DL CafÃbar, where members can relax and choose from a healthy and nutritionally-balanced menu.
Linden Henson, general manager at David Lloyd Farnham, commented: â??After many months of hard work by all teams involved, it is wonderful to see the club finally open.
â??We are so proud and grateful to have Denise Lewis perform the official ceremony; such a high-achieving athlete in her field who is an inspiration to future sporting heroes across the country.
He added: â??David Lloyd Leisure Farnhams facilities are second to none. The feedback already from members is incredible, and my staff and I will do our utmost to make every visit to this excellent club a truly memorable one.â?
For more information, visit http://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/farnham For membership information, call 0845 1252835.
Note to Editors: Photographs of Denise Lewis at David Lloyd Farnham are available from Anna-Marie Muldowney, David Lloyd Leisure press office, on 01707 289833 or press(at)davidlloyd(dot)co(dot)uk
About David Lloyd Leisure Group
The David Lloyd Leisure Group operates 80 clubs in the UK and a further 10 clubs across Europe. It has over 450,000 members and employs 6,000 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 1,800 and the services of more than 350 tennis professionals.
Across all clubs, David Lloyd Leisure has over 150 swimming pools (of which half are indoor) and offers over 10,000 exercise classes per week. Every week 20,000 children learn to swim at David Lloyd Leisure and 14,000 learn to play tennis.
Its racquets facilities are unparalleled with 700 tennis courts as well as 180 badminton courts and 140 squash courts. Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, club lounges with free internet access, crèches, nurseries and specialist sports shops.
About Denise Lewis
Denise won a gold medal in the heptathlon event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was dubbed one of the â??golden girls of British athletics alongside Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe and Christine Ohuruogu. She is mother to three young children. In the 2000 New Years Honours List, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/12/prweb9009423.htm
After spending 11 years with the City of Mesquite, Rich Bohne will be leaving his position as Director of Leisure Services at the end of December. Bohne, who will finish the season as boys basketball coach at Virgin Valley High School, will take a position as Director of Operations and as a member of the General Partnership for The Wilderness Club Resort in Eureka, Montana.
We are leaving with mixed emotions as we have loved our time here in Mesquite, said Bohne. The relationships we have gained here will be with us forever. The City has been a great place to work.
His successful stint in Mesquite included being involved in the creation and development of the Mesquite Sports and Event Complex, Hunter Park, Desert Rose Park, Hafen Park Tennis Courts, Jensen Dog Park, and the shading and resurfacing of several playgrounds and three recreation center weight room expansions. He was involved in the creation and development of The Deuce building, Sunshine Academy Pre-school and various landscaping projects around town.
Id like to thank all those Ive worked with for their support in our efforts to make Mesquite an awesome place to live, to work and to play. They are very dedicated and I know theyll keep up the great work, said Bohne.
Bohne received a Masters Degree from Idaho State University in Athletic Administration. He played collegiate basketball at the University of Calgary where he became the schools all-time leading scorer and was named to their Basketball Hall of Fame.
He was born and raised in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. He is married to Shondi Bly and they have four children; Trey 15, Chase 13, Taia 10, Kyla 8.
Note: Bryan Dangerfield was recently named Director of Athletics and Leisure Services. He will assume Rich Bohnes position on Jan. 2, with additional responsibilities over sports marketing. Dangerfield has served the City of Mesquite for nearly three years as director of economic development amp; redevelopment and as the public affairs officer.
New Leisure facilities at the new look Brandon Leisure Centre. Front is Tony Bass, Chief Executive of Anglia Community Leisure, with Simon Phelan, head of community services and Ian Shipp, leisure services manager.
Make sure the final party before marital bliss ensues is as unique and exciting as possible with individualised party events from Eclipse Leisure.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Whether you are planning a party in one of the UK?s many cities or a weekend further afield it is important that the event will be a memorable one. Forget the generic stag weekend activates and tailor-make your party to suit the stag and his guests. With Eclipse Leisure you can ?build your own? event choosing from different daytime activities such as axe throwing, wakeboarding, horse racing or even deep-sea fishing! In the evening the group can try their luck at the dogs or solve a murder mystery.
For groups of 15 on a two-night package that want to ?stitch up the stag? there is a choice of great costumes available such as Batman, The Only Gay in The Village and Spiderman. It is traditional for the stag to get dressed up, and these costumes are enormously popular and add good fun to the weekend. The costume can be delivered to the hotel ready and waiting for the lucky chap.
To make sure your party gets all the revellers in your party involved, Eclipse Leisure allows you to create your own website especially for your stag do event. On the website you can build a unique itinerary for the destination of your choice and it aims to help you with distributing information to all your group members. You will find all details of your event, including accommodation (if booked), maps and driving directions.
The benefits of booking a stag night with Eclipse Leisure include: 24 hour assistance on the weekend ? so that you can do more partying and less worrying ? 12 years experience in the industry, with 1000s of satisfied customers, ABTA and ATOL bonding for your peace of mind and reliable and respected services. 60% of their business comes from recommendations and they have an easy-to-use online payment collection service.
About Eclipse Leisure
Eclipse Leisure has been organising stag and hen weekends since 1999. Eclipse Leisure, an ABTA bonded and ATOL registered company, are one of the longest established stag and hen weekend tour operators and are the UKs leading suppliers of Christmas parties. The company also offers team building and corporate events and ski holidays in Europe.
So whether your ultimate stag weekend experience will be a stag night out in Belfast or a weekend away to Berlin, Eclipse Leisure has a wide range of itineraries for your party to chose from.
7th December 2011BRIDPORT: 25 years of leisure centre service
A LONG-SERVING member of the Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust has been recognised for 25 years service.
In her time with the trust, Honorary Secretary Gail White, has been involved in the building of the swimming pool, the refurbishment of the real tennis court, the new fitness suite, improvements to the wet and dry side changing rooms and more recently the development of the new studios.
As honorary secretary she has supported the finance and management committees with committed attendance and had a keen involvement with capital projects and the human resource side of the business.
The quality and range of facilities now available at the Bridport Leisure Centre are a result of the hard work by our management team and the dedication of our committee members who all give their time voluntarily, she said.
Being part of this has been interesting and immensely rewarding and I feel proud to have been involved throughout the development of what is now a first class leisure centre.
Chairman of the Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust, Richard Salt, presented Gail White with an honorary lifetime membership to the Bridport Leisure Centre, complete with gold membership card, to mark the milestone.
He said that Gail has been an inspiration to others working with the trust.
Bridport Leisure Centre manager, Nick Neale, added: I have maximum respect for Gail and have really enjoyed working closely with her and the other directors for nearly 10 years.
I have always felt able to discuss important personnel issues with Gail, and her experience of people and the facilities at the leisure centre, has been able to offer pertinent and sound advice.
On a personal note, I will miss working alongside Gail, but I am sure I will continue to see her in and around the centre as an active honorary member.
PICTURE:LADY OF LEISURE – Honorary Secretary of the Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust, Gail White, receives her lifetime membership from Trust Chairman Richard Salt
Royal Enfield has come a long way and we are now moving into a space of being much more of a leisure brand, says Mr Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eicher Motors, which owns the Chennai-based motorcycle company.
He hastens to add that leisure has nothing to do with luxury since Royal Enfield bikes are largely used on a daily basis to work and back. It has become a practical leisure bike and that is our position as a result, he told Business Line in a recent interview.
The foundation for leisure biking was laid at Royal Enfield a little over a decade ago when Mr Lal and his team were trying to figure out what the company was all about. They looked at commuters, different sizes/categories of bikes and finally realised that there was no point competing with the (then) Indo-Japanese bikes but, instead, creating an individual space for Enfield.
Even though a number of aspects of the brand such as ride quality and fit and finish were not in the leisure realm, the basic DNA of commuting long distances was there all along. We took that DNA and expanded the scope, which meant everything else had to fit in right, Mr Lal says.
He believes the leisure concept, which is equally true for watches, books or furniture, will take up at least five per cent of the market. For a large chunk of riders, they should aspire to own a Royal Enfield someday, which means it is up to us to make it an aspiration, Mr Lal adds.
There have also been some interesting trends in the sales pattern. Earlier, the company was dependent upon semi-urban markets such as Punjab or Kerala, which dominated sales. Today, in the last six-eight years, while volumes continue to be strong in these two States, 60-80 per cent of sales come from the cities, including tier-2 metros.
In addition, the Royal Enfield customer base is a lot more youthful today than what it has been in the recent past when middle-aged men were in the drivers seat.
Today, we are a brand that anyone should aspire for and be able to get his hands on, which is why I stressed that leisure is not luxury. Anyone who enjoys biking, regardless of his socioeconomic background, and gives it top priority, is the person who should come to us, Mr Lal says.
According to him, some of the recent riding initiatives such as the Himalayan rally have been huge brand-building efforts. It gets people to really enjoy the type of motorcycling which is part of our culture. This is the starting point of our branding efforts, which is all about rides, he says.
Regional rides are next on the radar, which involves a day/weekend trip organised by Royal Enfield dealers and is displayed on the Web site. The idea is to integrate with the community and these end up becoming regular friends circles.
We do not have sports personalities or actors to endorse our bikes. I would rather flush my head down a loo than have someone who does not know how to ride a bike pose for my motorcycle. We do not want to build our brand this way, Mr Lal reiterates.
Proquest LLC
OnlineAutoInsurance.com, an originator of the nationwide public rating engine, has launched the online forum, community.onlineautoinsurance.com/, for consumers to access and have a place to discuss coverage issues, get feedback about their questions or chat about anything related to car insurance or driving in general.
The Company said that the new forum takes the site beyond its established role as a provider of timely news, videos, consumer reviews and instant quotes from a variety of automobile insurers.
We are very pleased to provide consumers with yet another way to learn more about insurance issues and to get connected, said
Cesar Diaz, founder of the site and a veteran agent. Weve already helped people find breaking news and online videos about the industry, company evaluations submitted by their peers and access to the lowest rates available, now theres a comfortable online place for them to find more information or just hang out and talk with fellow members.
As anyone who has ever shopped for a policy, filed a claim or tried to get answers from their provider knows, auto coverage can be a complex subject.
In a release, the Company noted details of the website:
The new auto insurance community site is an informal setting where consumers can have their queries answered by fellow community members, including some industry experts, start their own discussions or sound off about previous posts.
Topics range from those directly related to vehicle coverage, such as the wisdom of paying a little extra for an extended warranty and the risks posed by a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or other moving violations, to others with a more indirect impact, such as engineering developments, driving dangers and safety tips.
Other discussions focus on driving or related issues, such as motorists pet peeves and what items to keep in the glove compartment. Members are free to talk about whatever they would like.
The site adds to the broad range of services offered at onlineautoinsurance.com/ including informative resource pages, a quote-comparison generator, breaking news and insightful analysis on industry trends.
The launch of the new community is another step toward the companys goal of being the one-stop source for objective and helpful information that enables the individual online consumer.
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
