Travelsoon.com: Brits to Be More Adventurous With Easter Holiday Travel Plans.

A recent travel industry survey has revealed that a number of factors, such as the Royal Wedding and the extra bank holidays have inspired British holidaymakers to be more daring with their holiday choices this year, say Travelsoon.com

ROMFORD, England, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey has found that Brits wanting to travel during the Easter holidays have been given a boost by the extra bank holiday in April, with recent estimates saying that millions of British travellers are expected to go on holiday over Easter and the Royal Wedding. The poll, which questioned 3,000 British holidaymakers 28% of respondents stated that they were travelling to a destination that they'd never been to before, which shows that more holidaymakers are becoming much more daring when it comes to their holiday choices in 2011, say Travelsoon.com.

Luke Nathan of Travelsoon.com says: "The news that British travellers are becoming braver in their holiday choices is really a very positive one, as it shows that consumers are more willing to try something different this year due to the extra time off that they will have. What's also interesting is that the poll also said that many travel companies are reporting that bookings to certain holiday destinations, have increased by as much as 180% compared to 2010."

While 47% of respondents said that the current economic climate meant that they were still being careful about how much they spend on their holidays, the study showed that only 18% of those questioned said that they would book through a traditional high-street travel agent. Compared to 55% of respondents who said they look for the best deals and discounts on their holiday by searching for their holiday, such as all-inclusive Egypt vacations online, which shows that people are increasingly turning to the internet to find the best possible deals on their holidays.

Nathan continues: "The news that consumers have not only taken advantage of the extra bank holidays in April and May, but that they are increasingly turning to the internet to do so is just fantastic, as it shows that consumers still have confidence in the online travel industry. What makes this survey really interesting is that is reveals that while British holidaymakers are choosing to travel to places that they have never been to before, they are looking outside of traditional destinations to things like Travelsoon's Sharm el Sheikh holidays online, which is just fantastic."

About Travelsoon.com:

Travelsoon.com is one of the leading travel consultancies in the country, specializing in tailor made and package holidays for our new and established client base. Located in Romford, Essex, Travelsoon works in conjunction with some of the leading tour operators to provide solutions for all manner of our client's holiday requirements. Travelsoon's commitment to consumer satisfaction means that our staff is mindful of the customer experience as a whole, and implements the most up to date technology and systems to ensure their needs are met and exceeded. Our consultants are dedicated to establishing and cultivating relationships with our partners as well as our customers to ensure their holiday stay is unforgettable. Praised for their innovation and creativity, the firm employs over 100 staff and our market share grows from strength to strength. Travelsoon is part of the Freedom Travel Group and is fully ATOL and ABTA bonded.

SOURCE Travelsoon.com

IPL to do million dollar business this season: Modi.

Mumbai, March 27 -- IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi made the bold prediction that the league would generate a revenue of USD 1 billion this season because of its huge fan following across the globe that would attract a large number of advertisers.

"The tournament is still on and we have not reached the final number. Yes, it will be more than a billion dollars (about Rs 4,700 crore) this season. Last season we did $450 million.

"Thereafter, we would double every year," Modi said. He asserted that as long as fans keep flocking to the IPL, the league's brand value would keep increasing and hence the revenue would too.

Modi also said that Sony, the official broadcaster of the IPL, would alone have a revenue of Rs. 700-800 crores. He also brushed aside criticism that the advertising rates for IPL-3 were very high.

"There may be some advertisers who feel that way but there are many others who are willing to join us," he said pointing out that the huge success of the tournament in terms of TV viewership would certainly entice the advertisers.

"There is no other sporting event across the world generating more eyeballs than the IPL," he said, adding that the league was virtually in every part of the world through either broadcasters or through the Internet via YouTube.

Recently, Brand Finance had come out with a valuation of USD 4.13 billion for the IPL, which was more than double the valuation from last year. Modi said about the figure that "it is indeed the valuation given to us by outsiders."

Comparing the English Premier League with the IPL, the study said that although the English Premier league was valued much higher than the IPL at USD 12 billion, the IPL had risen to its value of USD 4 billion in just three years.

Modi also pointed out that with regards to the EPL and bigger sports clubs in the West, most of those had negative cash flows and the EPL itself was facing a USD 800 million deficit.

"Here, we are talking about cash flow and it is going to grow in the future at IPL," he said, while detailing the dynamics of the financing of IPL franchises.

Modi said that the IPL teams had no load on them. "We are providing infrastructure and stadiums free of cost," he added.

To questions on predictions from some quarters that the IPL would not be able to sustain this kind of explosive growth, Modi retorted, "Let them (cynics) say anything. I know the numbers. I know the game. I have delivered. We will continue to deliver."

"The success of the IPL has hinged on its capacity to draw huge crowds - a fact that need not be proven again and again," Modi said.

He also added that there was a level playing field for all the teams since they were equally placed financially in their capacity to buy players, since the IPL had fixed caps for the maximum amount that could be bid.

"The level playing field between the teams would make the event more interesting," he said and added that another factor for success was that the revenue would be proportionate to the number of matches that are played.

"This season there are 60 matches and the number would go to 90 by next year and, therefore, the revenue would increase on a pro-rata basis," he said.

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Bharat Chronicle. For more information on news feed please contact Sarabjit Jagirdar at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

2008 Bharat Chronicle brought to you by HT Media Ltd.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Cox Enterprises and Georgia Power Produce Green Energy for Georgia.

Rooftop Solar Installation at Atlanta Vehicle Innovation Facility Supports Cox's National Sustainability Program

ATLANTA, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises announced today the completion of its 10,000-square-foot solar panel installation, the largest of its kind for Georgia Power's alternative energy program in Georgia.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070925/CLTU013LOGO-b )

Located at Cox's Manheim DRIVE facility in Stockbridge, Ga., the 100-kilowatt rooftop system converts the sun's radiation to electricity and generates approximately 150-megawatt hours annually. The renewable energy is fed back into the utility grid system and reduces the amount of energy generated by Georgia Power.

"Embracing renewable energy is a key component of Cox Conserves, our national sustainability program," said Mike Mannheimer, vice president, supply chain services and chief procurement officer, Cox Enterprises. "Our Manheim DRIVE solar project is a win for Cox, the environment and the community. The project reduces our energy costs and directly feeds renewable energy back into the community."

"We take great pride in being the first Manheim location in Georgia to install rooftop solar panels," said Donald Foy, executive director, Manheim DRIVE. "Our team is committed to looking at new and different ways to conserve the resources we use every day, including energy and water, to ensure we do our part for the environment and the community."

The panels are virtually maintenance-free and have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. Manheim DRIVE joins other Cox locations harnessing solar energy in Arizona, California and New Jersey.

"Cox Enterprises has always been a leader in promoting cutting-edge technologies," said Ervan Hancock, Georgia Power's renewable and green strategies manager. "The installation of this solar panel at Manheim DRIVE really reinforces their commitment to the environment and underscores how solar technology is evolving in Georgia."

Cox Conserves seeks to conserve resources, embrace renewable forms of energy and reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2017. Since 2000, Cox Enterprises has reduced its energy consumption by 10 percent while growing at nearly 12 percent a year. The program also encourages Cox's 77,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

The Manheim DRIVE Center is the first-of-its-kind innovation center in the vehicle remarketing industry. Bringing together automotive leaders to solve industry challenges, the Center hosts conferences, symposiums, roundtables and management retreats, as well as live auctions that are held in the 180-seat bidding theatre. Since its opening in 2004, more than 20,000 guests from around the world have visited DRIVE.

About Cox Enterprises:

Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues exceeding $15 billion and more than 77,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications, Inc. (cable television distribution, telephone, high-speed Internet access, commercial telecommunications, advertising solutions and the Travel Channel); Manheim, Inc. (vehicle auctions, repair and certification services and web-based technology products); Cox Media Group, Inc. (television stations, digital media, newspapers, advertising sales rep firms and majority-owned, publicly-traded Cox Radio, Inc.); and AutoTrader.com. Additionally, Cox's Internet operations include Kudzu.com and Adify Corporation, a unit of Cox TMI, Inc.

About Georgia Power:

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Halter, Cox Enterprises, +1-678-645-0762, elizabeth.halter@coxinc.com; Lynn Wallace, Georgia Power, +1-404-506-7676, LYMWALLA@southernco.com

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/126288.html

Broadband provider gives SoHo a big boost.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)

Rainbow Broadband, a leading provider of broadband connectivity to the New York business community, is enabling businesses to settle in SoHo, by meeting their Internet demands with WiMAX services.

To date, incumbent carriers have denied improvements to the network infrastructure, leaving SoHo-area businesses and landlords without viable bandwidth options.

"Rainbow Broadband's service allows us to rapidly exchange program files and provide our office space with the Internet speed we need to meet our deadlines," said Matthew Johnson. director of operations at WordWorld, the literacy-based preschool series on PBSKids, with learning toys at Target.

"Both our studio and headquarters are benefiting from Rainbow's cable and fiber network, which can handle the bandwidth-intense digital workload in this location."

The majority of the buildings in SoHo are older B & C class buildings. Fiber connections are rarely available because of high installation cost. Inhibiting SoHo business growth is the need for 5 to 10 Mbps of broadband for day-to-day operations--the current copper wiring is limited to T1 and DSL speeds. Rainbow Broadband's network hub, located at 32 Avenue of the Americas, allows them to beam their broadband network to virtually every building in SoHo.

Said Russ Harem. founder of Rainbow Broadband, said, "With our network hub ill place, businesses in SoHo can access the type of high-speed broadband that is mission critical for day-to-day business."

Vivienne's appeal to Irish mums; THE HUNT FOR MADELEINE.(News)

Byline: By SARAH JELLEMA and ROD CHAYTOR

GORGEOUS mum Vivienne Connolly led a vigil for kidnapped Madeleine McCann yesterday.

The Irish model held her three-year-old son Ben at St Stephen's Green, Dublin, as she asked Irish mothers to pray for the snatched tot's safe return before going to bed tonight.

Appalled by the abduction, Vivienne said she wanted to do her best to make a difference.

The mum of two added: "The Minute for Maddy campaign is simply a minute together, praying with our children.

"If normal people get together and show solidarity, it creates a momentum and awareness that will keep the campaign going.

"Momentum to encourage people, wherever they are in the world to always be on the lookout for Madeline and never give up the search."

Meanwhile, family and friends of Madeleine yesterday launched an appeal fund to help in the search for the missing child.

The Madeleine Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned will allow people to offer financial support to aid the hunt and bring her abductors to justice.

Donations would could also allow her distraught parents Kate and Gerry, still out in Portugal, hire private detectives if the official inquiry falters.

Family members, friends and advisers have been working behind the scenes for several days to set up the fund as the hunt for Madeleine drags on.

It was launched yesterday at Leicester City's Walkers Stadium, near the McCanns' home village of Rothley.

Her uncle John, who travelled from Glasgow, said: "People have been phoning to ask where our fund is. There is a groundswell of emotional support that people want to turn into something concrete.

"We are hoping this is going to be resolved very soon. We have got one objective - we want to get our darling wee Maddy back."

The public face of the appeal will be World Cup winning former England rugby captain Martin Johnson, who said of Madeleine's disappearance: "Obviously this has touched everyone. But as a parent and father myself, this has really hit home.

"I am here to help in any way I can and support the fund and represent the local community."

If the McCanns' ordeal is brought to an end soon surplus money will be used to help families who suffer a similar nightmare in the future.

Internet donations can be made via "Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned", sort code 60 40 05, account number 32130058.

CAPTION(S):

SUPPORT: Vivienne and Ben on Grafton Street, Dublin; SUFFERING: Gerry and Kate with twins

NiSource Declares Quarterly Common Dividend.

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of NiSource Inc. has declared a quarterly common dividend payment of 23 cents per share, payable on Feb. 20, 2007, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 31, 2007.

About NiSource

NiSource Inc. , based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.7 million customers located within the high- demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at http://www.nisource.com/. NI-F

CONTACT: Media, Kris Falzone, Vice President, Corporate Communications, +1-219-647-5581, or klfalzone@nisource.com, or Investors, Randy Hulen, Director, Investor Relations, +1-219-647-5688, or rghulen@nisource.com, both of NiSource Inc.

Web site: http://www.nisource.com/

Lixxus continue to celebrate its 1st year by launching free UK calls for all.

M2 PRESSWIRE-7 November 2005-Lixxus: Lixxus continue to celebrate its 1st year by launching free UK calls for all(C)1994-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:07112005

Lixxus (www.lixxus.co.uk) are now offering free unlimited UK calls from GBP9.99* a month to anyone with a broadband connection. Unlike many similar ISP offerings the LixxTalk package is not specific to just Lixxus broadband customers, you don't need special software or headsets for your computer, infact you don't even need your computer turned on! To make the whole operation as smooth as possible, and as part of its imminent 8Mb+ broadband service, Lixxus are offering a preconfigured ADSL2+ modem which should satisfy almost every broadband user supplying everything you will need to make a call, go online, game online, roam wirelessly round your house and the router will still work at speeds of up to 24Mb where and when available.

'Why change the habit of a lifetime?' a Lixxus spokesman said, 'You don't need to know how or why, just pick up the phone**, hear the dial tone and make a call the same way as you've always done.'

LixxTalk Home Setup Cost GBP15.99 Monthly Cost GBP9.99*

Optional Hardware: LixxTalk Modem GBPFree (when moving broadband connection to Lixxus) GBP64.61 (for users who don't already have broadband) GBP116.99 (for user who just want to purchase the router outright)

Pricing includes: Free UK calls day and night, Voicemail, second phone line delivered over existing broadband connection, incredible savings on calls to UK mobiles and abroad.

What's more, if you don't already have broadband Lixxus will throw in a 2Mb connection free of charge, only paying for the amount you use!

Joe Kelly, Lixxus CEO explains, 'As Broadband and Voice specialists, Lixxus focuses on what it does best, and that's to deliver what their customers really want: Service, savings, speed and reliability ensure that Lixxus customers remain loyal and that Lixxus goes from strength to strength. This Lixxus offer marks the end of our first year of operation during which it has come to be seen as providing the most imaginative customer-focused approach to enabling Broadband take-up in the UK. Lixxus are due to launch 8Mb broadband nationwide very soon and will be offering existing users free re-grades.'

For further information go to www.lixxus.co.uk

Notes for Editors

1. Free UK landline* calls and broadband connection when you subscribe to LixxTalk at GBP9.99/mth.

2. Free internet calls 3. Free broadband setup if customer doesn't already have broadband installed 4. Only pay for Broadband if and when you use it - true PayGo from GBPzero.

5. Free router worth GBP116.99 when you migrate to Lixxus from another provider.

6. Free migration and a free re-grade with free installation for existing broadband users migrating to Lixxus.

7. Innovative approaches to pricing and product ensure loyalty.

8. 8Mb ADSL will be offered soon to existing users who will receive free re-grades.

9. LixxTalk call and StartBasic broadband packages are also available separately.

10. Comparison -

A) V-Two-One - GBP9.98/mth for a broadband connection only when you buy a freetalk package of calls for GBP11.98/mth www.v21.co.uk

B) Tiscali and BT typically charge their customers between GBP14.99 and GBP17.99 a month plus over-use charges for Broadband only.

Competitor prices correct at time of going to press.

-- * Geographical numbers only such as codes beginning 01, 02 - anytime day, night and weekends.

-- ** Phones with Tone-Dial capability

CONTACT: James Kershaw, Sales DirectorTel: +44 (0)845 456 6308e-mail: james.kershaw@lixxus.co.uk

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).