“The fastest ever production Skoda Octavia”. Doesn’t exactly set your nerves quivering, does it? “Cut-price Golf GTI”, however, sounds more interesting. And that’s exactly what the Octavia vRS has always set to out to be.
Skoda first installed the VW Group’s 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine in its practical Octavia hatch and estate in 2000. Along with sports suspension, alloy wheels, chunky bumpers and a subtle rear wing, it created the very first vRS, or Victory Racing Sport (the “v” only appeared on UK market cars as a concession to Ford, which also brands its fast cars as RS models).
That first Octavia vRS undercut most of its hot hatch rivals for purchase price and running costs, all the while being practical, fun and desirable. As such, it gained a small but very much worthwhile following for Skoda, a brand that was still finding its feet again after years of ridicule.
A Fabia vRS followed two years later, creating a niche for itself by being a diesel-powered hot hatch and further reinforcing the notion that Skoda was getting its mojo back.
So it was no surprise that when the Czech brand launched the second-generation of Octavia in 2004, it included not just a petrol vRS model, but a diesel too. The latter proved a hit, typically accounting for about 80 per cent of Octavia vRS sales (themselves about 14 per cent of Octavia sales) in the UK.
Finally, to bring us up to date, earlier this summer Skoda launched the latest vRS, based on the new Octavia and available with the engine from the Golf GTI, sports suspension, chunky bumpers et al.
Again a diesel is offered, dropping a few mph in top speed to the petrol (144mph versus 154mph), but gaining in fuel economy (61.4mpg against 45.6mpg on the Combined cycle). Prices start at $22,990 for the hatch, with the estate carrying a premium of $800.
Underpinning the latest Octavia is the VW Group’s increasingly ubiquitous MQB architecture, which it introduced last year to save cost and weight on its range of transverse front-engined, front-wheel-drive cars. What that means is that it shares the same chassis, electronics and engines as the VW Golf, Seat Leon, Audi A3 and soon to be many more.
However, the flexibility of the MQB platform means that the Octavia can be longer than other cars from the VW Group stable, not to mention the model it replaces, over which it gains 11cm in the wheelbase. This translates to very generous rear leg room (never mind whether one six footer can sit behind another, in the Octavia it’s more about whether they can also perform the can-can), as well as 590 litres of luggage capacity for the hatchback and 610 litres for the estate.
That roomy interior, as well as the Octavia’s understated stying, make it a very appealing car as far as the practicalities are concerned. There are plenty of clever touches too, such as the foldaway hooks in the boot from which you can hang your shopping bags, the one-touch seat-folding mechanism on the estate and the fact that even the boot mat is double-sided, one as a carpet and the other a dirt- and water-repellent surface for those trips to the tip. There’s also an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap and even a multimedia holder that slots into one of the many cup holders to keep your phone or iPod secure.
What the obligatory racy features, such as the sports seats and vRS-branded steering wheel, do is add a welcome sense of occasion to go with these thoughtful design touches. It is also well equipped, with rear parking sensors, hill hold, lane assist, a touchscreen, Bluetooth and DAB radio fitted as standard. The point is, unlike any other Octavia, you will probably sense a frisson of excitement the first time you climb aboard a vRS.
What you will discover almost straight away, however, is that the latest Octavia vRS is a long way from being a hardened hot hatch. That’s an observation rather than a criticism, but it’s important to understand that in ordinary driving the vRS feels much like any other Octavia.
In that sense the vRS is a slow burner. But if you feel a bit underwhelmed in the first 50 miles then stick with it, for in time you will begin to appreciate what a fine all-rounder this is.
With a price difference of just $270 between the two engines, which one you go for will probably depend more on whether you’re a business user or not. There’s not a weak link here, but the petrol motor is the more enticing. Smooth from tickover to its redline and with a hearty kick of torque from the turbo (the peak of 258lb ft lasts all the way from 1,500-4,400rpm), it has plenty in hand to keep you entertained. A power output of 217bhp is, after all, more than the Subaru Impreza Turbo went to war with not all that long ago, and that was considered some kind of rocketship on wheels. Nowadays 0-62mph in 6.8sec and 154mph are fairly typical - slow even - for a hot hatch, but the Octavia still feels plenty punchy enough.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric &
Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment
manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, washer
extractor, industrial washing machine,
dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching,
manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest
level of quality and service.
2013年8月27日 星期二
2013年8月16日 星期五
Higher demand for our turbines
Nordex posted a net profit of 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million) in the first half of 2013, comparing favorably with a loss of 23 million euros in the same period last year, company figures released Thursday showed.
The first profit in two years came on 57 percent higher sales of the German wind turbine manufacturer, reaching 661 million euros in the six months.
In addition, the company's restructuring drive of the past months was bearing fruit, said Nordex Chief Executive Jürgen Zeschky.
“Higher demand for our turbines, as well as improving productivity are showing that our strategy is working,” he said in the company's earnings report.
Nordex, as well as its main rivals Vestas and Repower, have been suffering from overcapacity and falling product margins in the market for wind power turbines.
The German firm, which is based in Hamburg, has drastically cut costs and closed plants in China and the United States to counter the downturn especially in the European markets.
Nordex appears to have turned the corner, claiming it had secured new orders to the tune of 839 million euros between January and June - up 61 percent from the same period a year ago.
Nordex CEO Zeschky said revenues for the full year could surge to 1.4 billion euros, which would be about 100 million euros more than had originally been envisaged.
As a result Nordex shares rose about 12 percent in the German stock market on Thursday, adding to gains of about 130 percent since the beginning of this year.
The Energy Department released two new reports showcasing record growth across the U.S. wind market – increasing America’s share of clean, renewable energy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs nationwide. According to these reports, the United States continues to be one of the world’s largest and fastest growing wind markets. In 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generation capacity for the first time – representing 43 percent of all new electric additions and accounting for $25 billion in U.S. investment.
In the first four years of the Obama Administration, American electricity generation from wind and solar power more than doubled. President Obama’s Climate Action Plan makes clear that the growth of clean, renewable wind energy remains a critical part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, diversifies our energy economy and brings innovative technologies on line. The Obama Administration has committed to another doubling of the renewable electricity generation from energy resources like wind power by 2020.
“The tremendous growth in the U.S. wind industry over the past few years underscores the importance of consistent policy that ensures America remains a leader in clean energy innovation,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “As the fastest growing source of power in the United States, wind is paving the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future that protects our air and water and provides affordable, clean renewable energy to more and more Americans.”
The tremendous growth in the overall U.S. wind industry has led directly to more American jobs throughout a number of sectors and at factories and power plants across the country. According to industry estimates, the wind sector employs over 80,000 American workers, including workers at manufacturing facilities up and down the supply chain, as well as engineers and construction workers who build wind installations.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
The first profit in two years came on 57 percent higher sales of the German wind turbine manufacturer, reaching 661 million euros in the six months.
In addition, the company's restructuring drive of the past months was bearing fruit, said Nordex Chief Executive Jürgen Zeschky.
“Higher demand for our turbines, as well as improving productivity are showing that our strategy is working,” he said in the company's earnings report.
Nordex, as well as its main rivals Vestas and Repower, have been suffering from overcapacity and falling product margins in the market for wind power turbines.
The German firm, which is based in Hamburg, has drastically cut costs and closed plants in China and the United States to counter the downturn especially in the European markets.
Nordex appears to have turned the corner, claiming it had secured new orders to the tune of 839 million euros between January and June - up 61 percent from the same period a year ago.
Nordex CEO Zeschky said revenues for the full year could surge to 1.4 billion euros, which would be about 100 million euros more than had originally been envisaged.
As a result Nordex shares rose about 12 percent in the German stock market on Thursday, adding to gains of about 130 percent since the beginning of this year.
The Energy Department released two new reports showcasing record growth across the U.S. wind market – increasing America’s share of clean, renewable energy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs nationwide. According to these reports, the United States continues to be one of the world’s largest and fastest growing wind markets. In 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generation capacity for the first time – representing 43 percent of all new electric additions and accounting for $25 billion in U.S. investment.
In the first four years of the Obama Administration, American electricity generation from wind and solar power more than doubled. President Obama’s Climate Action Plan makes clear that the growth of clean, renewable wind energy remains a critical part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, diversifies our energy economy and brings innovative technologies on line. The Obama Administration has committed to another doubling of the renewable electricity generation from energy resources like wind power by 2020.
“The tremendous growth in the U.S. wind industry over the past few years underscores the importance of consistent policy that ensures America remains a leader in clean energy innovation,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “As the fastest growing source of power in the United States, wind is paving the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future that protects our air and water and provides affordable, clean renewable energy to more and more Americans.”
The tremendous growth in the overall U.S. wind industry has led directly to more American jobs throughout a number of sectors and at factories and power plants across the country. According to industry estimates, the wind sector employs over 80,000 American workers, including workers at manufacturing facilities up and down the supply chain, as well as engineers and construction workers who build wind installations.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
2013年8月14日 星期三
Retro wins out in high-tech housing
Space-age gadgetry is out and 1960s simplicity appears to be back in favour when it comes to low-emissions living.
A team of Australian university students has won first prize in an international “energy Olympics”, basing their housing design on a standard “fibro” home once common across the country.
The students, from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, deliberately chose an existing design for the Solar Decathlon in China because retrofitting many of Australia’s 8 million-plus homes can cut carbon emissions much faster than rolling out newly built ones.
“We were the only team in any decathlon to date to try to demonstrate a retrofit,” said Jack Breen, a member and spokesman of Team UoW. “The jury saw the need for this. We see the need for this.”
More than 50 students worked for two years on the design, construction and disassembly of the winning Illawarra Flame House, and beat strong competition from 19 other finalists including Chinese, Swedish and Iranian entries. It was also the first time an Australian team had made it to the finals of the event, which started in 2002.
The original home’s energy rating was lifted from 2.2 stars to 7.4 stars, while total energy use dropped about 80 per cent after the retrofit, according to modelling.
‘On the map’
As many as half a million people are expected to tour the display site in Datong, a former capital and now grimy industrial city 300 kilometres west of Beijing.
“This is going to put [the university] on the map a bit,” Mr Breen said, adding the long queues over the weekend may even lengthen in the remaining days of the exhibition as interest builds. “We expect that it will be absolutely crazy.”
While the entry won first place for engineering and application, the house also ranked highly for targeting couples about to retire, a market often overlooked by those developing highly energy-efficient houses.
“With baby boomers reaching retirement age, there’s potentially a big market out there,” Mr Breen said.
Design tweaks to meet that market included reducing the number of bedrooms in a typical 80-square-metre home of that era to just one, with a second bedroom doubling as a study. The students also widened doors, lowered the level of light fittings and removed all steps to ease access for the occupants.
The students installed enough solar panels to generate more power than the household would use, and added reed gardens and sand beds to enable all grey water produced by the washing machine and sinks to be recycled. Waste from a fish pond can also be used as a fertiliser for plants.
“Plants can grow up to four times as fast because of that fertiliser,” Mr Breen said.
History preserved
Part of the house’s appeal for the judges was the use of recycled materials and refurbishing of 1960s furniture.
“We wanted to preserve the history,” he said. “It’s a house that celebrates human life rather than the house itself.”
The redesign and retrofit cost about $300,000, a figure that is likely to shrink as design components are commercialised.
“That’s a conversation we’ll all be having when we get back to Australia,” Mr Breen said.
Once disassembled, the house will be rebuilt at the University of Wollongong, where students – and possibly retired couples – will get a chance to reside in it and study how it performs.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
A team of Australian university students has won first prize in an international “energy Olympics”, basing their housing design on a standard “fibro” home once common across the country.
The students, from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, deliberately chose an existing design for the Solar Decathlon in China because retrofitting many of Australia’s 8 million-plus homes can cut carbon emissions much faster than rolling out newly built ones.
“We were the only team in any decathlon to date to try to demonstrate a retrofit,” said Jack Breen, a member and spokesman of Team UoW. “The jury saw the need for this. We see the need for this.”
More than 50 students worked for two years on the design, construction and disassembly of the winning Illawarra Flame House, and beat strong competition from 19 other finalists including Chinese, Swedish and Iranian entries. It was also the first time an Australian team had made it to the finals of the event, which started in 2002.
The original home’s energy rating was lifted from 2.2 stars to 7.4 stars, while total energy use dropped about 80 per cent after the retrofit, according to modelling.
‘On the map’
As many as half a million people are expected to tour the display site in Datong, a former capital and now grimy industrial city 300 kilometres west of Beijing.
“This is going to put [the university] on the map a bit,” Mr Breen said, adding the long queues over the weekend may even lengthen in the remaining days of the exhibition as interest builds. “We expect that it will be absolutely crazy.”
While the entry won first place for engineering and application, the house also ranked highly for targeting couples about to retire, a market often overlooked by those developing highly energy-efficient houses.
“With baby boomers reaching retirement age, there’s potentially a big market out there,” Mr Breen said.
Design tweaks to meet that market included reducing the number of bedrooms in a typical 80-square-metre home of that era to just one, with a second bedroom doubling as a study. The students also widened doors, lowered the level of light fittings and removed all steps to ease access for the occupants.
The students installed enough solar panels to generate more power than the household would use, and added reed gardens and sand beds to enable all grey water produced by the washing machine and sinks to be recycled. Waste from a fish pond can also be used as a fertiliser for plants.
“Plants can grow up to four times as fast because of that fertiliser,” Mr Breen said.
History preserved
Part of the house’s appeal for the judges was the use of recycled materials and refurbishing of 1960s furniture.
“We wanted to preserve the history,” he said. “It’s a house that celebrates human life rather than the house itself.”
The redesign and retrofit cost about $300,000, a figure that is likely to shrink as design components are commercialised.
“That’s a conversation we’ll all be having when we get back to Australia,” Mr Breen said.
Once disassembled, the house will be rebuilt at the University of Wollongong, where students – and possibly retired couples – will get a chance to reside in it and study how it performs.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
2013年7月5日 星期五
New on the street
Walls have disappeared in Longwood’s newest model home, a sunny semi-detached bungalow located in the heart of Hunt Club.
“People really like open spaces,” says Darice Greene, sales manager for the mid-sized company that was launched 24 years ago by Ottawa native Guy Whissel.
The Thornhill, a two-bedroom affair with hardwood floors and a finished lower level, has been a popular design in Longwood’s portfolio. In years past, a wall divided the living and dining room from the generous kitchen and attached breakfast bar, says Greene during a recent tour of the brick bungalow.
“We decided to take down the wall, to open up the spaces. There is a cathedral ceiling in the living and dining room and now it’s also a standard feature to have a cathedral ceiling in the kitchen and breakfast area. It opens up the whole house and makes it feel very large and very bright.”
In fact, there are 1,579 square feet of living space on the main level and another 898 square feet on the lower level, including a large family room, a bedroom and bathroom. The open design appeals to buyers wanting to downsize from larger, family homes, says Greene. “Our buyers are 50 plus, who are attracted to the area because it is close to the airport, yet the homes are not on a flight path, so there are no worries about noisy jets flying overhead.”
The Neighbourhoods of Hunt Club is a compact site, sitting behind Hunt Club Road near Paul Anka Drive. “You can be downtown in a few minutes. It is very central.”
Back inside the model, the kitchen has been designed for entertaining, boasting large helpings of granite counters and cupboards. The washer and dryer is tucked off the kitchen, ensuring laundry chores are a simple affair.
A front room can be a second bedroom or a cosy den.
The master bedroom has two large corner windows, ensuring lots of sunshine, while the ensuite bathroom was rejigged for convenience. Architect Douglas Hardie dropped the corner bathtub in earlier versions of the bungalow, substituting an oversized shower with chunky glass walls and convenient cupboards for towels and bed linens.
“Nobody really used the tubs, so we did some redesigning,” says Greene.
The formula for easy living, including a low-maintenance exterior, is working: Half of the 22 bungalows have already sold. Longwood is putting the finishing touches on four inventory homes, with August occupancy, says Greene. There are five wide lots with novel designs featuring rear garages.
The remaining homes will be ready by spring.
There are four different plans, starting with the Thornhill, which is the smallest, and going up to the Meadow, the largest, with 1,787 square feet and priced at $469,900. The base price of the Thornhill is $441,900, which includes hardwood flooring in the living and dining room, ceramic in the entrance and bathrooms and granite counters.
Longwood, which is also building condos, has a history of building adult-lifestyle communities, starting with bungalows near Baseline and Merivale roads and a blend of bungalows and two-storey homes a block west of this neighbourhood site.
There are also plans to build an adult-lifestyle community in Richmond. “It is a concept people like and are looking for,” says Greene, who follows her own advice, buying a Longwood bungalow townhome seven years ago. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.aulaundry.com.
“People really like open spaces,” says Darice Greene, sales manager for the mid-sized company that was launched 24 years ago by Ottawa native Guy Whissel.
The Thornhill, a two-bedroom affair with hardwood floors and a finished lower level, has been a popular design in Longwood’s portfolio. In years past, a wall divided the living and dining room from the generous kitchen and attached breakfast bar, says Greene during a recent tour of the brick bungalow.
“We decided to take down the wall, to open up the spaces. There is a cathedral ceiling in the living and dining room and now it’s also a standard feature to have a cathedral ceiling in the kitchen and breakfast area. It opens up the whole house and makes it feel very large and very bright.”
In fact, there are 1,579 square feet of living space on the main level and another 898 square feet on the lower level, including a large family room, a bedroom and bathroom. The open design appeals to buyers wanting to downsize from larger, family homes, says Greene. “Our buyers are 50 plus, who are attracted to the area because it is close to the airport, yet the homes are not on a flight path, so there are no worries about noisy jets flying overhead.”
The Neighbourhoods of Hunt Club is a compact site, sitting behind Hunt Club Road near Paul Anka Drive. “You can be downtown in a few minutes. It is very central.”
Back inside the model, the kitchen has been designed for entertaining, boasting large helpings of granite counters and cupboards. The washer and dryer is tucked off the kitchen, ensuring laundry chores are a simple affair.
A front room can be a second bedroom or a cosy den.
The master bedroom has two large corner windows, ensuring lots of sunshine, while the ensuite bathroom was rejigged for convenience. Architect Douglas Hardie dropped the corner bathtub in earlier versions of the bungalow, substituting an oversized shower with chunky glass walls and convenient cupboards for towels and bed linens.
“Nobody really used the tubs, so we did some redesigning,” says Greene.
The formula for easy living, including a low-maintenance exterior, is working: Half of the 22 bungalows have already sold. Longwood is putting the finishing touches on four inventory homes, with August occupancy, says Greene. There are five wide lots with novel designs featuring rear garages.
The remaining homes will be ready by spring.
There are four different plans, starting with the Thornhill, which is the smallest, and going up to the Meadow, the largest, with 1,787 square feet and priced at $469,900. The base price of the Thornhill is $441,900, which includes hardwood flooring in the living and dining room, ceramic in the entrance and bathrooms and granite counters.
Longwood, which is also building condos, has a history of building adult-lifestyle communities, starting with bungalows near Baseline and Merivale roads and a blend of bungalows and two-storey homes a block west of this neighbourhood site.
There are also plans to build an adult-lifestyle community in Richmond. “It is a concept people like and are looking for,” says Greene, who follows her own advice, buying a Longwood bungalow townhome seven years ago. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.aulaundry.com.
2013年7月1日 星期一
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Brand Opens First Hotel
Wyndham Hotel Group has expanded its portfolio of hotels in Latin America with the addition of the 179-room Wyndham Guayaquil in Ecuador.
The newly constructed, full-service property in Guayaquil is the fifth hotel to open under an agreement between Wyndham Hotel Group and the hotel’s ownership group, Nobis, to develop and franchise eight additional hotels in the country under Wyndham Hotel Group flags over 10 years.
Located downtown on the waterfront, the new Wyndham hotel joins newly renovated sister property Howard Johnson Hotel Guayaquil, one of four Howard Johnson hotels owned by Nobis and currently operating in Ecuador.
Wyndham Guayaquil is located steps from the historic Santa Ana Hill and just minutes from the sights and attractions at Malecon 2000, Simon Bolivar Convention Center, World Trade Center Guayaquil and Aeropueto Internacional Jose Joaquin de Olmedo.
Each of the 179 guest rooms include amenities like plush pillow top bedding, down pillows, mini-bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, bathrobe, digital safe and 43-inch flat screen satellite TV.
Guests upgrading to a Junior Suite will also be able to enjoy an hot tub, while the Presidential Suite boasts a kitchen, dining room and living room.
Guests of this Guayaquil hotel can stay fit at the state-of-art-fitness center or relax with a swim in the heated outdoor pool, which proffers glorious views of the city from the 9th floor terrace.
Free Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the hotel ensures productivity, while a business center, free airport shuttle service, 24-hour concierge service and same-day dry cleaning machine are convenient extras for business travelers.
The onsite Restuarante Santa Ana serves up bountiful buffets for breakfast and lunch, and a selection of local and international à la carte dishes for dinner. The Numa Bar is an ideal spot to relax with a cocktail.
This Guayaquil hotel offers four meeting rooms to accommodate from 15 to 30 people, as well as a ballroom for up to 500 people.
“The launch of our flagship brand in an emerging market like Ecuador – and in one of the country’s busiest business and travel centers – is very exciting for our company,” said Daniel del Olmo, senior vice president and managing director of Latin America for Wyndham Hotel Group. “Wyndham Guayaquil will give travelers the chance to experience our customer-focused ‘Count On Me!’ service culture and will also offer the reliable services and amenities they need during their stay. We’re honored to work with a respected partner like Nobis to help us provide travelers in the region with great experiences and quality lodging options.”
The newly constructed, full-service property in Guayaquil is the fifth hotel to open under an agreement between Wyndham Hotel Group and the hotel’s ownership group, Nobis, to develop and franchise eight additional hotels in the country under Wyndham Hotel Group flags over 10 years.
Located downtown on the waterfront, the new Wyndham hotel joins newly renovated sister property Howard Johnson Hotel Guayaquil, one of four Howard Johnson hotels owned by Nobis and currently operating in Ecuador.
Wyndham Guayaquil is located steps from the historic Santa Ana Hill and just minutes from the sights and attractions at Malecon 2000, Simon Bolivar Convention Center, World Trade Center Guayaquil and Aeropueto Internacional Jose Joaquin de Olmedo.
Each of the 179 guest rooms include amenities like plush pillow top bedding, down pillows, mini-bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, bathrobe, digital safe and 43-inch flat screen satellite TV.
Guests upgrading to a Junior Suite will also be able to enjoy an hot tub, while the Presidential Suite boasts a kitchen, dining room and living room.
Guests of this Guayaquil hotel can stay fit at the state-of-art-fitness center or relax with a swim in the heated outdoor pool, which proffers glorious views of the city from the 9th floor terrace.
Free Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the hotel ensures productivity, while a business center, free airport shuttle service, 24-hour concierge service and same-day dry cleaning machine are convenient extras for business travelers.
The onsite Restuarante Santa Ana serves up bountiful buffets for breakfast and lunch, and a selection of local and international à la carte dishes for dinner. The Numa Bar is an ideal spot to relax with a cocktail.
This Guayaquil hotel offers four meeting rooms to accommodate from 15 to 30 people, as well as a ballroom for up to 500 people.
“The launch of our flagship brand in an emerging market like Ecuador – and in one of the country’s busiest business and travel centers – is very exciting for our company,” said Daniel del Olmo, senior vice president and managing director of Latin America for Wyndham Hotel Group. “Wyndham Guayaquil will give travelers the chance to experience our customer-focused ‘Count On Me!’ service culture and will also offer the reliable services and amenities they need during their stay. We’re honored to work with a respected partner like Nobis to help us provide travelers in the region with great experiences and quality lodging options.”
2013年5月29日 星期三
Backup sewage floods Davenport alderman's home
Davenport 7th Ward Alderman Barney Barnhill mopped up and yanked out wood paneling Wednesday after a foot of sewage from the weekend's heavy storms backed up into his basement.
He said sewer water flowed out of the toilet like "Old Faithful" and from the floor drain in the laundry dryer early Monday after a 24-hour pelting dumped 3.32 inches of rain on Davenport and overloaded the city's old sewer system.
Barnhill described the "slushy brown" water he saw creeping up a couple of basement steps Monday that has since receded. He pointed to the water stains on a Queen Anne-style love seat and bed frame in a basement bedroom that still had water and sewage on the floor.
Wearing a face mask and heavy boots, Barnhill said he had spent the past several days cleaning up and going over what's been lost, including artwork, books and old bottles of wine in a rack that was submerged in sewer water. A John Bloom piece was among the works of art that were damaged.
He said that with the city's old sewer system, any rainfall of more than 2 inches is like "rolling the dice" as far as in which neighborhoods sewers will back up. The last time Barnhill, who lives in the 3000 block of Grand Avenue, had a sewage backup was after the record flood of 1993, and it took him all summer and $13,000 to clean it up and renovate the basement, he said.
"I'll have to rip it all out and start over," he said of the waist-high wood paneling on the walls. "This happened 20 years ago. It's like deja vu. I never thought I'd get sewer backup again."
The scene is not unlike dozens being repeated among his constituents in the 7th Ward, including residents on Garfield Street who have had their basements flooded by sewage backup in heavy storms this spring.
The Quad-City Times tried to contact Barnhill on Monday for comment on the flooding issues in his ward and could not reach him. For the record, Barnhill said Wednesday that the weekend storm knocked out his telephone service, so he could not make or receive calls for two days.
Sewer water also damaged a power strip in his basement that knocked out service to three TV sets in his house. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans Wednesday, he said he hasn't been able to do laundry for days while waiting to see whether sewer water would fill his washing machine tub. Luckily, it didn't, so he's also keeping busy doing laundry for himself and his wife.
Even his doorbell didn't work, but he's not sure whether that is flood-related.
Outside, a neighbor's sump pump was flushing every few minutes. Barnhill said multiple homes on his block were flooded.
The alderman said parts of his ward, including the 500 block of West Garfield Street, are among the worst in the city when it comes to sewer backups. Although the ward is scheduled for repairs in 2016, Barnhill said he wants to move that up for the Garfield residents but added that he will need the support of his City Council colleagues.
He said sewer water flowed out of the toilet like "Old Faithful" and from the floor drain in the laundry dryer early Monday after a 24-hour pelting dumped 3.32 inches of rain on Davenport and overloaded the city's old sewer system.
Barnhill described the "slushy brown" water he saw creeping up a couple of basement steps Monday that has since receded. He pointed to the water stains on a Queen Anne-style love seat and bed frame in a basement bedroom that still had water and sewage on the floor.
Wearing a face mask and heavy boots, Barnhill said he had spent the past several days cleaning up and going over what's been lost, including artwork, books and old bottles of wine in a rack that was submerged in sewer water. A John Bloom piece was among the works of art that were damaged.
He said that with the city's old sewer system, any rainfall of more than 2 inches is like "rolling the dice" as far as in which neighborhoods sewers will back up. The last time Barnhill, who lives in the 3000 block of Grand Avenue, had a sewage backup was after the record flood of 1993, and it took him all summer and $13,000 to clean it up and renovate the basement, he said.
"I'll have to rip it all out and start over," he said of the waist-high wood paneling on the walls. "This happened 20 years ago. It's like deja vu. I never thought I'd get sewer backup again."
The scene is not unlike dozens being repeated among his constituents in the 7th Ward, including residents on Garfield Street who have had their basements flooded by sewage backup in heavy storms this spring.
The Quad-City Times tried to contact Barnhill on Monday for comment on the flooding issues in his ward and could not reach him. For the record, Barnhill said Wednesday that the weekend storm knocked out his telephone service, so he could not make or receive calls for two days.
Sewer water also damaged a power strip in his basement that knocked out service to three TV sets in his house. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans Wednesday, he said he hasn't been able to do laundry for days while waiting to see whether sewer water would fill his washing machine tub. Luckily, it didn't, so he's also keeping busy doing laundry for himself and his wife.
Even his doorbell didn't work, but he's not sure whether that is flood-related.
Outside, a neighbor's sump pump was flushing every few minutes. Barnhill said multiple homes on his block were flooded.
The alderman said parts of his ward, including the 500 block of West Garfield Street, are among the worst in the city when it comes to sewer backups. Although the ward is scheduled for repairs in 2016, Barnhill said he wants to move that up for the Garfield residents but added that he will need the support of his City Council colleagues.
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