Invariably, the first resort workers in any resort workers will be the contractors and professionals (and the non-skilled) who are associated with the various construction and infrastructure works in a resort. The life of a regular resort worker is easy compared to a contractor. In the construction industry they work hard, live and die hard and earn more. Generally for the outdoor kinds of folks its an ideal job if not for the nature of business which is highly irregular and unorganized. Most contracted workers are just temporary workers and they would have gotten their job or works from some other contractor who would have subcontracted to them their works. This chain of subcontracting sometime would go as high as five or 6 steps to reach the very top which would be some top established brand in Male’ and their only responsibility from a perspective would be nothing more than signing some obscure papers. The real works are done by lowest of the subcontracting ladder and the real fun is also there.
From initial ground works in a typical uninhabited island to the last final touches to a full five star deluxe resort, the work goes at break-neck speed and as the deadlines looms for the eventual opening the more enjoyable the work is. Often at last stages of the construction of the resort, the works would be continuous 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The only break a contracted worker would get is when they ran out of supplies, or awaiting demolition orders for some structure which gets modification, or when they had to await for concrete to dry up a little bit etc. Also the unstructured nature of employment as contracted worker means they can take off days arbitrarily. After the resort is finally opened up and handed over to the operators, some of the contracted workers would have a tougher job in Male’ finding their bosses and getting their pay which is not very fun after toiling hard for often a year or half in a hard job. Its quite frequent to find contracted employees in and out of courts pursuing their ‘group bosses’ or the contractor who subcontracted to them etc.
The problem lies in our construction industry which is still at an early date of development overwhelmed by an unregulated workforce both foreign and local and lacking guidelines, codes as well as knowledge and know required of modern construction works.

I went to Brighton for a day at the seaside on Sunday, damn was the weather rough.  As soon as I turned the corner onto the coast road I was pushed back by the wind and literally felt bruised by the rain.  The sea was crazy rough with the highest waves that I have ever seen in the UK.  In fact higher waves than I saw in California this summer.  Pretty intense.

Here’s a taster, obviously other cooler pictures will feature in an obligatory facebook album that shall appear at a later date.

Stand by for a real blog entry tomorrow.

Earlier this month, AAA announced their 2010 Four & Five Diamond Award winning lodging properties.  AAA’s Diamond Ratings “represent a combination of the overall quality, range of facilities, and level of services offered by the property. The descriptive ratings are assigned exclusively to properties that meet and uphold AAA’s rigorous quality standards.” Only 3.4% of the nearly 60,000 hotels rated reach Four Diamond status and only .27% achieve Five Diamonds.

WIA is proud to announce that the following member properties were all award winners:

Four Diamonds:
The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake – 12 consecutive years
Located on the shores of Elkhart Lake, The Osthoff Resort features 500 ft. of lakefront and offers spacious suites, Aspira Spa, a cooking school, two lakeside restaurants, a lounge, indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, whirlpools, fitness centers and a game room. Year-round recreation is available and many championship golf courses are located nearby.

Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva – 12 consecutive years
No matter what season, you’ll be inspired by the beauty of Grand Geneva’s exquisite surroundings. Located one hour from Milwaukee and Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Grand Geneva is tucked away on 1,300 scenic acres. The resort features 355 newly renovated guest rooms including 51 suites and endless activities including golfing, skiing/snowboarding, horseback riding and hiking. The resort also offers more than 62,000 square feet of meeting space, three distinctive restaurants, newly redesigned WELL Spa + Salon and an FAA approved airport right on site. Grand Geneva has everything to help you unwind, relax or just get away! Travel Green Wisconsin-certified.

The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee – 1st year
Located in downtown Milwaukee, The Iron Horse Hotel is the industry’s first modern boutique hotel geared towards business and leisure travelers along with a growing segment of motorcycle enthusiasts. We feature 100 oversized loft-style guest rooms, restaurant Smyth (opening Spring 2009), fitness center and Branded, our lobby bar.

The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee – 34 consecutive years
The Pfister is known as the “Jewel of Milwaukee,” an elegant Victorian masterpiece enhanced by an ornate three-story lobby and a grand marble staircase. Spectacular views of the city and Lake Michigan in Blu, the 23rd floor gem in the sky. Mason Street Grill and WELL Spa make this Milwaukee’s urban destination resort.

Five Diamonds:
The American Club at Destination Kohler, Kohler – 25 consecutive years
Located in the quaint Village of Kohler, Wisconsin, Destination Kohler is home to championship golf courses at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, the Mobil Four Star Kohler Waters Spa, nine restaurants of The Kitchens of Kohler, twenty-five unique stores at The Shops at Woodlake, River Wildlife, Sports Core health and racquet facility and additional resort properties. The Village of Kohler is located 55-miles north of Milwaukee and two-and-a-half hours north of Chicago.

The Bad Gastein, in its transformation into a new ski resort, has luxury hotels that provide lavish and comfortable accommodations. These hotels are complemented by mountain restaurants that served traditional Austrian cuisine. With this setting, how is it then that few skiers are aware of Bad Gastein’s existence?

The reason is simple. The Austrians do not advertise. At the same time, the icy slopes of Bad Gastein are not for every Julia Mancuso hopeful. Beginners will not want to practice on the challenging pistes of this new ski resort.

However, the intermediate and expert skiers will find the new ski resort of Bad Gastein a skiing paradise. There are 102 individual long and tough pistes. There are more than 155 miles of ski runs and most of them are classified as reds. And there are pistes found above the tree line for a genuinely exhilarating ski experience.

If the winter skiing vacation is longer than a weekend, the skiers can obtain a Lift Pass that can provide access to nearby ski resorts, such as the Bad Hofgastein, the Graukogel, the Dorfgastein, and the Sportgastein. This lift pass is called the New Ski Alliance Amadé tickets. But there is a great chance that skiers will find the new ski resort in Bad Gastein enough for an exciting winter holiday. It is a low-altitude location but snow is assured because the new ski resort uses 120 snow cannons to supplement the natural snow. Aside from skiing, the place is also great for snowboarding.

After skiing for several wonderful hours, there is a unique feature in the new ski resort of Bad Gastein that skiers will appreciate. It is the existence of a network of off-slope facilities. These facilities continued the spa resort tradition of providing comfort, tranquility, and relaxation. Skiers can unwind and chill out in these off-piste facilities. They can be reinvigorated to take on more of the new ski resort’s challenging ski runs.

There is, however, one logistical setback that skiers must go around when planning a winter holiday in the new ski resort of Bad Gastein – the transportation. The area has a bus service but it is not efficient enough to handle the needs of the skiers. Thus, skiers will be stuck with expensive taxi fares if they want to go to all five mountains in this valley. There are two possible solutions. First, the skiers may bring or rent their own car. If this is impossible, the skiers may choose a base where they are likely to ski most of the time. For example, if the skiers like to cruise, they may want to stay close to the Schlossalm sector.

Despite this little difficulty in the new ski resort of Bad Gastein, it is easy to reach the area because of several nearby airports, the Klagenfurt (1,5 hours away), the Salzburg (1,5 hours away), the Munich (2,5 hours away), and the Innsbruck Airport (3 hours away). And when skiers reach the new ski resort of Bad Gastein, they know that the traveling was worth it. The mountains with their snow-covered peaks not only promise but provide exhilarating skiing experiences. This new ski resort is not yet as popular as other European destinations but several trinket shops have started to appear. These shops, obviously, will cater to more and more tourists.

Really, the Romans built the town to accommodate their holiday fancies. The town square’s hub is the celebrated Piazza Cavour and Via Roma. In the olden days, Bormio was a central trade and barter locale filled with travelers traversing from the lowlands of Venice to the hills of Switzerland. The medieval town core is still there for visitors, tourist and locales alike-there’s room for everyone. And, yes, you can still use many of the thermal baths today.

Bormio is in Sondrio, located in the Italian Alps. The year-round population hovers around 4,000 people who live in much traditional ways, but also make businesses with tourism and infrastructure. Most follow old-time traditions of a more relaxed view of life.

When you come to Bormio, Italy-Italian ski resort town-you’ll instantly notice the dichotomy of the village. Unlike when the Romans visited, the city has two visible wedges: Today, there’s a pedestrianized center with no cars and narrow, cobblestone streets. The other quarter of Bormio is the outer new section, with built up apartments and restaurants. Though the Alpine look is missing, the skiing opportunity makes up for it.

Bormio, Italian ski resort has a lot of room and slopes to offer visitors. Not considered the biggest and loudest of the Alps ski resorts, Bormio is well-named for its familial atmosphere. The Bormio resort altitude is just over 1,200 meters with the highest lift going upwards of 3,000 meters. There are 70 km of trails and pistes with the longest run at just over 14 km in length. There are only 26 total runs, so Bormio can become tiresome after more than a few days. Moreover, there are 12 lifts and the slopes facing a north and northwesterly direction. This makes Bormio special because of the snow accumulation. There is even 150 new snow cannons firing snow and the crowd capacity is well over 20,000. Bormio can be a skiers dream come true during the ski holiday.

Snowboarders may have a hard time feeling partial to Bormio, Italy as there is really nil to do with snow boarding. Some of the slopes are way too sleep for simply practicing. With all the skiers mixed in, the room to practice, jump or do tricks is, in truth, limited. Additionally, there’s neither partitioned parks nor half pipes. Plus, if you try to get one of the ski schools to teach you, they will most likely take your money but not really enjoy the experiment. Bormio, Italian ski resort, is catered to mostly intermediate skiers and family holiday goers. Snowboarders are considered OK but not really well suited to the steeper slopes found here.

With freshly fallen snow, Bormio is best for intermediates and a bit better for experts who are into heights and slopes. The town is quite nice with some medieval architecture and baths, but the resorts are really purpose-built. This means that most of the hotels in Bormio are catered to a certain kind of tourist, who are more into deals, thrills and chills rather than history, art and romance. Though, with certain building codes and mandates, you won’t find the boxlike egg cartons of other purpose built resorts. The structure and rooms and hotels have been furnished with some style and detail. If you’re a recreational-beginner or intermediate skier-you’ll find the feel of Bormio especially relaxing. As the apres ski options dwindle as the night gets later, you’ll get plenty of rest to keep you on the slopes.

If you can make room for attractions on your ski holiday to Bormio Italy, the museums offer everything from natural to mineral to architectural relics. Not to mention, several historic monuments and churches dot the town, reserving a historic feel that other prefab resort towns simply do not have. Some of the churches were built in the mid 1300s. And, if you’re into hiking around the area and taking in some sites and scenes, there’s plenty of walking trails detailed in maps found in the tourist office. There’s even a cinema, gym, sports center, ice rink, pool, and other sporty facilities catering to the multitudes of holidaymakers to Bormio. You’ll find more than enough to fill your ski week vacation when you come here.

Hotel Fail

Picture by: dunno source Submitted by: dunno source via Fail Uploader

Marriott in the Florida Keys sure knows how to use flashy new technology to bring in the customers.

Modern architectural design combined with contemporary and modern twist interiors makes The Waves Resort an enticing place to stay. The resort offers self-contained apartments, with gourmet kitchens and top of the class bathrooms.

Why I fell in love with Wave Resort is its accessibility to Broadbeach dining and shopping centres. It is situated right above central Broadbeach. The best part of it all was seeing the beautiful views of the Gold Coast coastline, Surfers Paradise skyline and Gold Coast Hinterland views.

The moment I step right in to the reception area, I was mesmerized by the interior design of the resort’s waiting area. It’s marvelous.

I am quite meticulous about cleanliness and sanitation. I give this resort a 10 out 10 rating for its clean apartment and modern kitchen to die for. The resort has top of the line facilities that cater to the needs of every guest.

I really do like swimming and Wave Resort never failed to satisfy me with my desire to take a dip and just enjoy. The resort’s plunge pool is a winner! I even had the chance to try out their roof top jacuzzi, and I am glad that I did as the views from the roof top are spectacular.

The different array of Broadbeach cafes and restaurants found within walking distance from the resort are a sure hit to every one who wants to dine in and have a taste for fancy meals or maybe just a cup of coffee.

Truly, Wave Resort is indeed the perfect accommodation located in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Ontario’s tourism and resort destination areas are predicting a potentially outstanding fall season. Over the last few years, Ontario tourist operators have witnessed a steady growth in business over the fall season due to many factors including the weather. Weather patterns are slowly changing with the warm summer temperatures extending well into September and October, making the fall months much more desirable to Ontario vacationers. This autumn will be no exception. Additionally, Environment Canada is predicting a warm and dry fall for Ontario this year which is welcome news to Ontario resort owners who are nearing the end of a busy summer season that has been a little cooler than predicted and unusually wet.

The good news about Ontario’s rain-soaked summer is that it creates conditions that are ideal for producing the most brilliant coloured fall foliage. Weather conditions are always a determining factor in just how colourful the leaves will be each fall. Often, summers that are unusually hot and dry put trees under a great deal of stress, resulting in leaves in the autumn that are dull and drop to the ground prematurely. This year, the trees have not been put under any stress whatsoever as the summer has been both extremely wet and a little cooler than normal. The result should be a breath-taking display of fall foliage province-wide that should extend into the entire fall season.

Ontario is already well known for its spectacular fall colours which naturally draws tourists. However, the changing leaves coupled with the province’s abundance of activities such as fall fairs, special fall festivals, and events in many charming tourist destination areas, makes Ontario a sought after vacation destination. Additionally, many resorts offer a wide array of attractive and reasonably priced fall colour getaway packages for people who want to take advantage of everything this special time of year has to offer.

Many resort owners believe that stunning displays of brilliant colour are not the only reason tourists choose to vacation in Ontario during the fall months. Many people enjoy a vacation in the fall because it is less crowded than during the peak summer months. In addition, reduced rates in the off-season also provide an added incentive to plan a fall getaway. As well, the high price of gas will continue to discourage people from traveling far from home. Since many resorts are within a short drive of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), an Ontario resort vacation this fall is not only enjoyable but economical too.

Trains, planes and automobiles or even boats
Depending on what kind of person you are, getting to Phuket can be achieved by any of the above. The veteran backpacker would use the coach perhaps, the high-end traveller the plane and the adventurer would surely use the boat. Well when I say adventurer, I mean it in the loose sense of the word.

By Boat
Arriving at Phuket by cruise ship is certainly an option if you are thinking about sailing the high seas. Ships arrive regularly from all over the world. The down-side is, these cruises are hugely expensive. A slightly cheaper alternative though, might be to travel to Phuket via the Malacca Straits or Singapore.

By Road
The island of Phuket is actually 885km south of the City of Angels, and is connected to the mainland by a 1200meter causeway. If you don’t mind a fourteen hour journey, then bus is the way for you, they run daily from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. The good thing about the bus is that it’s reasonably priced, comfortable and cold! Beach life awaits but with this trip comes a complimentary high power cold air-condition unit above your head, so bring warm clothes for this journey. Apart from the length of the journey, the bus could be compared to an airline. They have cabin attendants bringing drinks and snacks, there’s even an in-trip movie. The trip itself is an overnighter and you arrive at Phuket early the next morning.

By Rail
Another way of getting to Phuket overland from Bangkok is the direct train route that is available. Again, it’s an overnight journey but it can be somewhat more comfortable than the bus. Sleeping births allow you to get a good night’s sleep but before going, a welcome nightcap in the buffet car at the end of train won’t go amiss. The train leaves from Hua Lumphong Station in Bangkok and then on to Surat Thani where you need to take a bus to complete the rest of your journey. Be prepared to rise early on the day you arrive at Surat Thani, Thais get up very early on most days so don’t expect a lie in.

Flying by Air To Phuket, Karon

Finally planes. Easily the most comfortable and quickest way to get to the island. The international airport at Phuket receives flights from all over the world as well as domestic flights from other cities including Bangkok. If you are on a time budget or you just simply yearn comfort, then the plane is the way to go.

Arriving and leaving

Now that you have arrived, it’s time to shake off travel fatigue and hit those beautiful palm fringed beaches and golden or white sands that stretch for miles. Resort destinations like Karon offer the sight of tiny palm coves and bays that inundate the coastline. This is where some of the most gorgeous and luxurious hotel resorts blend in with the natural beauty of Thailand. Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa located at the southern end of the beach and just a stone’s throw away from the famed Kata beach boast excellent service and wonderful views. The resort itself is set on some 16000sqm of land surrounded by a rain forest of lush vegetation. It is slightly set back from the main drag and offers a haven of peace and tranquillity and yet not so far from Karon’s entertainment and shopping districts. A complimentary bus service to Patong beach is also available. Other activities you might find yourself interested in around the Karon beach area are the extensive choice of marine activities such as diving and snorkelling. Honeymooners who stay more than four nights at the resort can enjoy extra service at the Karon Beach Resort Hotels where they will receive complimentary honeymoon gifts on arrival. Why would anyone want to leave.

Through its gorgeous rainforests, colorful culture, and beautiful and friendly people, everyone knows that Brazil poses one of the absolute best vacation spots in the world—this is especially true with the 2016 Summer Olympics coming to Rio de Janeiro. But what not everyone may know about is the very solid investment potential granted by Brazil. For one, along with the prestigious honors of hosting the Olympics comes an automatic boost in the economy, further supporting its property investment potential. However, some investors may be wary of investing in Brazilian properties due to some common misconceptions such as lack of regulation. Of course, Brazilians surely know how to cut loose with special events such as there world famous Carnaval, but President Lula has brought both new hope and regulation to the country.

In fact, foreign investment is actually encouraged through 100 percent land and property ownership. Foreign investors will have to deal with a few exceptions but investment and overseas property location advisors such as International Property Mole can help efficiently guide you through such exceptions.

Investor are also enjoying the security provided by Brazil having already survived the trough of the recession, demonstrating excellent stock market progress, decreasing unemployment and strong GDP figures. This is all paired with all-time low lending rates which have been made possible because Brazil is currently one of the strongest economic powers in the world, proving this by having lent $10 billion to the IMF, where as just a few years ago they were borrowing from the IMF, demonstrating a surging economy. Buffering Brazil further is their extremely high USD deposits, impressive number of new oil discoveries, strong export industry, heavy investing in infrastructure, industry, education, healthcare, housing and in particular tourism, and more.

In addition, over the last few years, Natal, on the sun blessed north- eastern coast of Brazil, has seen an average property value increase of up to 20 percent or more a year. Encouraging even more confidence in investing is the robust property opportunities afforded through outright ownership by the developer. This means you get the luxury of working with someone with a full legal title and no debts or encumbrances, which eliminates the potential of unfair property seizures. The Palm Springs development in Natal, Brazil offers such an opportunity. Palm Springs also involves strategic phased build times. This promotes a controlled investment delivery, helping you establish a solid no-surprises ROI. And even though these investment perks abound, you’ll still be able to look forward to low development density, which means higher property values and less congestion.

Surrounded by beautiful tropical paradise Palms Springs Natal sits just 200 metres from one of the best beaches in Brazil.

And with a new airport being built in São Gonçalo (30 km from Natal) which will be the fifth largest in the world, property value is sure to continue climbing with this improved accessibility, featuring direct flights from major European cities, making development properties such as Sol do Atlántico Resort & Spa even more inviting.

Sol do Atlântico Resort & Spa is situated between Natal and Pipa in an area called Búzios/Tabatinga, which Brazilians consider to be one of the most beautiful places in the country.

But the airport isn’t the only thing that will help you get there—you can also take advantage of perks such as 100 percent finance at properties such as the Garupua Resort. Helping you along even further is the low reservation fee £1,000 which serves as the only payment until completion. And then you get to take advantage of a 70 percent guaranteed mortgage from completion.

The plots of land are situated in what will become an exclusive gated community with landscaped gardens and swimming pools within a 5 star luxury beachfront Garapua spa resort.

While some economists forecast that Brazil will be one of the future economic leaders, the future of investing in Brazil is happening right now.

Groupwise Inc. specializes in disposing unwanted timeshares. They help clients dispose of their unwanted timeshares in a manner that is hassle free and safe.  Groupwise Inc.   was founded by an expert team of resort industry professionals in 1995. Their goal is to provide assistance to timeshare owners who are having a hard time to dispose their timeshare property. Acquiring unwanted timeshares is the number one priority of this company. Groupwise Inc. helps you get rid of unwanted timeshare properties through business methods that are financially sound.

When buying a timeshare you need not buy an expensive one. Your goal in purchasing a timeshare is always to minimize your cost. You may not even like the timeshare, but if it is located in a hotly-demanded area and you buy inexpensively, it will serve well to trade you into the finest resorts.  When the time comes that you have fully maximized the use of your timeshare and you want to dispose it, one company can help you find a way to dispose your timeshare easily, that company is Groupwise Inc

The most important factor in determining trade power of a timeshare property is the location. If you have a timeshare in a popular location more timeshares holders would want to exchange with you. Season is also another factor that you have to consider in your purchase of a timeshare property. If you buy a prime season timeshare, you won’t be restricted as to what time of the year you can request to exchange you can request any time of year for your destination resort. Buying in a resort that has a reasonable maintenance fee is also a smart move.

One of the best places to find freebies, here in the desert area, is at one of our local casinos. Stop by, call or visit their websites for weekly deals, discounts, coupons, special offers, sweepstakes, drawings, giveaways and, of course, freebies.

Agua Caliente Casino-Resort-Spa
32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA
888-999-1995
www.hotwatercasino.com

Augustine Casino
Avenue 54 and Van Buren, Coachella, CA
760-391-9500
www.augustinecasino.com

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA
800-827-2946
www.fantasyspringsresort.com

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, California 92230
800-252-4499 or 888-MORONGO
www.morongocasinoresort.com

Red Earth Casino
3089 Norm Niver Road, Salton Sea Beach, CA
760-395-1200

Spa Resort Casino
410 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264
888-999-1995
www.sparesortcasino.com

Spotlight 29 Casino
I-10 at Dillon Road, Coachella, CA
866-3776829
www.spotlight29.com