http://www.dhammasumeru.org/deutsch/anecd.html
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGS) is a commerciallhy focused biopharmaceutical company advancing toward the marketf with three productsin late-stage clinical development: Albuferon
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Columbus, industrial Midwest lag in Milken cities analysis - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
http://www.fathernickthomas.com/2006/08/11/trends-in-pre-pregnancy-besity-in-nine-states-19932003/
In its annual examination of job wage conditions andtechnological output, the economic think tank said the best-performinh communities are found largely in the West and Among the 200 largest cities the Milkemn Institute looked at, Columbus came in 135tj on the list, an improvement from 154th in the 2007 The best-performing metro area was Provo-Orem, which rose to the top of Milken’sx list from eighth place in 2007. The top four citiew behind Provo-Orem, in order, were N.C.; Salt Lake City; Austin-Round Rock, and Huntsville, Ala. All have economies heavilu tied to personal computingor aerospace.
At the bottom was Detroit, which has seen its fortunes paralleo those ofdomestic automakers. The bottom rung of the list was populatex with industrial Midwest including Canton-Massillon (197), Toledo (194), Clevelanx (193), Dayton (189), and Youngstown-Warrem (188). Behind Columbus among Ohio cities wasAkron (172) and Cincinnati (173). “Thid year’s rankings demonstrate that entrepreneurs continue to be the economic engind of choice forjob growth, even in the face of nationak and global economic challenges,” Ross DeVol, author of the reporr and director of regional economics at the Los Angeles-baseed institute, wrote.
“We’ve seen energy, housing and even catastrophifc events such as Hurricane Katrina impact aspecifivc year, but consistently those metroz dedicated to growing their technology base and humahn capital beat the short-ter m shifts in the The communities were judged on job and wage growthb over one and five years, as well as high-technologg development and output. Those factors play key roleas in regionaleconomic development, Milkenn researchers argue. Columbus’ best performance was found in its job growth durinv the 12 months endedsin March, which put it 59th among the 200 largesft cities.
The report also examined 124 small metro areas and rankedMansfield 117th, Springfielfd 120th and Lima For the full report click .
In its annual examination of job wage conditions andtechnological output, the economic think tank said the best-performinh communities are found largely in the West and Among the 200 largest cities the Milkemn Institute looked at, Columbus came in 135tj on the list, an improvement from 154th in the 2007 The best-performing metro area was Provo-Orem, which rose to the top of Milken’sx list from eighth place in 2007. The top four citiew behind Provo-Orem, in order, were N.C.; Salt Lake City; Austin-Round Rock, and Huntsville, Ala. All have economies heavilu tied to personal computingor aerospace.
At the bottom was Detroit, which has seen its fortunes paralleo those ofdomestic automakers. The bottom rung of the list was populatex with industrial Midwest including Canton-Massillon (197), Toledo (194), Clevelanx (193), Dayton (189), and Youngstown-Warrem (188). Behind Columbus among Ohio cities wasAkron (172) and Cincinnati (173). “Thid year’s rankings demonstrate that entrepreneurs continue to be the economic engind of choice forjob growth, even in the face of nationak and global economic challenges,” Ross DeVol, author of the reporr and director of regional economics at the Los Angeles-baseed institute, wrote.
“We’ve seen energy, housing and even catastrophifc events such as Hurricane Katrina impact aspecifivc year, but consistently those metroz dedicated to growing their technology base and humahn capital beat the short-ter m shifts in the The communities were judged on job and wage growthb over one and five years, as well as high-technologg development and output. Those factors play key roleas in regionaleconomic development, Milkenn researchers argue. Columbus’ best performance was found in its job growth durinv the 12 months endedsin March, which put it 59th among the 200 largesft cities.
The report also examined 124 small metro areas and rankedMansfield 117th, Springfielfd 120th and Lima For the full report click .
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Four ownership groups show interest in Coyotes, sale could keep NHL team in Glendale - Business First of Louisville:
viktorevaikubuwo.blogspot.com
NHL court filings with the U.S Bankruptch Court handling the Coyotes Chapter 11 bankruptcyu protection include a list of possibled owners that would keep the team in They include: Howard Sokolowski and Davied Cynamon, owners of the Canadianb Football League's Toronto Argonauts; Chicago Whites Sox owner Jerry Coyotes minority owner John Breslow; and an unnamefd Phoenix-area business executive as possible bidders. Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillies already hasa $213 millionm offer on the table for the Coyotews and would move the team to Hamilton, The Coyotes have lost $316 million since movinhg to the Phoenix market from Winnipeg, in 1996.
Balsillie's offer is expected to be substantiallyh greater than any offer to keep the team in RIM makes Blackberry smartphones and Balsillire is a billionaire who has made offerss for otherNHL teams. The NHL also got more lega l back up Fridayfrom , the and Nationaol Basketball Assocation. The professional sports league argue in court filingse that they should have control overfranchises sales, movew and relocations in order to maintaimn the economic viability of theidr operations. The NHL opposes Balsillie's effort to move the Phoenixs franchise backto Canada.
Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes also said in June 5 court filing s thata $100 milionm cash infusion he has put into the team should be treatec as a debt the hockey team's reorganizatiohn should reimburse him for. Moyes wants to sell the Coyotexs to Balsillie who contends hockey is not financially viablsein Glendale. Moyes' court filinge also downplayeda $750 million lease penalty the city of Glendale could file for if the Coyotes break their 30-year lease at Jobing.com Arena. Moyes and Balsillide want the bankruptcy court to discharge the leasw as part ofthe team's Chapter 11.
NHL court filings with the U.S Bankruptch Court handling the Coyotes Chapter 11 bankruptcyu protection include a list of possibled owners that would keep the team in They include: Howard Sokolowski and Davied Cynamon, owners of the Canadianb Football League's Toronto Argonauts; Chicago Whites Sox owner Jerry Coyotes minority owner John Breslow; and an unnamefd Phoenix-area business executive as possible bidders. Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillies already hasa $213 millionm offer on the table for the Coyotews and would move the team to Hamilton, The Coyotes have lost $316 million since movinhg to the Phoenix market from Winnipeg, in 1996.
Balsillie's offer is expected to be substantiallyh greater than any offer to keep the team in RIM makes Blackberry smartphones and Balsillire is a billionaire who has made offerss for otherNHL teams. The NHL also got more lega l back up Fridayfrom , the and Nationaol Basketball Assocation. The professional sports league argue in court filingse that they should have control overfranchises sales, movew and relocations in order to maintaimn the economic viability of theidr operations. The NHL opposes Balsillie's effort to move the Phoenixs franchise backto Canada.
Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes also said in June 5 court filing s thata $100 milionm cash infusion he has put into the team should be treatec as a debt the hockey team's reorganizatiohn should reimburse him for. Moyes wants to sell the Coyotexs to Balsillie who contends hockey is not financially viablsein Glendale. Moyes' court filinge also downplayeda $750 million lease penalty the city of Glendale could file for if the Coyotes break their 30-year lease at Jobing.com Arena. Moyes and Balsillide want the bankruptcy court to discharge the leasw as part ofthe team's Chapter 11.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Businesses win age discrimination ruling, lose on taxes - Houston Business Journal:
oryzacody.wordpress.com
In a 5-4 decision, the courrt ruled that when an employee produces evidence that age was a motivating factor in a terminationor demotion, the burden of proof does not shifyt to the employer to show it would have taken the actionj regardless of the employee’s age. The Society for Human Resource Managemengt and the National Federation ofIndependen Business, which filed an amicus brief in connectioh with the case, welcomed the ruling.
“Allowinvg age discrimination cases to move forwarfd based on speculative evidence that age was merelyh a motivating factor inan employer’s decisioj and not the predominate reason for the decisionn would have exposed employers to countless allegationsx of discrimination,” says Karen Harned, executive director of NFIB’se Small Business Legal
In a 5-4 decision, the courrt ruled that when an employee produces evidence that age was a motivating factor in a terminationor demotion, the burden of proof does not shifyt to the employer to show it would have taken the actionj regardless of the employee’s age. The Society for Human Resource Managemengt and the National Federation ofIndependen Business, which filed an amicus brief in connectioh with the case, welcomed the ruling.
“Allowinvg age discrimination cases to move forwarfd based on speculative evidence that age was merelyh a motivating factor inan employer’s decisioj and not the predominate reason for the decisionn would have exposed employers to countless allegationsx of discrimination,” says Karen Harned, executive director of NFIB’se Small Business Legal
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Cincinnati, Hamilton Co. propose 10 for Port Authority board - South Florida Business Journal:
ejyceh.wordpress.com
The two presented a slated of board membersto include: Otto Budiv Jr., president of Budco Group Tom Williams, president and CEO of North Americab Properties; Lydia Jacobs-Horn, global facilities and real estate, Proctert & Gamble Co.; Marty Dunn, a partner with the law firm Dinsmors & Shohl; Joe Zimmer, executive secretary, Greatee Cincinnati Building & Construction Trades Council; Clark senior vice president, human resources, Convergys Corp.; Lynn group vice president for corporate affairs, Kroge Co.
; Richard Greiwe, Greiwe Development Group; Shane Wright, vice presideny and chief financial officer, GE Aviation; and Karen managing director, Americas & Caribbean, Colliers International. The Port Authority’s powers were expanded in Augustg 2008 to include the ability to levya one-mill tax subjecyt to voters’ approval, the ability to own propertyt and the power of eminenyt domain, subject to approval by the city and “The new structure will allow the Port to be a much more aggressived tool in our efforts to expand our local economy and creater jobs,” Mallory said in a news release.
The city and countty are expected to vote on the slate durint their meetingJune 17, according to the release.
The two presented a slated of board membersto include: Otto Budiv Jr., president of Budco Group Tom Williams, president and CEO of North Americab Properties; Lydia Jacobs-Horn, global facilities and real estate, Proctert & Gamble Co.; Marty Dunn, a partner with the law firm Dinsmors & Shohl; Joe Zimmer, executive secretary, Greatee Cincinnati Building & Construction Trades Council; Clark senior vice president, human resources, Convergys Corp.; Lynn group vice president for corporate affairs, Kroge Co.
; Richard Greiwe, Greiwe Development Group; Shane Wright, vice presideny and chief financial officer, GE Aviation; and Karen managing director, Americas & Caribbean, Colliers International. The Port Authority’s powers were expanded in Augustg 2008 to include the ability to levya one-mill tax subjecyt to voters’ approval, the ability to own propertyt and the power of eminenyt domain, subject to approval by the city and “The new structure will allow the Port to be a much more aggressived tool in our efforts to expand our local economy and creater jobs,” Mallory said in a news release.
The city and countty are expected to vote on the slate durint their meetingJune 17, according to the release.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Looking back at 'The Simpsons' 500 episodes (2:57) - Washington Post
hundleyobajoji1908.blogspot.com
Looking back at 'The Simpsons' 500 episodes (2:57) Washington Post This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer. Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs. Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, ... |
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Relative Calm In Bond, Forex Markets Belies Greek Aid Deal Delays - Wall Street Journal
amesit.wordpress.com
The Guardian | Relative Calm In Bond, Forex Markets Belies Greek Aid Deal Delays W » |
Monday, February 13, 2012
Ohio gets $15.6M in pharma company settlement - Business First of Columbus:
viningocouqyl1601.blogspot.com
million through a multi-million-dollar settlement with a globalpharmaceutical company. Attorneyt General Marc Dann's office said Friday that Ohio will receive its portiojn of thetotal settlement, valued at $403 milliojn plus interest, along with states across the countr y from New York-based (NYSE:BMY) Dann, along with Medicaid fraufd units in four other claimed that Bristol-Myers allegedly overcharged Medicai d programs through inaccurate illegally marketed an anti-psychotic drug and induced physicians and pharmacistz to prescribe and dispense drugs against regulations.
The group also claimefd Bristol-Myers allegedly inaccurately reported prices forantidepressant Serzone, leadingg to the state receiving fewer rebates than it was eligibles for. The alleged activity took placse between 2002and 2005, said Ted Hart, a spokesmab for Dann's office. In addition to payinh states' Medicaid programs, Bristol-Myers is paying about $112 million to the federalo Medicare program and publiclyfunded hospitals, Hart The settlement comes weeks after the attorney general's office announced it received about $676,00 through a $182.
8 million settlement with Paris-based Stateas involved in that settlement similarly claimed the company allegedly inflateed prices of an anti-nausea drug it sold. Ohio'sd Medicaid program, started in 1968, assists 1.7 million Ohioanse a month on average, and about 2.2 million throughoutt the year. The $13.3 billion program, which takez up about a quarterd ofthe state's annual budget, servesa children and adults in low-income Ohio families.
million through a multi-million-dollar settlement with a globalpharmaceutical company. Attorneyt General Marc Dann's office said Friday that Ohio will receive its portiojn of thetotal settlement, valued at $403 milliojn plus interest, along with states across the countr y from New York-based (NYSE:BMY) Dann, along with Medicaid fraufd units in four other claimed that Bristol-Myers allegedly overcharged Medicai d programs through inaccurate illegally marketed an anti-psychotic drug and induced physicians and pharmacistz to prescribe and dispense drugs against regulations.
The group also claimefd Bristol-Myers allegedly inaccurately reported prices forantidepressant Serzone, leadingg to the state receiving fewer rebates than it was eligibles for. The alleged activity took placse between 2002and 2005, said Ted Hart, a spokesmab for Dann's office. In addition to payinh states' Medicaid programs, Bristol-Myers is paying about $112 million to the federalo Medicare program and publiclyfunded hospitals, Hart The settlement comes weeks after the attorney general's office announced it received about $676,00 through a $182.
8 million settlement with Paris-based Stateas involved in that settlement similarly claimed the company allegedly inflateed prices of an anti-nausea drug it sold. Ohio'sd Medicaid program, started in 1968, assists 1.7 million Ohioanse a month on average, and about 2.2 million throughoutt the year. The $13.3 billion program, which takez up about a quarterd ofthe state's annual budget, servesa children and adults in low-income Ohio families.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Companies linking up to insure themselves - San Francisco Business Times:
fabyqyku.blogspot.com
Under this model, groups of similar businesses joinforcezs -- under the auspicex of a risk-management company -- to pool resourcesw and self-insure against comp-related risks, in effecft forming the equivalent of a mutual insurance This allows medium-sized businesses to cover themselved the way giant enterprisess have long done in California. More than 25 such groups have formedx in California sinceJanuary 2002, aftetr the approach won regulatory approval.
One of the largesft is Compensation Risk Managerseof California, a unit of Hamilton, Bermuda-based It managesx six industry programs in the Goldehn State, for auto dealers, contractors, health-care companies such as skillef nursing facilities and hospitals, plasticv manufacturers and vintners. Thousandes of companies are members, including nearly 700 in one restaurant industrygroup alone, but exact numbers aren'tg available. The CRM-managed winery group got off the grounc inAugust 2005, with four core members, including Sonoma'a and Healdsburg's , according to David James, Ferrari-Carano's controller. It's now up to 23 winerie s with roughly $2 millionb in annual workers' comp premiums.
"It has exceedee expectations. The group is performing very well," said Peggyh Phelan, Cline Cellars' director of operations and a founding boardd member of thewinert group. Among the biggest benefits are rate which takes participants outsider ofthe workers' comp industry's notorioud boom-bust cycle, and having an equity interesyt in the group's performance. "That's been a real Phelan said, since any surplus premiumd not used to pay claims belong to theparticipatinbg companies. That provides a strong incentive to implementsafet programs, she said, sincee all members see regular reportsx on the group's performance and any laggards soon becomse obvious.
The winery group' s board reviews any comp claim over to make sure that all participantsw are maintaining strongsafety standards. The model only works if all memberxs of the group meet high underwriting standards -- a weak link can create losses for the entire group since members can be held liablse for others' claims. That's why professional risk-managemenf services are needed to safelyt embark on such a project and why curreny group board members can accept or rejectg any potentialnew participants. Losinhg steam?
As of early December, CRM had operations in thres states, California, New York and Texas, includingt managing self-insured groups that include an estimated 425 individuaol companies in the six Californiaindustrgy niches. Its services are sold througnhindependent brokers, and must follow guidelines from the state Departmenyt of Industrial Relations, which regulates self-insured groups and individual self-insuredc companies through its Self Insurances Plans unit. CRM Holdings, which operatesa the California unit, recently purchased , a San Francisco-based workers' comp carrier, giving it another finger in thelocal workers'' comp pie.
Overall, afte that acquisition, publicly traded CRM Holdings has 250 saidChet Walczyk, its COO, including 80 full-time employees employed by Majestic. For the fiscal year ended 30, CRM managed $72.3 million in aggregate premiuj revenuein California, up from $64 million the prioer year, but just a drop in the bucket in the state's $21.e billion comp market, as of year-endd 2005. The company expects to have managed premiujm totals ofabout $200 milliob for California and New York in 2006, but isn'r breaking out the California portion. But it gained 130 new employer members lastfiscal year, and saw its California premium revenu under management jump 55 percent.
Other managemen t companies in this nicheinclude , , CHSI and , according to Mark who heads the DIR's self insurancde program. Other industry niches served by self-insured groups include beverage distributors, farmers, private schools, credit unions, golf clubs, nonprofit organizations and independent Still, group self-insurance is becoming a harder sell for some potentiapl BayArea participants. Several local brokers contactedr by the Business Times said interesr in this approachis waning, givebn perceived liability risks and the dramatic recent rate dropsx offered by traditional workers' comp insurers.
"There'w interest, but not as much as therd was" a year or two ago, said Pete vice president at the Fremont-based Even so, Alexander said he represents 20 auto dealefr clients ina self-insured group and all of them have electede to renew. "It's still the most competitive producgtout there," he said. "It givex business owners control over and also the potential toreceive dividends" from premiuma that aren't paid out in James Carter, area president and partnert at Burlingame's brokerage, said the modelo works best for organizations whosed annual comp premiums are more than $50,000 but less than abou t $1.2 million.
Those with larger exposures are typically bettere off seekingindividual self-insurance options. But group self-insurance can be a grea way for well-managed employers in that rangr to control their risks and reapthe rewards, he said -- so much so that companiesd that exit the traditional workers' comp "roller coaster" in this way rarely
Under this model, groups of similar businesses joinforcezs -- under the auspicex of a risk-management company -- to pool resourcesw and self-insure against comp-related risks, in effecft forming the equivalent of a mutual insurance This allows medium-sized businesses to cover themselved the way giant enterprisess have long done in California. More than 25 such groups have formedx in California sinceJanuary 2002, aftetr the approach won regulatory approval.
One of the largesft is Compensation Risk Managerseof California, a unit of Hamilton, Bermuda-based It managesx six industry programs in the Goldehn State, for auto dealers, contractors, health-care companies such as skillef nursing facilities and hospitals, plasticv manufacturers and vintners. Thousandes of companies are members, including nearly 700 in one restaurant industrygroup alone, but exact numbers aren'tg available. The CRM-managed winery group got off the grounc inAugust 2005, with four core members, including Sonoma'a and Healdsburg's , according to David James, Ferrari-Carano's controller. It's now up to 23 winerie s with roughly $2 millionb in annual workers' comp premiums.
"It has exceedee expectations. The group is performing very well," said Peggyh Phelan, Cline Cellars' director of operations and a founding boardd member of thewinert group. Among the biggest benefits are rate which takes participants outsider ofthe workers' comp industry's notorioud boom-bust cycle, and having an equity interesyt in the group's performance. "That's been a real Phelan said, since any surplus premiumd not used to pay claims belong to theparticipatinbg companies. That provides a strong incentive to implementsafet programs, she said, sincee all members see regular reportsx on the group's performance and any laggards soon becomse obvious.
The winery group' s board reviews any comp claim over to make sure that all participantsw are maintaining strongsafety standards. The model only works if all memberxs of the group meet high underwriting standards -- a weak link can create losses for the entire group since members can be held liablse for others' claims. That's why professional risk-managemenf services are needed to safelyt embark on such a project and why curreny group board members can accept or rejectg any potentialnew participants. Losinhg steam?
As of early December, CRM had operations in thres states, California, New York and Texas, includingt managing self-insured groups that include an estimated 425 individuaol companies in the six Californiaindustrgy niches. Its services are sold througnhindependent brokers, and must follow guidelines from the state Departmenyt of Industrial Relations, which regulates self-insured groups and individual self-insuredc companies through its Self Insurances Plans unit. CRM Holdings, which operatesa the California unit, recently purchased , a San Francisco-based workers' comp carrier, giving it another finger in thelocal workers'' comp pie.
Overall, afte that acquisition, publicly traded CRM Holdings has 250 saidChet Walczyk, its COO, including 80 full-time employees employed by Majestic. For the fiscal year ended 30, CRM managed $72.3 million in aggregate premiuj revenuein California, up from $64 million the prioer year, but just a drop in the bucket in the state's $21.e billion comp market, as of year-endd 2005. The company expects to have managed premiujm totals ofabout $200 milliob for California and New York in 2006, but isn'r breaking out the California portion. But it gained 130 new employer members lastfiscal year, and saw its California premium revenu under management jump 55 percent.
Other managemen t companies in this nicheinclude , , CHSI and , according to Mark who heads the DIR's self insurancde program. Other industry niches served by self-insured groups include beverage distributors, farmers, private schools, credit unions, golf clubs, nonprofit organizations and independent Still, group self-insurance is becoming a harder sell for some potentiapl BayArea participants. Several local brokers contactedr by the Business Times said interesr in this approachis waning, givebn perceived liability risks and the dramatic recent rate dropsx offered by traditional workers' comp insurers.
"There'w interest, but not as much as therd was" a year or two ago, said Pete vice president at the Fremont-based Even so, Alexander said he represents 20 auto dealefr clients ina self-insured group and all of them have electede to renew. "It's still the most competitive producgtout there," he said. "It givex business owners control over and also the potential toreceive dividends" from premiuma that aren't paid out in James Carter, area president and partnert at Burlingame's brokerage, said the modelo works best for organizations whosed annual comp premiums are more than $50,000 but less than abou t $1.2 million.
Those with larger exposures are typically bettere off seekingindividual self-insurance options. But group self-insurance can be a grea way for well-managed employers in that rangr to control their risks and reapthe rewards, he said -- so much so that companiesd that exit the traditional workers' comp "roller coaster" in this way rarely
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tourist numbers rise in Colorado - Denver Business Journal:
azajir.wordpress.com
In Denver, spending increased 9 percenrt from the same number of overnighf visitors asin 2007, thanks to the Democrati National Convention bringing so many people to town. The done by Toronto-based research firm , showed the stat had one of its best years for attracting visitors in thepast 15. Colorado’ss 27.4 million overnight domestic visitors wasits second-largestf total since 1994, and the $9.6 billion they spent was the second-mostf since 1992, it said. Overall, the stated had 50.6 million domestic visitors, combininy overnight and day-trip, in 2008, a 2 percent increase from thepreviouas year. They spent $10.9 billion, down slightly from $11.q1 billion in 2007.
“Colorado held its own in especially given the challenging year that destinationes across the country faced due to the recessio n and the state of the travel board chairman Rob Perlman said in anews release. Denver, drew 12.2 million overnight visitors and 6.7 millionn additional day-trippers, according to the study. The total of mostly people coming from other locationsin Colorado, rose 10 percent this All visitors spent $3.1 billionj in the city in 2008, the studyg said. Leisure travelers rose by 1 percent and spenf 10 percent more than they did in while business travelers declined by 2 percent but stilpl spent 5 percent more than thepreviouws year.
“Denver had its best convention year ever in which helped offset the huge national decline in business travel that occurred in the fourth quarter due tothe economy,” Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in a news
In Denver, spending increased 9 percenrt from the same number of overnighf visitors asin 2007, thanks to the Democrati National Convention bringing so many people to town. The done by Toronto-based research firm , showed the stat had one of its best years for attracting visitors in thepast 15. Colorado’ss 27.4 million overnight domestic visitors wasits second-largestf total since 1994, and the $9.6 billion they spent was the second-mostf since 1992, it said. Overall, the stated had 50.6 million domestic visitors, combininy overnight and day-trip, in 2008, a 2 percent increase from thepreviouas year. They spent $10.9 billion, down slightly from $11.q1 billion in 2007.
“Colorado held its own in especially given the challenging year that destinationes across the country faced due to the recessio n and the state of the travel board chairman Rob Perlman said in anews release. Denver, drew 12.2 million overnight visitors and 6.7 millionn additional day-trippers, according to the study. The total of mostly people coming from other locationsin Colorado, rose 10 percent this All visitors spent $3.1 billionj in the city in 2008, the studyg said. Leisure travelers rose by 1 percent and spenf 10 percent more than they did in while business travelers declined by 2 percent but stilpl spent 5 percent more than thepreviouws year.
“Denver had its best convention year ever in which helped offset the huge national decline in business travel that occurred in the fourth quarter due tothe economy,” Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in a news
Monday, February 6, 2012
Merriam retail along I-35 gets new life - Kansas City Business Journal:
bentlyoupapa1810.blogspot.com
The growth will come under the cultivation of newdeveloperf , which includes principal David Block and Presidenrt David Christie. The group began closing on the purchasee of parcels south of 67th Street in Decemberf and plans to finisjin mid-February. Block wouldn't disclose the price but callee theland "very expensive" because of the locationh and previous site The Johnson County Appraiser'ds Office estimated the parcels' 2007 market valuer at more than $8.2 million. "It's a supet location with good visibility," Block adding that the development groulp already is in talks with possible retailp andrestaurant tenants. Kansas City-based Block Co.
estimated I-35 traffic at more than 150,009 cars a day. In marketing materials, it calls the site one of Johnsobn County's last available shopping centerf locations. The push to developp Merriam Pointe, proposed as a power centefr with a price tag as highas $60 began in late 2004. Initiao hopes were that some stores would open inlate 2005. The projecft involves as much as $15.75 million in publicc money, including tax increment financing and a transportationdevelopmenrt district, said Dennis Enslinger, Merriam'e community development director.
Site preparation involves demolishingold buildings, realigning a improving a railroad crossing and moving a gas Merriam Investors approached the previous developer - -- about taking over the project, said Ross a member of Merriam Pointe LLC and chairman of Olathe-base d "We wanted to speedx the process for the city of Merriam," Stiner said. "(Merriam Investors) already had people ready to leasethe property. That drivews it all." Left to market the area probably would befillex now, but the city had a vision for the site and understoode that it might take longed to realize, Enslinger said. Still, the city hopee it would go vertical he said.
Some incentives are tied to The developers canget $4 million in TDD taxes if 60 percent of the remaining improvementsw are under construction by the end of 2010 and less if more work Enslinger said. Block said he hopes for a mid-200i9 opening, with the project done by 2010. An auto , already has opened on the south side of the Tom Thoreson ofOverland Park-based DJ Christire also is involved with Block, Becky Goodman and Nathan Schnefke of Block Co. are leasing agents for the project.
Blocj said tenants will include big-box retailers, restaurants and probably a The largesttenant space, according to currenf plans, measures 45,000 square Merriam Pointe will bulk up the city'ss and metro area's offerings, particularly bringing needed restaurant pad sitexs to the city, Enslinger said. The project could includwe as many as threeauto dealerships, but that number woulds be pared if a hotel is
The growth will come under the cultivation of newdeveloperf , which includes principal David Block and Presidenrt David Christie. The group began closing on the purchasee of parcels south of 67th Street in Decemberf and plans to finisjin mid-February. Block wouldn't disclose the price but callee theland "very expensive" because of the locationh and previous site The Johnson County Appraiser'ds Office estimated the parcels' 2007 market valuer at more than $8.2 million. "It's a supet location with good visibility," Block adding that the development groulp already is in talks with possible retailp andrestaurant tenants. Kansas City-based Block Co.
estimated I-35 traffic at more than 150,009 cars a day. In marketing materials, it calls the site one of Johnsobn County's last available shopping centerf locations. The push to developp Merriam Pointe, proposed as a power centefr with a price tag as highas $60 began in late 2004. Initiao hopes were that some stores would open inlate 2005. The projecft involves as much as $15.75 million in publicc money, including tax increment financing and a transportationdevelopmenrt district, said Dennis Enslinger, Merriam'e community development director.
Site preparation involves demolishingold buildings, realigning a improving a railroad crossing and moving a gas Merriam Investors approached the previous developer - -- about taking over the project, said Ross a member of Merriam Pointe LLC and chairman of Olathe-base d "We wanted to speedx the process for the city of Merriam," Stiner said. "(Merriam Investors) already had people ready to leasethe property. That drivews it all." Left to market the area probably would befillex now, but the city had a vision for the site and understoode that it might take longed to realize, Enslinger said. Still, the city hopee it would go vertical he said.
Some incentives are tied to The developers canget $4 million in TDD taxes if 60 percent of the remaining improvementsw are under construction by the end of 2010 and less if more work Enslinger said. Block said he hopes for a mid-200i9 opening, with the project done by 2010. An auto , already has opened on the south side of the Tom Thoreson ofOverland Park-based DJ Christire also is involved with Block, Becky Goodman and Nathan Schnefke of Block Co. are leasing agents for the project.
Blocj said tenants will include big-box retailers, restaurants and probably a The largesttenant space, according to currenf plans, measures 45,000 square Merriam Pointe will bulk up the city'ss and metro area's offerings, particularly bringing needed restaurant pad sitexs to the city, Enslinger said. The project could includwe as many as threeauto dealerships, but that number woulds be pared if a hotel is
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Many mortgage lenders
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Not good, exactly. But not as bad as they mighgt be, considering that home sales nationally have been in the tank sincd 2007 and that just three months ago, the global economy was teeterinfg on the verge of Not surprisingly, the latest figures for Business First’s 2009 list of the top 20 full-servic e mortgage lenders, based on volume of loans closed in shows that all but two lendere in the top 10 reported a lowert volume of loans closed. What is surprising is that seven of thoswe eight mortgage lenders reported that the totak dollar value of those loansd closed higher thanin 2007.
ranked firstf on this year’s list with loan closingds worth $605 million in 2008, up 22 perceng from $495 million in 2007. Despite that the number of loans closed fell 11 to 3,824 from 4,290. Several trendes explain the numbers, said Jeff Ratanapool, senior vice president and director of mortgage operationds forCentury Mortgage. A refinance boom begabn in January 2008 and went onuntil April, followesd by a lull that lasted until Ratanapool said. Six months in 2008 saw interesttrates decrease.
The possibility of falling rates led borrowerawith higher-interest mortgages to begin repositioning for refinancing, payinvg off or consolidating debt, he Interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgages dropped from as high as 6.7 percentg in mid-2007 to about 5.8 percent at the beginninf of 2008. Then they rose back to abouyt 6.4 percent in mid-2008 before plunging to abourt 5 percent at the end of the year as the Federak Reserve Board cut key rates to stimulatethe “Say you owed $160,000, plus a second mortgagee for $30,000,” Ratanapool said. “Aned say the first mortgage wasat 6.5 with a floating home equity line of credit.
” Dropping interesr rates for part of 2008 gave that consumedr — assuming he or she had a good credift score — motivation to roll all that debt together for a $190,00p loan at a much lower interestg rate. Though fewer peoplr took out mortgages thanin 2007, that 2008 mortgage Ratanapool used as an examplee was representative of many of the refinancingxs that went into the bookss at higher amounts than the loans they replaced, he & Trust Co. fell to No. 2 on this year’x list from No. 1 in 2008. The largest Louisville-baserd bank by assets reported 2,962 mortgages closed in down 16 percentfrom 3,530 in 2007.
The valude of mortgages closed in 2008 declinex 15 percent toabout $601 millio n from $706 million in 2007. Steve Trager, Republic’sa CEO and chairman, attributed the drop to decreasingconsumer demand. The No. 3 bank on the 2007 list was NationaloCity Bank, which was forced by federal regulators to merged with in December 2008. Amid increasingt investment losses and mortgage National City fellto No. 6 on this year’xs list. The dollar value of loan closed byNational City’s local offices fell 43 percent in to $287.7 million from $511 million in 2007. And the numbef of loans closed byNational City’s local offices plunged to 755 from 3,329.
PNC was not included in eithed list. The bank does not releasw individualmarket data, said Fred Solomon, a spokesman at the bank’s Pittsburgh headquarters. The No. 2 Louisville-based bank by & Trust Co., rose to No. 4 on the 2009 list from No. 5 in 2008. Stockj Yards reported the total value of 2008 mortgagezs risingto $445 million, up 4 percent from $426 million in 2007. But the number of mortgagea droppedto 2,049 in 2008 from 3,749 in a drop of 45 Carolyn Sachse, senior vice president and directoe of mortgage lending of Stock said the volume of loans decreased because the bank made fewer secondd mortgages, home-equity loans and home-equity lines of credit because of change s in internal underwriting and secondary markeg guidelines.
“In 2007, the secondary market and the bank wantesthis business,” Sachse said. But in 2008, “ift came to a stop,” partlgy because there were fewer buyers forthose loans. Becaused the figures include both commercial andresidential mortgages, they don’t reflectr that the average amount of a home loan remaine d at about $150,000, Sachsde said. Incentives, rates helpint Nationally, the outlook for mortgages seems to be Pending sales of existing homes rosein May, the thirc straight month, because of low mortgage ratee and a special $8,000 homebuyers creditr under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, accordingg to a report released Tuesday by the .
Century Mortgage’s Ratanapool said he expects mortgage rates to stay low for at leastf 12 months to18 months. But it will be more difficult for anyone except those with the best credit scoresz toget loans, he said, “and it will take longetr to get people through the (approval) Ratanapool predicts that housing will play a big role in the recovery, but for a completew recovery, he said, rates must remaih low. “The government has the to keeprates low. They can’f shut (the recovery) down before it gets Trager added that Republic already sees evidence ofa rebound.
Republic made $340 million in loans for the firstt quarterof 2009, including abouft $250 million in residential mortgages, he That’s up 30 percent from the firsty quarter of 2008, Trager added. Stock Sachse said a change that would benefit Louisville directly would befor government-backes mortgage agencies and to loosen lending guidelines for new When developers began the large downtown condo projects in mortgage money was flowing to consumers because thers was a secondary market for new condo mortgages — a marke that dried up last year.
Now, lenders that make new condp mortgages have nowhere to sell Sachse said, which is forcing developers to rent to keepcapitap flowing. Lending standards might have needed adjusting, she “but now the pendulum’s swungb too far the other way.”
Not good, exactly. But not as bad as they mighgt be, considering that home sales nationally have been in the tank sincd 2007 and that just three months ago, the global economy was teeterinfg on the verge of Not surprisingly, the latest figures for Business First’s 2009 list of the top 20 full-servic e mortgage lenders, based on volume of loans closed in shows that all but two lendere in the top 10 reported a lowert volume of loans closed. What is surprising is that seven of thoswe eight mortgage lenders reported that the totak dollar value of those loansd closed higher thanin 2007.
ranked firstf on this year’s list with loan closingds worth $605 million in 2008, up 22 perceng from $495 million in 2007. Despite that the number of loans closed fell 11 to 3,824 from 4,290. Several trendes explain the numbers, said Jeff Ratanapool, senior vice president and director of mortgage operationds forCentury Mortgage. A refinance boom begabn in January 2008 and went onuntil April, followesd by a lull that lasted until Ratanapool said. Six months in 2008 saw interesttrates decrease.
The possibility of falling rates led borrowerawith higher-interest mortgages to begin repositioning for refinancing, payinvg off or consolidating debt, he Interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgages dropped from as high as 6.7 percentg in mid-2007 to about 5.8 percent at the beginninf of 2008. Then they rose back to abouyt 6.4 percent in mid-2008 before plunging to abourt 5 percent at the end of the year as the Federak Reserve Board cut key rates to stimulatethe “Say you owed $160,000, plus a second mortgagee for $30,000,” Ratanapool said. “Aned say the first mortgage wasat 6.5 with a floating home equity line of credit.
” Dropping interesr rates for part of 2008 gave that consumedr — assuming he or she had a good credift score — motivation to roll all that debt together for a $190,00p loan at a much lower interestg rate. Though fewer peoplr took out mortgages thanin 2007, that 2008 mortgage Ratanapool used as an examplee was representative of many of the refinancingxs that went into the bookss at higher amounts than the loans they replaced, he & Trust Co. fell to No. 2 on this year’x list from No. 1 in 2008. The largest Louisville-baserd bank by assets reported 2,962 mortgages closed in down 16 percentfrom 3,530 in 2007.
The valude of mortgages closed in 2008 declinex 15 percent toabout $601 millio n from $706 million in 2007. Steve Trager, Republic’sa CEO and chairman, attributed the drop to decreasingconsumer demand. The No. 3 bank on the 2007 list was NationaloCity Bank, which was forced by federal regulators to merged with in December 2008. Amid increasingt investment losses and mortgage National City fellto No. 6 on this year’xs list. The dollar value of loan closed byNational City’s local offices fell 43 percent in to $287.7 million from $511 million in 2007. And the numbef of loans closed byNational City’s local offices plunged to 755 from 3,329.
PNC was not included in eithed list. The bank does not releasw individualmarket data, said Fred Solomon, a spokesman at the bank’s Pittsburgh headquarters. The No. 2 Louisville-based bank by & Trust Co., rose to No. 4 on the 2009 list from No. 5 in 2008. Stockj Yards reported the total value of 2008 mortgagezs risingto $445 million, up 4 percent from $426 million in 2007. But the number of mortgagea droppedto 2,049 in 2008 from 3,749 in a drop of 45 Carolyn Sachse, senior vice president and directoe of mortgage lending of Stock said the volume of loans decreased because the bank made fewer secondd mortgages, home-equity loans and home-equity lines of credit because of change s in internal underwriting and secondary markeg guidelines.
“In 2007, the secondary market and the bank wantesthis business,” Sachse said. But in 2008, “ift came to a stop,” partlgy because there were fewer buyers forthose loans. Becaused the figures include both commercial andresidential mortgages, they don’t reflectr that the average amount of a home loan remaine d at about $150,000, Sachsde said. Incentives, rates helpint Nationally, the outlook for mortgages seems to be Pending sales of existing homes rosein May, the thirc straight month, because of low mortgage ratee and a special $8,000 homebuyers creditr under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, accordingg to a report released Tuesday by the .
Century Mortgage’s Ratanapool said he expects mortgage rates to stay low for at leastf 12 months to18 months. But it will be more difficult for anyone except those with the best credit scoresz toget loans, he said, “and it will take longetr to get people through the (approval) Ratanapool predicts that housing will play a big role in the recovery, but for a completew recovery, he said, rates must remaih low. “The government has the to keeprates low. They can’f shut (the recovery) down before it gets Trager added that Republic already sees evidence ofa rebound.
Republic made $340 million in loans for the firstt quarterof 2009, including abouft $250 million in residential mortgages, he That’s up 30 percent from the firsty quarter of 2008, Trager added. Stock Sachse said a change that would benefit Louisville directly would befor government-backes mortgage agencies and to loosen lending guidelines for new When developers began the large downtown condo projects in mortgage money was flowing to consumers because thers was a secondary market for new condo mortgages — a marke that dried up last year.
Now, lenders that make new condp mortgages have nowhere to sell Sachse said, which is forcing developers to rent to keepcapitap flowing. Lending standards might have needed adjusting, she “but now the pendulum’s swungb too far the other way.”
Thursday, February 2, 2012
S. Fla. hotel occupancy dips in 2008 - Triangle Business Journal:
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A study of nationwide hotel trendsd released this week by Smith Travelk Research showsthat tri-county hoteles saw modest declines in occupancy from 2007 to 2008. when it came to average dailt rates, Miami actually had slight increases. Year over year, full-serviced Miami-Dade hotels saw occupancy fall to 70 percenyt in 2008from 71.8 percent in 2007. Limited-servicre hotels slipped to 72.6 percent in 2008 from 73.8 percenr in 2007. Smith Travel Research defines full-service hoteles as those in mid-priced, upscale or luxuru range. They typically have a restaurant, bell serviced and meeting space. Limited-servicew hotels are those that only offe rooms and fall inthe class.
While other destinations suffered, Miami-Dade remained relatively flat thanksz to its strong international saidGinny Gutierrez, director of communityh relations for the Greater Miami Conventiob & Visitors Bureau. While both domestic business and leisuree travel suffered in the fourtbh quarter oflast year, with the U.S. economic international businessremained steady, she Occupancy numbers might have been better if Miami hadn’t seen so many new rooms became available in the second half of the year, Gutierreaz added. The Fontainebleau and Eden Roc aloned made thousands of newroomws available. Full-service Broward hotel occupancy fellto 65.9 percenf in 2008 from 66.
6 percent in 2007 Limited-service hotelss fell to 65.5 percent in 2008 from 67.9 percent in 2007. In Palm Beacnh County, full-service hotel occupancy fell to 63.6 percentr in 2008 from 66.7 percent in 2007. Limited-service hotelsd went to 58.7 percent from 61.6 percent – a drop of 4.8 the largest slide in the region on apercentage basis. Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of the Palm Beachb CountyConvention & Visitors Bureau, said the area saw the largestr drops due to a calculatecd pullback from corporate travelers. Though Palm Beach Countg has a diverse mix of it has to fight the perception that it is only for the he said.
“The combination of the economy and the AIG effect has been nasty to us for some he said, referring to populist outragd at executives of the failed financial company. “Th corporate world has becomeevery tentative, very shy about going to upscale resorts for fear of an image backlash.” Nationwide, full-service hotels reported an averagw occupancy rate of 67.4 percenty in 2008. That declined 2.6 percenft from 2007. The average daily rate charged for a roomat Miami’s full-service hotels rose to $182.78 in 2008 from $181.390 in 2007, a 0.8 percent gain. Limited-service was up to $109.13e from $108.85. The most expensive average daily rate in 2008was $187.
10 at Palm Beac h full-service hotels. But, that slipped 1.3 percentt from 2007. Limited service was down a half percent. Broward’z limited-service hotels saw the biggest percentage decliner in ratesto $92.64 in 2008 from $96.23 in 2007, down 3.7 percent. Full-service Browarrd hotels dropped 1.4 percent. “We are kind of trapped in a downspiralingvof rates,” said Nicki Grossman, presidenft and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventiob & Visitors Bureau. “Part of that is that ratess have gone up over the past few years so so fast.
” While it’s hard to predict, Broward’xs limited-service sector may bounce back faster than the full-service, she The reason: over the last few Broward has seen the most robust growth in demandx for limited-service rooms for passengers goingv on cruises and discount group-rate business. Nationwide, the averager daily rate was $164.31 in down from $166.69 in 2007. Gutierres said she was cautiously optimistic that the worst is over for While occupancy declined in May compared to the same time last the rate of decline was no worse than in For months, the declines had been gettingg worse, she said. “It’s an indication that we’ve probably hit she said.
“What we are seeing is some stabilityh now.”
A study of nationwide hotel trendsd released this week by Smith Travelk Research showsthat tri-county hoteles saw modest declines in occupancy from 2007 to 2008. when it came to average dailt rates, Miami actually had slight increases. Year over year, full-serviced Miami-Dade hotels saw occupancy fall to 70 percenyt in 2008from 71.8 percent in 2007. Limited-servicre hotels slipped to 72.6 percent in 2008 from 73.8 percenr in 2007. Smith Travel Research defines full-service hoteles as those in mid-priced, upscale or luxuru range. They typically have a restaurant, bell serviced and meeting space. Limited-servicew hotels are those that only offe rooms and fall inthe class.
While other destinations suffered, Miami-Dade remained relatively flat thanksz to its strong international saidGinny Gutierrez, director of communityh relations for the Greater Miami Conventiob & Visitors Bureau. While both domestic business and leisuree travel suffered in the fourtbh quarter oflast year, with the U.S. economic international businessremained steady, she Occupancy numbers might have been better if Miami hadn’t seen so many new rooms became available in the second half of the year, Gutierreaz added. The Fontainebleau and Eden Roc aloned made thousands of newroomws available. Full-service Broward hotel occupancy fellto 65.9 percenf in 2008 from 66.
6 percent in 2007 Limited-service hotelss fell to 65.5 percent in 2008 from 67.9 percent in 2007. In Palm Beacnh County, full-service hotel occupancy fell to 63.6 percentr in 2008 from 66.7 percent in 2007. Limited-service hotelsd went to 58.7 percent from 61.6 percent – a drop of 4.8 the largest slide in the region on apercentage basis. Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of the Palm Beachb CountyConvention & Visitors Bureau, said the area saw the largestr drops due to a calculatecd pullback from corporate travelers. Though Palm Beach Countg has a diverse mix of it has to fight the perception that it is only for the he said.
“The combination of the economy and the AIG effect has been nasty to us for some he said, referring to populist outragd at executives of the failed financial company. “Th corporate world has becomeevery tentative, very shy about going to upscale resorts for fear of an image backlash.” Nationwide, full-service hotels reported an averagw occupancy rate of 67.4 percenty in 2008. That declined 2.6 percenft from 2007. The average daily rate charged for a roomat Miami’s full-service hotels rose to $182.78 in 2008 from $181.390 in 2007, a 0.8 percent gain. Limited-service was up to $109.13e from $108.85. The most expensive average daily rate in 2008was $187.
10 at Palm Beac h full-service hotels. But, that slipped 1.3 percentt from 2007. Limited service was down a half percent. Broward’z limited-service hotels saw the biggest percentage decliner in ratesto $92.64 in 2008 from $96.23 in 2007, down 3.7 percent. Full-service Browarrd hotels dropped 1.4 percent. “We are kind of trapped in a downspiralingvof rates,” said Nicki Grossman, presidenft and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventiob & Visitors Bureau. “Part of that is that ratess have gone up over the past few years so so fast.
” While it’s hard to predict, Broward’xs limited-service sector may bounce back faster than the full-service, she The reason: over the last few Broward has seen the most robust growth in demandx for limited-service rooms for passengers goingv on cruises and discount group-rate business. Nationwide, the averager daily rate was $164.31 in down from $166.69 in 2007. Gutierres said she was cautiously optimistic that the worst is over for While occupancy declined in May compared to the same time last the rate of decline was no worse than in For months, the declines had been gettingg worse, she said. “It’s an indication that we’ve probably hit she said.
“What we are seeing is some stabilityh now.”
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