Monday, October 26th, 2009
Over the past few decades we have seen the evolution of many trends in the national restaurant scene. In the early to mid 1990s the rage in dining was the themed restaurant led by Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood. In these restaurants, the decor primarily consisting of rock & roll and film memorabilia became the attraction and not the food. Soon, it seemed like every celebrity wanted their name associated with the newest “you-name-it-café”. The pinnacle of this culinary bubble was the opening of Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney where sales quickly realized an annual volume of $50,000,000 to become the highest producing restaurant in the world.
However, in recent years the American culinary marketplace experienced a momentous change in the way people eat, cook and dine. As such, five primary factors have changed food and the way we consume and experience it. (more…)
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
Reprinted from CrainesNewYork.com
The Limited’s SoHo pop-up shop, doing brisk business, will stick around through the holidays.
More than just a limited engagement, trendy apparel retailer The Limited is extending its four-day pop-up shop in SoHo through the end of December, the company said Thursday.
Last week, Limited opened a temporary, store at 134 Spring St., between Wooster and Greene streets, after a decade-long absence from the New York market. But executives of the Columbus, Ohio-based firm were “pleasantly surprised, as it performed at the same level as one of their top-tier stores,” according to a spokeswoman. Sales, which were not disclosed, were high enough to persuade the company to extend the 3,400-square-foot shop through Dec. 28. It’s a sign, retail brokers say, that the retailer might be closer to taking a permanent location here. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Limited, new york, pop-up shop, Retail, shopping, Soho
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
National economists have often stated that expenditures by U.S. consumers make up 70% of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product). In brief, the GDP is the total market value of domestic goods and services produced and consumed in the U.S. within a 365 day period.
However, a recent headline in USA Today proclaimed that consumer spending had grown to 71% of the GDP in the second quarter of 2009. On the surface this could be viewed as another positive sign of an improving economy, but in reality it is not. The real fact is that consumption as a percentage of the economy typically increases during a recession because output in manufacturing, construction, and business expenditures almost always drop first and at a higher percentage than consumer purchases. The result is a smaller basket of economic variables with the consumer taking a higher percentage of the whole. (more…)
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Reprinted from Ameinfo.com
With events such as The Formula One Grand Prix on the docket, Abu Dhabi is rapidly emerging as a world-class tourism destination and is threatening to overtake Dubai as the top tourism hot spot in the UAE.
The capital of the UAE has long taken a back seat to Dubai on the tourist map, preferring to take a more low-key approach and focusing on business tourism rather than the leisure market. (more…)
Tags: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, tourism, UAE
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Reprinted from channelnewsasia.com
Island resort Sentosa will soon be home to the world’s tallest duel roller-coaster ride and movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Shrek and the motley mob of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria last spotted in Madagascar,the movie.
The Universal Studios theme-park which will be housed on the 49 hectares Resorts World at Sentosa, revealed Tuesday its two dozen attractions, including 18 rides and attractions specially created or adapted for Singapore. (more…)
Tags: amusement, attraction, Retail, Sentosa, singapore, Universal Studios
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from MTI-ECONEWS
Hungarian construction company TriGranit will spend EUR 1.5bn to build Europe’s biggest shopping and entertainment centre near Bratislava, TriGranit development director Simon Bayley said at a press conference in the Slovakian capital on Tuesday.
The 1.2m-square-metre shopping and entertainment centre, dubbed Metropolis, will have a water park, golf courses, hotels, casinos and cultural and conference centres, Mr Bayley said. (more…)
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from People’s Daily Online
Beijing is going to raise 50 billion yuan to build up Chinese Animation and Game City as China’s “animation Hollywood and Disneyland”.
Besides, Beijing will provide 100 million yuan each year as financial suport for the Animation city which is located in the former site of Shougang Group, China’s eighth largest steel maker.
In the 83-hectare area, the Animation city will include six major function areas such as theme park, trade management center, research and production center, business service platform, office building, hotel and living area.
At the moment, some online game companies have already entered the Animation city, such as sohugame and Linekong. Famous internet companies like Netease, Tencent and Giant are also listed on the business plan.
Beijing government vows to provide favorable policies on taxation, land development, infrastructure construction, financial support and talents recruitment.
By People’s Daily Online
Tags: amusement, Animation City, Beijing, China
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Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Reprinted from Orlando Sentinel
The ‘Sum of All Thrills’ uses robot-arm technology that Universal Orlando is also believed to be using for a new Harry Potter ride
Guests ride the Sum of All Thrills simulator ride at Epcot, during the grand opening of the attraction at Walt Disney World, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. The giant robotic arm –the KUKA RoboSim 4-D Simulator– powers the riders’ experience, in which guests custom design their own thrill ride using math and science principles, and then ride the simulator. (JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINEL / October 14, 2009) (more…)
Tags: amusement, Disney, Industry News
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