BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Atlanta's UNCROWNED Wins National Rock Competition

Atlanta's UNCROWNED Wins National Rock Competition - Oct. 9, 2004

UNCROWNED, an unsigned band based in Atlanta, has won the "Shot at the Cabo Wabo" national battle-of-the-bands competition. Beating out more than 250 of the country's hottest unsigned bands, UNCROWNED won an all-expense paid trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and will perform both nights (October 8 and 9, 2004) at the Cabo Wabo Meltdown at the Cabo Wabo Cantina. As grand-prize winners, UNCROWNED will also receive $14,000 worth of studio/production time.

"Playing the Cabo Wabo Meltdown is a truly awesome opportunity for any band," said Brian Siemienas, director of marketing for Hard Rock International. "We joined with Cabo Wabo Tequila to find a way to recognize the nation's best unsigned bands and give them the opportunity to perform with some of music's top artists. Hard Rock is thrilled to be able to recognize UNCROWNED's passion, and hopefully help the band on its path to stardom."

This year's Cabo Wabo Meltdown will feature headliners SAMMY HAGAR AND THE WABORITAS preceded by J Records recording artists SILVERTIDE. Special guests scheduled to perform this year include Chad Smith from the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, Billy Duffy from THE CULT and Chad Kroeger from NICKELBACK.

"It is my absolute pleasure to give young bands support," stated Hagar. "We plan on watching UNCROWNED heat up our Meltdown fans and make them their own."

During April and May, select Hard Rock Cafes in 20 U.S. cities each hosted four intense rounds of live regional competitions. Rock fans nationwide voted for their favorite bands on-line at www.hardrock.com to narrow the competition down to six finalists. Finally, a panel of celebrity and music industry judges, including Sammy Hagar, picked the winning band.

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Travel: This Week

03:33 PM CDT on Friday, October 8, 2004

By ARLINE BLEECKER / The Orlando Sentinel

Few moments are as unforgettable to me as peering at the frigid black waters of Antarctica from the observation lounge of a luxury ship. It was an exquisitely calm moonlit night some years ago. And, while a famous Polish pianist on board played Liszt, a 10-story-tall iceberg the length of three football fields floated by.

To capture the moment, the captain maneuvered the vessel to circle the berg at a snail's pace while training the ship's klieg lights on it to illuminate its icy-white surface against the pitch-black setting.

The music clinched the moment. Natural beauty and a Liszt sonata: Nothing plucked at the core of existence quite so effectively.

For those, though, who consider classical music sounds to snooze by, there's a medley of cruises that just might strike the proper chord.

Because rock music rocks a lot of people's boats, Carnival Cruise Lines is betting that its weeklong "Rock 'n' Roll Holiday Cruise" to the Caribbean will be a splash hit. The special music aboard the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will be live performances by three giants of rock: Journey, REO Speedwagon and Styx.

Departing Miami Nov. 27, the voyage will sail to Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica, among other ports of call. It also includes private concerts, Q&A sessions with band members, and exclusive cocktail parties, as well as limited-edition band memorabilia to buy.

According to Carnival, this is the first time these bands, considered among rock's biggest, have participated in such an event. Together they have sold more than 100 million records, and they fill stadiums and arenas wherever they appear.

Cruise fares begin at $1,299 per person, double occupancy. Discounts for third and fourth passengers in the same stateroom are available. Information: 1-866-236-6696.

Rock addicts also will have reason to cheer the launch of Show Boat Cruises, a tour operator that promotes musical cruises. Founded this year, the company kicks off its first season Jan. 3 with a seven-day cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Holland America's Ryndam.

The voyage down the Pacific Coast, notes the company, will feature the finest rock, jazz and Motown musicians, including Grammy winners Michael McDonald and Tom Scott, Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Rolie, and rock 'n' roll singer Eddie Money.

Show Boat Cruises promises to donate a portion of the cruise proceeds to Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit program that provides free instruments and music instruction to disadvantaged children in public schools.

Fares for the cruise begin at $895 per person, double occupancy, plus taxes and port charges. Information: 1-866-927-6732; www.showboatcrui ses.com.

Telephone company hearings hit the road

Telephone company hearings hit the road - 2004-10-09 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has taken to the road -- to the skies, really -- to hold hearings around the state on the proposal of Verizon Communications to sell its former GTE operations in Hawaii to the Carlyle Group, a mainland investment group, for $1.65 billion.

The Garden Island, the Lihue newspaper, reported this week that more than 50 people showed up for the Kauai hearing, including union employees of Verizon's local operations who support the acquisition.

Pat Bustamente, president of Pacific LightNet, has made himself a part of the process by raising questions about the technical expertise of the prospective buyers, and by calling on them to put any rate promises in writing. Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard, who is now managing director of the Carlyle Group, has said the venture intends to undertake significant technical upgrades without raising rates.

Pacific LightNet, like Time Warner Oceanic, is both a telecoms competitor of Verizon Hawaii and a customer, since it is a unique feature of the telecoms industry that competitors must cooperate to complete calls from one provider's phone to another's. Inept technical or billing operations by company X can adversely affect company Y. Bustamante asserts that Verizon Hawaii got a previous rate hike with promises of technical upgrades that have not been wholly forthcoming.

Verizon Communications took scores of jobs from Hawaii when it moved local billing and other "back office" functions to the mainland. First Hawaiian Bank Chairman Walter Dods, who is advising the Carlyle Group in its effort to acquire the phone company, says Carlyle intends to bring those functions back to Hawaii. This has been seen in some quarters as one of the best features of the proposed deal, but Bustamante questions whether Carlyle can rapidly assemble such an operation.

La Canada Valley Sun: La Canada Flintridge, California

La Canada Valley Sun: La Canada Flintridge, California

Try This Mountain Out for Size



CABIN IN THE WOODS - Historic Gold Mountain Manor was built in 1928.

California Weekend by Cary Ordway

While the best getaway spots in California are almost always crowded on weekends and during popular vacation times, one of the state's recreation jewels is offering a little quieter vacation experience this year.

Surprisingly, Big Bear Lake, one of the state's top mountain resort areas, is seeing less-than-expected visitor traffic this year. Local lodging operators say it's due to a "Perfect Storm" of events: a continuation of the Southern California drought, bad press resulting from last year's fires and a pesky beetle that is taking advantage of the dry weather to destroy some of Big Bear's gorgeous pine trees.

Overall reservation statistics are hard to come by, but several individual lodge owners have noted that business has been down or flat in recent months. A few lodgings are showing increased business, but that seems to be more anecdotal than general. The feeling among many lodging operators is that Big Bear is getting a bum rap.

"All the TV stations make it sound like we're a match stick ready to go off," says Myron Koza, owner of the Wishing Well Motel, "and we're not."

The closest fire to Big Bear Lake last year was 20 miles away, according to Dan McKernan, public relations coordinator for the Big Bear Lake Resort Association. And, yes, McKernan says, the water level is down - but all that is lost, he insists, are the shallow areas of the lake that would not have been good for boating anyway. He points out that all of the water activities are still there, just confined to a somewhat smaller area.


Aggressive efforts are now under way in the San Bernardino Forest to clean out trees that have been infested by bark beetles - warm winters and air pollution from nearby populated areas have exacerbated a problem that has always been there. Now, some experts say between 40 and 50 percent of the area's pine trees could eventually fall victim to the beetles.

The dead trees are noticeable but, as far as we could tell, not yet seriously detracting from the Big Bear experience that Southern Californians have enjoyed for generations. It's no accident that Hollywood has frequently used Big Bear as a stand-in for mountain locales around the world. But unlike many other mountain destinations, Big Bear's biggest problem right now - the lack of moisture - is also one of its greatest assets. Where else can you find an easily accessible mountain with 300 annual days of sunshine?

Big Bear also has one of the best selections of getaway-style lodgings anywhere in the state. The "cabin in the woods" experience is alive and well at Big Bear, whether it's staying in a resort or renting your own vacation home by the week or month. There are some of the best bed-and-breakfast inns available anywhere in California. Or you can stay in simpler motel-style units - Big Bear has it all.

On our most recent trip to Big Bear, we sort of combined the cabin and bed-and-breakfast experiences - by staying at a renowned bed-and-breakfast called Gold Mountain Manor. The inn was built in the 1928 by Guy Sherman Maltby, well known in the Big Bear area as a contractor and owner of the Bear Valley Milling and Lumber Company. The building simply exudes history at every turn.

Although it is much more than a cabin, the inn does have many of the features you would find in a cabin in the woods: a gigantic stone fireplace, gleaming bird's eye maple floors and beamed ceilings. Originally, this mansion included nine bedrooms, eight fireplaces, a wine cellar, a billiard room, chauffeur's quarters and three deluxe donkey stables. The grounds include many majestic pine trees and the feeling outside is one of a peaceful, historic park.

Inside, Innkeeper Cathy Weil spends her time doing all the things that a perfect hostess would do - baking gooey chocolate cookies for arriving guests, or putting out wine and a snack plate for a late afternoon gathering of her guests. And, of course the Big Event of the day is the scrumptious breakfast, all prepared meticulously and most from tried-and-true recipes used by the inn for many years. Our breakfast menu included fresh peaches and sour cream, a chocolate cappuccino bread pudding in a coffee cup, a sausage and egg quiche plus fresh squeezed orange juice.

In between meals, it's not uncommon to see Cathy working as much in her garden as in the kitchen, always humming a tune as she brings in vegetables fresh from the garden. It's clear that she's in her element - just a few months ago Gold Mountain Manor was owned by a pair of gourmet chefs and, when Cathy took over, she spent several weeks learning their culinary secrets. As guests can validate, she has passed this little test with flying colors.

The accommodations at Gold Mountain Manor are just as distinctive as the food. After all, where else could you stay in former donkey stables and feel like you were royalty?

We stayed in the Ted Ducey Suite - converted from those original stables and named after one of Big Bear Mountain's most famous outdoorsmen. It's hard to imagine Ducey settling in for his over-sized Jacuzzi bath surrounded by burning candles and soaking in water laced with fragrant bath powder. Perhaps the suite's wood-burning fireplace and aged knotty pine were more to this man's man's liking. Regardless, the Ted Ducey suite is a getaway unto itself and sure to please any couple intent on making their overnight stay memorable. (If you need further convincing, just read the entries in the Guest Book).

Gold Mountain Manor is among several lodgings in the Big Bear area that place a premium on pampering. There is a good selection of fine restaurants as well, and breakfast time at Gold Mountain is a great time to swap stories and recommendations with other guests staying at the inn. Most of our fellow guests were young couples and it was clear they were loving every minute of their stay at Big Bear.

The activities in and near Big Bear are limitless - if it has to do with outdoor recreation, you probably can do it at Big Bear. Hiking trails are located in different locations around the lake, and bicycling is big - although, remember, you're at almost 7,000 feet of altitude. Boat rentals and water activities are available in summer; in winter Big Bear turns into a winter wonderland ski resort. Skiing and snowboarding are offered at Snow Summit and at Bear Mountain. Other winter sports include sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

If you want to head to Big Bear before the snow flies, the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is now in its 34th year and runs through the month of October. Guests can get shuttle rides between their lodging facility and the Big Bear Lake Convention Center, where the festival is held. If you like German beer, grilled bratwurst and the sounds of German polkas and sing-a-longs, the Oktoberfest at Big Bear is one of the most authentic in Southern California - especially given its "Bavarian" setting.

Be sure to check out the stein holding competition, the only such contest in the United States. The object is to carry the most one-liter beer steins without spilling. The woman who wins this event - and we're told she's going to have to hold upwards of 20 steins to do it - is crowned queen of the festival.

For more on travel in California, visit California Weekend's Web site at www.californiaweekend.com

Alameda County Commuters Have Chance to Win Vacation

ContraCostaTimes.com | 10/08/2004 | News briefs Rockridge group to host ele ...: "New carpooler could win trip to Mexico
Commuters who currently drive alone and register with the Regional Rideshare Program could find themselves in sunny Mexico, rather than Bay Area gridlock by entering a drawing to win a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, courtesy of Sun Trips and the Melia Cabo Real.
Commuters can register by telephone by calling 511, or via the Internet at www.511.org (click on Rideshare and sign up to find carpool or vanpool partners using the 511 Ridematch Tool). Currently, more than 10,000 commuters are signed up with the Rideshare Program and are seeking carpool or vanpool partners."

Inc.com | How To Go on Vacation

Inc.com | How To Go on Vacation

How To Go on Vacation
Here's how to take a vacation, and relax while your away.

From: Inc. Magazine, October 2004 | Page 106 By: Donna Fenn Photographs by: David Bashaw
The etymology of Vacation hints at its true purpose: The Latin vacare literally means "empty." Alas, that is a highly unnatural state for an entrepreneur's brain. So how can you experience the psychic and restorative benefits of vacation while remaining true to your nature? We asked Randy Warren and Michael Gross, co-CEOs of Global Travel International, a travel agency in Maitland, Fla., with $14 million in sales, for advice. Warren had just returned from a vacation when we spoke. Gross was packing for one."If you've done your job as a CEO, the company shouldn't need you every day," said Warren. His last time out of the office, he was proud to say, he had been rafting and hiking for six days before calling in.

"I don't like to have surprises when I walk back into the office," Warren said defensively. "But if I see hiccups, I've learned to wait to address them." In other words, he keeps up but he stops short of problem-solving while on vacation.

The winning formula: Keep mind and body engaged with stimulating new pursuits that take you far away from the world of work (try mountain biking, Gross says, which forces you to focus on staying alive). But give yourself permission to think about your company once in a while. "I don't think you can ever quite turn off work," says Warren. "But you have to learn how to compartmentalize it and move it over to the side. You want to be able to access it -- just in case you come up with a great idea."

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: U.S. Coast Guard evacuates three from Mexico-bound cruise ship

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: U.S. Coast Guard evacuates three from Mexico-bound cruise ship: "SAN DIEGO The U-S Coast Guard evacuated three passengers today from a cruise ship heading to Cabo San Lucas after they fell ill.
Two passengers had heart problems. The third's illness was undisclosed.
The evacuation came while the ship, operated by Holland America Line and known as the Volendam, was about 150 miles at sea.
Meanwhile, another Mexico-bound liner called the Monarch of the Seas was headed to San Diego this afternoon to drop off a passenger in need of hospital care.
Further details weren't immediately available.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed."

Crain's Detroit Business

Crain's Detroit Business

Rocker Sammy Hagar builds marketing empire

By T.L. Stanley, Advertising Age
Sept. 29, 2004 2:56 PM

It's music industry lore and Hollywood movie cliche that rock stars fritter away their millions on partying and booze. Not so for rock veteran Sammy Hagar, who's actually bringing in money by turning what started, in his own words, as "a stupid rich-rock-star whim" into a growing multifaceted business.

Hagar, who has his brand logo tattooed on his arm, created and oversees Cabo Wabo Enterprises, which includes two restaurant/nightclubs, a hot-selling premium tequila brand, a growing entertainment festival and a budding merchandise line.

Unlike many marriages between brands and musicians, Hagar isn't a celebrity endorser licensing his name. He built his Cabo San Lucas cantina in the '80s because he wanted a place to play music when he vacationed there. He later bought a local tequila manufacturer.

His friends and advisers thought he was crazy, he said, and his accountant quit, saying the ventures were a waste of money. Instead, the cantina flourished and the tequila sold.

Hagar is now assembling the first sales force for Cabo Wabo tequila, which is a top-five seller in the super-premium-tequila category dominated by such brands as Patron and Cazadores, according to Adams Beverage Group. The top sellers moved between 200,000 and slightly more than 300,000 cases in 2003, Adams statistics show, upward of twice the Cabo Wabo volume, which Barry Augus, who heads Cabo Wabo Enterprises, expects to reach 110,000 cases this year.

Live Sammy Hagar performances are the picture of brand integration, with giant Cabo Wabo bottles getting rock star positioning on stage and waitresses delivering "Waboritas" to Hagar and the band. Winners of radio contests, who sit in bleachers on stage, sample the tequila.

Cabo Wabo is now stepping up paid advertising, with its the first major print and outdoor campaign, created by two boutique agencies, Meat and Potatoes and All Things Possible, both in Los Angeles. On Board Entertainment, San Francisco, is Cabo Wabo's event marketer. Spending on marketing and media for the brand, though modest, will triple to about $3 million next year.

Hagar is in discussions to open more cantinas, some stand-alone and others connected to casinos or hotels, in cities as varied as San Diego, St. Louis, New Orleans and New York. He expects to open at least two next year, and two or three the following year. Each is wholly owned by Cabo Wabo Enterprises, has a performance space and features a Mexican-influenced menu with regional touches.

Cabo Wabo merchandise, through a recently signed deal with licensing firm Signatures Network, will start production in the coming months. The apparel, barware and other goods that reflect a sand-and-surf party lifestyle will be sold in boutique retailers. Hagar is planning a Cabo Wabo cookbook based on the dishes served at his Cabo San Lucas and Lake Tahoe cantinas.

"I didn't know it would grow like this," Hagar said during a Florida stop on his current tour with Van Halen. "When it started to look like a real business, it was hard not to take the ride."

Other marketers are hitching on. There is his annual Cabo San Lucas birthday bash, a free event for fans, and a Nokia-sponsored event for bar owners and liquor distributors. The amped-up celebrity quotient includes performances by Hagar's band, the Waboritas, Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smash Mouth, Kenny Chesney and Billy Duffy from the Cult.

Risks and rewards
In flexing his entrepreneurial muscles, Hagar joins a growing list of musicians and celebrities who have launched everything from fashion lines to food products under their names. Those steps can be both risky and rewarding. "In Sammy Hagar's case, he's thought beyond the obvious, and he seems to have a real passion for what he's creating," said Lucian James, brand strategist at San Francisco-based Agenda.

Hagar does not disclose sales for his enterprises, but Cabo Wabo executives said he could retire now as a multimillionaire from sales of the tequila and its related businesses. In his core business, Hagar has a newly released CD called “The Essential Red Collection,” and a Van Halen record, Best of Both Worlds. Because the music business is struggling, the Cabo Wabo empire is a way for Hagar to generate revenue and attention, said Jonny Podell, a 30-year music industry veteran who has been the longtime agent for Hagar, Peter Gabriel, the Gipsy Kings and others.

"Diversification is a great hedge from an artist's point of view," said Podell, a former ICM agent who recently founded his own firm, Podell Talent Agency, New York. "In Sammy's case, he started building this business long before the music industry started declining. But this is certainly a way for an artist to have a life after 50."

United will rebalance its schedules / Bankrupt airline to add overseas routes while cutting U.S. flights and fleet size

United will rebalance its schedules / Bankrupt airline to add overseas routes while cutting U.S. flights and fleet size

United will rebalance its schedules
Bankrupt airline to add overseas routes while cutting U.S. flights and fleet size
David Tong, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, October 7, 2004

More Business
Big Debate: Cal, Stanford scholars tackle economy


United Airlines, which is struggling to emerge from bankruptcy, unveiled plans Wednesday to shift more flights to its profitable international routes while cutting domestic flights and reducing the size of its fleet.

The airline has decided to increase the number of seats on international flights by 14 percent by March while slashing the number of seats on its domestic flights by 12 percent.

United, the largest airline at San Francisco International Airport with 142 daily flights, including 13 overseas flights, is taking the long-awaited action because the revenue potential is much better for leisure and business travel to Asia and the Pacific.

That definitely isn't the situation in the brutally competitive domestic market, where United must vie with low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways, which can keep fares low because of their low cost structures and operating efficiencies.

The realignment means the airline's international operations will account for 50 percent of its revenue and 40 percent of its capacity. United will cut the number of available seats systemwide by 2 percent.

Stephan Roth, a spokesman for United, didn't specify what routes would be added or what existing routes would be affected. He did say there will be no elimination of service. Instead there could be reduced frequency of service on certain routes, he said.

The announcement is welcome news for SFO, which relies heavily on its revenue from transpacific travel. "I haven't seen the details, but it looks like it will be fine for the airport. The impact on domestic flights will be minimal, while we will see a gain in international flights,'' said Michael McCarron, a spokesman for SFO.

"San Francisco is already benefiting from our growth in international travel, especially to Asia,'' Roth said. "We've added 30 international flights in the past two years, 70 percent of them in 2004.''

United recently started flights between SFO and Beijing, is set to start service between SFO and Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 9 and has applied for rights to start service to Guangzhou, China. In addition, Roth said, United is planning flights from SFO to the Mexican cities of Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

In its announcement, United cited the pressures of higher fuel costs, intense competition, overcapacity and continued high operating costs for the change. The bankrupt carrier, which employs 11,000 workers at three airports in the Bay Area, is trying to reduce costs by $5 billion per year by 2005.

"They are looking for ways to increase revenue and cut costs. That will make its fleet leaner and allows them to take advantage of higher revenue from international flights. I expect additional cuts in domestic service in the future,'' said George Novak, an industry analyst with the Aviation Institute at George Washington University.

Novak said United should do well in the Asia-Pacific market because the "flying U.S. public tends toward flying American carriers.''

Roth said United plans to reduce its fleet by 68 planes from today's 445, although no types of aircraft will be completely eliminated. "Some wide bodies that we have been flying on domestic routes will be shifted to international routes,'' he said.

Representatives of the Association of Flight Attendants and Air Line Pilots Association had little to say about United's announcement.

"It's not something that will affect us,'' said Sara Dela Cruz, spokesperson for the flight attendants association.

Chronicle staff writer David Armstrong contributed to this report.E-mail David Tong at dtong@sfchronicle.com.

National Post

National Post

The family business: How does Hilary Duff handle her fame? She's got Mom and Dad

Bob Thompson
National Post


October 7, 2004


CREDIT: Kevin Winter, Getty Images
"It's really cool to see people supporting me and loving me," says Hilary Duff, whose latest film, Raise Your Voice, opens tomorrow.

Hilary Duff is a triple-threat entertainment convergence concoction made up of music, movies and merchandising. She turned 17 last Tuesday and has a great deal to celebrate, including a recently released best-selling self-titled CD, a popular clothing line and a new film, Raise Your Voice, which opens tomorrow.

Duff has come a long way since making her high-profile debut in the Lizzie McGuire TV series in 2001, which in turn spawned the 2003 movie. In 2004, she's had a break-out year and shows no signs of letting up as her team pursues more endorsements and entertainment franchises.

The rise to stardom has been overwhelming for the Houston native, but perhaps she had time to put it in perspective with her older sister, Haylie, when they flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for Hilary's birthday celebration last week. Chances are they did. The sisters are close. Mom and Dad are, too. And Duff is proud of that fact.

"Totally supportive," she tells reporters while promoting Raise Your Voice. "My parents, no matter what it is, gymnastics or soccer, acting or singing, they've always been 100% supportive. Same with my sister. Like, we're all big supporters in my family."

It's paid off. Duff is a multi-million-dollar entity, and her latest talent investment is a made-to-order movie vehicle showing off the Duff stuff.

In Raise Your Voice, she plays a grief-stricken Colorado singer who enrolls in a performing arts school in Los Angeles. You could call the picture Fame for the new-millennium tweens. More specifically, it's an unabashed Hilary Duff showcase with help from grown-up co-stars Rita Wilson, David Keith, Rebecca De Mornay and John Corbett.

Certainly those adult actors have had their turns in the spotlight, but nothing compared to Duff's. Only rival Lindsay Lohan comes close this year, which is something Duff doesn't like to discuss. How she handles the adulation, on the other hand, is a subject she can really get into.

"You know what, it only seems weird when people talk about it, you know what I mean?" Duff says politely, referring to her fame. "Because we don't really talk about it in my household. We don't talk about how I have a clothing line, or what's going on with my latest movie.

"We just don't talk about it," she repeats for effect, but then remembers, "oh, unless we're in a meeting or something." And she's been in quite a few of those meeting things lately because "we're bigger than anybody expected, and it's really exciting for me."

It's also work for her. So when she's not on a movie set or in the studio or looking at samples for the next Stuff by Duff top or skirt, she sits in a room full of adults patiently trying to look interested, not bored like a teenager.

"A lot of it has to do with what is a smart decision, and as much as I don't like to be a part of it, I have to be, because I'm going to be the one sitting there smiling and doing it, so I have to be happy with how it comes out," says Duff earnestly.

What makes her feel more secure and little less intimidated by those business get-togethers is the fact that Mom or Dad or both are usually in attendance. And so are her trusted managers, all united in doing what is right for Hilary. "I want to listen to them because I think that they're older and smarter," she explains, "and they want to listen to me, because they want me to be happy."

Sometimes that's a difficult assignment, as Duff finds herself increasingly isolated, "because it's not like I can go to a restaurant or walk down the street any more."

But don't get her wrong: She enjoys the attention, especially when she's in promotion mode. "It's a really good thing sometimes, you know, and it's really cool to see people supporting me and loving me, and it's inspiring," she admits. "And hopefully it inspires them to follow their dreams."

In Duff's case, following her dream means going on a music tour throughout Japan, Australia and Hawaii for a month, before returning to the continental United States for more film promotional duties. So slowing down doesn't seem to be an option. "I'm young, you know," she says, chuckling. "Get it all done while I can, I say."

But what about splurging; say, having a spa day?

"Everyone's like, 'Oh my gawd, go get a massage or a facial.' But I'm not into that. I mean, it's not relaxing to me."

This is her thing. "I want to be, like, driving in my car, or going shopping, or hanging out with my friends, and just be normal."

Fractional and Condo-Hotels Conference Packs Them In

Fractional and Condo-Hotels Conference Packs Them In

Fractional and Condo-Hotels Conference Packs Them In
Thursday October 7, 1:29 pm ET
'Integrating Fractionals & Condo-Hotels in Destinations Resorts'
Sponsored by The Worlds' Finest Resorts and Economics Research Associates

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The World's Finest Resorts (TWFR), the leading brand for independent private residence club projects, distinctive resorts, fractional properties, and wholly-owned condominiums, condo-hotels, villas and homes throughout the world sponsored its second conference at the end of September. It was held in Celebration, Florida.

Limited to 150 participants, the event was sold out with standing room only in many of the sessions. More than 30% of the attendees were from outside of the United States. The conference was held in partnership with Economics Research Associates (San Francisco) an international consulting firm focused on economic analysis for the entertainment and leisure industry, real estate development, public-policy analysis, tourism, and economic development.

As the leading brand for luxury condominium, condo-hotel and villa developers, TWFR's primary function is to support sales and marketing efforts by providing global identity that leads to a consistent flow of high quality customers. One of the primary ways TWFR supports these efforts is by offering trade benefits to luxury resort and residential resort owners.

According to John Kazanjian Executive Vice President, The World's Finest Resorts, "We knew that the cutting-edge nature of the sessions would draw the portion of the resort development industry most interested in fractionals and condo-hotels. We were pleased with the overwhelmingly positive reactions of the attendees."

The World's Finest Resorts' first seminar was held in Park City, Utah and based on the decidedly encouraging response from attendees, the organization moved forward to produce another similar event. The company is already planning a third event.

"The program was comprised of sessions taking insightful looks into the nuances of compelling new components of the second home market. ERA presented in-depth industry trend research on second home and resort development which acted as a spring board for the rest of the sessions," said Kazanjian. "The World's Finest Resorts is a leader in the consumer exchange market of the resort industry's luxury silo so we are proud to support those who make it happen on the development side of the equation."

The conference met its goal as a hands-on event with interactive, open forum in which participants voiced issues, shared revelations and practical guidance. The 21 interactive sessions examined three general topic areas: Mixed-Use Resort Development with Fractional & Condo-Hotel Components, Fractional & Condo-Hotel Project Structure and Design and Financing & Business Planning. In addition, meeting lenders scheduled one-on-one meetings with developers throughout the three day event.

The World's Finest Resorts is an internationally known brand for its growing collection of resorts in such locations as the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Northern California and the British Isles, to name a few. Since forming two and a half years ago, TWFR has chosen more than 45 member resorts and vacation entities including Villa La Estancia in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, Poets Cove Resort and Spa at Bedwell Harbour in the Pender Island off Vancouver Islands, The Hemingways in Sun Valley Idaho, Humber Valley Resort in Newfoundland Canada, East-West Partners' Old Greenwood and The NorthStar Club at NorthStar-at-Tahoe to name a few. Members may also select from many high-end travel opportunities to increase their vacation experiences including a Silver Seas cruise, a balloon tour over the Loire Valley or a walk through the Lake Country in England.

IHT: Properties: Getting away from it all in Baja

IHT: Properties: Getting away from it all in Baja

Properties: Getting away from it all in Baja
R. Scott Macintosh IHT
Thursday, October 7, 2004

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico Thirty years ago, the architect Manuel Díaz Rivera brought his family here to escape the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. At the time, the population was only 900, but there already were three hotels. Díaz Rivera noticed that the stark desert beauty, the long stretches of golden beach and the glistening blue sea held a real attraction for visitors.

"It came to him when he saw the number of little airplanes that were landing behind the Hacienda Hotel," his daughter, Leticia Díaz Rivera, said. "And he counted 90 private yachts and he thought: 'This is it. People are looking for something here.'"

So he bought the mountain at the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, beside the granite outcroppings that mark the natural barrier between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. And he named it Pedregal.

Díaz Rivera's once-barren mountain has become prime real estate. Often called the Beverly Hills of Los Cabos, Pedregal's 100 hectares, or 250 acres, enjoy a pre-eminent location, perched above the trendy shops and restaurants of Cabo San Lucas. The estates that line the mountain are known for their idyllic views, mostly of either the Cabo San Lucas marina or the Pacific Ocean.

And the region's two most recognizable landmarks - Los Arcos, the symbolic rock gateway between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific, and Lover's Beach, the only beach to touch both bodies of water - are due south.

"My house faces the marina, so I like to see the boats come in and fly their flags," said Ed Feinstein, a jeweler and Pedregal resident for 22 years.

"The house is up high, and we get a breeze all of the time. On the ocean side, you get the pounding of the surf that some people like. But you also have the salt in the air and have to wash your windows more often."

A distinct style evolved as Pedregal's first homes were built in the early 1980s. Architects were challenged by the rugged mountain terrain so they designed homes that conformed to the varied pitch, then added classic Mexican details like Cantera stone courtyards and red tile roofs.

Casa Martínez, listed at $2.95 million, is a 465-square-meter, or 5,000-square-foot, house with four bedrooms, six and a half baths and a separate one-bedroom casita, or guest house.

Named for its current owner, it was one of the first large estates and one of 50 on the mountain designed by Manuel Díaz Rivera. It is considered a classic example of the Pedregal style.

"Instead of trying to change the topography of the property to fit the house, they used the topography to design the house," Leticia Díaz Rivera said. "I remember when they were designing Casa Martínez. It was very hard to build."

The property has three main levels connected by stone stairs and several terraces, each with its own pool. The showpiece, however, is a two-tiered courtyard at the rear of the house.

Casa Martínez was renovated several years ago, although some of the original detail was retained to keep the Mexican feel that Díaz Rivera had intended.

The house's hand-carved wooden doors were brought from Guadalajara. There also is extensive tile work, including some colorful Talavera-style tiles with the traditional blue and yellow details inspired by Spanish majolica.

A Pedregal home sells for an average of $2,700 a square meter, and most are second homes, rented out during the year. (Brad Pitt and Peter O'Toole stayed there during filming for "Troy.")

About 30 new houses are being built - and there is space for more - but Pedregal is running out of lots close to the beach or with panoramic views, a shortage that is expected to push their prices up. For example, one plot with spectacular views of both the marina and the Pacific is listed at $2.5 million.

International Herald Tribune

OrlandoSentinel.com: News

OrlandoSentinel.com: News

Storms' pain turns to big gain for Orange

Evacuees and aid workers gave the county's resort-tax collections a huge boost in August.

Oct 6, 2004

24 hours of Hurricane Jeanne
Sep 26, 2004
By Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 6, 2004

The economic pain from the 2004 hurricane season will be felt for a long time, but one of the silver linings has surfaced: Thousands of evacuees and relief workers from Hurricane Charley gave Orange County's resort-tax collections a boost when they packed local hotels in August.

The $8.3 million in taxes raised in August through hotels and other short-term rentals set a record for that month and was 22 percent above August 2003. Cumulative collections for the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, were running 18 percent higher than last year as of the end of August, Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie said.

Orlando-area hotel operators said that as fast as Hurricane Charley sent vacationers packing, their empty rooms were filled -- first with in-state residents seeking shelter, then with the post-storm workers who flooded into the state.

"We had a lot of relief workers, people from FEMA and the Red Cross," said Colin Findley, general manager of Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld International Center. "Yes, a lot of people left, but we also had a lot of locals looking for shelter. So overall, we did see the numbers go up."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which coordinated relief efforts, established the Orlando area as a base for its statewide operations after the storms, as did the Red Cross and many religious groups offering aid.

The surprisingly strong August numbers followed a robust spring and early summer for area hotels, as resort-tax records soared with the post-9-11 rebound in travel.

Both the convention sector and the vacation-travel side of the business were hitting their stride by March, when Orange County's hotel-bed tax set an all-time record for any month of $12.17 million. That surpassed the $12.14 million record set in March 2000, before the 2001 recession and terrorist attacks.

Findley and other hotel specialists said they expect September's tourist-tax total to improve as well because of the influx of evacuees and aid workers prompted by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Many of the laborers who came from other states to help remove debris also packed Florida hotels and motels.

Richard Maladecki, president of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, said the local industry is "cautiously optimistic" about revenue remaining strong in September and October.

"So many people came inland. We were able to accommodate a lot of people," Maladecki said. "Our rooms were an asset to the state."

The Orlando area, with more than 112,000 hotel rooms, is the nation's second-largest lodging market, trailing only Las Vegas.

Many of the region's hotels sustained varying amounts of physical damage during the storms, and the cost of repairs or insurance deductibles -- and, in some cases, the loss of revenue from damaged rooms -- will pinch the pocketbooks of individual hotel operators.

Findley said the Hilton Garden Inn came through the first two storms without damage, but Jeanne resulted in some minor exterior damage, though not serious enough to close any rooms.

Some Orlando-area hotels were hit surprisingly hard, including the downtown Holiday Inn, which has closed all 276 rooms while repairs are made. The Crowne Plaza Orlando Airport has temporarily shuttered 200 of its 353 rooms as well as its atrium.

Far more rooms were lost in coastal areas where the hurricanes came ashore, with small beach motels taking the worst blows.

Orange County's resort tax, which is now 5 percent of room revenue, was enacted in the late 1970s. Proceeds are used primarily to finance expansion of the Orange County Convention Center and to help pay for local tourism-industry promotions.

Orange was not alone in recording a boost in hotel revenue in August. Osceola County, with most of its rooms clustered near Walt Disney World Resort, also saw its hotel-bed tax surge during the month -- to $3 million, up more than 30 percent from $2.3 million in August 2003.

Jerry W. Jackson can be reachedat jwjackson@orlandosentinel.comor 407-420-5721.

Lowcountry NOW: Local News - Council revokes business license 10/06/04

Lowcountry NOW: Local News - Council revokes business license 10/06/04
Council revokes business license

Carolina Morning News

The town business license of R.H. Realty and Rentals Inc. was revoked Tuesday by the Hilton Head Island Town Council for failure to pay $73,470 in 2003 lodging taxes and delinquency fees.

Town Attorney Gregg Alford said the vacation rentals company owned by Robert Hosington owed $38,362 from collections of the town's 1 percent local accommodations tax and its 2 percent beach preservation fee on overnight lodging. Penalty fees total $35,108.

At a hearing in council chambers at Town Hall, Alford said Hosington had pleaded guilty in court to a citation for the unpaid fees and paid a $1,000 fine, but had not followed through on an agreement to work out a payment plan.

Hosington said his 27-year-old company was going through hard times, and he would like to arrange a payment plan. "I can get out of this problem if you'll work with me," he said.

Alford said he is seeking a court order to put the company in receivership until the debt is paid.

Hosington said his only asset is the Welcome Center on the mainland by the gas station just west of the bridges to Hilton Head. He said his company has four employees, down from a high of 40.

P&Z ponders vacation rental questions

Bonner County Daily Bee

P&Z ponders vacation rental questions
Posted: Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004 - 12:49:37 am PDT
By R.J. COHN
Staff writer

SANDPOINT -- When it comes to sensitive and touchy issues, the city of Sandpoint has had its share over the years.

But on the thorny, divisive matter of regulating rental vacation homes in residential zones, about 35 residents turned out to give the Sandpoint Planning Commission and its staff an earful.

Whether those opposed to regulation see it as a threat to property rights versus a preservation of neighborhood integrity, Tuesday's workshop to gather public input was the first step to help the commission draft an ordinance.

The planning commission will hold a formal public hearing Nov. 16 and will then make a recommendation to the Sandpoint City Council on vacation rentals, most commonly referred to as single-family dwellings that are rented for short periods of time.

But after a poll on which direction to take the city on regulation of vacation rentals, commissioners seemed to leaned toward either imposing some form of regulations or excluding the rentals entirely from residential zones.

"This entire notion of how someone can tell you how to use what's behind their closed doors smacks of danger," said Dan Tonnemacher, who spoke against regulating vacation rentals. "Some of these recommendations are scary and exclude someone who can't afford a five-day limit, for example. I'm concerned how this whole process got to this point."

Others opposed to limits sought to dispel the notion that vacation rentals pose a neighborhood problem; most, they said, were rented by affluent families.

"Vacation homes aren't party homes," said Linda Mitchell of Sagle. "Those who rent them spend money in our community, and I've had more problems with long-term renters. Most of the time vacation rentals are not even occupied year-round."

Another Sagle resident wondered why the city needs any regulations at all.

"One of the best situations is to have tenants come here, spend money in a short period and leave. That's capitalism at its best."

Concerning the charge that the rental homes could cause a rift in the character of neighborhoods, Brad Golphenee, owner of Sandpoint Vacation Rentals, told the commission the issue is essentially about property rights and a commercial entity in a residential zone, which includes both long- and short-term rentals.

"If regulation is needed, we must look at all rentals, not just short-term ones," he said. "We are not in disagreement with maintaining the integrity of Sandpoint. Those renting are affluent, educated people, and the average guest brings in between $3,000 and $10,000. There's a big cash deposit required, and to this day, we've had no problems."

Several said they felt any form of regulation limits a homeowner's financial options with their property.

Residents who favor regulation, however, told the commission they feel there is definite need to preserve the "community feel" of Sandpoint and that vacation rentals should be placed in commercial zones with motels.

"I wanted a quiet, livable place to live when we came here years ago," said Geraldine Davis. "I want to keep my residential neighborhood as it is with no tourist homes. We didn't come to turn Sandpoint into a bedroom community."

Others told commissioners that in residential zones, commercial entities are not allowed.

"I feel these vacation homes are in violation of current zoning laws," said Gretchen Heller. "We have commercial areas for them and you should encourage them there."

Helen Newton stressed that she hoped the board would make the strictest recommendation it could.

"You have a one-time opportunity to protect the citizens," she told commissioners. "Do what is right for the citizens of Sandpoint, and do it now."

Previously, the Sandpoint City Council passed along five possible recommendations to the commission regarding regulation vacation home rentals. They included no rentals of less than 30 days, no rentals of less than five or seven days, requirement of a license with a local nuisance number, requirement of a conditional use permit and a 30- or 60-day limit on total rental days.