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Monday 3 June 2013

Concorde Hotel Singapore earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence - TravelDailyNews Asia

Hotels

Concorde Hotel Singapore earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Theodore Koumelis – 03 June 2013, 00:06

Honoured as a top performing hotel as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site

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SINGAPORE – Concorde Hotel Singapore announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award, for the third year running. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

“Concorde Hotel Singapore is pleased and proud to receive the 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the third consecutive year,” said Mr. Leo Llambi, General Manager, Concorde Hotel Singapore. “This accolade underscores and rewards our Team’s efforts in providing an exceptional Guest experience.”

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.”

Concorde Hotel Singapore earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence - TravelDailyNews Asia

Hotels

Concorde Hotel Singapore earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Theodore Koumelis – 03 June 2013, 00:06

Honoured as a top performing hotel as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site

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39ca4 80x80 Singapore GDP expands by 1.3% in 2012

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Concorde Hotel Singapore earns 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence - TravelDailyNews Asia

Meritus Hotels & Resorts Offers Guests Free Wi-Fi Access Across All Properties

SINGAPORE, June 3, 2013 (ANTARA/PRNewswire) — Responding to the need of today’s traveller to stay connected at all times, award-winning Asian hospitality group Meritus Hotels Resorts announced the roll-out of free Wi-Fi service across the Group’s properties in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/12/09/20111209194931399475-l.jpg )

Guests can expect to enjoy straightforward access to the complimentary amenity throughout their stay, not only from the guestrooms but from anywhere within the hotels’ premises.

The service allows every guest sufficient bandwidth to exchange data across virtual private networks and social media channels, as well as download and upload reasonably-sized files, including rich media formats. For heavy bandwidth users looking to stream high-definition videos or download movies, a premium bandwidth package is available at competitive rates.

Guests carrying multiple devices can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access for up to three devices.

“Free and efficient Wi-Fi connectivity has become an increasingly important benchmark for hotel end users,” said Maria Taylor, Meritus Hotels Resorts Regional Vice President, Revenue. “By offering this value-add and adopting it as a brand standard, we ensure that we are meeting the ever evolving needs of our guests and remaining at the forefront of a highly competitive industry.”

Meritus Hotels Resorts have been making headways in hospitality through product and service innovations aimed at enhancing the overall experience of guests. In 2012, its flagship Mandarin Orchard Singapore became the first hotel in Singapore to offer a “second screen” mobile device solution for an advanced in-room technology that connects guests to a host of conveniences and services at the touch of a button, from anywhere within the hotel.

The Group was also recently named Most Admired Enterprise in the Innovation category at the ASEAN Business Awards held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in conjunction with the ASEAN Leaders Summit.

For more information on Meritus Hotels Resorts, visit www.meritushotels.com.

About Meritus Hotels Resorts

Meritus Hotels Resorts is part of the hospitality division of Overseas Union Enterprise Limited (SGX-ST: “OUE”), a diversified real estate owner, developer, and operator with a complete portfolio of prime assets in key locations in Singapore and the United States, and hotels in Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China.

Meritus Hotels Resorts is long established as an icon of Asian hospitality in Singapore. The brand founded its roots from The Mandarin Singapore, now Mandarin Orchard Singapore – the first hotel of its scale and caliber to be built on Orchard Road in the late 1960s.

More than 40 years on, Meritus is an award-winning hospitality brand providing guests its signature Asian grace, warmth, and care through hotels and resorts strategically located in key cities and idyllic resort destinations in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. Its current portfolio includes the flagship Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort Spa Langkawi, Meritus Mandarin Haikou, Meritus Shantou China, and Meritus Surabaya City Centre. The brand is also slated to launch a resort in Bali by end of 2013.

Combining comprehensive business and leisure facilities with warm intuitive service, Meritus strives to consistently deliver its trademark hospitality experience as it continues grow its geographical footprint, particularly in Southeast Asia and China. More recently, the Group was conferred the Heritage Brand Award at the Singapore Prestige Brand Awards 2012. It was also cited Global Winner – Luxury Hotel Chain at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012, and Most Admired Enterprise in the categories of Growth and Innovation at the 2012 ASEAN Business Awards.

     Press Contact:
    Janice Azupardo
    Regional Vice President, Branding Communications
    Meritus Hotels Resorts
    DID: +65-6831-6385
    Email: janice.azupardo@meritushotels.com

Editor:

Meritus Hotels & Resorts Offers Guests Free Wi-Fi Access Across All Properties

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2011/12/09/20111209194931399475-l.jpg )

Guests can expect to enjoy straightforward access to the complimentary amenity throughout their stay, not only from the guestrooms but from anywhere within the hotels’ premises.

Guests carrying multiple devices can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access for up to three devices.

The Group was also recently named Most Admired Enterprise in the Innovation category at the ASEAN Business Awards held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in conjunction with the ASEAN Leaders Summit.

For more information on Meritus Hotels Resorts, visit www.meritushotels.com.

About Meritus Hotels Resorts

     Press Contact:
    Janice Azupardo
    Regional Vice President, Branding Communications
    Meritus Hotels Resorts
    DID: +65-6831-6385
    Email: janice.azupardo@meritushotels.com

Editor:

Meritus Hotels & Resorts Offers Guests Free Wi-Fi Access Across All Properties

Sunday 2 June 2013

Correction: Singapore-American"s Death story

SINGAPORE —

In a May 27 story and headlines about a coroner’s inquest into the death of an American scientist, The Associated Press erroneously reported that police admitted violating or flouting official protocol in their investigation by not seeking fingerprints or DNA samples, and by examining the contents of a laptop computer in the dead man’s apartment. Rather than admitting to any incorrect behavior in testimony, a police investigator simply recounted his actions, which he described as permissible under the guidelines. Police deny that any protocol was violated or flouted while looking into the cause of death.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Singapore police say no foul play seen in US death

Singapore police say they saw no sign of foul play at scene of American’s death

By HEATHER TAN

Associated Press

SINGAPORE (AP) – A Singapore policeman who examined the scene of an American’s death said on the last day of a coroner’s inquest Monday that he did not dust for fingerprints or collect DNA samples because he saw no sign of foul play.

While being questioned by government lawyers, police Sgt. Muhammad Khaldun Bin Sarif said that he also examined the contents of a laptop computer there. This was a deviation from official protocol for such situations, but that was permissible since the protocol is only a guideline and not binding, he said.

Shane Truman Todd’s body was found in his Singapore apartment by his girlfriend last June 24, and police have said he killed himself. State counsel presented evidence of links to suicide websites on the 31-year-old’s laptop and suicide letters written to family members and loved ones.

Todd’s parents, Rick and Mary Todd, told The Associated Press in March that they believe he may have been murdered over his research in the U.S. into material used to make heat-resistant semiconductors, a technology with both civilian and military applications. The Todds have received assistance in the case from U.S. senators and the FBI.

When asked by government lawyers why police had not ordered a further investigation of the apartment, Muhammad Khaldun said he and his partner had made “a preliminary assessment” that pointed to suicide and determined there were “no signs of foul play.” He said the officers decided as a result “not to perform fingerprint dustings or DNA swabs.”

Asked why he had deviated from police protocols by assessing a personal laptop at a crime scene, Khaldun said he had found two notes in Todd’s apartment, one of which contained a password which he used to gain access to the laptop nearby.

Khaldun explained that the protocol was only “a guideline which can be deviated from.” He said he and his partner made an “operational decision” to assess Todd’s laptop because the note containing the password “was left there for a reason” and would help police in determining whether there was foul play involved.

Todd’s family has asked why police accessed his laptop and cellphone even though such items are supposed to be handed over to forensic technology specialists.

The coroner’s inquiry into Todd’s death ended Monday, a day earlier than expected. Lawyers for the Todd family were not present in court because they had been dismissed by Todd’s parents, who left Singapore last Thursday after withdrawing from the inquest, saying they had no confidence in the city-state’s legal process. Friends of the Todds were also not present in court.

The Todds have said that while they were in Singapore, they found a hard drive in their son’s apartment that contained thousands of documents he had backed up from his work computer. After having it analyzed by a computer forensics expert, they found a draft of a project outline between Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics – Shane Todd’s former employer – and Chinese telecom giant Huawei on the development of a device that utilized gallium nitride.

The heat-resistant material has civilian uses in products like LED screens and cellphone towers, and military applications in things like radar and satellite systems. Todd had been trained in the U.S. on proprietary equipment that produces the material but is restricted for export because of the potential military applications.

Huawei has said it had no cooperation with the Institute of Microelectronics related to gallium nitride. IME has said neither Todd nor the company was involved in any classified research.

The Todds have said that their next step will be to urge a U.S. congressional investigation into their son’s death. “If our government wants to talk about industrial espionage and murder, we’re more than willing to help,” Rick Todd said.

Correction: Singapore-American"s Death story

Hagel Tours US Warship in Singapore

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spent his Sunday touring a new class of warship and meeting with American sailors.

Hagel visited the USS Freedom, a new, smaller class of warship that is designed to perform a variety of missions in shallow waters. The Freedom is docked at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base as part of exercises with countries in the region.

The defense secretary is in Singapore to attend an annual security conference with Asian nations.

In a key speech Saturday at the annual security forum known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hagel warned China about cyber intrusions, saying some of them appear to be linked to the Chinese government and military. He said cyber attacks represent a security threat to every country, including China.

On the sidelines of the conference, Hagel met with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and South Korea’s Kim Kwan Jin. The three said afterwards that they would cooperate on curbing North Korea’s nuclear development. He also met with members of the Chinese delegation to the conference behind closed doors. U.S. officials described the talks as “positive.”

After more than a year of hard-line rhetoric, a missile launch and a nuclear test, North Korea reportedly told Chinese President Xi Jinping last month that it is open to dialogue on the nuclear issue.

China is one of the parties in stalled six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear disarmament. The United States, Japan, South Korea and Russia also participate in the negotiations.

Addressing Chinese concerns about U.S. engagement in Asia, Hagel said Washington supports a strong and emerging China that takes responsibility for the security of the region. He said the United States wants to work with Beijing to iron out differences through respectful dialogue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet later this month with U.S. President Barack Obama in California. Their talks are expected to include a cyberspace code of conduct.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

Hagel Tours US Warship in Singapore

Singapore - Government subjects news websites to licencing . . .

Reporters Without Borders is appalled to learn that Singapore’s leading news websites will have to apply to the city-state’s Media Development Authority (MDA) for a publishing licence.

According to the MDA, which regulates the media, news websites with a Singaporean IP address and more than 50,000 visitors a month will have to obtain a licence from 1 June in order to continue operating.

“While it is understandable that radio and TV stations should be licenced, because of the limited number of broadcast channels and the need to regulate frequencies, imposing a licencing system on news websites is utterly absurd and cannot be justified by a need for a ‘more consistent regulatory framework,’ as the MDA has suggested,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“This measure violates the principle of media freedom enshrined in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which functions as an international standard for 160 countries even if Singapore has not signed it. The criteria used to define which sites need licenses are also highly questionable and are indicative of a desire to exercise prior control over news and information.

“The authorities are almost certainly trying to increase their ability to censor websites that cover local events and have a significant impact on public opinion. Making these sites deposit a ‘performance’ bond will probably also lead to self-censorship, especially by sites that do not charge and whose income barely covers their operating costs.”

Reporters Without Borders added: “We urge the Media Development Authority to rescind this measure, which runs counter to the principles of freedom of information, freedom of the media and freedom of expression.”

News websites are currently registered automatically under the Broadcasting Act, which will have to be amended to take account of the new regulations.

Under the new rules, news websites that post more than one article a week on Singapore and have more than 50,000 unique Singaporean visitors a month over a period of two months will need an individual licence whose conditions include “a performance bond” of 50,000 Singaporean dollars (39,500 US dollars).

Sites will be regarded as “news websites” if they post political, social or economic content, or any other content about Singapore, in any language and regardless of whether or not they charge for content.

For the time being, the licencing requirement is limited to “local” sites under Singaporean jurisdiction. Ten sites are already known to be affected – the local version of Yahoo! (sg.news.yahoo.com) and nine sites owned by Singapore Press Holdings or Mediacorp. “Local” is understood to mean sites with the Singaporean country domain name “.sg” even if they are owned by foreign companies.

Communication and information minister Yaacob Ibrahim said the Broadcasting Act would be amended by next year to included news websites based aboard that target the Singaporean market. Each licence will be issued for a year, at the end of which the MDA will decide whether it should be renewed.

Licenced sites will be required to remove “prohibited content” such as articles “undermining racial or religious harmony” with 24 hours of being notified by the authorities. The MDA insists that the existing news content guidelines have not been changed. Nonetheless, the deadline for removing prohibited content is new.

Singapore is ranked 149th out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

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Singapore - Government subjects news websites to licencing . . .