Lebanon’s leading leisure travel and tourism retailer Wild Discovery, subsidiary of Johnny R. Saade Holdings has effectively deployed Travelport’s Galileo Web Services (GWS) solution to launch today its online travel portal and booking platform www.mousetrotter.com.

With the launch of Mousetrotter.com site, Wild Discovery is set to expand into the increasingly lucrative online space, becoming one of the first travel agencies in Lebanon to offer online booking and ticketing services.  By deploying GWS, MouseTrotter.com is able offer the air and hotel content available through the Galileo global distribution system (GDS), as well as additional special promotions and fares.

Galileo Web Services provides a suite of pre-developed services that address the most commonly used travel processes on the web, such as planning trips, booking reservations, and viewing detailed itinerary details.  It also supports data transfer between the agency and the GDS, giving travel retailers the ability to power their own online travel booking platform.

“Thanks to Galileo Web Services, we are able to access Travelport’s extensive travel data quickly and cost effectively, making it the ultimate IT platform for our new online business,” said Marie Breiss, Administrative and Organization Manager of Wild Discovery. “We are confident this portal will translate into additional sales opportunities as a channel that complements our retail branches and allows us to capture a new segment of the travel business field that prefers to book airline tickets and hotels without necessarily requiring assistance of a travel consultant.”

Since being introduced last year in the Middle East, Galileo Web Services have helped several travel agencies in the region create a flexible and integrated online booking platform. Adapting to the changing landscape of the industry, Wild Discovery was one of the first travel providers to sign up for the application and, after nearly a year of customised development, the portal is now operational.

“Online travel is a fast growing segment, and Galileo Web Services is the perfect innovation to help travel agencies leverage this medium, whilst taking advantage of the extensive content available through our system,” said xx, Travelport. “We are proud to have been able to help Wild Discovery in powering this new venture and realising their ambitious online goals.”

Beirut (May 16, 2012) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2012, and filed the following results with the Tokyo Stock Exchange:

• Net revenues of 9.409 trillion yen (US $118.95 billion, euro 86.32 billion);
• Operating profit of 545.8 billion yen (US $6.90 billion, euro 5.01 billion);
• Ordinary profit of 535.1 billion yen (US $6.76 billion, euro 4.91 billion); and
• Net income of 341.4 billion yen (US $4.32 billion, euro 3.13 billion).

In fiscal year 2011, Nissan’s global sales reached a record-high of 4.845 million units as demand for its vehicles outperformed the total auto industry. Unit sales of Nissan vehicles rose 15.8% from last year’s 4.185 million units, while total industry volumes increased 4.2% from 72.6 million units in fiscal 2010 to 75.7 million. Nissan’s share of the global market rose 0.6 points to 6.4%.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Nissan has delivered robust operating profits and record sales amid growing demand for our models, brands and technologies around the world. It is an even more encouraging performance given the headwinds created by natural disasters, an over-valued Yen and uncertain global economic conditions.”

Nissan recovered quickly from a series of challenges, notably the Great East Japan earthquake of March 2011, to maintain its product launch schedule and market expansion strategy. The company released five new models globally in fiscal 2011: the Tiida in China, the Lafesta Highway Star in Japan, front-drive and rear-drive versions of the NV400 commercial van in Europe and the Infiniti JX in the United States.

In the period, additional milestones were achieved such as the Nissan LEAF becoming the world’s most successful electric vehicle and the extension of partnerships with other automakers including Daimler and Mitsubishi.

In global markets, the company reported significant growth. Unit sales in China, Nissan’s largest single market worldwide, rose 21.9% to 1,247,000 vehicles. In the United States, sales were up 11.8% to 1,080,000 units. Across Europe including Russia, sales were 713,000 units, up 17.5%. In Japan, sales increased by 9.2% to 655,000 units. Other markets totalled 826,000 units, up 16.4%.

“We have begun to deliver on the comprehensive Nissan Power 88 plan that we unveiled last year,” added Ghosn. “Our financial performance, product launches and market penetration over the past 12 months demonstrate our progress towards sustainable operating margins of 8% and 8% global market share.”

FY2012 Outlook
The global sales forecast for fiscal year 2012 is 5.35 million units, an increase of 10.4% and another record year. Nissan will launch 10 all-new products globally including the Altima, Pathfinder, Sylphy/Sentra, NV350 Caravan and a long wheelbase version of the Infiniti M hybrid sedan.

On May 11, 2012, Nissan filed the following forecast with the Tokyo Stock Exchange, based on foreign exchange rates of 82 yen/dollar and 105 yen/euro, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013:

• Net revenues of 10.3 trillion yen (US $125.61 billion, euro 98.10 billion);
• Operating profit of 700 billion yen (US $8.54 billion, euro 6.67 billion);
• Ordinary profit of 680 billion yen (US $8.29 billion, euro 6.48 billion); and
• Net income of 400 billion yen (US $4.88 billion, euro 3.81 billion).

Note 1: On November 2, 2011, Nissan filed the following forecast with the Tokyo Stock Exchange, based on foreign exchange rates of 79.9 yen/dollar and 111.9 yen/euro, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012:

• Net revenues of 9.45 trillion yen (US $118.27 billion, euro 84.45 billion;
• Operating profit of 510 billion yen (US $6.38 billion, euro 4.56 billion);
• Ordinary profit of 480 billion yen (US $6.01 billion, euro 4.29 billion);
• Net income of 290 billion yen (US $3.63 billion, euro 2.59 billion);

Note 2: Amounts in dollars and euros for the results are translated for the convenience of the reader at foreign exchange rates of 79.1 yen/dollar and 109.0 yen/euro, the average rates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.

Ends

About Nissan Middle East:
Nissan is a leading automotive brand in the Middle East. It boasts one of the most popular and successful vehicle line-ups in the region. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. became the first Japanese car manufacturer to establish a regional Middle East HQ in June 1994. Nissan operations cover over 20 countries across the region making it one of the largest representations in the Middle East amongst Japanese automotive brands. Nissan reported its best ever Middle East regional sales results for the financial year 2008 with the company and its distributors achieving over 200,000 sales.

ABOUT RYMCO:
Rasamny-Younis Motor Company S.A.L. (RYMCO) is a joint stock company, ISO certified 9001:2008 that was established in 1957 in Lebanon and is the only automotive dealer to be listed on the Beirut Stock Exchange since 1998. RYMCO is one of the leading vehicle retail dealerships in Lebanon where it holds majority market share in the new vehicle retail industry, and commands a considerable portion of the used vehicle market. RYMCO operates a chain of independent showrooms and stores, a bonded warehouse as well as state-of-the-art servicing and maintenance facilities. The company has an automotive dealership arrangement with auto manufacturers in the US, Japan, Europe and China that include the likes of automotive giants Nissan Motors (Nissan, Infiniti), GM vehicles (GMC), Renault trucks, UD Trucks, and Kawasaki under the Leisure division. RYMCO marine is another unit within the RYMCO operations specialized in the servicing of boats under the brand name of RYMCO Marine.

In 2009, RYMCO UK was granted the right to distribute the Infiniti brand of cars in London. It will cover distribution for the area through three SSS IREDI facilities in Reading, Chiswick and Hatfield; along with a boutique in the centre of London in Piccadilly.

RYMCO SAL holds also the majority of the shareholding of free zone companies in Syria which main activity is the importation of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles and the storage of these vehicles in the free zone areas, for the purpose of reselling them to the Syrian market (mainly to a Syrian company owning the exclusive distribution for Nissan cars in Syria.)

# # #

 For additional information, please visit the Nissan Media Channel on www.nissan-me.com or contact:

The background chatter of a radio  is actually the perfect environment for work, the silence of a library might be great for reading, but noise sparks creativity, But it has to be the right level with 70 decibels the suggested ideal.

Not enough noise and the mind tends to have little or no stimulation. Too loud and the distractions are too great. The middle is ‘just right’, said Mehta, of the University of Illinois.

An increased level of distraction makes you think ‘out-of-the-box’, what we call abstract thinking or abstract processing, a hallmark of increased creativity, but when you start to go beyond that moderate level of noise what happens is that distraction becomes so huge that it really starts affecting the thought process.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 2 May, 2012 – Lebanon’s leading leisure travel and tourism retailer Wild Discovery, subsidiary of Johnny R. Saade Holdings has effectively deployed Travelport’s Galileo Web Services (GWS) solution to launch today its online travel portal and booking platform www.mousetrotter.com.

With the launch of Mousetrotter.com site, Wild Discovery is set to expand into the increasingly lucrative online space, becoming one of the first travel agencies in Lebanon to offer online booking and ticketing services.  By deploying GWS, MouseTrotter.com is able offer the air and hotel content available through the Galileo global distribution system (GDS), as well as additional special promotions and fares.

Galileo Web Services provides a suite of pre-developed services that address the most commonly used travel processes on the web, such as planning trips, booking reservations, and viewing detailed itinerary details.  It also supports data transfer between the agency and the GDS, giving travel retailers the ability to power their own online travel booking platform.

“Thanks to Galileo Web Services, we are able to access Travelport’s extensive travel data quickly and cost effectively, making it the ultimate IT platform for our new online business,” said Marie Breiss, Administrative and Organization Manager of Wild Discovery. “We are confident this portal will translate into additional sales opportunities as a channel that complements our retail branches and allows us to capture a new segment of the travel business field that prefers to book airline tickets and hotels without necessarily requiring assistance of a travel consultant.”

Since being introduced last year in the Middle East, Galileo Web Services have helped several travel agencies in the region create a flexible and integrated online booking platform. Adapting to the changing landscape of the industry, Wild Discovery was one of the first travel providers to sign up for the application and, after nearly a year of customised development, the portal is now operational.

“Online travel is a fast growing segment, and Galileo Web Services is the perfect innovation to help travel agencies leverage this medium, whilst taking advantage of the extensive content available through our system,” said xx, Travelport. “We are proud to have been able to help Wild Discovery in powering this new venture and realising their ambitious online goals.”

***ENDS***

About Travelport
Travelport is a broad-based business services company and a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions to companies operating in the global travel industry.

With a presence in over 170 countries, approximately 3,500 employees and 2011 net revenue of $2.0 billion, Travelport is comprised of the global distribution systems (GDS) business, which includes the Galileo and Worldspan brands and its Airline IT Solutions business.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Travelport is a privately owned company.

About Wild Discovery
Established in 1997, Wild Discovery Travel & Tourism, a subsidiary of Johnny R. Saadé Holdings, is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing travel networks in the Middle East.  With 12 branches in Lebanon, Syria and Dubai, Wild Discovery offers high quality travel products and services to individuals, groups and corporate clients.

In line with its Corporate Social Responsibility program to support environmentally friendly solutions, Wild Discovery is the first Lebanese travel agency to offset its greenhouse gas emissions with carbon neutral. Today, Wild Discovery offers entirely eco-friendly packages.

About MouseTrotter.com
MouseTrotter.com is the online travel provider powered by Wild Discovery offering the lowest available prices for airline tickets and hotels worldwide.  MouseTrotter.com gives instant availability and provides the best price for more than 50,000 hotels worldwide, ranging from small independent lodging to five star luxury hotels.

MouseTrotter.com provides travelers with the ability to research, plan, and book their trips according to their needs. MouseTrotter.com aims to be an extremely user-friendly website that makes booking easier and faster for all travelers.

Theme “Invest in Your Voice” will explore how organizations can find a unique market position (“voice”) and articulate their messages with impact
 

Beirut – Lebanon, May 2012: The 3rd Beirut Public Relations Forum (BPRF) to be held June 21-22 at Gefinor Rotana Hotel under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Walid Daouk, Lebanon’s Minister of Information, will feature public relations guru, Lord Peter Chadlington, CEO of Huntsworth plc, the global public relations and healthcare communications company and leading PR practitioners from Lebanon and across the region. BPRF 2012 will provide a platform for the theme “Invest in Your Voice”. Launched in 2009 and held again in 2010, BPRF was originated and is organized by TRACCS, one of the largest public relations networks in the Middle East & North Africa, as part of the company’s long-term initiative to promote the profession of public relations and build an indigenous industry across the Middle East.  This year’s event is taking place through the generous support of UFA Assurances, Lebanese International University (LIU) and Gefinor Rotana Hotel.

“The effective implementation of public relations can transform, build and protect the image and identity of an organization,” says Katia Yasmine, Managing Director of TRACCS Lebanon. “This is even more true in troubled times. However, in Lebanon the practice of public relations is relatively new and still widely misunderstood by both private and public sector organizations. Our aim in establishing the Beirut Public Relations Forum is to raise awareness of this powerful and cost effective communications discipline among organizations in Lebanon. This year’s theme will explore how organizations can find a unique “voice” that resonates with their audiences and helps them build their brands. This process requires will, commitment, expertise and investment but can have a transformative impact on an organization’s public and market position. The practice of public relations is not just about promoting products and services. It’s about effectively articulating and presenting a point of view that can change the way people think and behave. It is a critical path.”

As well as examining how the practice of public relations can help businesses find and build a unique voice to position their brands and stand apart from competitors, BPRF 2012 will also look at ways to strengthen the voice of Lebanon to burnish the national image.  In addition, BPRF 2012 will cover various facets of the public relations discipline, and clarify the distinction between public relations and marketing and advertising and allow participants to interact with leading practitioners in the field and build their knowledge and understanding of one of the fastest growing professions in the Middle East.

Lord Chadlington will be joined by Joseph Coubat, Area Vice President for Rotana Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain & Kuwait, Randa Bdeir, Group Head of Electronic Banking and Card Services at Bank Audi, and other leading professionals.  Leading experts will be featured in panel discussions addressing the role of communications in finding a voice for three major industries: banking and finance; design and fashion; tourism and hospitality.  “These industries all depend on establishing trust with their stakeholders and having a clear and resounding voice to stand out from the crowd”, adds Yasmine.

The second day of BPRF 2012 is comprised of practical workshops covering strategic issues in the field, giving participants an opportunity to exchange views and network. The workshops will address social media, corporate social responsibility, working to strategy and how to further build capacity in the profession.

“By combining local knowledge and insight with world-class best practice, practitioners can provide businesses and governments with high impact programs that hit the mark, with confidence that their messages are being delivered loud and clear,” Yasmine adds. “The aim of the BPRF 2012 is to give communications professionals the chance to raise their game and build their knowledge and capacities for their clients and for Lebanon.”

-Ends-

About TRACCS
Trans-Arabian Creative Communications (TRACCS) is one of the largest public relations networks in the Middle East & North Africa, with over 200 professionals working in 14 markets from offices in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, Muscat, Manama, Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Damascus, and affiliate offices in Tunis, Algiers, Casablanca and Tripoli. Ranked among the top 100 independent public relations consultancies in the world, TRACCS is a multiple award-winning practice offering a full range of sophisticated services to government, corporate and multinational clients. Founded with the goal of building an indigenous Arab public relations industry in the Middle East and North Africa, TRACCS is the only public relations practice with the sustained commitment to nurturing the talents of young communicators across the MENA region.

For further information about this press release, please contact:

Katia Yasmine
TRACCS, Lebanon
Telephone: 00961 1 572001/2
Mobile: 00961 70 897307
Email: katia.yasmine@traccs.net

In keeping with the tradition of art and design at its best, Azar Jewelers is proud to unveil the stunning new Spring/Summer collection, including the house’s bridal collection and a collection by Judith Leiber, both now on display in Azar Jewelers’ boutique in the Beirut Souks. The new bridal collection was designed as the perfect final touch on a bride on her wedding day, complementing her beauty and bringing a fairy tale wedding to life.

Also showcased is the newly introduced unique personalized Children’s Art Minaudière with a replica of a child’s art work in Austrian Crystals. An ultimate collectible & priceless family heirloom, the bespoke minaudière features customized children’s artwork, as submitted by the customer, rendered in signature Austrian crystal.  Each bag is hand-crafted and executed with a full color reproduction of the artwork.  Prices start at $6000, and it takes 3 months to deliver from date of order. Final price will be confirmed upon receipt of artwork.

Sangeeta Assomull, CEO Marigold Group commented, “Introducing Judith Leiber in Beirut is an extraordinary experience because I will be able to share the heritage of this beautiful brand by bringing timeless pieces to the Lebanon Luxury patrons.”

Dynamic and playful the ELLE collection features looks for both men and women.  Offering a unique shopping experience of accessible fashion, the brand connects with women who love to play with fashion and influences a man’s lifestyle grooming them to be trendy, smart and modern. Staying true to its French roots, ELLE mixes high fashion with practicality offering a collection high on style and trend.
      

Speaking on the launch of ELLE, Raza Beig, CEO, Splash & ICONIC, said, “We are delighted to have ELLE on board and this partnership just reiterates our concept of fashion quality at the best price.  At Splash we are constantly adding popular international brands to the gamut which caters to our style savvy audience.  ELLE, as a brand offers proximity and an open mindedness that reflects in the creative and edgy product portfolio which will ensure effortlessly chic looks for every occasion and keep the customers coming back to the stores for more. “

The collection for women is dominant with four key trends ‘Mes Essentials Adores’ which is all about formals and corporate dressing, ‘Mon Chic Dressing’ an everyday fashion collection, occasion wear is summed up in ‘Mon Look Party’ and ‘My Favorite Denim’ is simple and sophisticated. Ready for summer the selection includes dresses, tops, light jackets, pants, skirts and more. Interesting motifs and brights with feminine styles, classic inspirations and skinny silhouettes take centre stage ensuring the collection adds a fresh vibe to an existing wardrobe.

Quirky yet tasteful with an eye for detail, ELLE Homme the collection for men includes trends like ‘City Slick’ which is formal yet contemporary with a strong focus on details and ‘Young & Preppy’ where the look is trendy yet smart.  The styles inspire individualistic, modern eccentricity while being relaxed, fresh & sporty. The collections include formal and casual pants, shirts, t-shirts and jackets along with an essentials line up of denims, basics and easy coordinates.

So, make some space in your wardrobe and get the very on-trend ELLE collection that distinguishes the wearer by its styling and quirkiness.

Ends

About Splash:
Headquartered in Dubai, Splash is Middle East’s largest fashion retailer and part of the Landmark Group, one of the biggest retail conglomerates in the Middle East and India. Founded in 1993 as a single brand store in Sharjah, Splash has grown to over 140 stores and 50 brand stores across 11 countries.

With an eye for the latest global trends, Splash captures the essence of fashion in everyday life. The brand has connected with its audiences through collection, emotion and attitude thus carving a niche for itself as one of the most successful local players in the region’s high-street fashion category. Splash showcases popular collections for men, women and teens with a wide offering of fashion apparel and accessories to suit the customer’s every lifestyle need.

Splash’s brand portfolio consists of in-house designed collections and a gamut of international brands like Lee Cooper (European denim brand), Arrow (American Apparel brand), Kappa (Italian sports brand), UMM (Italian Music Inspired Brand), Zodiac (the Business shirt & Tie brand) Smiley World, Barbie and Elle among others.

A brand which constantly believes in raising the bar, Splash is acknowledged as a trendsetter in the region. The Splash Fashion Show held twice every year is by far the most popularly awaited event in the social calendar of the region. Another first for the brand and in the region is the Splash Limited Edition Calendar which is now in its Second Edition.

Splash has received several significant industry accolades that include being awarded the recent “Superbrand” status 2011 which is twice in a row for the brand. Also listed in Forbes Arabia’s “Top 40 Arab Brands” list, Splash has also been awarded by Dubai Customs for being the highest importer of readymade garments in the UAE. A winner of several marketing awards of great significance over the years, Splash has recently won the Most Admired Marketing Campaign at the Retail ME Awards 2011 along with the Most Admired Retailer award.

For more details visit Splash’s website www.splashfashions.com

A study by researchers at the University of California in USA and published in the journal of Neurology suggests that people who follow a diet deficient in omega 3 may suffer in advance with the natural process of brain aging such as loss of memory, reasoning and cognitive abilities.

They analyzed 1575 individuals, men and women between 67 and 76 years old with no signs of dementia and made them go thru brain MRI and tests that measured mental function, body mass and levels of omega 3 in blood cells.

At the end of testing, the group of people who had the lowest levels of omega-3 had 25% less amount of the nutrient in the blood than the group that showed a higher presence of the fatty acid.

Those individuals with less omega-3 in the blood showed less brain volume on magnetic resonance and poor outcomes of tests of visual memory and executive function of the brain, such as problem solving and ability to think of several things at the same time.

This is definitely a good reason to include more Omega 3 in your meals daily! Omega 3 is present in salmon, sardines, tuna, flaxseeds, walnuts, chestnut, olive and canola oil, dark green vegetables and as supplements!

Samia Khoury Dietitian

I am waiting for you to help you lose weight or consult you on health issues at my clinic in Lebanon or over the web wherever you live! Just contact me at 00 961 3 48 31 86 or via email to take an appointment live or online.

Email: samia.khoury@gmail.com
Please LIKE my Facebook Page: Samia Khoury Diet Clinic
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Samia-Khoury-Diet-Clinic/245139520495
Twitter: @samiakdietitian

Diode Laser Scanner
808nm Diode is most safe and effective for Melanin Absorption for hair removal. It even works on dark skin with little pain and burning.

Carboxytherapy
A new simple proven technique that can dramatically improve the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks, scars, double chin; reduce wrinkles and dark circles by improving local tissue metabolism and perfusion through psoriasis.

Cavitation
A non surgical, non invasive treatment for fat reduction and skin tightening. It is designed to improve body shape and reduce unwanted fat.

Solarium
UVA-UVB Filtered

Omnislim
Effective treatment for cellulite reduction, body shaping, muscle pain relieving, skin smoothing, lifting and tightening.
                        

Meso Therapy
Facial & Hair
Eliminating Cellulite, aiding in Weight Loss, and promoting Skin Rejuvenation.

Massage
Body Massage promoting relaxation and well-being.
Thai Massage, Hard Massage, Valyness Massage, Reflexology, Volcanic Stones, Hot Towels, and Thai Body Scrub.

Turkisk&Maghrebi Bath

Gym
We offer a physical fitness training program and body building to help you achieve your goals.

Steam & Jacuzzi
A place to find peace of mind, relaxation and contentment after a stressful day.

Face & Body Tattoo

Dunes Center, Second  Floor, Verdun, Beirut                         Tel: 01-868168, 01-868656

Librairie Antoine, the leading bookstore in Lebanon, returns to Beirut Souks with a visionary concept: Antoine iD. This concept, inspired by cultural diversities, brings together books and other culture related products.

During the opening, Sami Naufal, Chairman of Librairie Antoine said: “Culture has always been about being curious. Today, with all the channels available to awaken our curiosity, a cultural space’s role is to trigger yet new curiosities and to enable discoveries. It could be a random chat around a cup of coffee, a youtube video or a new author we stumble upon. The genre, the medium, the language, all this is secondary.”

It is that point of view that inspired the 3-storey shop rising on the Ajami Square. The ground floor is where one can find newspapers and magazines, publications about Lebanon, maps and touristic guides, as well as the latest releases. It is also where the FABRIANO BOUTIQUE is located.

The first 300 square meter floor is fully dedicated to children: books of course, but also stationery, a JOUÉ CLUB educational toys’ section and electronics’ corner. The second floor of 385 square meters is where the general bookstore and the ticketing service are. There’s also a small stage for performances and cultural activities, the first YELLOW KORNER photo gallery in the Middle East, and the cozy coffee shop GRID CAFÉ.

Other features set apart Antoine iD from your usual bookstore: seats seamlessly integrated in reading areas, interactive tactile screens for personal navigation and an LCD screen sharing cultural audiovisual content with the crowd wandering in the Souks.

Antoine iD will be opened everyday from 10 am to 10 pm.

For further information: www.beirutsouks.com.lb

myrna.ateshian@antoineonline.com

01483513 – ext 115

Nabil Rached

Public Relations & Press Manager