Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Jones Lang LaSalle Partners With Carbon Disclosure Project Cities Program to Cut Energy Waste and Carbon Emissions in The World's Top Cities

  

CHICAGO, IL - Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading global real estate services firm, has been named a lead sponsor to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Cities program to improve environmental sustainability in the world's largest cities, and thereby enhance their economic viability.

With CDP Cities, the Carbon Disclosure Project adapts the universally respected CDP reporting system to provide a global platform for city governments to report their greenhouse gas emissions and other sustainability-related information. 

Jones Lang LaSalle will use its global reach and expertise in advising cities and multi-national companies on energy and climate strategies to help refine the CDP Cities reporting criteria and to provide education and consultation to assist cities in improving their performance.

"Jones Lang LaSalle is uniquely positioned to be a valuable global real estate partner to CDP Cities," said Dan Probst (top right photo), Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle.

"We have developed a world-class platform for large-scale measurement and reporting of carbon emissions, and are in the vanguard of companies able to help cities mitigate risk and seize opportunities in the new global green economy.

“We also have made a strong commitment to reducing our environmental impact, and have followed up on those goals with actions across our firm."

 For further information, please visit our website, http://www.joneslanglasalle.com/
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Contact: Craig Bloomfield
Phone: 312 228 2774

Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort Is Named the Top Resort in Chiang Rai

 

Chiang Rai, Thailand (May 11, 2011) – Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort (top left photo) is pleased to announce that it was recently named the top resort in Chiang Rai in the Citibank’s 2011 Guide to Thailand’s Best Hotels & Resorts. 

This acknowledgement by Citibank is a testament to the resort’s luxury, unparalleled location, spacious guest rooms and suites, deluxe amenities and services, innovative dining, and facilities that comprise guests’ experiences at Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort. 

Chic and stylish with a focus on the arts, culture, and an inspiring atmosphere, Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort unlocks the gateway to the Mekong and promises an enchanting stay for any traveler or adventurer with the desire to discover travel with a new perspective. 

 “We are honored that Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort has been recognized as the top hotel or resort in Chiang Rai by Citibank’s 2011 Guide to Thailand’s Best Hotels & Resorts,” said General Manager Justin Malcolm.

For reservations and more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com/chiangrai
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For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/

Contact: Hwee Peng Yeo, Tel : 65 9768.6087

Procacci Development Corp. Deploys Bunker Mentality When Building Office Space in Florida




BOCA RATON, FL  (May 11, 2011) – For executives with Banco Santander International, peace of mind during hurricane season means knowing the business will remain up and running before, during and immediately after a storm.

The reason: Florida-based Procacci Development Corporation’s new line of Class A commercial office space within the Crossroads at Dolphin Commerce Center  (middle left photo)campus that provides business continuity assurance far beyond Florida Building Code.

 “This is a state-of-the-art facility with large missile-impact resistant glass and redundant generators to keep us up and running,” said Clara G. de Castro, Banco Santander International Assistant VP General Services.

 The bank’s primary location is in Miami’s Brickell district (lower right photo), but its 2,300-square-foot hurricane recovery location is far from the coast – and easier for employees to reach following a disaster.
 

“We’ve been through storms before and we know the costs of power outages and downtime. Immediately following a storm is a critical period. This was the right solution in the right location.”

 For Banco Santander, Espirito Santo Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, HSBC Bank USA and health plan provider CarePlus Health Plans Inc., the “Built Procacci Strong” disaster recovery / business continuity commercial real estate program is the right solution.

 It combines strong construction, continuous connectivity and redundant back-up power providing the ability to keep businesses up and running as usual immediately after a major hurricane makes landfall.

The program comprises buildings built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 185 miles per hour. If a storm hits, tenants who have leased space in these buildings know their business is protected and that diesel back-up generators in a N+1 configuration will power the entire building for up to 20 days before refueling.

 Stark statistics bear out the critical need for disaster planning. More than four in 10 businesses never reopen following a disaster and 29% of those that do reopen after a storm close within two years, notes Disaster-Resource.com.

“Many businesses use data centers to protect their information. Think of our buildings as business continuity insurance that provides not only data protection but also a first-class location for people to perform work and conduct commerce,” said Philip Procacci (top right photo), founder and CEO of Procacci Development Corporation.

“Our ‘Built Procacci Strong’ buildings meet or exceed the rigorous standards of the Zurich HPR Program and provide direct savings on insurance costs and operating expenses.”

 The “Built Procacci Strong” initiative has earned Zurich’s highly protected risk (HPR) wind standard certification, a timely distinction in view of projections for the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

This year’s forecast calls for 16 named storms, with five major storms. As hurricane season approaches, banks, law and accounting firms, cruise lines, call centers and other businesses that can’t afford any down time all anxiously recall past seasons.

Hurricane Wilma in 2005, for example, caused power outages that disrupted business – some for weeks on end. Some industries are required to have a business continuity plan. For others, it just makes good business sense.

For more information log on to http://www.procacci.us/

Contacts:
Todd Templin, Boardroom Communications, 954-370-8999

The Bainbridge Companies Develop Tallahassee Student Housing


Campus Circle Tallahassee to be Premier Student Community serving Florida State University

Wellington, FL/Tallahassee, FL – Construction is underway on Campus Circle Tallahassee (top left rendering), a new luxury student housing community being built by affiliates of The Bainbridge Companies, together with an institutional partner. The community is situated directly across the street from the main campus of Florida State University.

“This is significant both for Bainbridge and for Tallahassee,” said Tom Keady (lower right photo), President of Bainbridge Development. “Campus Circle is going to be the premier student living community in Tallahassee due to its walkable location, unique modern apartments and incredible amenities.”

The four-story community is being built on approximately 11 acres at the intersection of West Tennessee Street and Basin Street. The new community will have 219 spacious, fully-furnished apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms, with top-tier amenities unmatched in the area, including a large heated resort-style swimming pool with cabanas and a 12,990 square foot clubhouse.

Bainbridge is developing and constructing the community in a joint venture with National Real Estate Advisors, LLC (www.natadvisors.com).

National Real Estate Advisors is an independent real estate investment advisor offering real estate expertise to institutional investors through separate account management, or through its flagship commingled investment vehicle, INDURE Fund.

Architect Charlan Brock and Associates designed the project. Construction began January 31, 2011.

Contact: Terri Thornton, Thornton Communications (404) 932-4347 Terri@TerriThornton.com