Strikes labor slowdowns add up to summer of woe in Italy
ROME (AP) — Italy’s summer of woe got worse Friday with one strike at Pompeii that left lines of tourists baking in the sun outside the World Heritage archaeological site and another at Alitalia that left passengers scrambling to rebook cancelled flights.The slowdowns added to record-high temperatures and labor slowdowns that have made living in and visiting Italy particularly unpleasant this summer.Rome’s transit problems got so bad that Mayor Ignazio Marino fired the leadership of the ATAC public transport company and issued a public apology for the “unacceptable problems” that have bedeviled the capital in recent weeks. Top holiday drink recipes Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility 5 people who need to visit the Ultrastar Multi-tainment Center Mesa family survives lightning strike to home New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Comments Share 
Sponsored Stories Those included transport employees showing up for work but barely doing their jobs — so-called “white strikes” that have enraged residents trying to get to and from work.Separately, Alitalia cancelled 15 percent of its flights Friday because of a walkout by pilots and flight attendants.Further south, hundreds of tourists lined up for hours in the sun Friday outside the gates of Pompeii, near Naples, after unions called a wildcat strike and kept the archaeological park closed for several hours.Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the Pompeii closure caused “incalculable damage” — both to Pompeii and to the image of the country.Much of Italy has also been baking under a relentless heat wave for over two weeks, with average temperatures in Rome around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Top Stories Here’s how to repair and patch damaged drywall Top ways to honor our heroes on Veterans Day
Virgin Blue announced that the rising cost of fuel has forced the airline to increase the levy on international flights as well as double charges on baggage. Domestic travellers will see check baggage costs go up from $20 to $40, while commencing from 9 March passengers flying via V Australia to the US are looking at paying an extra charge of $230 on a return fare from Melbourne to Los Angeles, The Daily Telegraph reported.The airline also said there will be a rise from $40 to $60 on baggage fees for flights to New Zealand, Fiji, Bali, Phuket, Port Moresby, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Cook Island, Port Vila and Tonga. Source = e-Travel Blackboard: N.J
Alex, Susan, Tanya Matthew- TTNQ four of ten Australia’s Greatest Adventurer judges Marcus, Dale- Tourism Tropical North Queensland Ben- Capta Group Despite recent natural disasters, attraction operators and hoteliers in North Queensland remain positive on the future of the state’s tourism. Rendezvous Reef Resort sales and marketing manager Shirley Dodt told e-Travel Blackboard that while February and March are generally low seasons, business is looking optimistic for the future. “Considering the cyclone business is normal and we are getting the message out that we are still operating,” Ms Dodt said. “Over April we have a considerable amount of bookings but May seems to be a little slower.” However, as well as dealing with repercussions from cyclone misconceptions, according to operators at last night’s Tropical North Queensland road show the region is also in competition with international destinations made cheaper by the strong dollar. “Everyone is going internationally and overseas purely because of the dollar,” Mantra Group Sydney Central area sales manager Jolanta Rajczak said. “But North Queensland has so much to offer and if you want a quick trip over Easter why not go domestic where the weather is good and at the moment Queensland has some cheap rates.” Capta Group sales manager Ben Woodward added that he was surprised by what little knowledge people have of their own country and anyone worried about spending money on travel to an area hit by cyclone damage of flooding would see that the majority of Cairns and Port Douglas remains untouched and available for business. “We were very lucky that we didn’t suffer major damage, it was further south that bore the brunt of the cyclone,” Mr Woodward said. “North Queensland is really diverse and there is just so much people can do from adventure to witnessing natural beauty.” In a bid to boost travellers into the state, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) launched an Australia’s Greatest Adventurer challenge this week, invited Aussies to submit their claim on title. Stop by e-Travel Blackboard tomorrow for more information on the competition and click here see the full gallery of images from last night’s Tropical North Queensland road show. Source = e-Travel Blackboard: N.J
Source = MSC Cruises The magnificent setting of London’s Guildhall was an appropriate venue for her royal highness, Princess Anne, to present MSC Group owner and president, Gianluigi Aponte, the Seatrade Personality 2011 Award for his outstanding achievements in international shipping..The award was presented at the 23rd Seatrade Awards before leading figures from the world’s maritime industry, a spectacular annual event celebrating the outstanding contributions to safety, efficiency and environmentally friendly shipping.Speaking at the awards, Seatrade chairman Chris Hayman said it was not often that a private ship owner would start a company from scratch and, without outside investment, was able to build it up into one of the leading forces in the shipping world.“It is even less so when that happens in not just one shipping sector but several,” he said.In acknowledging the special award, MSC Cruises’ managing director Australia and New Zealand, Lynne Clarke, said it came as a result of many years of hard toil and planning.“The recognition given to Mr Aponte is well deserved and unsurpassable,” she said from her Sydney office. “It’s a great moment, not only for the cruise line but for the management and staff which has seen the rise of a formidable family-oriented company.”Born in Sorrento, Italy, Gianluigi Aponte began his career as a captain in the family company, which operated a fleet of sailing boats on the Mediterranean.After a few years in banking, Mr Aponte set up the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in 1970 with the purchase of a single ship.Under his leadership, MSC has since grown to become the second-largest container ship operator in the world, employing more than 40,000 and operating a fleet of 441 cargo vessels serving 306 ports across five continents.Mr Aponte has overseen similar growth in the group’s cruise business since its modest entry into the industry in 1988. MSC Cruises is now the world’s fourth-largest cruise company, boasting an ultra-modern fleet of 11 cruises ships and market-leading positions in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil.Despite its spectacular growth over the past 40 years, MSC remains a family-owned business, and its founder remains dedicated to the company and to his family. Mr Aponti receiving prize from Princess Anne HRH
Source = e-Travel Blackboard: P.T Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in April 2012 rose by more than 14 percent, compared with the same month last year. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) issued visitor arrival data for the month of April 2012, announcing a total of 3,840,180 visitors to the city-state. Travellers from Mainland China recorded the largest year-on-year increase, up almost 24 percent to 2,647,026. Long-haul market tourist numbers were relatively similar to April 2011 but HKTB reported a 30 percent increase in Russian visitors. Short-haul visitor arrivals fell by 3.7 percent overall, while the Philippines and Japan recorded individual growth. Overnight arrivals were up nearly 5 percent for the month of April 2012, with Mainland China achieving the greatest growth.
Etihad Airways has released a suite of new products for its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 planes, including sophisticated new accommodation, “Residence” for its A380 flights. “This will allow us to offer products unparalleled in quality and style, yet at competitive prices across all three cabins.” “Etihad Airways’ A380 and B787 will deliver the most advanced airline cabins in the industry, while meeting all weight, range and cost targets at our desired seat count, In 2008, Etihad hired leading design companies, Acumen, Factorydesign and Honour Branding to help develop cabin and seat designs. In addition, The Business Studio will offer unparalleled working space for business travellers and the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, which includes on-demand entertainment and improved gaming facilities with audio jacks and noise cancelling headsets. As for its new B787 product offerings, Etihad has redesigned its first class cabin as First Suite and added a mini bar. Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer James Hogan said that the new products had set a new standard in passenger comfort and choice.
“These new living spaces will raise inflight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers’ expectations of inflight comfort and luxury forever,” Etihad claims to build its new features of Arabian modernism- a combination of the culture of the UAE region combined with modern design. The design prototypes were then finalised based on feedback from focus groups in Sydney, Abu Dhabi, New York and London. The Residence is Etihad Airways new forward double, upper deck cabin on the A380 offering single or double rooms as well as a living room and ensuite shower room and a personal butler on call. Source = ETB News: Tom Neale
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is pleased to announce that on Tuesday 4 November 2014, the Tasmanian Parliament passed the Travel Agent Repeal Bill 2014.As Tasmania was the last state government to repeal the act, the repeal will completely eradicate the old licensing program that added significant business costs to Tasmanian based travel distributors.The decision came after extensive and careful consultation with industry, consumers and governments and the rule that all Australian travel agents must maintain compliance with the consumer protections afforded under the Australian Consumer Law.AFTA chief executive officer Jayson Westbury, said it is a good decision and the bill will benefit the Tasmanian travel industry.“This is good news for travel agents and good news for consumers. Tasmania is now aligned with the rest of Australia which removes confusion and allows the new accreditation scheme and other travel related business practices to be fully rolled out,” Mr Westbury said.Travel agents are now free to make commercial decisions which will make them more competitive in today’s market place.“ATAS accredited businesses have a head start in this process as their legitimate positive value proposition makes them more relevant, competitive and known,” Mr Westbury said.ATAS now has over 2,300 agent locations in Australia and to date 27 Tasmanian travel agent locations have already been accredited through ATAS.Source = ETB Travel News: Lewis Wiseman
Source = Collette Go Collettebook with Collette here Norwegian FjordsA cruise and land tour exploring the best of Scandinavia – travel this incredible region by land, air, sea, and rail!Collette has released Norwegian Coastal Voyage and Scandinavian Capitals; a unique cruise and land tour blending air, land, rail, and cruise. This experience ensures the spectacular Nordic scenery is seen from the best vantage points. Travellers spend two nights in each Scandinavian capital – Stockholm, Copenhagen & Oslo. After exploring the capital cities they will depart Oslo on the Bergen Railway, one of Europe’s most scenic rail journeys, later switching to the famous Flam Railway which climbs to the village of Flam on Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. The tour includes a six-day Hurtigruten cruise from Bergen north to Kirkenes. The ship will sail past quaint fishing towns, majestic fjords and rugged mountains on what is often referred to as the world’s most beautiful voyage. The vessels double as a working ships. Making thirty four ports of call to deliver mail and small goods to the communities along the coast. Locals like to utilise the ship to travel between towns and villages. On-board cuisine is top-grade Norwegian cooking. The chefs collect ingredients from various ports along the way to ensure passengers are treated to the freshest produce. This itinerary is perfect for those who want local interaction while viewing the scenery of one of the most spectacular regions of the world. Collette’s 14 day Norwegian Coastal Voyage and Scandinavian Capitals, is priced from $6,644 per person for the 30 Oct departure to $8,804 per person for 12 Jun departure.Prices include land and internal air with sightseeing as outlined in the full itinerary, 27 meals and the services a professional Tour Manager.
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Magellan signs Out and AboutMagellan signs Out and AboutMagellan Travel Group is pleased to have officially welcomed the NSW based leisure agency, Out & About Travel, who joined the Group earlier this month.Founding Director, Reece Farmilo, commented that he is “thrilled to have become a Magellan member. The culture, the value, the transparency and the like-minded operators are all factors which contributed to the decision we made to join the Group.”Farmilo started the street front agency in January 2007 in Elizabeth Bay (NSW) and now has a team of 8 full time consultants. Furthermore, Out & About Travel was a finalist in the 2017 NTIA for Best Retail Agency – Single Location.Andrew Macfarlane, MD of the Magellan Travel Group, said that he is “very much looking forward to working with Reece and his team at Out & About. It is always an exciting time when we are able to come together with new member agencies and work with them in order to achieve their business aspirations.”Source = Magellan Travel Group
Emirates SkyCargo wraps up 2017 on a positive noteEmirates SkyCargo wraps up 2017 on a positive noteEmirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, completed a year of strong growth in 2017. The air cargo carrier’s robust performance, set against the backdrop of a resurgent global air cargo market, was underlined by the introduction of specialised customer focused air transportation solutions across a number of industry verticals and by continued investment in infrastructure.Between January and December 2017, Emirates SkyCargo’s hubs at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) saw a combined cargo throughput of over 2.5 million tonnes.Specialised, Innovative products and solutionsIn response to increasing demand from its customers, Emirates SkyCargo introduced a range of air transport solutions specific to industry verticals including Emirates Pharma, Emirates Wheels and Emirates Fresh. Emirates Pharma, developed for the secure transportation of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals from origin to destination has been extremely well received by pharma customers worldwide.Volumes of pharmaceutical cargo travelling through Emirates SkyCargo have grown by 38% since launch. Emirates SkyCargo also worked with DuPont on developing a new thermal cover called White Cover Xtreme, offering enhanced protection for cargo in hot, cold and wet weather conditions. Emirates SkyCargo operates world class EU GDP certified facilities at its hub in Dubai to ensure secure transportation of life saving medicines and treatment.Emirates Fresh has helped producers around the world transport fruits, vegetables, flowers and other perishables including fresh fish and meat. In 2017 Emirates SkyCargo transported over 285,000 tonnes of perishables across its network. In February Emirates SkyCargo unveiled a unique rose decal on one of its freighter aircraft to highlight the importance of air cargo to the floriculture industry.With the introduction of Emirates Wheels, Emirates SkyCargo has been transporting close to 150 cars a month not only in the peak summer season, but throughout the year. In addition to individual customers, the air cargo carrier has worked with major car manufacturers and distributors to transport premium and luxury cars.With its focus on structured and customised offerings, Emirates SkyCargo is well positioned to further address customer needs in 2018 in other sectors including e-commerce. Industry partnershipsIn May 2017, Emirates SkyCargo entered into a first of its kind strategic operational partnership with Cargolux. The two carriers started working together on a number of operational areas including block space and interline, aircraft charter and hub connectivity. In October Emirates SkyCargo and Cargolux announced a code share agreement for cargo. Emirates SkyCargo has had one CargoluxBoeing 747 freighter aircraft chartered full time since June 2017.In the UAE, Emirates SkyCargo signed an MoU with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to become the space science centre’s preferred partner. In the e-commerce segment, the air cargo carrier entered into an understanding with Dubai CommerCity to develop new solutions for the global ecommerce industry and to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for e-commerce.Capacity and networkIn addition to offering belly hold cargo capacity on its fleet of 254 wide body passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo also offers freighter capacity on its fleet of 13 Boeing 777-Fs and one Boeing 747- 400ERF. In 2017, Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet of freighters transported cargo to more than 140 destinations including scheduled and charter operations.In addition to commencing scheduled freighter services to Luxembourg in June 2017, the air cargo carrier also increased frequency of freighter services to Hong Kong from 22 to 26 flights a week. Unique cargo transported onboard Emirates’ freighters included horses, luxury cars, boats, heavy equipment and aircraft engines.Emirates SkyCargo facilitates global trade flows by transporting cargo across six continents and over 155 destinations. Freighters from the Emirates SkyCargo fleet connect over 40 scheduled destinations across the globe.AccoladesEmirates SkyCargo is committed to excellence in service delivery and this was acknowledged in a number of industry forums. Some of the awards that Emirates SkyCargo won this year included the ‘Best Cargo Airline Middle East’ award at the annual Cargo Airline of the Year 2017 awards organised in London by Air Cargo News; ‘Best Air Cargo Carrier- Middle East’ at the 2017 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards held in Singapore by Asia Cargo News; and the prestigious DHL Carrier Award for Reliability and Excellence (DHL CARE) for pharma in Singapore in June 2017.Source = Emirates
British Airways spreads its Wings with Limited Edition MarmiteBritish Airways spreads its Wings with Limited Edition MarmiteBritish Airways and Marmite have teamed up to create a limited-edition jar to celebrate the airline’s centenary, launching on May 1. As Marmite is the most confiscated brand at airport security, the centenary jar is conveniently sized to fit within the liquid allowance.For Brits travelling abroad, it is clear they cannot go without the British spread that has divided the nation since 1902. Based on data from London City Airport, Marmite is the most confiscated branded food item at airport security. Other branded items that did not make it past security are Harrods jams and spreads and Lyle’s Golden Syrup.The airport has seen deserted jars of Marmite increase 50 per cent in the first three months of 2019, from four to six jars a day, and the airport forecasts it could seize over 2,000 jars this year alone. British Airways customers can now get their Marmite hit when away. The special edition spread will be exclusively available to customers on board all flights from May 1. The jar weighs 70 grams so if they do not get through it on holiday they can safely take it through security as it falls within the liquid restrictions.To coincide with the launch, on April 30 London City Airport will be holding an amnesty at its security gates, giving all customers the chance to swap their over-sized, prohibited jars of Marmite for British Airways’ travel-friendly version.Hamish McVey, British Airways’ Head of Brand and Marketing, said: “It’s clear that customers like to enjoy their favourite brands like Marmite while travelling or when they’re abroad. We work with some of the best of British to bring them to our customers on board our flights and now, in our centenary year we will have even more brands alongside Marmite that our customers can enjoy.”British Airways will be releasing a series of centenary editions in partnership with British brands during its milestone year. Earlier this month the airline announced a partnership with Scottish craft brewers, BrewDog, who have created a transatlantic IPAfor customers and in a world first brewed the beer on a flight. The airline has also partnered with luxury British watchmakers Bremont on the launch of a new limited-edition timepiece, featuring metal from one of the most famous and iconic planes in history – Concorde.Ian Cowie, Director of Customer Operations at London City Airport, said: “With 4.8 million passengers travelling each year through London City Airport, many of whom are returning to the continent or heading on holiday, it’s little surprise that Marmite is such a treasured item and demonstrates just how loyal Brits are to their favourite brands. Whether you love it or hate it, we’re looking forward to ensuring passengers can continue to get their Marmite fix. For any other liquids, pastes and gels over 100ml, it’s best to pack them safely in the hold.”As part of British Airways‘ £6.5 billion investment for its customers, British Airways also recently revealed its new business class seat and introduced changes to its First, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins, delivering exceptional new restaurant-style catering from Do&Co. British Airways is also rolling out industry-leading Wi-Fi on board, opening new lounges across the world and launching 15 new routes.Source = British Airways
In a bid to improve tourist footfall to the Kashmir Valley, the tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir is heavily depending on TTF Kolkata which is scheduled from July 31 to August 2 at Netaji Indoor Stadium and Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. As the efforts of the state government and private tour operators to promote tourism is not yielding substantial results, worried trade bodies of Kashmir tourism believe TTF Kolkata to be the only hope.“This year we were expecting the tourist influx to cross a million. The government did its job and the Chief Minister also went to several places, including Bollywood, for the promotion of the tourism sector. But we have got only 25% tourists this year, with the majority being high-end tourists,” said Musadiq Shah, General Secretary, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI).Nasir Shah, who is with Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance and is also the Director of CNE luxury holidays said, “Some cancelled their bookings due to flood warnings issued by the government from time to time. Our only hope is now West Bengal. We expect around 1.5 lakh tourists from the state.”In a meeting with Kashmir Tourism Trade Bodies’ Coordination Committee, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed directed tourism stakeholders to organise promotional drives in Kolkata, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, from where the state receives maximum visitors.He said he will take the matter up with the Union Railways Minister, Suresh Prabhu and discuss the issue of running special train services during the festival season of Dilwali to facilitate tourists intending to visit the Valley.Sayeed has asked tourism bodies to actively participate in the TTF Kolkata and prepare in advance special packages for attracting visitors. “Being principal stakeholders, your presence in Kolkata will send a positive signal in building tourist confidence,” he said. He asked the Tourism Department to install billboards in Kolkata to provide visibility to the department’s family packages for prospective tourists. They are also preparing to conduct a special road show on Day 1 evening of TTF Kolkata at a 5-star hotel for travel trade and media.Asking Director of Tourism to bring new destinations like Gurez, Kokernag, Daksum, Aharbal and Dudpathri within the ambit of ‘Kashmir Calling’ campaign, the Chief Minister said autumn and winter seasons continue to hold sway on a special category of dedicated visitors, who make a beeline for visiting Kashmir.Peerzada Zahoor, Deputy Director, Tourism Department, informed that this year around 4.37 lakh tourists including 18,000 foreigners visited the Valley. “Since Kashmir has around 60,000 hotel rooms available, tourism players expect a large number of middle class tourists. There was some dip in middle class tourists, but we are hopeful things will improve in coming days,” he said.
Beverly Hills has won the prestigious ‘Luxury Destination of the Year – USA’ as part of this year’s Luxury Travel Guide (LTG) Americas Awards 2018. The LTG Americas Awards program recognises consistent performance in the luxury travel and hospitality industry. Nominees are put forward by industry experts, readers and satisfied customers. The in-house professionals and celebrity guest judges will then pick those most deserving of recognition. Throughout the past 12 months, LTG received 11,142 nominations from 32 countries and winners were chosen based on specialism, location, facilities and most importantly, service excellence.This marks the third time that Beverly Hills has won an LTG award. Previously, they have won ‘Shopping Destination of the Year’ in the LTG Americas Awards 2017, and ‘City Destination of the Year’ in the LTG Global Awards 2016.LTG commented on the win, “Beverly Hills boasts an alluring lifestyle that continues to entice A-listers and affluent travellers with its beautiful year-round weather. Our judges have recognised Beverly Hills again in 2018 marking them as three-time winners in the LTG Awards, an accolade truly to be proud of and to celebrate across the world.”The LTG prides itself on being a leading provider of travel news, reviews and features for a global readership. The winner’s publication will highlight the very best holiday destinations, luxury accommodation, spas, restaurants and more.
Statistical tallies for fourth-quarter home sales seem to support the idea that 2012 will represent a period of growth in some regions, and throughout the U.S., the “”National Association of Realtors””:www.realtor.org/ reported a 12.2 percent jump in November sales on a year-over-year basis. Recent data from Florida, Illinois, and Texas illustrates the positive trend, setting the stage for a happy new year in those states.[IMAGE]In Florida, analysis from the state’s “”realtor association””:www.floridarealtors.org/ displayed a year-over-year increase in existing, single-family home sales of 11 percent, as compared with figures from November 2010. The total number of Florida homes sold during the period rang in at 12,993, and while the statistics demonstrate a positive year-over-year picture, they are representative of a month-over-month decline from 13,755 homes sold in October of 2011.Median sales pricing for existing homes in the state fell in November, sinking to $130,100 off of a slightly better $130,600 during October. However, Florida’s median prices in the sector remain well below the national average of $164,200.Year-over-year, condominium sales were also on the uptick in November, with Florida showing a 2 percent increase in condo movement and a 4 percent increase in median sales pricing for the condo market. For Miami-Dade County, the pop in existing, single-family home sales year-over-year was in line with statewide numbers, and the area displayed an 11 percent rise in the sector. Median sales prices were stagnant on a year-over-year basis, with median pricing in the region steady at $171,300.Another large portion of the state, Broward County, bested data recorded around Florida, to enjoy an existing home sales gain of 22 percent year-over-year in November. Condo sales in the region, however, didn’t fare as well, showing a drop of 1 percent year-over-year. John Tuccillo, chief economist for the state’s realtor group, spoke out on the recent findings, stating that “”Florida is already in a mini-recovery.””[COLUMN_BREAK]In the midwest, Loretta Alonzo, president of the “”Illinois Association of Realtors””:www.illinoisrealtor.org/, echoed Tuccillo’s comments, noting of the real estate in her home state, “”As we move through the distressed properties, predominant in the Chicagoland market, and begin to see more positive reports on the jobs front, we will be looking for some stabilization in home prices to coincide with the rising home sales.””During November, Illinois property sales ballooned by 14.2 percent year-over-year to reach 7,954 homes sold in the state. Nevertheless, exceedingly depressed home pricing lingers on in Illinois, with median prices in the state dropping by 11.4 percent on a year-over-year basis; the average median home price in Illinois during November was $128,500.Chicago home sales statistics demonstrated growth of 20.4 percent year-over-year in November, but like the rest of the state, the city’s median pricing decreased, falling by 14.3 percent to land at $150,000. In Chicago’s metropolitan area, which includes nine counties, recorded a rise in home sales of 20.7 percent on a year-over-year basis in November.Of the Illinois counties that released their numbers, 52 percent demonstrated elevated home sales year-over-year for the period, and 41 percent of those areas experienced growth in year-over-year median home pricing, according to IAR.Moving west, Texas also claimed strong numbers in November. the state’s existing, single-family home sales were up by 9 percent year-over-year, based on data revealed by “”Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center””:recenter.tamu.edu/. The group’s research showed that 15,000 homes sold around the state, and unlike Florida and Illinois, Texas’ median home pricing rose 1 percent for the period to reach $147,600.For Dallas and Houston, year-over-year sales were positive by 16 percent and 11 percent respectively. Additionally, Houston’s median pricing bloomed by 2 percent year-over-year for the period; however, Dallas’ median prices flagged, declining by 2 percent as of November. Pricing jumps weren’t limited to Houston, and statewide, Abilene, Arlington, Austin, Longview-Marshall, Lubbock, and McAllen also displayed improving pricing year-over year. Abilene stands out among the collection of metro areas, with a 47 percent leap in median home prices year-over-year. Multiple mortgage and housing industry sources weighed in with their predictions for 2012 during the recent “”Five Star MPact Conference””:www.thefivestar.com/mpact/about.php, and as is reflected in the data from realtor associations across the U.S., most experts _MReport_ spoke to confirmed the findings, stating that next year’s real estate market looks to be a bounce along the bottom for some regions and a period of slight growth for others. Housing Numbers Show Happy New Year for Some States December 23, 2011 428 Views in Data, Government, Origination, Secondary Market, Servicing, Technology
Agents & Brokers Attorneys & Title Companies Investors Lenders & Servicers Processing Realtor Association Service Providers 2011-12-23 Abby Gregory Share
Deloitte’s Consumer Spending Index was largely flat in February, seeing “only a marginal change” amid moderate economic growth, the professional services company reported.The index, which tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future spending, edged down slightly to 3.9 from a reading of 4.0 in January.“The fundamentals for consumer spending remain stable,” said Daniel Bachman, senior U.S. economist for Deloitte. “While the economy continues to grow at a moderate pace, expect growth to accelerate over the next six to eighteen months, and the outlook for consumer spending to improve along with the economy.”The index comprises four economic components: tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages, and real home prices.According to Deloitte, the tax burden was the only component to remain unchanged, staying flat at 11.8 percent.Real hourly wages continued their course of gradual increases, coming up 0.2 percent to $8.82; at the same time, the four-week moving average of initial unemployment claims fell 7 percent month-over-month to 332,600.On the housing front, real new home prices dipped 2.3 percent from January’s $113,000, resting at $111,000 last month.All things considered, the current environment is a perfect one for firms looking to move into new markets or enhance their offerings, says Alison Paul, vice chairman of Deloitte and sector leader of its Retail & Distribution segment.“While businesses may be inclined to play it safe with regard to their investment strategies, the time may be right to make a strategic play now,” Paul said. Share Consumer Spending Measure Flat in February Confidence Consumer spending Deloitte 2014-03-20 Tory Barringer
March 20, 2014 421 Views in Daily Dose, Data, Headlines, News
Share in Daily Dose, Data, Headlines, News Single-family home sales in Connecticut increased year-over-year in March, marking the 11th consecutive annual increase, according to the Warren Group. Meanwhile, the state’s median home price experienced its first downward slide since June 2012.Prices slipped 8.2 percent year-over-year in March, sliding down from $245,000 to $225,000. March’s decline made for a 2.1 percent price decline for the first quarter in Connecticut.However, Timothy M. Warren Jr., CEO of the Warren Group, called March’s price drop “an aberration of data and not the start of a new trend.”“The continued increase in the number of single-family homes is evidence that the market continues to recover,” he said.Sales of single-family homes increased 3.2 percent over the year in March and 2.9 percent over the first quarter.March single-family home sales totaled 1,583, and single-family home sales over the first quarter totaled 4,198.Condominiums followed a similar trend as single-family homes in Connecticut in March – with prices falling and sales rising.Connecticut’s condo sales increased 8.1 percent over the year in March and 4.9 percent in the first quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago.Condo sales totaled 442 in March, and the median price for those condos was $154,000, down from $160,000 in March of last year, according to the Warren Group. Connecticut Home Sales Rise, Prices Drop in March
Home Prices Home Sales The Warren Group 2014-05-09 Krista Franks Brock May 9, 2014 468 Views 
Home Prices Home Sales National Association of Realtors S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Indices 2014-06-24 Tory Barringer in Daily Dose, Data, Featured, Headlines, News Annual home price gains pulled back sharply in April, falling short of market expectations, a report released Tuesday shows.In its latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report, S&P Dow Jones Indices recorded an annual price increase of 10.8 percent among both the 10- and 20-city composites. Those figures compare to year-over-year increases of 12.6 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively, in March.A consensus of economists surveyed by Econoday called for a gain of 11.4 percent in the 20-city index.Of the 20 cities tracked, 19 posted lower annual appreciation in April than in March, S&P Dow Jones reported, with only Boston coming out ahead.”Last year some Sunbelt cities were seeing year-over-year numbers close to 30 percent, now all are below 20 percent: Las Vegas (18.8 percent), Los Angeles (14.0 percent), Phoenix (9.8 percent), San Diego (15.3 percent), and San Francisco (18.2 percent),” said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Other cities around the nation are also experiencing slower price increases.”Monthly numbers looked slightly more encouraging: In April, the 10- and 20-city composites posted respective increases of 1.0 percent and 1.1 percent, accelerating over March. Out of the 20 cities surveyed, all reported month-over-month appreciation.Though most markets nationwide still have some ground to make up before they return to their former peaks, higher costs and tighter credit have made it more difficult for some groups of buyers to reclaim their role in the market.”First time buyers are not back in force and qualifying for a mortgage remains challenging,” Blitzer said. “The question is whether housing will bounce back before the Fed begins to tighten sometime next year.”Recent numbers may indicate a little bit of hope on that front: On Monday, the National Association of Realtors reported a 4.9 percent month-over-month increase in existing-home sales in May—the strongest monthly increase since 2011—while the Census Bureau recorded an 18.6 percent spike in new home sales on Tuesday. Share
Case-Shiller Price Indices Hit Brakes in April June 24, 2014 553 Views 
in Servicing Sun Trust Banks will now be required to meet tougher mortgage servicing standards after settling a wrongful foreclosure lawsuit, which cost the company more than $550 million. More than 2,200 homeowners who had mortgages with SunTrust and lost their homes to foreclosure in the past few years are eligible to a cash settlement worked out by the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.North Carolina’s portion of the payout is about $21.5 million. Claim forms were mailed this week, and homeowners have until June 4 to submit a claim. The average payment will be around $850, according to Attorney General Roy Cooper.Virginia homeowners will also be receiving settlement payments if they acquired a mortgage through SunTrust and failed to make payment. An estimated 3,200 Virginia borrowers are eligible for settlement payments totaling to $33.85 million.SunTrust was sued for violating mortgage originations practices by underwriting mortgages for insurance from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet agency requirements in the past. This suit followed federal probes into SunTrust after allegations were brought forward saying the bank was abusing servicing and foreclosure practices.Former homeowners must meet the following requirements to be eligible for payment:They were foreclosed on between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2013.Their mortgage was serviced by SunTrust at the time of foreclosure.They made at least three payments on the loan.They either lived in the home or intended to live in the home at the time they took out the mortgage.The mortgage was for a property with at least one and no more than four residential units.The unpaid principal of their first mortgage was within certain limits. FHA foreclosure settlement SunTrust 2015-03-19 Samantha Guzman March 19, 2015 481 Views 
SunTrust to Pay North Carolina Homeowners $21.5 Million in Settlement Share
Share Ernst Publishing Company Settlement Services Companies TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule TRID 2016-02-26 Staff Writer in Headlines, News, Technology When the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rules advanced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) went into effect last October, many worried that compliance concerns would force larger lenders to suspend all activity with smaller settlement agents and title companies.According to Ernst Publishing Company, a provider of technology and closing cost data for the real estate and home finance industries for the past 26 years, that crisis was averted by technology.”Having the nation’s largest lenders boycott smaller firms over the fear that they would not be able to comply with TRID was a very real threat last year and could have changed the entire landscape of the lending business,” said Gregory E. Teal, President and CEO of Ernst Publishing. “We’ve been working with many of these companies for over 26 years and there was no way we were going to allow that to happen.”Ernst’s answer to TRID was its Settlement Agent Gateway, a collaborative fee management system the company launched last spring. The technology allows settlement agents to work with lenders to negotiate fees and then manage these fees in a web-based tool through which they certify the accuracy of their fees and then make them available to lenders who need to provide Loan Estimates required under the new requirements. This ensures full TRID compliance, protects the lenders from having to re-disclose later for quoting the wrong fees and protects smaller settlement agent firms from being pushed out of the market due to non-compliance concerns.The technology is simple to use and uses MISMO data standards to allow the settlement agent to enter pre-negotiated fees into a spreadsheet that includes cells for the required services by geography, and then certify that the fees are accurate with a single click.Teal pointed out that Ernst’s Gateway is not a closing portal. “Fees must be disclosed accurately to borrowers long before they get to the closing table. Both lenders and settlement agents needed a tool that will allow fees to be negotiated far in advance of the close and then locked into the lender’s closing cost search engines. Our software makes that possible,” Teal said.”Lenders under TRID must have 100 percent accurate fees for compliance purposes creating challenges when working with fees from many providers. TRID could have put a lot of good companies out of business,” said Jan Dalton Clark, VP of Sales and Marketing for Ernst. “This would have been disastrous for smaller industry firms, but it would have also put lenders at a competitive disadvantage because it would have dismantled their local business referral networks across the country.”
February 26, 2016 473 Views Ernst: Technology Saved Small Settlement Services Companies from TRID Complications
in Daily Dose, Data, Government, Headlines, News It’s no secret that inventory is on the scarce side in the housing market, which is causing a domino effect of issues for homebuyers trying to purchase a home. The mortgage industry is now anticipating where new single-family home sales will fall, following existing-home sales major feat against supply challenges last week.New single-family home sales and the median home price began the year on weak note in terms of the monthly changes, but there were some optimistic signs behind the data.According to data estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD, new single-family home sales in January 2016 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 494,000, down 9.2 percent from the revised December rate of 544,000 and 5.2 percent below the January 2015 estimate of 521,000.The decline in the median home price “is not because of widespread discounting but rather a result of builders offering more affordably priced entry-level homes,” said Realtor.com Chief Economist, Jonathan Smoke.Here is the lineup for the week:Monday, April 25, 2016 U.S. Census Bureau & HUD New Single-Family Home Sales10:00 A.M. (EST)Tuesday, April 26, 2016Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting BeginsS&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (HPI)9:00 A.M. (EST)Wednesday, April 27, 2016National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index10:00 A.M. (EST)FOMC Meeting Announcement2:00 P.M. (EST)Ocwen Financial’s First Quarter EarningsThursday, April 21, 2016U.S. Bureua of Labor Satistics GDP8:30 A.M. (EST) The Week Ahead: Wishful Thinking for New Home Sales April 24, 2016 480 Views 
Census Bureau New Home Sales Single-Family 2016-04-24 Staff Writer Share