|
| Puerto Vallarta |
| January, 2006 |
• City Hall to Reforest Avenues
• CUC Reinforces Links with Business Sector
• Fideicomiso to Fund Remodeling of Colonia El Cerro
• Westin Hotels, First 100% Smoke-Free Hotel Chain
• Cleanup Cruzade Downtown
City Hall to Reforest Avenues
Provided By Ambito
As part of the permanent reforestation  programs of the municipal government, implemented through the Municipal Ecology Department, on November the first phase of reforestation took place on Francisco Villa Avenue, thus starting the pilot reforestation plan of the most important avenues and the city’s tourist strip. According to the announcement made by Benjamin Baumgarten Macedo, head of the Ecology Department, personnel and students from Conalep participated actively to plant 50 trees, from a total 150 expected to complete the rehabilitation of the avenue.
The reforestation project includes the avenue stretch from the Pitillal River to Agustin Flores Contreras Sports Complex, where all available green areas will be used to this purpose.
Baumgarten Macedo said that in the first stage, planting began at the Infonavit Subdivision, and continued to the Libramiento, with the participation of neighbors and citizens in general, which largely contributes to the success of this environment care program.
“In coordination with educational authorities as well as neighbors of Francisco Villa Avenue, we began raising awareness to adopt a tree and help take care of it, to make it their own, this is where success lies” the functionary said. As complementary activities, lectures were given at schools, to the purpose of promoting the fundamental laws of environment protection in the country.
The head of the Ecology Department also announced that a meeting was held at the Coastal Forest Council, of which the department is member, and a permanent brigade was formed to prevent and fight forest fires. Through this brigade, the installation of a watchtower is foreseen, in which different environmental agencies like Sagarpa, Profepa, Semarnat and Municipal Ecology will work in coordination to maintain control on agricultural burnings, thus minimizing damage to the environment.
On other matters, Baumgarten Macedo said that a program to protect and preserve jaguar populations is underway, and actions are being defined as well as the profile of specialists needed. Training of personnel assigned to the program is part of the program, which is funded by the World Bank.
Finally, Macedo Baumgarten said that this type of program is promoted by the federal government and then handed over to the municipalities, to empower them as to care and protection of the environment.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
CUC Reinforces Links with Business Sector
Provided By Ambito
As part of the program to reinforce links with the business sector of Puerto Vallarta the Coastal University Center of the University of Guadalajara, awarded a certificate of recognition to Velas Vallarta Group, on the occasion of the end the Success Management Certificate Course, from which 110 personnel of both executive and operative areas of the hotel graduated recently.
 Upon welcoming the graduating class and their guests to the Juan Luis Cifuentes Auditorium at the CUC campus, Doctor Javier Orozco Alvarado, CUC Rector said that the University of Guadalajara is the house of all Jaliscans, and one of its objectives is to contributing to high level training of human resources, not only in the area of bachelors but also in the area of certificate courses which guarantee continued training and improvement.
Vela Vallarta Group is one of the best companies with international recognition in this tourist destination that works under high quality standards as to its processes and services, this is why we have created certificate courses that respond to the needs of businesses in the region”, he said. Luis Angarita Mayorga, Director of Velas Vallarta, encouraged the graduates to maintain the commitment to their work, as they have proven so far. “I feel moved and committed to the company, with each of you in the important step you are taking; we are all starting a new stage in our professional life, this is a good moment to reflect on how a Mexican corporation can grow on the basis of values that you all know very well, those that drive us to commitment, authenticity, and trust in the hotel industry of Vallarta”.
 The hotelier said that if companies bet more on training as Velas Group does, Mexican tourist industry would yield twice or three times what it currently contributes to the Mexican economy. “I make this reflection because each of you is equally important to this industry. You are proving your families and the community that you are professionals, with excellence, because we are fortunate to have an educational system like that of the University of Guadalajara, because we have a business group like Velas Vallarta, where we practice these teachings and our community values. The seed you have planted in this company is in fertile soil.”
In attendance at the event were the families of the graduates, hotel executives and authorities of the university center.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Fideicomiso to Fund Remodeling of Colonia El Cerro
Provided By Ambito
Project encompasses construction of viewpoint, lighthouse remodeling, opening of streets, cobblestone paving of streets, multi-purpose court, among others.
 With funds up to ten million pesos recently authorized by the Board of the Fideicomiso Puerto Vallarta, the City will carry on a series of works included in the remodeling project of Colonia El Cerro.
Among the works to be carried out with these resources, is the habilitation of a viewpoint on Matamoros and Corona Streets, at a cost of 438, 500 pesos; the remodeling of the lighthouse on Matamoros Street at 324,500 pesos, as well as the opening of Miramar Street from Corona to Aldama, Pipila Street from Matamoros to Juan Escutia Streets, and Emilio Carranza between Aldama and Abasolo Streets, at a cost of 2.1 million pesos.
Likewise the project includes the construction of a multi-purpose court and cobblestone pavement on several streets; the estimates are being drawn up by the Public Works
Department, to be submitted to the City Council’s assembly. At a recent City Council meeting, Councilman Victor Hugo Fernandez Flores, in charge of the Public Works Commission, made the announcement that these works will be funded by the Fideicomiso Puerto Vallarta, and have been approved by the Public Works Solicitation and Assignment Commission to be put out to tender and break ground as soon as possible.
Recently, Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez, Municipal Attorney Miguel Angel Yerena Ruiz and other functionaries toured the Colonia El Cerro to determine the works to be carried out to achieve the intended integral remodeling of one of the most important zones of the city.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Westin Hotels, First 100% Smoke-Free Hotel Chain
Provided By Ambito
 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced today that its upper upscale brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, will become the first hotel chain to introduce a brand wide smoke-free policy. Effective January 2006, all 77 Westin hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean will go 100% smoke-free including all guestrooms and public areas. Westin Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to providing a clean, comfortable and relaxing environment for its guests and the brand's new policy is a result of customer data and a clear demand from guests for a healthy, smoke-free hotel experience.
Introducing a smoke-free policy is a natural evolution for the brand. As an innovative industry leader, Westin Hotels is responsible for the renowned Heavenly Bed(R) and the brand's signature WestinWORKOUT(R) lifestyle guestrooms. The policy also reinforces Westin's new brand positioning around personal renewal by offering guests the services, products and amenities that allow them to relax, rejuvenate and restore during their stay.
In preparation for implementation of the new policy, 2,400 smoking rooms will undergo an extensive cleaning process. This includes replacing all soft goods, deep cleaning and treating all hard surfaces, walls and carpets to eliminate allergens, replacing air filters and deep cleaning all air conditioning units. All Westin hotels and resorts will offer a designated outdoor area for guests who smoke.
"At the heart of all of our decisions is the comfort, well-being and quality of life for our guests," said Sue Brush, senior vice president for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "We view our hotels as a retreat from the rigors of travel. Our goal is to provide a place where guests can relax and restore their mind, body and spirit in a healthy way. At Westin we strive to offer a spectrum of products, services and personal touches that will help our guests walk out of our hotels feeling better than they did when they arrived. Industry research, as well as our own research, confirmed a clear consumer demand for a clean, smoke free hotel environment."
 Guest Demand Drives Smoke-Free Policy Westin consumer data shows that 92% of its guests request a non-smoking room when traveling and do not smoke in any part of the hotel, including public areas. In addition, Westin conducted a Smoke-Free Poll that shows the majority of consumers who travel prefer a smoke-free environment. The poll found that 86% agree that creating a non-smoking environment is an important first step in creating a healthier environment and 80% prefer when restaurants and other indoor public spaces are free of cigarette and cigar smoke. In addition, Westin has eight hotels in its portfolio that have a smoke-free policy in place, which has resulted in overwhelming positive feedback from guests.
"We applaud Westin for taking this visionary step on behalf of their guests," said Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, with whom Westin is working to create the brand's nationwide non-smoking environment. "Westin's patrons and staff will benefit enormously from this effort to improve the quality of life for everyone associated with the Westin brand. Like the airlines, we hope it will one day be possible for all hotels to be smoke-free".
"More and more cities are becoming smoke-free and for an entire hotel chain to take this stand is very cutting edge and far ahead of the curve," said Joseph A. Mcinerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. "We congratulate Westin on their latest innovation. This follows the success of many trend-setting Westin initiatives and the industry is sure to take notice."
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced Aloft(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspaper
Cleanup Cruzade Downtown
Provided By Ambito
The neighbors association offers full support to the city against those who don’t collaborate with sanitation actions: Salvador Peña.
 Aiming at presenting a more likable face to the thousands of national and foreign visitors this holiday season, The city administration through the Public Utilities Department started last weekend a campaign entitled “Cleanliness Cruzade” in the historic center of town.
Works began Saturday in coordination with the Downtown neighbors association chaired by Salvador Peña Chávez, and personnel from different areas, such as Public Sanitation, Public Lighting, Parks and Gardens, and Municipal Ecology among others, under the supervision of the head of Public Services, Martin Vazquez Mendoza.
The functionary expressed that the aim of this campaign is to elicit neighbor participation, in this case, in the downtown area, in sweeping, cleaning the front of their homes and businesses, while the personnel under his supervision paints curbs, trims trees and removes wreckage, and the Ecology Department replants trees where needed.
Vazquez Mendoza went on to say that with these actions it is intended to make one of the downtown streets a pilot, between Mina and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, by installing a new lighting system and inviting the neighbors to ornate their facades with flowers and plants.
He pinpointed that with this lighting project it is intended to make the downtown more attractive and it will develop in stages, and a different lighting system will be established and funds will be “downloaded” from the Habitat program to embellish the downtown.
In turn, Salvador Peña Chavez, president of the neighbors association, recognized the actions being carried out by the municipal government headed by Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor to improve the image of the city for visitors.
He commented that in previous meetings with the mayor, they had agreed to carry out these actions shoulder to shoulder, neighbors and City Hall, once the Guadalupe festivities ended in order to keep the most representative area of the city clean and likable.
He went on to say that the mayor has all their support in case it is necessary to use an iron fist against those who make the streets dirty on do not participate in sanitation actions by maintaining their sidewalks and facades clean, to impose punitive sanctions, in order to have them gain consciousness that by not doing so, they are creating both an image and a public health problem.
He added that the culture and consciousness of the citizens is much needed, but in view of the lack of willingness to participate, “an iron fist should be used against these people”. He made emphasis that the neighbors association won’t support neighbors not abiding by the regulations.
Source: Ambito Puerto Vallarta Weekly Newspape
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