NSW Smoking Ban Smokers Like It

YESTERDAY’S introduction of strict outdoor smoking bans in NSW drew few objections on the Border; even smokers believe the tougher laws are a good idea.

It is now illegal to smoke in many outdoor public areas, including train stations, bus stops and sporting facilities.

Those who ignore the bans risk a $550 fine.

A smoker for more than 15 years, Duncan Cooper, of Albury was concerned about the harm passive smoke could do to children.

“I get passive smoke from my own cigarette when I’m not smoking it,” he said.
“For people’s health it will be a good thing.”

But he didn’t agree with the amount of the fine.

“Who has that amount of money these days?” he said.

Shane Vale said smoking away from people was common courtesy, NSW now made it law.
“It’s fair enough,” he said.

“I can understand that non-smokers don’t like to smell cigarette smoke, especially with kids around, but it’s not an illegal product ... it is a bit frustrating.”

The new laws are designed to protect people, particularly children, from passive smoke.
Eight-year-old Lily Ryan-McCormack is glad.

“Sometimes the smoke makes me have a bit of a headache,” she said.

“I smell it, and it smells really gross.”

The Asthma Foundation NSW yesterday applauded the NSW government’s decision, which will also see smoking banned from outdoor areas at venues where food is consumed from 2015.

“According to the most recent NSW government statistics, smoking-related illness accounts for about 5200 deaths and 44,000 hospitalisations per year in NSW and costs about $8 billion annually,”
Asthma Foundation NSW chief executive Michele Goldman said.

“Tobacco smoke is a key trigger for a potentially fatal asthma attack and is associated with higher rates of asthma.

“Children who live in homes where parents smoke are three times more likely to have asthma than children living in non-smoking homes.”

Bed Tax Would Hurt Tourism, Hoteliers Warn

FORCING tourists to pay a bed tax would cost jobs in tourism industry, hoteliers are warning.

The Accommodation Association of Australia (AAA) has hit out a suggestion by NSW Local Government Minister Don Page that a bed tax would help tourism hubs pay for infrastructure and services strained by the influx of holiday visitors.

"The accommodation industry is strongly opposed to a bed tax in any shape or form," said AAA CEO Richard Munro.

"A bed tax would mean job losses in Australia's accommodation industry; it would be inevitable."
Mr Page made the suggestion after witnessing a surge in summer visitors in his electorate of Byron Bay during the Christmas and New Year period.

More than 1.5 million visitors visit Byron Bay each year, and the town is straining under the pressure.
"The reality is that the infrastructure can't cope and the question is: 'What do we do about it?' A bed tax is definitely an option," Mr Page told ABC radio on Thursday.

But the AAA's 2000 members said they would not support such a tax.

"If any level of government is considering introducing such a tax... it would be met with fierce resistance from operators of accommodation businesses and the broader tourism industry," Mr Munro said in a statement on Friday.

He said hoteliers already paid enough taxes and that government, not the industry, should fund infrastructure.

"Our industry already pays millions of dollars in council rates, state taxes and federal taxes every year, and having to pay more would be a disaster."

View original article from the Herald Sun

Death Adders Spice Up Island Resort Experience

Police had an unusual call-out when they were asked to deal with two death adders found near the kitchen of a Groote Eylandt resort in the Northern Territory.

The officers managed to catch the two snakes but were called back to the resort near Alayangula, off the coast of Arnhem Land, two hours later when staff found another death adder lurking around the same location.

Darwin Watch Commander Greg Pusturla says the officers again corralled the venomous reptile but that still wasn't the end of it.

"When walking back towards the reception area, they located another snake," he said.
"Fortunately, all four snakes were taken into custody.

"They have now been released without charge about five kilometres from town, out in the bush."

Original Source: ABC News

Acccommodation Manager Ricky Risal with Clover Moore

Aspire Hotel Sydney's Acccommodation Manager Ricky Risal (right) at a Sydney Christmas event photographed with Clover Moore (middle), Lord Mayor of Sydney

Aspire Hotel Sydney's Acccommodation Manager Ricky Risal (right) at a Sydney Christmas event photographed with Clover Moore (middle), lord Mayor of Sydney

Angela Thielen - Work Experience at Aspire Hotel Sydney (Metro Hotels)

My name is Angela and I´m from Germany but at the moment I live at Bondi Junction in Sydney, which is a great place to live. I am 25 years old and I´m studying Hotel and Tourism Management.

My College provided me with theoretical as well as practical experiences and qualifications in the fields of hotel and tourism.

According to the college´s needs, I have to complete two periods of full-time practical work experience, each lasting 6 months.

And so I decided to do my first Internship in Australia at the Aspire Hotel Sydney.

I choosed Australia because it´s just an awesome country with many interesting and different cultures and so many different places to see. After almost 3 month now, here in Sydney, I almost feel like home.

Working at the Hotel provides me with a lot of experiences in different departments like, working in the Front Office, Reservations, Accounting, Housekeeping  and Sales & Marketing, which I´m really looking forward too,  in the next weeks.

It is also a very good opportunity to improve my english and communication skills, as well as I feel, that I´m becoming more confident in talking and handling with other people. I really like the teamwork and to have the chance to work with so many different cultures  in one place.

During my stay in Sydney I try to see, as much as I can, in and outside the city.

 I have already been too the Blue Mountains, Port Stephens, Manly and many other places.

It is really so much you can see here. But my favorite place to relax and hang out with friends is Bondi Beach, which is just a stroll away from where I live.

After my Internship I will travel around to see a lot of the other great places that Australia offers.

I would like to see the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and of course I won´t leave without having seen the Outback.

This whole experience is the best that I have ever had and I´m looking forward to enjoy the upcoming few months.

Metro Hotels showcase their properties at Qantas Corporate Travel Show

Richard Amour - Metro Hotels Sales Manager

 For the second year running, Metro Hotels have showcased their accommodation properties at the Qantas Corporate Travel shows held in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra.

The 2012 Canberra Qantas Corporate Travel Show attracted 829 invited guests consisting of 129 Corporate Travel Agents, 291 Corporate Travel Coordinators and 409 key Qantas Frequent Flyers clients. The popularity of the show meant Canberra easily retained the mantle as the most attended of the four Qantas Corporate Travel Shows in 2012.

“The corporate and government sectors are a very important source of business for Metro Hotels,” explained Mr Richard Amour, Metro Hotels Sales Manager. “In particular, our Perth, Brisbane and Gladstone properties receive a great deal of corporate business due to the continued buoyancy of the resources industry.” He said.

After trialling the shows in 2011 Metro Hotels were very eager to attend again in 2012 as they saw the trade show as a great way to make new contacts and create greater exposure of the brand and the individual properties to those people who actually make the bookings on behalf of the guest.

“It also makes a great deal of sense that we are involved in the Qantas Corporate Travel Show as all our Metro Hotels and properties are part of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and therefore all our guests can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points when they stay at any of our 14 properties throughout Australia.” Explained Mr Amour

Metro Hotels Staff Participating in the Annual Sydney City 2 Surf Fun Run

Metro Hotels Staff Participating in the Annual Sydney City 2 Surf Fun Run