| Dollar Thrifty Reports Slow Finish to 2007
TULSA, Okla. — Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group recently reported that its estimated earnings from 2007 came in lower than expectations. The company pointed to an overall industry decline as a major factor in the downswing. "In the fourth quarter, we experienced progressively weaker industry demand in the travel market, excess fleet capacity in the industry and a weakening used-car market," explained Gary Paxton, president and chief executive officer of Dollar Thrifty. "The demand over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays was much weaker than we had originally expected," Paxton continued. "Lower than expected revenue drivers including a decline in consumer demand and lower revenue per day impacted fourth-quarter results by $0.40 to $0.45 per diluted share versus previous guidance." According to executives, lower consumer demand and disorderly vehicle distribution by the company's primary fleet supplier affected fleet financial results by $0.15 per diluted share. "This is in addition to the $0.15 per diluted share impact previously disclosed related to vehicle shipping disruptions in the September/October time frame," officials indicated. Moreover, vehicle depreciation costs from increased disposal losses (due to a weaker used-vehicle market) came in at $0.10 per diluted share. The company also indicated that its non-GAAP earnings per diluted share for the year were between $0.90 to $0.95.
High competitiveness ranking for NZ tourism
The Tourism Industry Association represents about 2000 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry. Members include airlines, airport companies, and regional tourism organisations, rental car, coach and taxi companies, inbound tour operators, accommodation providers, tourism attractions, researchers, training organisations and tourism services providers. Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export earner – accounting for 19.2% of this country’s export earnings. .
Local Gas Station Charging Over $4 Per Gallon Near OIA
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There was a break for the holidays, but gas prices are ready to rise again. One local gas station, though, is already charging customers much more than others. RAW INTERVIEW: Manager Defends $4.49 Per Gallon Customers at the independent gas station near the Orlando International Airport are paying $4.49 a gallon. Some of the customers don't know the price they're paying until it's too late. There are no large signs showing the prices at the station. Most customers are tourists returning rental cars before catching flights at Orlando International Airport. Not all believe it's an honorable way to conduct business. "It's not fair. It's definitely price gouging during the holiday season," said tourist Les Lazarus. Even at $4.49 a gallon for regular, most of the pumps were busy at Suncoast Energys on Friday morning.
HAVERHILL: Woman who left $1 million in cocaine in rented minivan will ...
LAWRENCE — A Haverhill mother of four will spend the next 15 years in prison, convicted of trafficking more than $1 million worth of cocaine found in a rented minivan. Lawrence Superior Court Judge Leila Kern said it was a tough sentence to impose on Nicole Paquette, 31. Until her 2006 arrest for trafficking cocaine, Paquette only had a car accident on her record. "It's not an understatement to say I spent a sleepless night. I did," Kern said during yesterday's sentencing. Paquette's 2006 arrest led to what police Chief John Romero described then as the largest cocaine bust ever seen in the area. Between the 21 kilos found in Paquette's rental car and another 30 kilos seized from a Methuen home linked to the crime, the drugs had a street value of $2.5 million, Romero said at the time.
Advertising romance: Gone in 30 seconds - Pt. 5 - Uhhh…
Elevators suck because they're like 30-second real life commercials, without a product and without a script. Unfortunately, more and more often I have these encounters outside of elevators, and they're starting to make all of life feel like it sucks for the same reason. Maybe you know what I mean. Leaving Village Video that day reminded me of a Coca-Cola commercial I once saw in which a young man holds a bottle of Coke and walks around a city smiling at strangers who smile back. The whole time, Louis Armstrong's version of "When You're Smiling" plays and you can't help but tap your toe, or at least your index finger. At the end, the young man hands a Coke to a coy-looking, curly haired girl sitting in a café. She was the first person he smiled at, and the only one to not immediately respond with two rows of bright whites shining between frighteningly stretched out cheeks.
Puerto Viejo residents finally get hearing on marina
Groups of expatriates and locals living in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast had to send two petition letters to the municipality asking for a dicussion of the community's fears before they received a response.
The "Marina Ecológica New World," which developers Grupo Caribeño S.A. hope to begin constructing in the middle of this year, will be the focus of the meeting to be held at Puerto Viejo's Casa Cultura at 10 a.m. Feb. 12.
Residents sent a second letter to the municipality this month after the first letter, sent in October, was ignored. The second letter threatened to take .
Leonard Bayer, Chief Scientist at Harris Interactive, to Retire
Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its North American, European and Asian offices, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at www.harrispollonline.com. PressHarris InteractiveDan Hucko, 585-214-7470 or 800-866-7655 x7470SVP, Corporate Communications, Investor Relationsdhucko@harrisinteractive.com .
Jetstar offers 5000 seats for five cents
BUDGET airline Jetstar will boast Australia's lowest-ever domestic air fares on its website tonight when it offers 5000 seats for sale for just five cents. The five-cent fares, which include taxes and other charges, will go on sale from 7pm to 11.59pm (AEDT), and come as competitor Tiger Airways prepares to launch its operations in Australia. Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the fares, offered on a seven of Jetstar's routes, are a bonus for travellers. "We believe this is the lowest all-inclusive air fare ever offered in the domestic market in Australia since domestic air travel commenced," Mr Westaway said. The fares will only be offered on seven Jetstar routes - Sydney to the Gold Coast, services from Melbourne to Hobart, Launceston and Newcastle and flights from Brisbane to Mackay, Rockhampton and Newcastle.
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