That's Business: Bruntwood transforms Leeds office building into Pr...

That's Business: Bruntwood transforms Leeds office building into Pr...: Landmark Leeds building Hepworth Point has been turned into a new Premier Inn hotel by commercial space provider Bruntwood, boasting 131 b...

Have We Lost The Ability To Think Creatively?

How would you feel about shutting your laptop down and switching your phone off for a week? Nervous? Lonely? Or surprisingly refreshed?! You never know until you try it, and GoLearnTo.com have the perfect destination to escape from technology...

We live in a world so heavily dominated by technology that it's hard to imagine life without laptops and mobile phones. Millions of us check emails instinctively before getting up in the morning, spend our evenings in front of the TV, on our laptops or check work emails after leaving the office, which demonstrates just how difficult it is to find time to get away from technology.

Initially the thought of having no internet connection or phone signal for a week may fill you with dread, but in practice it is incredible how refreshing and inspiring a break from technology can be. And if you are looking to get away from it all, what better way to escape than abroad? There is no better place for your creativity to be inspired than in a brand new location with stunning surroundings, gourmet food and great company.

GoLearnTo.com have just the place. They have a remarkable eco-retreat set in unspoilt and rural Spain in an 'off-grid' location, two hours from modern technology, which encourages you to immerse yourself in the spectacular surroundings and provides you with the perfect opportunity to fully switch off and think creatively.

Whether you're looking for a quiet place to focus on your artwork or photography, a destination for commercial meetings where your staff can think creatively, a unique retreat for the whole family or just somewhere to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, this creative retreat is the perfect destination.

Set in the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez', this 'eco-chic' guest house has over 50 acres of land and is set in an area of extreme natural beauty in with dramatic alpine deserts on one side and almond blossom on the other. There is no phone signal at the retreat which helps to resist the urge to check emails and messages and really relax in the stunning rural surroundings. If the thought of this fills you with dread, there is a satellite connection at the retreat for emergencies (checking your Facebook page doesn't count), and remarkably it takes under 2 hours to reach the bustling cities and airports of Almeria, Murcia, Granada and Alicante.

Host, artist and ecologist Simon Beckmann offers professional tuition in a unique, laid-back way with a range of painting and photography courses using the natural landscape and culture as inspiration for the themed courses.

The eco-retreat also hosts a Residency for international professional artists, making meal times a great time to get to know the fellow artists in a fun and social environment. These artists will be happy to share their experiences and give you presentations of their work in the evenings, which is a really unique opportunity.

The retreat is the perfect blend of ecology and creativity. The cortijada is a beautiful carbon neutral guest house converted from five old farm houses. Due to the remote location and lack of technology in the area, the eco-retreat has had to be specifically designed to be environmentally friendly. Natural resources are utilised at every opportunity, and power is created from the sun and wind for cooking and electricity, wood is used for heating, rain water is harvested from the roof, and waste water is managed and utilised to irrigate the surrounding dry land.

The decoration inside the cortijada is simple but luxurious, with remarkable attention to detail.  Simon and his wife Donna's own artwork graces the otherwise white walls and you'll find unique pieces from many of the professional artists in residence throughout the house giving it a feel of a home from home art gallery. The modern, clean design allows you to absorb the creative atmosphere and think clearly. 

So switch off your phone, shut down your laptop and hot foot it to Spain to visit this remarkable eco-retreat today. Let the spectacular location with its stunning scenery and beautiful accommodation inspire your creativity.

Go off grid on a unique holiday combining creativity with ecology. Book now at www.GoLearnTo.com or call 08445 020 445 for more details.

To read details of the specific courses on offer, visit http://www.golearnto.com/search.aspxctry=68&rgn=t_1870142&activetype=4&datefrom=&dateto and click on 'read more about this course'

New Partnership Extends Travel Reviews For Mature Travellers

Just over a year after launching the UK's only travel review and travel advice website for the over 50s, Silver Travel Advisor (www.silvertraveladvisor.com) is entering into a new venture with Age UK, the Charity and social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of older people.

This exciting collaboration will see Silver Travel Advisor contribute to the 'Travel and Lifestyle' section of the Age UK website (www.ageuk.org.uk), which attracts 5.5 million visitors each year. Silver Travel Advisor will bring expertise to the website, taking the form of travel reviews and editorial as well as holidays and special offers which are available through Silver Travel Advisor's selected partner companies.

Silver Travel Advisor was established by a team of veteran travel industry professionals, with hundreds of years of travel experience and sound management credentials between them.

Silver Travel Advisor's MD Debbie Marshall, formerly MD with CV Travel, Crystal and Thomson Ski, said; "Silver Travel Advisor.com has grown from a zero start to now having well over 8,000 active travelling members who have contributed thousands of reviews, and the site has a fast-growing wealth of useful and interesting travel information. It is a clear indication of the need for an impartial travel review and information website for this sector.

"The new venture with Age UK will enable us to reach out to a much wider audience of older people who may be interested in contributing to both the website and the forum. Ask 60-64 year olds their aspirations for retirement and 81% say leisure activities and holidays

"Currently working with 25 specialist partner companies, including household names in travel such as Noble Caledonia, Regent Holidays and Kirker, Silver Travel Advisor has found a niche in supporting the travel requirements of the older traveller, and we look forward to welcoming new business partners to this exciting joint venture".

Tom Wright CBE, Group Chief Executive of Age UK, said; "This is an exciting venture for Age UK and I'm sure our website users who are looking to enjoy travelling in later life will find the new content really informative. By bringing in the expertise of Silver Travel Advisor, we feel we'll really enhance the quality and value of the Travel & Lifestyle offering of our website."

Age UK and Silver Travel Advisor's teams will work closely together, with Silver Travel Advisor still operating as a separate business, providing content for Age UK to a much wider audience.

Age UK is dedicated to improving the lives of older people. It provides free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to well over one million customers; and researches and campaigns on the issues that matter to people in later life.

That's Travel: The Ocean Views Launch At Soar Mill Cove

That's Travel: The Ocean Views Launch At Soar Mill Cove: This is self catering with the hard work taken out! Stunning green roofed luxury eco villas with uninterrupted sea views at Soar Mill Co...

The Ocean Views Launch At Soar Mill Cove

This is self catering with the hard work taken out!

Stunning green roofed luxury eco villas with uninterrupted sea views at Soar Mill Cove are now welcoming their first guests. Their first guests have enjoyed these large 2, 3 & 5 bedroomed homes that offer all of the hotel luxuries and more. For guests who want more space with your own sea fronting lounge, dining room, kitchen, wet rooms, and large bedrooms with big comfy Hypnos beds these are proving a real hit.

Where they score is in their USP's - you can stroll across the courtyard to Soar Mill Cove's Champagne Bar, comfy lounges, coffee shop and restaurant, yet still see the villas so feel free to take full advantage of wired baby listeners to give Mum and Dad a tad of freedom.

For dining chose between self catering, with groceries delivered to your door from your favourite supermarket or take your pick from our "chef prepared" deli dishes with a full in suite dining menu of prepared delights such as beef Wellington, Cracked Lobster and Hot Chocolate Fondants. Or enjoy a night of decadence with a delicious dinner prepared in the hotels 2 rosette restaurant or served "exclusively yours" by your own chef and waiters in suite for that special night of luxury.

www.theoceanviews.co.uk

British Airways' Future Pilots Prepare For Take-Off

The first-ever British Airways Future Pilot Programme cadets have started their 18-month pilot training course this month.

Only the top three per cent of applicants qualified for the airline's dedicated training programme, with the successful 95 future pilots fighting off stiff competition from more than 3,500 hopefuls. On completion of their training the newly qualified pilots will be introduced to the British Airways fleet of aircraft, the most diverse of any UK airline, and will begin their flying careers.

The top-flight cadets will start their training, at one of three British Airways approved flight training schools in Oxford, Southampton and Jerez in Spain, between April 2012 and February 2013.

During the initial 16-month period at the flight training schools, students complete their ground theory training, cockpit instrument rating and flight training - flying light aircraft in Spain, New Zealand or Arizona in the US.

The final two months of the programme is completed on British Airways' multi-million pound simulators at the airline's flight training centre near Heathrow, where the cadets will learn to maintain British Airways' high standards. British Airways' director of flight operations, Captain Stephen Riley, said: "It's great to see our Future Pilot Programme come to life.

"With this first group of new pilots entering the airline in 2013 and the second recruitment phase starting later this year, the high levels of skill and service that our customers rightly expect from British Airways' pilots are assured for years to come.

"We look forward to welcoming them into our fleet of 3,500 pilots."

No Better Time For Business Travel Support

ABT UK stresses the importance of travel management in the current climate   

The economic downturn has seen corporates across the country tighten their spending, but as business travel management company, ABT UK advises, in the current climate travel management assistance is more important than ever.

"A travel management company can help corporates curb unnecessary spending and ensure that any travel booked is cost effective, essential and direct. In business, time is money and searching for the best deals or connecting flights is time consuming. A dedicated travel management company will have access to the market's best commercial arrangements, saving you money and time," said Cilla Goldberger, Managing Director ABT UK.

In what has already been a turbulent year of riots and unrest, travel management assistance is crucial not only to budgeting but to employee safety.

"Your travel management company will be able to prioritise security and crisis management to ensure your employees travel safe and have detailed repatriation plans in place.  All of our clients, regardless of size or turnover, have access to our 24-7-365 helpdesk manned by a dedicated team to field any questions or concerns," said Cilla.

Despite the number of travel firms affected by the financial climate, ABT UK has continued to enjoy growth in 2012. Since January, the company has opened a second office in Bath, joined the Advantage Focus Partnership and secured a number of new clients.

ABT UK provides tailor-made travel solutions for corporate clients across the UK and Europe. ABT UK are dedicated to providing existing and future clients with unrivalled customer care, flexibility and savings.

www.abt-global.com/abt_uk.htm