Word: charters
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...addition to the considerable political risk in partnering with a charter member of the "axis of evil," there's the North's underwhelming track record when it comes to development schemes. Casting about for new investors after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the D.P.R.K. in the 1990s started a free-trade zone in Rajin-Sonbong, a remote area near the country's northeastern frontier. The experiment failed: the zone didn't attract much beyond a few hotels and a casino catering to Chinese tourists. Another special economic zone in Sinuiju, across the Yalu River from the Chinese city...
Demand has never been greater. "The wealthy population is increasing faster than ever before," says Milton Pedrasa of the Luxury Institute, a ratings and research firm. "These people want vacations with unmatched personalized experiences that only a yacht charter can provide." Yacht companies are reporting a massive increase in rentals. "Our charter business has tripled over the past five years," says Jillian Montgomery, CEO of Camper & Nicholsons, which sells yachts and manages charters for boat owners. Among the hottest rentals are mega-yachts: those personal islands ranging in size from 150 ft. (45 m) to 500 ft. (150?...
Many owners choose to charter their boats to offset the costs of yearly maintenance, which can run from $1 million to $4 million, as well as to keep their staff in top shape. "The best crew is a crew that is always working together as a team," says Mark Mitchell, owner of the motor yacht Sovereign. A well-trained staff knows how best to define what guests want out of a charter. They know how to quickly tweak itineraries and deal with demanding requests. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a resort that has the ratio of staff...
When guests charter the 183-ft. (56 m) sailing yacht Selene, for example, they are met by the captain, steward and seven other crew members, including the chef, Justin Arblaster. The world is his supermarket. Aged beef is flown in from England, truffles from Italy and foie gras from Strasbourg. "If the guests want Russian caviar, I can have it flown in to where we are by helicopter or seaplane," Arblaster says...
...generals, who have unveiled their impression of political reform - a variety they call "discipline-flourishing democracy." On Sept. 3 the regime announced it had finally agreed to basic guidelines for a new constitution, 14 years after the generals summoned a national convention of handpicked delegates to draft a new charter. (The junta suspended the previous constitution in 1988.) But no timetable for elections has been set, nor is Suu Kyi's NLD part of the political process. Indeed, the new constitutional outline seems specifically designed to keep out Suu Kyi, long seen as the only leadership alternative to the junta...