Introducing The Luxuriant Masterpiece Collection Ultra-Luxury Resort Brand

Conceptualized by Alekson Development Group and Group West Companies in early 2008, Luxuriant World Resorts www.luxuriantworldresorts.com searched the planet to discover the perfect exotic locale to showcase the first branded resort. Because of its close proximity to the United States and diverse locales (mountain, beach and jungle), Central America was chosen for intense exploration. Exotically diverse culture, significant infrastructure and geographic landscapes identified largely undiscovered yet rapidly developing Guatemala, as the premiere candidate for the first branded resorts.

Luxuriant is studying the 7 distinct geographic regions of Guatemala. Initial results point to destinations near the UNESCO World Heritage protected City of La Antigua and Flores El Peten, near the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal as likely candidates for investment. As Luxuriant matures, expansion will follow from Central America to other exotic locations around the globe.

The Luxuriant Masterpiece Collection brand integrates the broadly appealing convergence of world-class casino gaming; extraordinary ultra-luxury hospitality services; incomparable culinary experiences; luxuriant spa therapies; eco-wellness and fitness programs; exclusive tennis camps; and celebrity signature golf courses. Luxuriant believes true world-class prominence merges rich host community cultural traditions with exceptional Luxuriant-Class service, sumptuous product lines and meticulous attention to detail.

Luxuriant Masterpiece Collection, Luxuriant-Class, Luxuriant-Club, Luxuriant-Style and Paradise Found are Trademarks of Alekson Development Group.

source: http://hardycommercial.com/pages/projects.php

Guatemalan Officials in Russia

Guatemala's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Lars Pira Pérez, began an official visit on March 10, to Moscow and St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation. He is accompanied by a government delegation comprising the Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Alfredo Pokus, Deputy Minister of Economy, Ruben Morales, and the Executive Director of Invest in Guatemala, Mario Marroquin.


to read more click / obtained from: http://www.guatemala-times.com/news/guatemala/890-guatemalan-officials-in-russia-.html

El Salvador: Livingston Air inició el viernes una ruta de vuelos semanales a este país

extraido de:
http://www.caribbeannewsdigital.com/es/noticias/25744/el_salvador_livingston_air_inicio_el_viernes_una_ruta_de_vuelos_semanales_a_este_pais

El Salvador. La compañía italiana Livingston Air aterrizó oficialmente el pasado viernes en esta nación, para iniciar una ruta de vuelos semanales, que tuvo un antecedente de vuelos de prueba con resultados muy exitosos.

Según comentó el titular de turismo de la nación centroamericana, Rubén Rochi, "que Livingston toque nuestro suelo es un paso grande que da El Salvador para apostarle al turismo europeo, incluyendo a los connacionales que residen en ese continente. Es importante recordar que más de 35.000 salvadoreños residen en Italia, y nuestro objetivo es atraer a ese nicho de mercado para que haya un mayor flujo de visitantes al país, pero también de turistas italianos".

El funcionario agregó que el turismo emisor también se pone de manifiesto para generar más entradas de divisas al país. "El vuelo charter de Livingston es una señal que El Salvador está listo para competir en las grandes ligas. En cuatro años, hemos colocado a nuestra nación en el mapa mundial, ha sido una de nuestras principales estrategias de Promoción y Mercadeo en el exterior, y trabajamos bajo esa óptica de continuar buscando nuevos horizontes para ser reconocidos como un destino de talla internacional", enfatizó.

Livingston Air explora el mercado salvadoreño desde octubre de 2007, cuando por primera vez aterrizó en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa, y fue bautizado por autoridades de Aeronáutica Civil. Ahora el vuelo será permanente, para el próximo viernes 06 de marzo se espera la llegada de un tercer vuelo procedente de Milán, Italia en el mismo itinerario fijado desde un inicio por representantes de la empresa italiana.

Livingston es una compañía propiedad del grupo Lauda Air, muy popular y reconocida en Europa, ya que brinda sus servicios a varios destinos turísticos del Caribe, Brasil, Egipto, Medio Oriente, el Mediterráneo y el Océano Índico.

Los pasajeros que lleguen a El Salvador y que tengan que ser trasladados a cualquier otro destino en el continente, recibirán el servicio por parte de la aerolínea TACA en cualquiera de las rutas que cubre. Ambas empresas, junto al Ministerio de Turismo, firmaron un convenio para llevar a cabo este vuelo.

2009 with good news from Guatemala

Guatemala - The news in the world are not very encouraging. A new war, more hate, more death. The world economy, which nobody really understands, is being "band aided" to for the benefit of public opinion.

Nobody knows what the year 2009 will bring. The oppinionators are opinionating as usual, according to whoever pays. A collective depression is at hand, the pharmaceutical companies are ecstatic. The best sales ever on antidepressants and anti- anxiety drugs are making them very happy.

But we at the Guatemala Times are starting 2009 with good news from Guatemala. Francisco Arredondo, the son of Dr. Francisco Arredondo, is out there in Dakar showing that Guatemalans are competing worldwide at the highest levels. He is racing the Dakar Rally on his motorcycle.

He is in the desert now, and we wish him well. He is number 40 of the general position table. The race is in full progress. By the way, he also conquered Mount Everest last year, the second Chapin to do so.

He is an example of what we can do in Guatemala we can make it, against all odds. We have mountaineers, equestrians, golfers, sailors, scientists, writers, filmmakers, who win first prizes world wide.

In this complex and squizofrenic country we have the best coffee in the world, we are the biggest producers of cardamom in the world, and we have the world's best marble, the best Rum, Zacapa Centenario. We also have some of the worst in Guatemala. So what! The same could be said for many other countries in the world.

We have to seek our own solutions, a Chapin solution. We have no other choice. And nobody is going to do it for us. So let's begin this New Year with a fighting spirit, we can do better, we will do better, it all depends on us.

We call upon you to join us in the good fight, fight for a better Guatemala, a better world.

Photos: Rosino and La Hora from: http://www.guatemala-times.com/opinion/editorial/674-starting-2009-with-good-news-from-guatemala.html

Guatemalan FACTS

Guatemala (gwätəmä'lə) , officially Republic of Guatemala, republic (2005 est. pop. 14,655,000), 42,042 sq mi (108,889 sq km), Central America. The country is bounded on the north and west by Mexico, on the east by Belize and the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Honduras and El Salvador, and on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean. The capital and largest city is Guatemala City. In addition to the capital, important cities include Puerto Barrios, San José, Quezaltenango, and Antigua Guatemala.

Land and People

A highland region, where most of the population lives, cuts across the country from west to east. The rugged main range includes the inactive volcano Tajumulco, which is the highest point in Central America (13,816 ft/4,211 m). The range is flanked on the Pacific side by a string of volcanoes (some active), such as Tacaná, Acatenango, and Agua. Volcanic eruptions, floods, and hurricanes have plagued Guatemala throughout history. In the center of the range is Lake Atitlán, and south of the highlands is the Pacific coastal lowland. North of them are the Caribbean lowland and the vast tropical forest known as Petén. Lake Petén Itzá is in N central Guatemala. The largest river is the Motagua, which flows into the Caribbean at the port of Puerto Barrios. North of the Motagua is the Lake Izabal–Río Dulce system, which was a major waterway in colonial times.

About 60% of the population is of mixed Mayan and Spanish descent (Ladinos) and about 40% are of purely Mayan origin. The latter have historically suffered from discrimination, poverty, and relative geographical isolation. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, and there are also Protestant and traditional Mayan minorities. Spanish is the language of about 60% of the people; the balance speak several indigenous dialects.

Sitio arqueologico El Mirador

Guatemala es calida' from Oscar Lacayo on Vimeo.

Guatemala Celebrates Mayan New Year

Guatemala, Feb 22 (Prensa Latina) Guatemalans are welcoming on Sunday the year 5125 of the Mayan solar calendar, with the sacred fire ceremony, dances, and baseball games in different departments of the national territory.

The Haab is composed of 18 months, called winal, with 20 days each, for a total of 360, said Leopoldo Mendez, of the indigenous Uk'ux' Be Association.

Five other days at the end of the period are devoted to meditation, during which they look back at how man related to the different elements of nature, as water, the woods, the wind, and mother earth, said Mendez.

Due to repression suffered by the indigenous traditions and view of the world since the times of the colony, that kind of ceremony were performed secretly for a long time, in mountainous, far away places or the top of volcanos.

These celebrations began to be held openly two decades ago in sacred cities, as Iximche, in Chichicastenango, Gumarcaj, El Quiche and Kaminal Juyu, in this capital.

For the first time this year, different state institutions will participate, led by the Culture Ministry, and have organized lectures and workshops to debate about the date's significance.

"The fact that there are events now, where thousands of people participate, means recovery of a historic right about the knowledge inherited from our ancestors," Mendez stated.

The solar year 5125 is included in the Long Count, which began in 3116 BCE and will end in December 2012.

The Mayans had also another calendar, called Tzolkin, with 260 days, and was exclusively used for religious purposes.