Grande partenza per la Notte Nera di Triora!

Bagno di folla ieri pomeriggio per la prima giornata della Notte Nera di Triora, la festa organizzata dal Comune di Triora in occasione di Halloween in collaborazione con il gruppo di lavoro di Pepi Morgia e con Corelli Musica (www.corellimusica.it). Moltissime persone hanno letteralmente preso d’assalto l’affascinante borgo medioevale attratte dalle ricche proposte che gli organizzatori hanno messo a punto (in allegato alcuni scatti di Raffaella Sottile).
Apprezzatissimi gli intrattenimenti per i più piccini: la Strega Truccabimbi che ha dipinto il volto di tutti coloro che hanno voluto cambiare sembianze, i racconti di paura, i combattimenti, le danze e le sceneggiate inerenti alla cattura, al processo e alla liberazione della strega realizzate dagli armigeri, dai ballerini e dagli attori del gruppo storico degli Aleramici di Savona. La Notte Nera prosegue questa sera con la musica! Special guest, dall’Heineken Jammin’ Festival, i Plan de Fuga, la new sensation del panorama rock nazionale, band dalle influenze pop, rock, funk e dark perfettamente amalgamate per una musica viva e travolgente. I Plan de Fuga si esibiranno alle ore 23, presso Il boschetto, in opening act con i GOTHAM CREW, band italiana di new rock alternativo, look glam e sound potente. Il programma prevede anche l’esibizione del sestetto Lajò (ore 21, piazza del mercato) che proporrà musica e canti della tradizione ligure del Ponente, e dei Lumihiutale, symphonic metal band (ore 22, spianata del Castello) che può vantare del fascino dell’arpa celtica di Claudia Murachelli.Tutti gli eventi sono a ingresso libero.www.halloweentriora.it

Sei stressato? Impara a meditare

Image via Wikipedia

Orvieto, (Terni) 31 ottobre 2011 – Si è concluso ieri al palazzo dei Congressi di Orvieto il Congresso internazionale di psiconeuroendocrinoimmunologia sul rapporto tra stress e salute.Le conclusioni del Congresso sono state affidate al Presidente Onorario della stessa Società scientifica (SIPNEI), Francesco Bottaccioli. Il professor Bottaccioli ha delineato come nell’ultimo 20ennio le diagnosi di disturbi mentali dovuti allo stress sono cresciute di 2,5 volte. Per i bambini di ben 35 volte! Le malattie mentali sono diventate la principale causa di disabilità nei bambini soppiantando il Down e la paralisi cerebrale. Ci troviamo di fronte a un eccesso di diagnosi e, al tempo stesso, a un eccesso di trattamento farmacologico. Oggi più di 500.000 bambini assumono antipsicotici e il 10% dei bambini di 10 anni assumono farmaci per il Disordine da deficit di attenzione e iperattività (ADHD). Oggi circa il 10% degli Americani dai 6 anni in su assume antidepressivi, ma la diffusione dell’uso degli antipsicotici di nuova generazione è ancora più drammatica.  Questi farmaci hanno rimpiazzato le statine nella classifica dei farmaci più venduti in assoluto e vengono prescritti anche a bambini molto piccoli a partire dai 2 anni di età. (M. ANGEL The New York Review of Books, June 23, July 14, 2011). Anche l’Italia corre questo rischio di rispondere con farmaci al crescente disagio sociale: ogni anno il nostro paese spende più di un milione di euro per ansiolitici e antidepressivi. Occorre imparare a gestore lo stress della vita. “Lo stress è oggi una bilancia vitale che fa parte itinerante  della vita di tutti noi, il problema nasce quando esso viene  sopravvalutato o sottovalutato.” Mette ben in evidenza il professore durante la chiusura lavori del Congresso di Orvieto. “La ricerca sullo stress, con l’emergere della psiconeuroendocrinoimmunologia, ha infatti perso i suoi vaghi connotati di psicologia descrittiva diventando oggi un campo di studio interdisciplinare, nel quale confluiscono diverse figure di scienziati e di clinici. Prima della Psiconeuroendocrinoimmunologia, la questione di fondo, in ambito scientifico, era così riassumibile: “posto che lo stress altera la psiche di una persona, come fa questo malessere mentale a produrre effetti patogenetici sull’organismo?”  Ricorda il Professore –  “La psiche ha precise vie di collegamento con i grandi sistemi biologici, con il sistema nervoso, l’endocrino e l’immunitario. Uno studio dello stress che si limiti all’esame delle relazioni tra i mediatori (neurotrasmettitori, citochine, ormoni) dei tre grandi sistemi biologici studia un artefatto non l’organismo umano sotto stress. Occorre quindi inserire anche lo studio delle relazioni psicologiche perché la psiche retroagisce sul cervello e sugli altri sistemi biologici (il sistema immunitario in particolare) modificandoli.” Al riguardo, uno studio coordinato da Bottaccioli assieme all’Università di Ancona ha testato125 partecipanti ai corsi di tecniche antistress e meditative gestiti dallo stesso Bottaccioli e dalla dott.ssa Antonia Carosella maestra di tecniche meditative. I partecipanti sono stati studiati con un test di misurazione della depressione dell’ansia prima e dopo il corso e con la misurazione del cortisolo salivare sempre prima e dopo. I risultati sono che lo stress l’ansia e la depressione vengono abbattuti di tre volte e che il cortisolo salivare ha una riduzione statisticamente significativa. Questo studio verrà sottoposto a una rivista scientifica internazionale per la sua pubblicazione Riguardo al rapporto tra mente e cervello il Professor Bottaccioli ha poi citato alcuni studi recenti tra cui uno studio che ha interessato un gruppo di studenti tedeschi impegnati nella preparazione dell’esame Phisicum (esame finale del biennio pre-clinico di medicina all’Università), un test molto impegnativo che richiede 3 mesi di studio intenso.  Il cervello di questi studenti è stato monitorato con la risonanza magnetica funzionale prima dell’inizio del test, dopo, e a distanza di 3 mesi. I ricercatori hanno potuto documentare un forte incremento dell’attività di sinapsi dei neuroni  cerebrali con l’allargamento dell’aria occupata da questi stessi neuroni nei circuiti interessati alla memoria (ippocampo e corteccia parietale posteriore).  Ciò vuol dire che i comportamenti modificano la struttura del cervello e possono migliorare le sue funzioni. Al contrario uno stress cronico, causa una riduzione di queste stesse aree celebrali e una iperattivazione di quelle aree coinvolte nelle emozioni (amigdala).

Aumenta la disoccupazione

Image via Wikipedia

“I dati pubblicati oggi sull’occupazione giovanile significano solo una cosa: le parole del governo sono un racconto fantascientifico della realtà. Non c’e corrispondenza alcuna tra quanto il nostro Presidente del Consiglio e i suoi ministri stanno descrivendo dentro e fuori dai confini nazionali e ciò che avviene nel mondo reale. L’andamento della disoccupazione giovanile, che spesso abbiamo denunciato come il primo tema su cui concentrare ogni sforzo, è emblematico dell’immobilismo totale di questi anni. È chiaro che fare riforme oggi non significa aumentare già da domani i posti di lavoro, ma stare fermi non fa che acuire i problemi. L’unica proposta del governo riguarda la libertà di licenziamento, che ci viene presentata come la panacea di tutti i mali e che neanche considera il fatto che se non si dà energia all’economia non c’è liberta di licenziamento che tenga per creare nuovi posti di lavoro. È urgente, invece, una riforma complessiva del mercato del lavoro che faciliti le nuove assunzioni solo se si completa la riforma del
welfare. Purtroppo, ogni azione concreta richiede autorevolezza e credibilità, capacità di analisi e di ascolto, serietà e sensibilità. Tutte caratteristiche che né il governo, né il suo Presidente, hanno da tempo”.Così Alessia Mosca, deputato del PD, segretario della Commissione Lavoro della Camera, e vicepresidente di TrecentoSessanta, l’Associazione di Enrico Letta

Roma: indice prezzi al consumo

Roma Nel mese di ottembre 2011 l’Indice dei Prezzi al Consumo per l’Intera Collettività Nazionale (NIC) relativo a Roma ha registrato una variazione del +0,8% rispetto al mese precedente e una variazione annua del +3,6%. Si riportano in allegato le variazioni congiunturali e tendenziali per divisioni.

Attacco a Kandahar

Image via Wikipedia

Alle 6 di questa mattina, un attacco suicida organizzato a Kandahar ha causato la morte di tre operatori dell’Alto Commissariato delle Nazioni Unite per i Rifugiati (UNHCR) presso il compound dell’Agenzia ed il ferimento di altri due membri dello staff.L’UNHCR è presente in Afghanistan dagli anni 80, durante questo periodo ha facilitato il rientro a casa di milioni di rifugiati e assistito altre persone costrette alla fuga all’interno del paese. L’UNHCR sta cercando di capire meglio le circostanze dell’attacco di questa mattina, tuttavia rimane il fatto che operatori dell’agenzia sono stati uccisi o feriti e che le funzioni dell’UNHCR a Kandahar risultano seriamente compromesse. “Quanto accaduto rappresenta una tragedia per l’UNHCR e per le famiglie delle vittime e dei feriti ed evidenzia gli enormi rischi che gli operatori umanitari corrono in Afghanistan,” ha affermato l’Alto Commissario per i rifugiati António Guterres. “Sono estremamente amareggiato. Tutti noi all’UNHCR esprimiamo la nostra solidarietà alle famiglie delle vittime e dei feriti.”

Andrea Dezsö

Ridgefield, CT October 31st  from 4 to 8 pm The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum  258 Main Street, (Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm  Closed on Mondays and New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, the Fourth of July) The Aldrich is pleased to announce the opening of Andrea Dezsö: Haunted Ridgefield—the latest installment of the Museum’s popular Main Street Sculpture Project—featuring folklore, fantasies, and fears. The Transylvania-born artist’s site-specific exhibition at The Aldrich showcases her skill in traditional, labor intensive, hand-crafted book-making, and will take the form of a diorama, in which a series of cut-out panels will reveal layers of a hallucinatory narrative featuring fantasy worlds and idiosyncratic characters.  Dezsö presents a powerful journey to the interior of the psyche through giant multimedia tunnel books, visible through the windows of the Museum’s historic 1783 administration building on Main Street.  Aldrich curator Mónica Ramírez-Montagut explains, “Dezsö was inspired by Connecticut’s haunted places and their stories; her exhibition will feature strange child-like creatures that populate the bizarre environment of her installation.”
Dezsö is Assistant Professor of Art at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She was full time faculty at Parsons School of Design in New York.
Image: Andrea Dezsö, Sometimes In My Dreams I Fly (partial installation view at Rice Gallery, Houston), 2010 Courtesy of the artist and Frey Norris Contemporary & Modern, San Francisco Photo: Nash Baker.

Tour Music Fest 2011

Roma, 16 novembre 2011, h.21.30 Piper Club – Via Tagliamento 9 al Piper Club di Roma torna La Notte della Musica Emergente – Finale Tour Music Fest,  la vetrina ufficiale e acclamata delle più interessanti proposte italiane, rigorosamente a ingresso gratuito. Una vera e propria festa dedicata alle migliori proposte selezionate durante l’anno dall’instancabile giuria tecnica e artistica del Tour Music Fest, e unospazio aperto ai musicisti di tutta Italia che potranno consegnare le loro Demo direttamente presso gli stand delle singole etichette (EMI Music Italy, Carosello Records, UNIVERSAL Music Italy, 2PieR Booking Musicale e molte altre).Dopo un anno di assenza la Notte della Musica Emergente torna nella sua casa con la formula vincente di sempre: una giuria di qualità capitanata da MOGOL, grandi ospiti, la musica selezionata dal Tour Music Fest e tanta voglia di scoprire cosa “suona” nell’aria. A condurre il tutto due personaggi d’eccezione, volti noti della televisione: Marco Maccarini e Micaela Foti. Il Tour Music Fest festeggia così, con le note, i suoi cinque anni di grande musica, con 15.000 artisti ascoltati dal 2007 a oggi, 2.266 ore di musica, 35.000 km percorsi, 120 città visitate…e centinaia di decibel di passione…

The Amazing Power of Twitter

Don’t you agree that PR must seize control of Twitter marketing—before the advertising, marcomm and digital marketers seize it instead? Introducing the definitive handbook on Twitter PR, from how to build a huge following, best tweeting techniques, and Twitter faux pas… to Twitter crisis management, legal pitfalls, and hottest time-saving Twitter tools. Twitter PR gives you an incredible new tool for reaching and influencing your markets (and for increasing your value!)—Bulldog Reporter’s new guide, “The Amazing Power of Twitter PR: A Busy PR Pro’s Handbook for Increasing Visibility, Engagement, Brand Evangelists and Sales” puts this power in the palm of your hand.

Seasonal makeovers are standard for Coke cans

Image via Wikipedia

Surfboards and flip-flops adorned cans last summer. But, according to the company, a new can-design rollout marks the first time in the beverage giant’s history the cans will ditch their trademark red and try on a different-colored body suit — and all in the name of a great environmental cause. From November 1 through the end of February, Coca-Cola will release 1.4 billion white Coke cans in the United States and Canada, each showing polar bears against a field of white. The temporary redesign is part of a joint campaign the company is undertaking with the World Wildlife Fund to protect the Arctic habitat of its wintertime mascot, the polar bear. “We’re using one of our greatest assets — our flagship brand, Coca-Cola — to raise awareness for this important cause,” said Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, CNNMoney reports. In addition to an initial $2 million donation to the WWF, Coke will match up to $1 million that Coke drinkers will be able to donate to the campaign via text message. The white cans’ launch will be accompanied by a marketing bonanza that includes in-store advertising, digital billboards and an Arctic-themed IMAX movie tie-in. “Through all that outreach we should be able to make it clear what we’re doing,” Coke spokesman Ben Sheidler said, the CNN story reports.

Euro Partners Announces Winner of Poker Porsche Promotion

Image via Wikipedia

London. Thousands of affiliates joined the race to drive traffic to EP’s online poker rooms, but only one drove away with the top prize – a brand new Porsche Carrera Earlier this week, the online gaming affiliate program Euro Partners announced the long-awaited winner of its exclusive Poker Porsche promotion. The lottery-style contest called upon the program’s wide network of affiliates to increase promotional efforts for its online poker rooms, Titan Poker and Mansion Poker. Of the thousands who participated, EP’s Research & Analysis team short-listed the top 50 who succeeded in driving the largest amounts of traffic. Davin Jacobson, EP’s newly-appointed Head of Affiliation, had not yet joined the company when the promotion began, but was pleased to be part of the prize giveaway. “Our winner is the owner and operator of several successful industry portals, including pokerinside.com. He’s a long-standing member of our program, and we’re happy that the prize is going to such a worthy contestant.” Launched late last June following the highly-publicized Full Tilt Poker scandal, the promotion was intended to offset some of the negative backlash which had reverberated throughout the poker affiliate community. “Those were precarious days for the industry and doomsday speculations were running rampant”, Jacobson said. “This promotion was our way of telling the affiliates that Euro Partners would remain a solid and reliable partner.”
Titan Poker, Euro Partners’ flagship poker brand, is currently running its own exciting promotions for online poker fans, including Titan Time, which offers $20,000 in weekly cash table and tournament races throughout the month of October, and European Football League, which offers $30,000 to players who correctly guess this season’s match results. For additional details, visit Titanpoker.com/promotions.
Euro Partners is currently the largest and most established affiliate program for Playtech licensees worldwide. Operating in over a dozen languages, the dedicated and highly trained Euro Partners team offers its gaming clients and affiliate members personalized service with a localized touch. To learn more, please visit Euro Partners.

Art Students Drill Educational Alliance CEO on Renovation Plans

Since the summer, we have been following developments at the Educational Alliance art school, where students are up-in-arms about the historic Lower East Side institution’s renovation plans. Tonight, some of those students gathered in the rain for a brief protest in front of the Educational Alliance’s headquarters, at 197 East Broadway. They then proceeded up to the 5th floor studios, where the organization’s CEO, Robin Bernstein, fielded questions from 50-60 angry students.
A similar meeting was held in August, before the Educational Alliance board had actually signed off on a nearly $50 million proposal to “get-renovate” the 122 year-old building. During her opening remarks, Bernstein said she took seriously the concerns expressed at that initial session about a decision to shut down the school entirely during the renovation period. As a result, Bernstein explained, some classes (including ceramics, painting and drawing) would be temporarily offered at other Educational Alliance facilities above Houston Street.The architect hired to oversee the renovation project outlined the art school plan, which includes moving the studios to the lower level, eliminating the darkroom and welding studio, and shrinking the school’s space by 825 square feet. The new facility will be comprised of three “versatile” studios. Windows will extend from the ceiling to about five feet above the ground. The current 5th floor space is destined to become a mixed use community room, where seniors will be served lunch, performances will be held and neighborhood gatherings will take place.Supporters of the art school vented their frustration throughout tonight’s meeting and peppered Bernstein with many questions. They criticized the suggestion that there might be no room for sculpture and stone carving classes after the renovation. They argued that the move from the airy, sun-splashed 5th floor would deprive artists of a truly special creative environment, and “decimate” the school. They chided the organization for neglecting to consult students and teachers about changes in advance.Bernstein repeated many of the points she made during an interview with The Lo-Down last month. In a tough economy, she said, the institution was forced to balance the needs of many constituencies. While the art school is important, she explained, many other programs (including early childhood classes) are also vital to the organization’s “core mission.” Bernstein said hundreds of low-income families are turned away every year due to space constraints.Some students said they resented the suggestion that choices needed to be made between art and children. One particularly vocal student asked pointedly whether the Educational Alliance was pushing the art school from its 5th floor perch for financial reasons.In response, Bernstein was quite candid about the financial pressures her organization faces. She emphasized a commitment to serving the entire community — the traditional immigrant and low income population, as well as more affluent newcomers. Referring to expanded “wellness” programs the renovation will accommodate, she said “God willing people who can pay for services will be able to subsidize programs that don’t pay for themselves.” Last year alone, Bernstein pointed out, the organization lost $1.5 million in government funding. In the years ahead, she warned, non-profit organizations must face the reality that public funds are quickly drying up.As the questioning continued, Bernstein finally told students, “we’re going to have to respectfully disagree.” Some of the participants tonight offered specific suggestions to make the art school more profitable. Bernstein agreed to meet with a small group to discuss possible creative solutions. The renovation project is expected to get underway before the end of the year and to last for about two years. (the meeting, art student)

Gulf Air Renews Reservations System Agreement with Sabre Airline Solutions

Image by happyrelm via Flickr

طيران الخليج تجدد اتفاقها مع نظام سيبر لحلول الطيران
المنامة – مملكة البحرين 30 اكتوبر 2011: جددت شركة طيران الخليج – الناقلة الوطنية لمملكة البحرين – عقدها مع شركة “سيبر لحلول الطيران” والتى تعتبر حليف للناقلة منذ وقت طويل تعنى فيه بتوفير الحلول التكنلوجية للزبائن وذلك بتوفير برنامج ذات انظامة جديدة.
وقد وقع الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة طيران الخليج السيد سامر المجالي، والمدير العام لسيبر لحلول الطيران لمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا السيد ماهر قوبعة اتفاقية جديدة تمتد الى عدة سنوات لمبيعات العملاء والخدمات “”SabreSonic في مقر الشركة بالمحرق.
السيد سامر المجالي الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة طيران الخليج قال “ان تجديد العقد مع سيبر لحلول الطيران يوضح العلاقة الممتازة التى امتدة لعقود طويلة بين اثنين من قادة صناعة السفر، وذلك لاعتقادنا بان مجموعة من المنتجات الجديدة التي تقدمها سيبر سوف تلبي احتياجات طيران الخليج الحالية – بالاضافة الى دعم خطط الشركة للنمو في المستقبل. ان هدفنا النهائي هو توفير تجربة سفر سلسة لعملائنا مع تحقيق فعالية اكبر وتحسين إدارة الأنظمة الداخلية لدينا لخدمة المسافرين. ونحن نتطلع إلى العمل المستمر مع سيبر”.
السيد ماهر قوبعة المدير العام لسيبر لحلول الطيران لمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا علق قائلا “ان طيران الخليج هى عميل قديم ونحن ملتزمون بمواصلة تزويدها بافضل الحلول التقنية و شمولية لخدمات المسافرين لاداء عملياتها. ويعتبر برنامج “”SabreSonic من اكثر المنتجات من حيث الكمالية التكنلوجية مرونه لخدمات المسافرين، والتى من شانها ان تساعد شركة طيران الخليج لدعم خطط عملها الحالية والمستقبلية”.
ان برنامج “”SabreSonic عبارة عن منتج واسع النطاق لخدمة المسافرين يوفر الحلول الشاملة والمتكاملة، اعتبارا منذ التسجيل للسفر، الحجوزات، الحصول على التذاكر، مراقبة المغادرة، التخطيط، والتى سيمكن شركة طيران الخليج لتقديم خدمات افضل لعملائها.
الدكتور جاسم حاجي – المدير التنفيذي لتقنية المعلومات لطيران الخليج قال ” لقد اخترنا التجديد مع سيبر ليس فقط على أساس خدماتهم السابقة بالنسبة لنا، ولكن أيضا بعد تقييم دقيق لمدى تناسب قدرات المنتج الجديد لأعمالنا الاستراتيجية الشاملة. في حين يضمن المنتج “”SabreSonic اداء ثابت وسلس لتجربة العملاء من البداية الى النهاية من عملياتهم لحجز السفر، الحصول على التذاكر، وامكانية الحجز عن طريق الانترنت ، واختيار المقاعد. كما تسمح قدرات المنتج الجديد من تحسين قدرات شركة طيران الخليج لتحسين إدارة الإيرادات عبر كل قنوات التوزيع ، بالإضافة إلى تقديم التقارير والتحليلات الشاملة”.
وسيتم احلال مجموعة جديدة من المنتجات في جميع أنحاء شبكة طيران الخليج بداية بالمقر الرئيسي البحرين. شركة طيران الخليج
تأسَّسَت شركة طيران الخليج في عام 1950، وهى مملوكة بالكامل لمملكة البحرين، الناقلة الوطنية لمملكة البحرين الممتد عمرها إلي أكثر من نصف قرن تعد واحدة من أقدم شركات الطيران في منطقة الشرق الأوسط، وتسعي دائما إلي المحافظة على الالتزام المستمر، وتطوير أهدافها لأحدث تكنولوجيا الطيران والتقيد بالضيافة العربية التقليدية.
تربط خطوط الشركة مملكة البحرين بدول مجلس التعاون الخليجي، وسائر أنحاء منطقة الشرق الأوسط، كما تمتد شبكة خطوطها الجوية من أوروبا إلى آسيا، وتغطي أكثر من 51 مدينة في 33 دولة، ويتألف أسطولها من 35 طائرة تغطي خطوط الشبكة برحلات مباشرة بدون توقف.
وتقوم إستراتيجية الشركة على مواكبة الرؤية الاقتصادية لمملكة البحرين “2030” والتى ترتكز على بناء شركة فعالة ومستدامة تجاريا، تعمل على خدمة شعب مملكة البحرين، وتمثله على الساحة العالمية. مع الاخذ بعين الاعتبار اعادة هيكلة الأسطول على مدى السنوات الخمس المقبلة لزيادة تعزيز وجودها. وتتطلع الشركة إلى مواصلة ريادتها والمحافظة على مكانتها كخطوط الطيران المفضلة لدى المسافرين. وتتميز الخدمات والمنتجات التي تقدمها الناقلة على متن طائراتها بالجودة العالية والتجديد والتفرُّد مع الالتزام بالمحافظة على طابع الضيافة العربية المميزية التى تشتهر بها. كما أن شركة طيران الخليج الراعي الرسمي لسباق جائزة البحرين الكبرى لطيران الخليج – الفورمولا 1.
New agreement offers seamless integration of passenger service solutions aimed at faster and efficient customer service
Manama, Bahrain: Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has renewed its contract with Sabre Airline Solutions, the airline’s long time business partner providing passenger service solutions, for a new reservations system software package.A new multi-year contract for the SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service (CSS) suite of products was signed today at the airline’s Muharraq headquarters between Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Samer Majali, and Sabre Airlines Solutions’ General Manager for Middle East and Africa, Mr. Maher Koubaa.Mr. Majali said, “The renewal of Sabre Airline Solutions’ contract demonstrates the decades-long relationship between the two travel industry leaders. We believe that the new suite of products offered by Sabre not only meet the current needs of Gulf Air but also support the airline’s future growth plans. Our ultimate aim is to provide a seamless travel experience to our customers while achieving cost efficiency and better management of our internal passenger service systems. We look forward to continuing working with Sabre.”Mr. Koubaa commented, “Gulf Air is a valued customer and we are committed to continue providing it with the industry’s most comprehensive passenger service solutions and tools across its operations. The SabreSonic CSS suite of products is based on a fully-flexible technology platform that will help Gulf Air customize its products to support its present and future business plans.”The SabreSonic CSS suite is a wide-ranging passenger service solution that offers end-to-end, fully integrated customer service solutions – from check-in facilities, reservations, ticketing, departure control and load planning – enabling Gulf Air to deliver an enhanced travel experience to its customers.Dr. Jassim Haji, Gulf Air’s Director of Information Technology added, “We have chosen to renew our agreement with Sabre not only based on their past service to us but also after careful evaluation of the how the new product’s capabilities will fit in with our overall business strategy.While the SabreSonic CSS suite ensures a consistent, seamless experience for the customer from the beginning to the end of their journey such as booking, ticketing, online and offline check in, and seat selection, its inventory and reservations management capabilities allow Gulf Air for better revenue management across every channel of distribution in addition to comprehensive reporting and analysis.” The new suite of products will be installed across Gulf Air’s entire network beginning with Bahrain headquarters.(gf)