Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Tourism

Tourism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


19th Century English tourists in the Roman Campagna, painting by Carl Spitzweg.
"Tourist" redirects here. For other uses, see Tourist (disambiguation).
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited."[1]
Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2008, there were over 922 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 1.9% as compared to 2007. International tourism receipts grew to US$944 billion (euro 642 billion) in 2008, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 1.8%.[2]
As a result of the late-2000s recession, international travel demand suffered a strong slowdown beginning in June 2008, with growth in international tourism arrivals worldwide falling to 2% during the boreal summer months.[3]
This negative trend intensified during 2009, exacerbated in some countries due to the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus, resulting in a worldwide decline of 4% in 2009 to 880 million international tourists arrivals, and an estimated 6% decline in international tourism receipts.[4]
Tourism is vital for many countries, such as Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Spain and Thailand, and many island nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives, Philippines and the Seychelles, due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines, cruise ships and taxicabs, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, music venues and theatres.

PTM2010 Seminar: HR Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality Promoting Industry-Academia Collaboration

PTM2010 Seminar: HR Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality
Promoting Industry-Academia Collaboration

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Hotel & Tourism Management and the Institute For Tourism Studies (Macao SAR) are pleased to jointly organise a special seminar at this year’s PATA Travel Mart in Macau SAR.

Themed ‘HR Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academia Collaboration’, the one-day seminar will address the disconnect between theory and practice, training and work, from the perspective of both academia and industry key players, with opportunities for students and Young PATA members to network with industry leaders from across the region.

"With the growing importance of issues relating to human capital development in the travel and tourism industry, the seminar is expected to provide a significant forum for all parties to come together and share. The seminar will feature prominent speakers from all dimensions of the tourism industry, including employers, educators, students and employees in the tourism and hospitality trade. The PATA Education and Training Committee is pleased to take the lead in organising this meaningful and timely event," says Prof. Kaye Chon, Chairman of the PATA Education and Training Committee and Director of the School of Hotel & Tourism Management.

The seminar is scheduled to be held prior to the official opening of PATA Travel Mart 2010 at the Institute for Tourism Studies on September 14th from 9.00-17.30 hrs. The registration fee is priced at US$30 for students, US$60 for PATA and Chapter members and PTM2010 participants and US$90 for non-members. For further
information and registration, please contact Ms Leslie Fung at leslie.fung@polyu.edu.hk.

Programme:

The one-day conference will be conducted in the format of four consequent Panel Presentation with each
Panel addressing:

Panel One: "Career Planning for Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Advice to Students"

Intended outcome of this Panel is to allow student audience to develop a better perspective on their career development plans. As such, Panelists will provide substantive, practical advice to students for their career plans.

Panel Two: "Is There a Gap in Expectations between Educational Institutions and Industry? What Can
We Do to Narrow the Gap?"

Our intended objective here is to help both groups of participants (educators and practitioners) to walk out with a better appreciation of each other's needs in developing/nurturing the young talent for the industry.

Panel Three: "Perspectives from Young People"

This is a Panel by current students and recent graduates from universities. The young people will share their experiences in studying and working in the industry. The purpose of this Panel is to hear the perspectives of the young people and to identify potential areas for improvement in both educational institutions and industry.

Panel Four: "Current Issues in HR Challenges and Potential Solutions"

The purpose of this Panel is to identify current problems/issues facing HR in hospitality and tourism industry and suggest some creative solutions to the current challenges.


Confirmed speakers:

Dr. Thomas Bauer
Assistant Professor
School of Hotel & Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Mr. Richard Hatter General Manager Hotel ICON
Hong Kong

Prof. Walter Jamieson
Professor
Thammasat University
Thailand

Dr. Aliana Leong
Dean
Faculty of International Tourism
Macao University of Science & Technology
Macau SAR

Mr. James Lu
Executive Director
Hong Kong Hotels Association
Hong Kong

Dr. Andy Nazarechuk
Dean
William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration
UNLV Singapore
Singapore

Dr. Perry Hobson
President The-ICE Australia

Dr. Bongkosh Ngamsom Rittichainuwat
Ph.D. Director and Assistant Professor
International Program in Hotel & Tourism Management
Siam University
Thailand

Dr. Fanny Vong
President
Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) Macau SAR

Prof. Rick Renzeng Wang
Assistant Dean, School of Economics and Commerce
South China University of Technology
Guangzhou, China

Mr. Anthony Wong
Group Managing Director
Asian Overland Services Tours & Travels
Malaysia

Study Hospitality at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Malaysia

Study Hospitality at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Malaysia

Come feel the Hyatt Touch!

The hospitality industry is fast becoming an integral part of our country’s economy. The changing lifestyles of not only international travelers but also the local market demands only the most outstanding quality of services and products from those in the industry. In order to have the competitive edge amongst the many service providers, hoteliers are now wooing quality skilled labour and ensuring the retention of these individuals.

We at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan are no exception. We have always placed the utmost importance to the training and development of our employees in order to cultivate professional individuals, dedicated to providing quality service to our customers.

Core Competencies

At Hyatt Regency Kuantan, we are constantly on the lookout for outstanding individuals who display what we call “Hyatt Values”. A major part of our mission and goals are to ensure that our employees are equipped and empowered to fully serve our customers.

Our emphasis is placed on instilling our values in each employee through our various training programmes so that they may develop into customer driven, result orientated team players. This in turn will establish the Hyatt as the brand of the future.

Training and Development Structure

Hyatt International is well known for its strong emphasis on training and is constantly and consistently finding ways to enhance the development of its employees. In line with this the Hyatt Regency Kuantan also ensures that its employees get the maximum benefits from each training session conducted. In order to facilitate the needs of our employees in terms of training, Training Needs Analysis are carried out throughout the hotel where two major areas are covered:

External Training
In House Training(Conducted by in house trainers or external trainers )
1.External Training

External training are considered a vital part of the development or personal growth of an employee. Employees are identified based on some of these criteria such as their current position, quality of work, succession progress and many more.

1.(a) Cross Exposure

As an international hotel, employees at the Hyatt will have the opportunity to be cross exposed to its sister properties within the country or overseas. This is a means for employees to share best practices with others and also gain a better understanding of their positions.

1.(b) External Courses

External Courses are also deemed as an important tool for our employees to expand their knowledge. These training courses are specifically identified for the participants job roles in order to enhance the quality of their performance.

2.In House Training

The In House training provided plays an integral part of the development of all our Service Professionals. It is through this that our employees are groomed into being dedicated and motivated individuals who are customer focused.

2.(a) General Orientation

As with all other organizations, we at Hyatt place a great emphasis on the first few days of any new employees life at work. The General Orientation held for three days is a wonderful opportunity to help new employees understand Hyatt’s vision ,philosophy the hotels organization, product knowledge and the hotels expectations of its employees. . This vision will help them move more confidently through the first few challenging weeks and help them make decisions which directly impact the guest.

2.(b) Departmental Orientation

A Departmental Orientation is conducted upon the completion of the General Orientation. Each employee is given a one on one training session by the individual Departmental Trainers covering the basic information within the department, such as rosters, working hours, attendance, introduction to work colleagues and others.

2.(c ) On The Job Training

This training is also conducted by individual Departmental Trainers and covers all the tasks written in each employees job description. On The Job Training is where each employee learns about the department’s role, procedures and policies as well as job functions. Each employee is given a copy of a Task list and each task comes with its own task breakdown for easy reference. Coaching during this period is important to ensure that all employees are able to perform their roles effectively.

2.(d) Cross Training

Employees at the Hyatt will also have the opportunity to be cross exposed to other departments within the hotel. This is a means for employees to expand their knowledge and understand the roles of the various departments .

Performance Development

Each employee of the Hyatt Regency Kuantan is personally evaluated based on the hotels competencies on a yearly basis. This personalized sessions is conducted by the various Heads of Department or Managers and becomes an integral part of the development of our employees. Strengths and weaknesses are discussed in detail and action plans are drawn up to ensure that each employee is able to work towards improvements in their positions.

General Training Sessions :

General Training Sessions are conducted for all its employees and covers subjects such as:

General Orientation
Service Excellence modules
Leaderships Series modules
Telephone Skills
Selling Skills
Motivation
Training Skills
Training sessions covered in various departments are:

Front Office
Housekeeping
Food & Beverage
Kitchen
Human Resources
Sales & Marketing
Finance
Final Goal

Training & Development plays an important part in ensuring our objective to be a motivated team of multi skilled individuals who embody Hyatt’s culture goals and values is met. Equally important is also the commitment of our employees to constantly improve themselves in their positions and be customer driven ,ultimately creating an organization of outstanding individuals.

The hospitality industry consists

The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry that mostly depends on the availability of leisure time and disposable income. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or even an amusement park consists of multiple groups such as facility maintenance, direct operations (servers, housekeepers, porters, kitchen workers, bartenders, etc.), management, marketing, and human resources.
The hospitality industry covers a wide range of organizations offering food service and accommodation. The hospitality industry is divided into sectors according to the skill-sets required for the work involved. Sectors include accommodation, food and beverage, meeting and events, gaming, entertainment and recreation, tourism services, and visitor information.
Usage rate is an important variable for the hospitality industry. Just as a factory owner would wish to have his or her productive asset in use as much as possible (as opposed to having to pay fixed costs while the factory isn't producing), so do restaurants, hotels, and theme parks seek to maximize the number of customers they "process".
In viewing various industries, "barriers to entry" by newcomers and competitive advantages between current players are very important. Among other things, hospitality industry players find advantage in old classics (location), initial and ongoing investment support (reflected in the material upkeep of facilities and the luxuries located therein), and particular themes adopted by the marketing arm of the organization in question (such as a restaurant called the 51st fighter group that has a WW2 theme in music and other environmental aspects). Very important is also the characteristics of the personnel working in direct contact with the customers. The authenticity, professionalism, and actual concern for the happiness and well-being of the customers that is communicated by successful organizations is a clear competitive advantage.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
We already had lots of information and photos of the all-new 3rd generation Toyota Prius hybrid car, but a few things were still missing. Toyota has released a whole bunch of info on the new Prius (except for pricing, unfortunately). It's not totally new, but a bit more detailed than what we had before. See the highlights below.

All from Toyota's release:

Fuel Economy

The third-generation Prius extends its record of continuous improvement in fuel economy. The first-generation Prius, which was rated 41 EPA combined mpg, was replaced by the current model, which is EPA rated at 46 miles per gallon (mpg), combined city/highway. Using a combination of technologies, fuel efficiency was increased to an EPA estimated city/highway mpg rating of 50 in the city, 49 on the highway and a combined 50 mpg for the new Prius.

Click image to see 2010 Toyota Prius slideshow

Engine

A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine will produce 98 horsepower at 5,200 rpm in the new Prius. Together with its electric motor the hybrid system in the new Prius will generate a combined net horsepower of 134, an improvement of 24 horsepower over the previous generation. [...]
The 1.8-liter Prius engine is the first Toyota power plant that requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance.

This larger engine actually reduces fuel consumption on the highway (where the electric motors are not much help) by running at lower RPMs than the previous model's 1.5-liter engine.

The new Prius will be certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) and an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) in California, as well as those states adopting California emission standards.


Click image to see 2010 Toyota Prius slideshow

'Hybrid Synergy Drive' Changes

The patented Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the 2010 Prius is 90 percent newly-developed with significant improvements over previous models.
The transaxle is lighter in weight and reduces torque losses by as much as 20 percent compared to the previous model.
The inverter, which converts direct current to alternating current, has a new direct cooling system to reduce size and weight.
Taken together, the inverter, motor and transaxle are smaller and 20 percent lighter.
A newly developed electronically controlled regenerative braking system has been adopted, with control logic optimized to enhance regeneration.
As previously stated, the new Prius also have 3 different driving modes on top of the normal one: EV, Power, and Eco (more details here).

Weight Reductions

Weight was saved through use of aluminum in the hood, rear hatch, front suspension axle and brake caliper and super high-tensile steel in the rocker inner, center pillar, and roof reinforcement.
For more photos, check out our 2010 Toyota Prius Slideshow

Via Toyota

Photos: Toyota

More Hybrid Car Articles
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MIT's 90 MPH Solar Car to Race for 7 Days in Australian Desert
Ford Re-Opens Cleveland Plant to Build 'EcoBoost' Engines
Bill Clinton Denied Tesla Roadster Ride by Secret Services

Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles from PlanetGreen.com:

Variable Parking Pricing Cuts Congestion
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3 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Pool Floats
Meet the Algorithm that Cut Delays in Half for German Trains
Michelle Tea Talks About Community, Energy, and Her Insane 500-page Memoir-Fiction Hybrid Book (Interview)
From the Beach Boys to Mos Def, Songs that Celebrate the Oceans




Buzz up!

HONDA JAZZ SPORT, MUSIC, HOLIDAY 2010 INDIA : HONDA JAZZ’S VARIOUS ITERATIONS IN AUTO EXPO

HONDA JAZZ SPORT, MUSIC, HOLIDAY 2010 INDIA : HONDA JAZZ’S VARIOUS ITERATIONS IN AUTO EXPO


Honda Jazz Sport Car Edition
The Honda Jazz dismal sales figures due to it’s exorbitant price tag is out for all to see. Honda, on the other hand are still persisting with their Jazz and they showcased three new versions of which two will make it to the Indian car market. First up is the Honda Jazz Mugen Sport model which features a very sweet 1.5 Liter petrol VTEC engine.
This kitted out Honda Jazz Sport looks like a seriously good performer as Japanese tuning specialists, Mugen have worked their magic, both on the engine as well as the body and aesthetics. This car however is a one off show special and won’t make it to the Honda showrooms across India.

Honda Jazz Music Edition
Next up is the Honda Jazz Music Model which is nothing more than a sticker job of musical notes, adorning the Honda Jazz’s side flanks and rear. The Jazz Music might feature a few nifty features in the car audio department. However, we couldn’t sop any such embellishment in the Honda Jazz Music model that was displayed at the 2010 Auto Expo.

Honda Jazz Holiday Model
Last but not the least, is the Honda Jazz Holiday Model which comes with a redesigned front bumper that makes it look just that bit different from the bog standard Honda Jazz versions currently on sale. This version too gets plenty of stickers to make it stand out amongst the crowd and we have to admit, all those stickers made the Honda Jazz Holiday look pretty cool.
That said, we feel a sizable price cut from Honda Siel India will work better to spur the Honda Jazz sales on, rather than these showy sticker jobs to garner attention.
Are you listening, Honda?
HONDA JAZZ PAVILION AT AUTO EXPO 2010 PICTURES:


Jazz Holiday Front

Jazz Holiday Side


Jazz Music Boot

Jazz Music Front


Jazz Music Side

Jazz Music Rear


Jazz Sport Light

Jazz Sport Side Front


Jazz Sport Interiors

Jazz Sport Rear


Jazz Sport Plate

Jazz Sport Front



Share and Enjoy:

Related Posts :

2010 Honda Jazz Select Car: Special Edition Launch in India

The somewhat uninspiring Honda display at the 2010 Indian Auto Expo

Attention Honda Jazz Owners: Honda recalls Jazz models on possible fire scare

Honda reintroduces the City Base variant, Honda Jazz to see a price drop?

Honda Jazz X launched at 7.53 lakh rupees
January 10, 2010 | Written By Jay Prashanth · Under Cars · Tagged with Honda Jazz Auto Expo, Honda Jazz Car India, Honda Jazz Holiday, Honda Jazz Music, Honda Jazz Sport India
COMMENTS

One Response to “Honda Jazz Sport, Music, Holiday 2010 India : Honda Jazz’s various iterations in Auto Expo”
Honda India CRV SUV, Civic, Accord V6, City in 2010 Auto Expo | Indian Cars & Motorcycles Blog on January 14th, 2010 9:13 pm
[...] Expo. Here are a few glimpses of the products Honda showcased. Meanwhile we’ve covered the Honda Jazz and it’s various cosmetic iterations here and the Honda Small Car concept [...]
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New Honda Jazz Model

New Honda Jazz Model
New Honda Jazz Model

Honda (UK) is introducing a sporty Si grade of its popular British-built supermini - the Jazz. The Jazz Si's enhanced looks and stylish extra features should appeal to younger drivers who want their car to stand out from the crowd.


The Si option will be available across the Jazz model range – which first went on sale in 2008. The Si grade tops the 1.2-litre range, with features over and above the SE specification. In 1.4-litre Jazz models, the Si sits mid range, with specification over and above ES models. The Si is only available with a manual transmission.


The Jazz Si wears 16-inch Chronos alloys which set it apart from standard models. A chrome sports front grille and rear spoiler add to the sporty look. Stylish embroidered carpet mats and Si branding on the boot lid and glove box highlight the car’s high specification.

Customer feedback showed that younger Jazz owners were keen to stand out from the large number of other Jazz cars on the road. They preferred bigger wheels and enjoyed the additional stylish touches of the first generation Jazz Sport.


The Si grade has been launched in response to this, and combines sporty good looks with the Jazz’s fuel-sipping engine, low running costs, low emissions, value for money specification and C-sector space and practicality.




The Jazz is one of the UK’s most celebrated models, winning around 30 industry awards for reliability and customer satisfaction. Now built in Britain, Honda Associates will be ensuring that the Jazz maintains this level and continues to delight customers.

The Si grade is priced at an additional £870 over the 1.2 SE and 1.4 ES models, but offers nearly £2,000 worth of extra equipment.

Jazz 1.2-litre Si £12,835 on-the-road
Jazz 1.4-litre Si £13,510 on-the-road

The Jazz Si goes on sale from 1 April, 2010 with a choice of really competitive finance offers for customers.

Both the 1.2 and 1.4 Si models launch with great PCP packages offering an APR of 5.9% over three years with a 25% deposit, or for 7.4% over three years with a 10 per cent deposit.


Si family
The Si grade was introduced to the Civic 5 door range in September 2009, providing sportier looks for the futuristic family hatchback. Civic Si variants feature colour-coded bumpers, front fog lights, a Type R-style mesh front grille and dark chrome door handles and fuel cap.



1.4-litre models wear Graphite coloured 16-inch alloy wheels while the higher-powered 1.8-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel Si-grade Civics sit on 17-inch Graphite coloured alloy rims. Inside, Si models get half leather upholstery to continue the sports theme, plus a USB port for iPod connectivity.

The Civic 1.4-litre Si is priced at £16,495 on-the-road (OTR). The 1.8-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel are priced at £17,565 (OTR) and £19,070 (OTR), respectively.

From 1 April 2010, all Jazz models, including the Si, will benefit from a first year rate of VED of £0.

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us on Twitter:

BarrettsHonda: http://twitter.com/BarrettsHonda

A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk
Labels: Barretts Honda, Barretts Motor Group, Honda, Honda Jazz, iPod connectivity, Jazz Si, Jazz Sport, Twitter, VED

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 12:28
SUNDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2010

Public Sector Worker Car Offers
Honda Offers for Public Sector Workers
Public Sector Workers Pay Less for new Honda Jazz
Public Sector Worker Benefits from Special Offers on new Honda Jazz



There are now even more reasons to consider the practical and versatile Jazz, if you're a public sector driver.

It's not only both compact and spacious, thanks to its folding Magic Seats. It's also cheap to run, with low fuel costs and low CO2 emissions. But that's not all. The Honda Jazz now comes with a few little extras, just for public sector drivers…
Complimentary dash-mounted Sat Nav, to make finding your way to appointments a breeze.
Complimentary rear parking sensors, to help guide you into that tricky space when you get there.
This offer is exclusive to public sector drivers and it's available from 2nd November 2009 until 31st March 2010.

Barretts Honda will handle everything for you, just call 01227 866266 now or leave your details here and our specialists will contact you.

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us on Twitter:

BarrettsHonda http://twitter.com/BarrettsHonda

A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk


Available across entire Jazz range for vehicles leased by or registered to a public sector organisation via a valid Honda (UK) RFO number. Offer applies to Euro rear parking sensors and Honda Compact Navigation System and is subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with accessory packs or alloy wheel upgrades. Vehicle must be ordered between 2nd November 2009 and 31st March 2010, and registered by 30th June 2010. Complimentary items increase P11D value of car, which will impact on driver BIK tax liability (if applicable).
Labels: Barretts Group, Barretts Honda, Honda Jazz, Magic Seats, Public Sector Worker Benefits, Public Sector Workers, Twitter

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 10:19
FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2010

Driving Instructor Car Deals
Driving Instructor Car Deals from Barretts Honda
Honda Driving School Cars now with All Inclusive Package for Driving Instructors
He Man Dual Controls Systems and Free Servicing Package

If you're a driving instructor looking for a new car, why not consider the versatile Honda Jazz? With its spacious interior, great visibility and tall driving position, it's an ideal car to teach and learn in. What's more, it's now available with a great offer.
Complimentary He-Man Dual Controls
Free Servicing for 4 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first)
The Jazz combines residual values that are first in its class, with low cost servicing and maintenance, 53mpg and emissions from only 125g/km. This helps your business by ensuring exceptionally low whole life costs.

…Plus, a great deal on the Honda Civic too.

This offer is also available across our award-winning Civic range, recently voted the most reliable car on UK roads, in a survey of 840,000 company cars by Fleet News.

For more information call Barretts Honda on 01227 866266 or email us here>>>

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us on Twitter:

BarrettsHonda http://twitter.com/BarrettsHonda

A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk

Offer ends 30th March 2010. Cars must be registered by 30th May 2010.
Labels: Barretts Honda, Driving Instructor Car Deals, Fleet News, Free Servicing, He Man Dual Controls, Honda Civic, Honda Driving School, Honda Jazz, Twitter

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 18:23
THURSDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2010

Government Scrappage Scheme Extended for Honda new car sales.
Government Scrappage Scheme Extended for Honda new car sales.

Barretts Honda of Canterbury, Kent are pleased to announce that the government has announced that its car scrappage scheme is being extended by £100m or a further 100,000 vehicles.

The government has also announced that it will also lengthen the cut off point for the old cars being traded in by six months.


Meanwhile, van owners will be able to trade in their old commercial vehicle if it is more than eight years old, rather than the previous 10. The newly extended government scrappage allowance means that vans and commercial vehicles can be traded in against new Honda cars.

The government says the changes will come into effect as soon as possible, once formal agreement has been reached with all the vehicle manufacturers.

Barretts Honda are fully participating in the Government Scrappage Scheme and have great deals on new Honda cars on our website www.barrettshonda.com

Today we have announced 2 years 0% Finance on New Honda Jazz models sold and registered before 31 March 2010 the good news is that you can use your scrappage allowance towards the deposit. For more details follow this link>>>

For more information call Barretts Honda on 01227 866266 or email us here>>>

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us on Twitter:

BarrettsHonda http://twitter.com/BarrettsHonda
Labels: 0% finance car offer, Barretts Honda, Government Scrappage Allowance, Honda Jazz, Honda new car sales, scrappage scheme extended

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 12:41
Honda Jazz - 0% APR Financing deal for 2 years from Barretts Honda.

Looking for a deal on a new Honda Jazz?

How about 0% APR financing for 2 years on the latest Honda Jazz, with as little as a 35% deposit?

You can even use your government scrappage allowance*.

Until 31 March 2010 Barretts Honda of Canterbury in Kent have great deals on the Honda Jazz.

For example you could have a new Honda Jazz 1.2i V-TEC SE 5dr for only £249.00 per month APR 0%.

Here's how:
Total cash price of goods: £12,083.00

Deposit: £6,107.00

Amount of Credit: £5,976.00

Total Charge for Credit: £0.00

Repayment Balance: £5,976.00

Annual Percentage Rate: 0.0%

24 monthly payments of £249.00 per month


Honda Jazz reviews: See what the Daily Telegraph Motoring readers and Honest John have to say about Honda Jazz ownership here>>>

A full credit quotation is available from Barretts Honda Canterbury, CT1 1HA. Subject to status we may require additional security, in the form of an indemnity. Financing provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc, 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY. *Government Scrappage scheme ends on 28th February.

For more information call Barretts Honda on 01227 866266 or email us here>>>

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us on Twitter:

BarrettsHonda http://twitter.com/BarrettsHonda
Labels: 0% financing, Barretts Honda, Daily Telegraph, Government Scrappage Allowance, Honda deals, Honda Jazz, Honest John, Twitter

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 09:36
MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2010

Honda Jazz Recall - the official word.

You may have heard or seen in the press of a recall to the Honda Jazz in the UK.

Often these stories are not told accurately, so put your mind at rest we have published the Honda UK press release here. However, if you have any more questions please do not hesitate to contact our team here at Barretts Honda 01227 866266.


HONDA JAZZ RECALL STATEMENT

Honda (UK) is to contact 171,372 owners of the Jazz (2002-2008 year model), to arrange an examination of the master power window switch, as part of a voluntary safety recall.

The master window switch in the driver’s door can malfunction when exposed to large amounts of liquid ingress, for example if the window is left open frequently or for long periods during heavy rain. Water and other fluids can cause the window switch’s circuit board to malfunction and prevent opening or closing of the window. In rare cases, the circuit board can overheat causing melting or smoke or, potentially, fire.

It’s expected that around 10 per cent of the cars recalled will need a replacement switch, with the remainder requiring the fitment of a waterproof skirt to prevent further water entry.

Honda (UK) will begin contacting those Jazz owners affected by the recall in March, in order to have the rectification work carried out. In all cases the work will be carried out at no cost to the customer.

-Ends-

Notes:
The recall action affects approximately 646,000 Jazz models globally. It affects those models built in Japan, China, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia and India.

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda please follow us on Twitter: BarrettsHonda
Labels: Barretts Honda, Honda Jazz, Honda Jazz Recall

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 10:42
SUNDAY, 24 JANUARY 2010

Telegraph Motoring: Honest John explains why the Honda Jazz is so good.
CREDIT: HONEST JOHN, TELEGRAPH MOTORING 23.10.2010


Our 'agony uncle' explains how Honda's versatile little hatchback took his fancy, while two Jazz-owning Telegraph readers describe why it's the car for them.

Versatile, small, frugal and built in Swindon. What's not to love about the Honda Jazz? The little car has its flaws but, according to the hundreds of Telegraph readers who own one, the faults are mostly minor and forgivable.

In fact, so many of you have written to Motoring to praise your Honda hatchback over the years, we felt it was time to celebrate this unassuming hero of the roads with a look at its popularity through the eyes of its owners, including a couple who each have one, and the person who recommends buying a Jazz more than anyone: our own automotive agony uncle, Honest John.

Perhaps most impressively, the Jazz is a brilliant piece of car interior design. It sits the driver and passenger on the fuel tank, and leaves floor space where the tank would normally be. Lift up the rear seat squabs and instead of petrol there is space in the centre of the car for pot plants, bicycles, wheelchairs and small children to get changed standing up. Ford, Fiat, Citroën, Toyota and everyone else all wish they'd thought of that.

When the car was launched in 2002, Honda fitted a 1,339cc chain-cam direct-injected petrol engine that proved to be as economical as a diesel, and offered the option of a seven-ratio continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can be treated as a simple "press and go" automatic.

Unsurprisingly, the car caught on in Britain in a somewhat older market than in other parts of the world such as Thailand, where it is seen as a trendy young person's car and there is even a magazine devoted to outrageously customised Jazzes with 19in wheels, powerful sound systems and even gull-wing doors.

But now, despite having come top of reliability surveys, the original Jazz is starting to age and, sad to say, it shows. Manual gearbox bearings break and, if the very special fluid in the CVT transmission is not changed regularly, that fails too. The ride quality and steering were never brilliant – the original Jazz was never a car you wanted to extend for the fun of it. Maintenance can get expensive as the cars get older; rear door seals leak, wheel bearings fail. Air-conditioning and electric windows can also give trouble.

Don't buy a Jazz that is six or seven years old and expect it to remain fault-free. Seven years is the Japanese scrap-by date. In Britain, the best engine we got was the 82bhp 1.3 (called a 1.4 for marketing reasons). That was until last year, when an all-new Jazz arrived. This Mk2 is much better looking, more powerful, a bit bigger and shares the "magic" rear seats of the original. It steers more precisely and rides and handles better, too.

Instead of the easy-driving CVT, however, in a failed attempt to keep emissions under 121g/km (and in the £35 tax bracket), Honda fitted an automated manual transmission that has found far less favour because of the way its electronics damp the throttle between changes, leading to lurching if the driver tries to compensate. And if you want a spare wheel, you have to pay extra for it.

From October 2009, this new Jazz has been built at Swindon alongside Honda Civics (where, intriguingly, it is also assembled as a 120bhp 1.5 with a five-speed torque converter automatic for the South African market – a model for which many British Jazz fans would give their left feet).

To read the rest of this article and see what current owners think of their Honda Jazz please follow this link>>>

Check out the latest Barretts Honda deals here>>>

To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda please follow us on Twitter: BarrettsHonda


Labels: Honda deals, Honda Jazz, Honda Swindon, Honest John, Telegraph Motoring

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 19:45
FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 2010

Barretts Honda's Jazz tops residuals tables.

Barretts Honda of Canterbury are pleased to announce that the Honda Jazz is Britain’s best car for retaining its value according to Parker’s annual depreciation report which surveyed almost 300 model ranges.

As well as class-leading residual values, the latest Jazz – which went on sale in 2008 – offers many features of a bigger car such as load space, driving feel and high-spec equipment, but with the great fuel economy, low emissions and more affordable running costs of a small one, making it ideal for car leasing and contract hire customers.

And the Japanese carmaker can afford to be pretty smug at the moment, with its newly-launched CR-V set to boost the residuals at the larger end of the Honda model line-up. The 2.2-litre ES, likely to be the most popular variant, has a residual value of 39.1 per cent based on 3 years or 60,000 miles. Its nearest competitor, the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 Sport TDi, comes in at 38.9 per cent.

Residual Values
Residual values from CAP Monitor based on three years or 60,000 miles are:
Jazz 1.2 S (90PS) 42%
Jazz 1.2 SE (90PS) 43%
Jazz 1.4 ES (100PS) manual 44%
Jazz 1.4 EX (100PS) manual 44%
The Parker’s survey uses the value of cars, as if they were being sold privately, in good condition with 10,000 miles on the clock and compares this to their cost as new, 12 months earlier.

Small cars showed they are certainly the safest bet for depreciation, taking 35 of the top 40 places in the index.

The best performers of 2009
Honda Jazz (08 on) – £1379?2
Fiat 500 (08 on) – £1460?3
SEAT Ibiza (08 on) – £1552?4
Hyundai i10 (08 on) – £1650?5
Mazda 2 (07 on) – £1702?6
Kia Picanto (04 on) – £1760?7
VW Fox (06 on) – £1781?8
Suzuki Swift (05 on) – £1900?9
Toyota Aygo (05 on) – £2148?10
Mitsubishi i (07 on) – £2271
The biggest losers of 2009
Maybach 62 (03 on) – £127,526?2
Maybach 57 (03 on) – £115,253?3
Rolls-Royce Phantom (03 on) – £81,183?4
Bentley Arnage (98 on) – £66,040?5
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (05 on) – £51,627?6
Mercedes-Benz SL Class AMG (02 on) – £51,381?7
Bentley Cont. Flying Spur (05 on) – £47,080?8
Aston Martin DBS (08 on) – £41,347?9
Bentley Continental GT Coupe – £40,110?10
Ferrari F 430 (05 on) – £37,188
To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda please follow us on Twitter: BarrettsHonda
Labels: Barretts Honda, CAP Monitor, Honda Jazz, Parkers Guide, Twitter

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 09:49
MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009

Beat the VAT rise and 0% APR in a New Jazz at Barretts Honda.

Now available with 0% typical APR financing

The compact yet perfectly formed Jazz maybe our smallest car, but it's full of space saving features and for a limited period it's available with 2yrs 0% APR typical on cars ordered between 1st & 31st of December 2009.

BEAT THE VAT RISE: We have a limited number of new Honda Jazz in stock. If you take delivery in December 2009 you will avoid the VAT Increase.

Watch the Honest John, Daily Telegraph review of the Honda Jazz here.

Finance example:
Jazz 1.2i i-VTEC SE Manual

24 monthly payments £319.00
Price on the Road £11,825.00
Customer deposit £4,169.07
Amount of credit £7,655.93
Total amount payable £11,825.00

0% APR Typical

Call us 01227 866 288 now or visit our website www.barrettshonda.com

You can now follow us on Twitter: BarrettsHonda

Terms and conditions:
Retail registrations only.
Offer not applicable to scrappage customers.
Offer is valid on Jazz ordered between 1 December 2009 and 31 December 2009, and registered between 1 December 2009 and 31 January 2010.
Example excludes metallic paint.
Minimum deposit 35%, maximum term 24 months
Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances.
Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over subject to status.
All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change.
Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe PLC, 470 london Road, Slough, Berkshire. SL3 8QY
Labels: Barretts Honda, Daily Telegraph, Honda Jazz, Honest John, VAT increase

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 14:26
FRIDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2009

Honda Civic named as most reliable car.

The biggest vehicle reliability survey in the country has named the Honda Civic as the most reliable car.

The survey, which quizzed the country’s largest fleet operators who between them run more than a million vehicles, saw the Civic take top position from its nearest rival the BMW 3 Series.

Honda and BMW were the only two carmakers on the leaderboard, which revealed that Honda made three of the top five most reliable cars and BMW the remaining two.

The results were a major endorsement for Honda, which saw its Jazz and Accord take third and fourth place respectively.

Most reliable car

Honda Civic
BMW 3 Series
Honda Jazz
Honda Accord
BMW 5 Series
Audi A4
Benz C-Class
Mini
Toyota Avensis
Volkswagen Golf
For more information on Honda products visit the Barretts Honda website or call 01227 866266.
Labels: Barretts Honda, BMW 3 Series, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 17:59
TUESDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 2009

Honda Jazz - Little Car. Big Effect

The new homemade Honda Jazz arrives this weekend at Barretts Honda in Canterbury, Kent.

Why homemade? Well the Jazz is now being made here at home at the manufacturing plant in Swindon.

This is a pretty big deal because its keeping 3,400 skilled workers busy.

And it's not just Honda staff hard at work. It's everyone else around them. Uniforms are being laundered, lunches cooked and hundreds of cups of Mr Tetley's finest brew made.

Keeping everybody happy. Some people call it the Honda Effect.

So to celebrate our newest homemade Honda we're throwing a party. And we'd really like you to come.

Join us to welcome the Jazz at the Barretts Honda homemade event on 6th - 9th November 2009 at our showrooms in Vauxhall Road, Canterbury or call 01227 866266 to find out more.

Folow this link for the location of Barretts Honda.
Labels: Barretts Honda, Honda Effect, Honda Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 07:05
MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2009

Jazz Production Moves to Swindon


Introducing our newest homemade Honda

Our littlest Honda is about to make a big impact on UK industry, with the first ever British built Jazz driving off the line at our factory in Swindon on Wednesday 7th October.

British built range expands to three models The ever popular supermini joins the Civic and CR-V as part of Honda’s homemade line up, underlining our long term commitment to UK car manufacturing. With 20,000 units due to be built before the end of March 2010, (75% of which will be for the UK market and the rest to be exported to 55 other countries), it’s a huge boost to Honda’s manufacturing operations in the UK.

Honda has a policy of building our most popular cars in the markets they are driven, as David Hodgetts, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing explains: “We see this third model as a wonderful opportunity in the current climate and we’re extremely proud to be building the Jazz here in Swindon. The car is incredibly popular with customers, and it has won countless awards for quality and reliability. Shifting production to the UK is a real vote of confidence in all our Associates here in Swindon, and recognition of the high standards which we have been able to achieve at the plant.”

Visit our website at...

www.barrettskent.co.uk/used-honda-cars

or call our sales team on 01227 866266
Labels: Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 15:50
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2009

Which? Car Survery 2009 Winners


The Honda Accord has achieved a score of 99% - highest scores the Which? survey has ever seen. This puts the Accord at the top of the league for reliability in the UK. It's a great result and the good news doesn't stop there…



There were high scores in the survey for the Civic Hybrid too - achieving first place for reliability in the hybrid sector and and seventh place overall in the survey.



The new Jazz scored 98% for reliability, achieving second place overall and first place in the supermini class.

Happy Honda Owners

Reliability is such an important thing to consider when buying a new car. So if you're looking to buy a Honda, this year's Which? report is very reassuring. 77,000 people in the UK took part in the Which? survey, which based its results on breakdowns, faults, and general niggles over a period of 12 months.

To enquire about any of these cars click here and use our enquiry form, or call us Tel: 01227 866266

To view our latest offers on New Honda Cars click here
Labels: Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Jazz, New Honda, Which Car

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 11:03
WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2008

The New Jazz
Honda has taken the innovative concept of the Jazz to the next stage – with more space, better versatility and smarter looks, to improve on what was already an excellent car.

• Even more spacious, more versatile interior
• Two new i-VTEC petrol engines
• Improvements to suspension to refine ride
• Improved i-SHIFT 6-speed automated manual transmission available
• Double-Trunk boot brings further flexibility to load space
• Magic Seats enhanced for ease of use
• Better driving position and visibility
• High quality interior materials and sharper cabin design

Jazz – the story so far

• Over 2 million Jazz (or Fit) sold worldwide
• Previous generation launched in the UK 2002
• 160,918 sold in the UK to date
• In the top five of UK retail sales charts for five years
• 50 per cent of Jazz customers are repeat customers
• 60 per cent of Jazz drivers are aged 56-75
• Over 30 industry/magazine awards won for reliability and customer satisfaction
• New model will be second generation Jazz (in UK)

Questions you can’t wait to ask

What’s the general direction for the new Jazz?
The previous Jazz was such a successful car that creating its successor was always going to be a challenge. But by enhancing the car’s strongest qualities, the engineers at Honda have taken Jazz on to the next stage, producing a car with even greater flexibility, more interior space and a ‘bigger car’ feel.

Arriving at a time of rising fuel prices and general tightening of belts, the latest Jazz offers a range of lively, economical petrol engines, which will appeal to the increasing number of cost-conscious motorists and downsizers.

With TARDIS-like packaging, this clever and versatile car has a class-leading specification, finished with high quality materials and trim. In short, the new Jazz offers all the benefits of a large car, in the mould of a small one. The new model is a formidable second generation car that raises the bar even further in the highly competitive supermini segment.

What are the main improvements on the new car?
The development team looked at the few areas where Jazz had come under criticism and improved them – you’ll immediately notice improvements to the ride and handling. Changes to the suspension settings have made the ride more supple and comfortable – particularly at the rear – while the steering feels more natural, and handling is more stable, creating a ‘big car’ feel but remaining as manoeuvrable as ever.

NVH levels have also been reduced significantly to create a cabin that’s quieter and a more comfortable place to be.

Our engineers have also been busy with the polish; adding refinement and improvements to areas where the outgoing model already excelled. There’s greater versatility with easier-to-use, one-motion Magic Seats and an innovative, new Double-Trunk (on 1.4-litre models); plus, increased cabin space. The interior trim of Jazz always set premium standards in the B-sector, but the new model takes this a step further, with a more contemporary cabin design, and the use of high quality materials and trim. And small car doesn’t necessarily mean sparse – there’s a comprehensive equipment list, including iPod connectivity.

Who will buy the new Jazz?
The fact the Jazz is so practical is the reason it attracts such a wide range of people, from grandparents and driving instructors, to families with babies and nurses. This broad appeal is one of the reasons why the car has featured at, or near, the top of the sales charts every year it’s been on sale in the UK.

The average age of a Jazz customer is 63 years old and the new car will continue to exceed the demands of this more mature market. However, the car’s sharp new looks and big-car feel will also appeal to younger customers and those wishing to downsize.

Jazz is popular in the corporate market and Honda expects to gain more sales through this channel with the latest car, especially given the high level of specification.

How many do you plan to sell in the UK?
The UK target for 2008 will be of similar volume to the current Jazz, sales of which totalled 28,170 units in 2007. This placed it in the top three of its competitor set, despite being near the end of its life-cycle.

What are the main competitors for Jazz?
B-segment superminis such as VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Mazda2 will be competitors to the new Jazz.

How much will the Jazz cost in the UK?
The new Jazz is priced very competitively, with the entry level 1.2-litre S available from £9,990 OTR.

The SE grade will be most popular of the 1.2-litre variants and will be priced from £10,990 OTR, including air con and 15-inch alloy wheels. In the fiercely competitive supermini sector, the ample, class-leading specification on Jazz means customers wanting an economical car don’t have to compromise on equipment or comfort levels. Of the 1.4-litre models, we expect the ES grade to be the most popular, accounting for 25 per cent of the mix. Priced from £11,490 on-the-road (OTR) it includes 15-inch alloy wheels, air con, Double-Trunk boot, refrigerated glovebox and VSA. The 1.4-litre EX grade with additional cruise control, privacy glass, panoramic sunroof, 16-inch alloys and auto lights and wipers is priced at £12,790 OTR.

Honda’s i-SHIFT automated manual transmission costs £800 and so when fitted on the 1.4-litre ES costs £12,290 OTR, while the 1.4-litre EX i-SHIFT is priced at £13,590 OTR. All prices are correct at time of launch, but for up-to-date pricing, it’s best to check Barretts Honda.

Is there a conventional automatic gearbox or CVT transmission available?
No. The Jazz is available with the revised i-SHIFT transmission – an automated manual gearbox which can be paired to the 1.4-litre petrol engine, providing smooth, quick gear changes in either full auto or semi-sequential shift mode. It is also more cost-effective than a CVT transmission.

When does it go on sale?
Manual versions of Jazz go on sale in the UK in October, 2008, with the i-SHIFT automatic variant on sale in January 2009.

To request a brochure or arrange a test drive Click Here
Labels: Barretts, Honda, Honda Jazz, New Honda Car, New Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 20:49
SATURDAY, 16 AUGUST 2008

Pass The Jazz
To celebrate the imminent arrival of their new baby car, Honda are inviting people to tell them their Jazz story.

Someone’s tale of Jazz delight will be selected to personalize Honda’s homepage for the new car. To share your tale of wonder, excitement or fun visit www.passthejazz.co.uk and the floor (or desktop) could be yours…
Labels: Honda, Honda Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 10:23
THURSDAY, 7 AUGUST 2008

Honda plots BMW X6 rivalling crossover
Honda has been testing a new X6 type crossover vehicle by the cover of darkness in the Californian desert. No details are forthcoming at the moment but coupe-style looks with off-road ability would give Honda a vehicle in an unusual sector of the market.

New Jazz breaks cover

Details of the all-new Jazz that goes on sale in September have been released. Instantly recognizable as a Jazz but with sleeker lines and a slight increase in dimensions, new Jazz is set to pick up the small car champion baton.

Overall increase in length and wheelbase has liberated an extra 37mm of extra knee room and aided the ride quality.

Honda’s ‘magic seats’ arrangement is back giving ultimate flexibility in the cabin and a new Double Trunk boot boasts a stowaway underneath the floor which can be moved to one of four positions in the boot.

Register your interest with us today and we’ll keep you fully updated on this exciting new little car.



58 Registration Nearly Here…

September 1st sees the new 58 registration plates. We’re now taking orders for those of you who want the latest number in town!
Labels: 58 Registration, Honda, Honda Jazz, New Jazz

POSTED BY WEBMASTER AT 13:25