A framework for successful hotel developments

Although there are similarities between hotel and other commercial property developments, hotel development has unique characteristics and requires specific management expertise. Hotels are usually 'single-use' properties, whose primary revenue is generated from a service-based industry. They have a market value directly related to their ability to generate future net income by means of their operations. The essence of successful hotel property development lies in understanding these unique characteristics. Various critical success factors for hotel development are identified in this article, and incorporated into a hotel property development framework, establishing a practical 'road map' for successful hotel developments. The validity of the proposed hotel property development framework has been assessed by intensive direct interviews with hotel development professionals

Short-term vegetation change on rehabilitated peatland on Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Natural peatlands occur on the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Before the Pretoria City Council acquired the land, these peatlands were mined by private land-owners. Ditches were constructed to drain the area for mining and the peatlands became desicrated. Later the area was proclaimed as a nature reserve and has since then been managed as such. Rehabilitation of the drained peatland on Rietvlei Nature Reserve first started in 2000 as a Working for Water project. The aim of the rehabilitation was to close the ditches and rewet the peatland, to enable possible revival of the peatland. A baseline vegetation survey was undertaken during the summer (March to April) of 2001 to determine the nature of the pioneer communities that established on the rehabilitated area. This survey was repeated during the summer (March to April) of 2002 to detect changes in the vegetation. The same sample plots were used on both occasions. The initial pioneer vegetation was mostly composed of weedy annuals

Impact of the Gautrain on property development around station precincts

The paper assesses the impact of the recently completed Gautrain Rapid Rail link in Gauteng on property development in the vicinity of stations along the route. Our particular interest is in examining the extent to which the Gautrain, as a major public transport investment, has managed to stimulate and support the creation of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) by leveraging private sector action, with the ultimate aim of moving towards more sustainable land use / transport environments. Data sources include property development records, aerial photographs and municipal zoning applications for the areas surrounding the Pretoria, Midrand, and Rosebank stations for the period 2000 to 2011, and interviews with officials and private property developers. The research found evidence of accelerated property development and increasing mixed use in all three station precincts, but significant variation in the extent to which TOD principles have been applied. Property developers considered the Gautrain to be a major factor attracting them to develop in station precincts, suggesting that the locational benefits offered by a high-quality public transport system are also present locally. However, when comparing the vibrant Rosebank with the slower-growing Pretoria and Midrand precincts, it is clear that real estate fundamentals drive property development and will ultimately determine the success of a TOD undertaking.The Department of Transport through the Sustainable Public Transport and Sport Project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_civileng.htmlam201

Comparative antibacterial activities of neutral electrolyzed oxidizing water and other chlorine-based sanitizers

There is increasing demand for safe and effective sanitizers for irrigation water disinfection to prevent transmission of foodborne pathogens to fresh produce. Here we compared the efficacy of pH-neutral electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) against single and mixed populations of E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella under a range of pH and organic matter content. EOW treatment of the mixed bacterial suspension resulted in a dose-dependent (<1 mg/L free chlorine), rapid (<2 min) and effective (4-6 Log10) reduction of the microbial load in water devoid of organic matter under the range of pH conditions tested (pH, 6.0, 7.0, 8.4 and 9.2). The efficacy of EOW containing 5 mg/L free chlorine was unaffected by increasing organic matter, and compared favourably with equivalent concentrations of NaClO and ClO2. EOW at 20 mg/L free chlorine was more effective than NaClO and ClO2 in reducing bacterial populations in the presence of high (20-100 mg/L) dissolved organic carbon, and no regrowth or metabolic activity was observed for EOW-treated bacteria at this concentration upon reculturing in rich media. Thus, EOW is as effective or more effective than other common chlorine-based sanitizers for pathogen reduction in contaminated water. EOW's other characteristics, such as neutral pH and ease of handling, indicate its suitability for fresh produce sanitation.Abiodun D. Ogunniyi, Catherine E. Dandie, Sergio Ferro, Barbara Hall, Barbara Drigo, Gianluca Brunetti, Henrietta Venter, Baden Myers, Permal Deo, Erica Donner, Enzo Lomb