Vietnam's First Luxury Tour Operator Attracts the High End GLBT Travelers

Luxury Travel Ltd announces new bespoke holidays to upscale gays and lesbian travelers to Vietnam.

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 9, 2012 -- It is the first travel company in the country offering tours for not only couples but also for upscale singles.

Quietly, Vietnam has become a popular niche market for gay tourists. Saigon is particularly welcoming,” Dav Nguyen, Sales and Marketing Manager of Luxury Travel says that it's all because of the locals' friendly attitude: “People living here have a very open approach to gay people.”

We had a wonderful trip in Vietnam. All accommodations and tour guides were fantastic. We enjoyed all the sights included in our schedule as well as all meals planned by Luxury Travel. Let me stress that all guides and hotel employees were very respectful, kind, and professional and we have no complaints against any individual we encountered,” said Julie and Valerie, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA.

About Luxury Travel Ltd

Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd (http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers, in luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel excels in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator.

Media Contact:
Doan Hong Linh (Ms.)
Marketing Executive
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
+ 84.4.39274120 Ext 122

IAPAM Announces New Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox ® Training September 22-23, 2012

The growth in minimally-invasive, less expensive anti-aging treatments such as Botox ®, dermal fillers, and hCG for weight loss continues to grow in the second half of 2012. From family physicians to internists to obstetricians & gynecologists, many physicians have decided to add these services to their existing practices. To meet this need, the IAPAM announces the dates for its next Aesthetic Medicine Symposium, September 22-23, 2012, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - August 9, 2012 -- As reported in Medical Economics, the increase in interest in the field of aesthetic medicine makes sense when one considers that, "the bulk of cosmetic procedure clients are the very people who dominate the patient panels of internists and family physicians. Women aged 35 to 50 years have 44% of these procedures, and women between the ages of 51 and 65 have an additional 20%."

To help physicians add these non-surgical modalities to a practice, and enter this lucrative cash-based market, the IAPAM offers the industry's leading dermatologist-led Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox ® Training in Scottsdale, Arizona. At the IAPAM's September 22-23 Symposium (http://iapam.com/aesthetic-medicine-symposium-botox-training), physicians will receive everything they need, to start safely and profitably offering Botox ® and other in-demand aesthetic medicine procedures right away.

"About 5 million nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed by aestheticians last year, frequently in a spa setting," says Jeff Russell, executive director of the IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com). "Many primary care physicians (PCPs) have decided to meet the demand for these services by actively controlling the "med" part of these "medspas"."

Therefore, the IAPAM's Aesthetic Medicine Symposium is specifically designed by physicians, for physicians, to educate and train on the top cosmetic procedures like: Botox ®, dermal filler injections, lasers for skin rejuvenation & laser hair removal, medical microdermabrasion, and medical grade chemical peels. The IAPAM's September 22-23 Symposium has integrated the most important clinical, aesthetic medicine business, and Botox ® training ALL into one weekend, including:

- dedicated instruction from board-certified dermatologists, who are true experts of the skin and cosmetic injectables;
- hands-on practice in the best injection techniques;
- Botox ® training at a multi-million dollar medical practice, not in a hotel room; and
- an environment that does not allow exhibitors, giving physicians more time for education.

Attendees also have the opportunity to:

1. Attend the IAPAM's Aesthetic Practice Start-Up Workshop (http://iapam.com/aesthetic-practice-startup-workshop) on Monday, September 24, 2012, a program highlighting the latest information on medspa business development and social media marketing.
2. Attend the IAPAM's hCG Training (http://iapam.com/physician-weight-loss-training-using-hormones) on Friday, September 21, 2012, which covers hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) for weight loss, prescription appetite suppressants, ketogenic diet based programs, meal replacements and B6/12 injections.

Since 2006, over 1000 physicians (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, DDSs etc.) and their staff (RNs, MAs, practice managers, etc.), have attended the IAPAM's Aesthetic Medicine Symposiums and hCG Training seminars, and been certified by the IAPAM. Also, the year of personalized practice support and the wealth of resources included with one's training, definitely make the IAPAM's programs different than the others.

The dates for the next Aesthetic Medicine Symposium are September 22-23, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona. For additional information or to register for the September 22-23 Aesthetic Medicine Symposium, please contact the IAPAM at 1-800-219-5108 ext. 704, or visit http://www.iapam.com.

Botox is a trademark of Allergan, Inc.

About the IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), dentists (DDSs/DMDs) doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: Botox ® training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 x704

AAA: Pension Fund Researchers Need To Take Time Over Alternatives

A new article in the Financial Times has pointed out the fact that many pension funds and other institutional investors may need to take on more research staff if they want to make the most of alternative investment opportunities. This has led AAA to warn pension funds that they may want to think twice about bringing their research in house.

Boston, MA, USA, August 9, 2012 -- A new article in the Financial Times has pointed out the fact that many pension funds and other institutional investors may need to take on more research staff if they want to make the most of alternative investment opportunities. This has led Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) to warn pension funds that they may want to think twice about bringing their research in house.

This view was reflected by Peter Urbani, who used to work for Infiniti Capital, and who spoke to the FT about his experiences. He said, "The recent acquisition of Sovereign by Mercer is an indication that pension funds are starting to look at alternatives, but realising that they need to do it internally.”

He explained that turning to alternatives meant that researchers would have to carry out more in-depth due diligence than when dealing with traditional asset classes, which equates to more work.

A growing number of large investment institutions, such as pension funds are turning increasingly towards the idea of alternative investment. Following the economic crisis, investors are keen to receive something tangible in exchange for their investments and are also interested in diversifying their portfolios against risk.

One option is direct forestry investment. This can be done by buying up physical sections of forest or plantation and cashing in the profits once trees grow and are harvested for timber. However, investing through a firm like Greenwood Management means investors get all the benefits of timberland investment, but will start to see returns on their investment much sooner.

Timberland investment has become extremely popular as it has regularly outperformed stocks and shares and provides a very effective hedge against inflation. What’s more is that if, when the time come to sell the timber you have been growing come, but the market price isn't right, investors can simply hang on to their investment and watch it grown some more.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

FRA Welcomed USA Today Endorsement of Timber Investment

FRA has welcomed a new article published by USA Today predicting a boom in timber investment returns if the real estate industry returns to a strong position.

Seattle, United States, August 9, 2012 -- Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed a new article published by USA Today predicting a boom in timber investment returns if the real estate industry returns to a strong position.

The housing collapse in the US brought with it a fall in timber prices. Now things are looking up again and, as a result, timber stocks are looking rather attractive once more, according to USA Today’s John Waggoner. Since timber futures prices’ lowest spot in early 2009, they have increased by an impressive 93 per cent. Although this is slightly less than the recovery in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, the improvement in the real estate market indicates a good reason to buy up timber REITs.

In the past 12 months, new home starts have jumped by 23 per cent and the fact that housing is now a lot more affordable than the last time housing starts increased, suggests that the turnaround will last longer and be more notable this time, claims FRA.

The forestry investment advocacy group supports the USA Today article, claiming that timber REITs are very attractive, but that there are also other options for those who are interested in investing in timber. “We promote investment in sustainably managed plantations, such as those operated in Brazil by firms like Greenwood Management,” stated FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins.

These plantations allow investors to directly invest in a piece of forestry land for as little as $10,000, which is a lot less than is involved when buying forestry independently. Then, firms like Greenwood manage these plantations for the owners and start paying returns to investors as soon as money starts coming in from any mature trees on the entire plantation.

Mr Collins claims that this option mean that investors enjoy the diversification benefits of forestry investment, but also get to see returns sooner than they would through other direct investment routes.

About Forestry Research Associates

Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.

Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394