Proposta de plano de comunicação: Curia Palace Hotel Spa & Golf

O presente projeto propõe-se a contribuir para a melhoria da comunicação do Curia Palace Hotel Spa & Golf de forma, a que este recupere o brilho de outros tempos. O livro inicia-se com uma apresentação do turismo mundial e em Portugal (com todas as suas características e tendências), assim como a hotelaria e o marketing a ela associado. Segue-se toda a informação da unidade hoteleira em questão e o perfil dos seus clientes (considerando os dados recolhidos através de inquéritos), e a proposta de um plano de comunicação usando como base o perfil previamente estabelecido.

MOWING TO GROWING: TRANSFORMING A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE TO URBAN AGRICULTURE IN BALTIMORE CITY

This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can transform underused golf course facilities located within cities for urban agriculture (UA). In the last decade more than 1000 golf courses have closed in the United States. Municipal golf courses represent some of the largest pieces of open space in cities and because of their inherent infrastructure they can provide the ideal location to support large-scale UA. In Southwest Baltimore large food deserts are a serious health concern and represent a lack of access to healthy food options for residents. Carroll Urban Agriculture Park is a design response resulting from a detailed analysis of the existing Carroll Park Golf Course and the surrounding community of Southwest Baltimore. The design will create an urban farm in a park-like setting to provide readily accessible healthy food options and various educational opportunities, and to support current and future urban agriculture related businesses in Baltimore.

Observational research on golf-related injuries

The determination of aetiological factors in sports injuries is challenging. Recently, investigators have devoted significant attention to this topic. A reasonable amount of studies provides information on the occurrence, aetiology, and severity of golf-related injuries. However, gaps of evidence still limit the understanding of the injury problem in golf and the comparability of epidemiological findings. Observational studies using surveys and medical records were reviewed. Surveys are suited to find precise occurrence patterns of golf-related injuries, but fail to adequately ascertain the levels of exposure and aetiological factors. Due to the proximity to the injury event, medical records are able to clearly identify the aetiology and severity of golf-related injuries. While reviewing observational studies using surveys a comment was provided on the methodological quality and risk of bias. Overall, these studies seem to be disturbed on their ability to produce generalizations and comparison of study findings. With the information obtained from reviewing observational studies and the collaboration of a panel of internationally recognised experts on golf science and sports injury research, a web-based bilingual questionnaire was developed and tested for one of the provided languages. The bilingual nature of the questionnaire is also expected to facilitate the acceptance of the scientific community and enable the translation to different languages. A standardised questionnaire applied in different cultural contexts is expected to help and further improve the comparability of epidemiological findings. The questionnaire was proficient in capturing information on golf-related injuries and participation habits of golfers. While using a wider outcome definition focusing on any type of physical complaints, episodes of injury could be recognized despite onset and level of severity. Questions on the need for medical attention, time loss, and impact on performance also enabled additional categorisation of severity.

Saúde e bem-estar na empresa Boa Vista Golf & Spa Resort. Implementação de um plano de bem-estar

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão de Recursos Humanos, Escola Superior de Gestão, Hotelaria e Turismo, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Golf course irrigation and self-sufficiency water in Southern Spain

During the first decade of the 21st century, many golf courses were developed in the Southeast of Spain, which greatly increased the number of these facilities. Almost all of these golf courses have been accompanied by large residential developments composed of thousands of dwelling units. This article seeks to identify the factors that influence golf courses’ water consumption and estimate the number of dwelling units that an associated residential development needs to have to provide the effluent necessary to fully meet the irrigation needs of a golf course. The study indicates that private golf courses achieve greater levels of irrigation efficiency than public golf courses and that the golf courses associated with residential developments subject the irrigation needs of the grassland to the sale requirements of the real estate properties. The study also estimates that a golf course requires approximately 3000 dwelling units with an average annual occupancy of 33% to achieve self-sufficiency for irrigation.

Programas de fidelização – Caso Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & SPA

O setor do turismo tem vindo a assumir uma posição cada vez mais fulcral no desenvolvimento de Portugal, apresentando em 2014 resultados surpreendentes, sendo classificado como o melhor ano de sempre para o turismo português. A região do Algarve continua a ser um dos destinos mais impulsionadores deste resultado a nível nacional, sendo a ativa procura do Turismo de “Sol e Praia” a principal a razão do fluxo turístico registado no Algarve Litoral. A sazonalidade associada a este tipo de turismo apresenta valores representativos, sendo cada vez mais necessária a intervenção das forças governamentais e a implementação de estratégias locais por parte dos hotéis que exploram este segmento turístico. O atual relatório tem como intuito e principal base a descrição e análise das estratégias de gestão e operacionais da unidade hoteleira Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa, resort de 5 estrelas, localizado em Vilamoura, gerida pela cadeia hoteleira Hilton Worldwide, através da sua marca Hilton Hotels & Resorts. A análise foi desenvolvida através da observação participante dos departamentos operacionais e gestão, na sequência do estágio curricular, que teve a duração de 10 meses, durante o segundo ano de mestrado de Gestão e Direção Hoteleira. O estágio em destaque dividiu-se em 3 fases, com passagens entre o departamento de reservas e o departamento de marketing dos hotéis Hilton Vilamoura e Conrad Algarve, apresentando a descrição das principais tarefas desenvolvidas, bem como análises críticas finais das diferentes fases do estágio nos dois hotéis. A última fase do estágio corresponde ao estágio no departamento de marketing do hotel Hilton Vilamoura, responsável pelas ações operacionais e gestão de marketing. Com base na análise da realidade atual do destino Algarve, dos valores da marca Hilton e da necessidade de desenvolvimento e promoção do Hilton Vilamoura em época baixa enquadra-se o desafio proposto: um programa de fidelização local apelidado de Club H20. O propósito do programa de fidelização Club H20 surge com o objetivo de promover a unidade hoteleira a nível local, fortalecendo a relação entre a mesma e a comunidade local, alavancando o investimento do turismo residencial e da população local no investimento, desenvolvimento e sustentabilidade da propriedade Hilton Vilamoura.

EVALUACIÓN DE IMPACTO AMBIENTAL EN COSTA RICA: EL CASO DE PROYECTO DE CAMPO DE GOLF

EVALUACIÓN DE IMPACTO AMBIENTAL EN COSTA RICA:  EL CASO DE PROYECTO DE CAMPO DE GOLF

The role of extreme sports in lifestyle enhancement and wellness

Alternative sports are fast becoming the physical activity of choice. Participation rates are even outstripping more traditional activities such as golf. At their most extreme there is no second chance, the most likely outcome of a mismanaged error or accident is death. At this level participants enjoy activities such as B.A.S.E. (Buildings, Antennae, Space, Earth) jumping, big wave surfing, waterfall kayaking, extreme skiing, rope-free climbing and extreme mountaineering. Probably the most common explanation for participation in extreme sports is the notion that participation is just a matter of some people‟s need to take unnecessary risks. This study reports on findings that indicate a more positive experience. A phenomenological method was used via unstructured interviews with 15 extreme sports participants (ages 30 – 72 years) and other firsthand accounts. Extreme sport participants directly related their experience to personal transformations that spill over to life in general. Athletes report feelings of deep psychological wellbeing and meaningfulness. The extreme sport experience enables a participant to break through personal barriers and develop an understanding of their own resourcefulness and emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual capabilities. Furthermore such a breakthrough also seems to trigger a change in personal philosophy or view on life. The extreme sport experience transforms a participant though not in terms of working towards an external (social or cultural) perception of identity or towards some constructed perception of an ideal self, but by touching something within.

The X-Factor and its relationship to golfing performance

It is often postulated that an increased hip to shoulder differential angle (`X-Factor') during the early downswing better utilises the stretch-shorten cycle and improves golf performance. The current study aims to examine the potential relationship between the X-Factor and performance during the tee-shot. Seven golfers with handicaps between 0 and 10 strokes comprised the low-handicap group, whilst the high-handicap group consisted of eight golfers with handicaps between 11 and 20 strokes. The golfers performed 20 drives and three-dimensional kinematic data were used to quantify hip and shoulder rotation and the subsequent X-Factor. Compared with the low-handicap group, the high-handicap golfers tended to demonstrate greater hip rotation at the top of the backswing and recorded reduced maximum X-Factor values. The inconsistencies evident in the literature may suggest that a universal method of measuring rotational angles during the golf swing would be beneficial for future studies, particularly when considering potential injury.

Risk taking in Extreme Sports: A phenomenological perspective

Participation in extreme sports is enjoying incredible growth while more traditional recreational activities such as golf are struggling to maintain numbers. Theoretical perspectives on extreme sports and extreme sport participants have assumed that participation is about risk-taking. However, these theory-driven methodologies may reflect judgments that do not necessarily relate to participants' lived experience. In this paper I review current risk-oriented perspectives on extreme sports and present research findings that question this assumed relationship between extreme sports and risk and thus reposition the experience in a hitherto unexplored manner. Risk taking is not the focus. Participants acknowledge that the potential outcome of a mismanaged mistake or accident could be death. However, accepting this potential outcome does not mean that they search for risk. Participants argue that many everyday life events (e.g., driving) are high-risk events. Participants undertake detailed preparation in order to minimise the possibility of negative outcomes because extreme sports trigger a range of positive experiential outcomes. The study is significant as it followed a hermeneutic phenomenological process which did not presuppose a risk-taking orientation. Hermeneutic phenomenology allows for a multitude of data sources including interviews (10 male and 5 female extreme sports participants, ages 30 to 72 years), auto-biographies, videos and other firsthand accounts. This process allowed this unexpected perspective to emerge more clearly.

Field study of air change and flow rate in six automobiles

For many people, a relatively large proportion of daily exposure to a multitude of pollutants may occur inside an automobile. A key determinant of exposure is the amount of outdoor air entering the cabin (i.e. air change or flow rate). We have quantified this parameter in six passenger vehicles ranging in age from 18 years to <1 year, at three vehicle speeds and under four different ventilation settings. Average infiltration into the cabin with all operable air entry pathways closed was between 1 and 33.1 air changes per hour (ACH) at a vehicle speed of 60 km/h, and between 2.6 and 47.3 ACH at 110 km/h, with these results representing the most (2005 Volkswagen Golf) and least air-tight (1989 Mazda 121) vehicles, respectively. Average infiltration into stationary vehicles parked outdoors varied between ~0 and 1.4 ACH and was moderately related to wind speed. Measurements were also performed under an air recirculation setting with low fan speed, while airflow rate measurements were conducted under two non-recirculate ventilation settings with low and high fan speeds. The windows were closed in all cases, and over 200 measurements were performed. The results can be applied to estimate pollutant exposure inside vehicles.

Hierarchical robust design optimisation of shock control bump devices for airfoil drag reduction

The paper investigates a detailed Active Shock Control Bump Design Optimisation on a Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) aerofoil; RAE 5243 to reduce cruise drag at transonic flow conditions using Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) coupled to a robust design approach. For the uncertainty design parameters, the positions of boundary layer transition (xtr) and the coefficient of lift (Cl) are considered (250 stochastic samples in total). In this paper, two robust design methods are considered; the first approach uses a standard robust design method, which evaluates one design model at 250 stochastic conditions for uncertainty. The second approach is the combination of a standard robust design method and the concept of hierarchical (multi-population) sampling (250, 50, 15) for uncertainty. Numerical results show that the evolutionary optimization method coupled to uncertainty design techniques produces useful and reliable Pareto optimal SCB shapes which have low sensitivity and high aerodynamic performance while having significant total drag reduction. In addition,it also shows the benefit of using hierarchical robust method for detailed uncertainty design optimization.

Application of kaolin amorphous derivative as a nitrogen carrier

Sandy soils have low nutrient holding capacity and high water conductivity. Consequently, nutrients applied as highly soluble chemical fertilisers are prone to leaching, particularly in heavily irrigated environments such as horticultural soils and golf courses. Amorphous derivatives of kaolin with high cation exchange capacity may be loaded with desired nutrients and applied as controlledrelease fertilisers. Kaolin is an abundant mineral, which can be converted to a meso-porous amorphous derivative (KAD) using facile chemical processes. KAD is currently being used to sequester ammonium from digester effluent in sewage treatment plants in a commercial environment. This material is also known in Australia by the trade name MesoLite. The ammonium-saturated form of KAD may be applied to soils as a nitrogen fertiliser. Up to 7% N can be loaded onto KAD by contacting it with high-ammonia concentration wastewater from sewerage treatment plants. This poster paper demonstrates plant uptake of nitrogen from KAD and compares its efficiency as a fertiliser with NH4SO4. Rye grass was grown in 1kg pots in a glass-house. Nitrogen was applied at a range of rates using NH4SO4 and two KAD materials carrying 7% and 3% nitrogen, respectively. All other nutrients were applied in adequate amounts. All treatments were replicated three times. Plants were harvested after four weeks. Dry mass and N concentrations were determined by standard methods. At all N application rates, ammonium-loaded KAD produced significantly higher plant mass than for NH4SO4. The lower fertiliser effectiveness of NH4SO4 is attributed to possible loss of some N through volatilisation. Of the two KAD types, the material with lower CEC value supported slightly higher plant yields. The KAD materials did not show any adverse effect on availability of trace elements, as evidenced by lack of deficiency symptoms and plant analyses. Clearly, nitrogen loaded on to KAD in the form of ammonium is likely to be protected from leaching, but is still available to plants. These data suggest that KAD-based fertilisers may be suitable substitutes for water soluble N, K and other cation fertilisers for leaching soils.

Airport enclaves : bridging boundary tensions between airports and cities

Current approaches to airport development and land use sit at odds with the tradition of airports as spaces for aviation (Stevens et a/. 2010). While airports remain the primary interface between air transport and society, the functions they include within their boundaries have expanded well beyond the provision of infrastructure for aviation and logistics. Shopping malls, commercial office space, hotels, golf courses and conference facilities arc increasingly normal uses of land within airport boundaries (Kasarda 2008), and enhance the role of airports from transport infrastructure to a new form of economic infrastructure (Freestone 2009). However, the expanding role of airports, and the resulting diversification in airport land uses, has not been without opposition.