Experian Hitwise reveals latest UK Search Engine and Social Analysis; Microsofta[euro](tm)s bing regains position as UKa[euro](tm)s second favourite search engine; YouTube accounts for 1 in every 35 UK Internet visits.

M2 PRESSWIRE-August 8, 2011-: Experian Hitwise reveals latest UK Search Engine and Social Analysis; Microsofta[euro](tm)s bing regains position as UKa[euro](tm)s second favourite search engine; YouTube accounts for 1 in every 35 UK Internet visits(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:08082011

London -- Experian Hitwise's latest Search Engine and Social Analysis shows that July was a good month for Microsoft, YouTube and Twitter but was not so strong for the market leaders in their respective fields, Google and Facebook.

Microsoft Sites reclaimed the number two spot in the search engine rankings list having dropped to third last month for the first time this year. Microsoft Sites, led by the bing search engine, accounted for 3.84% of all UK Internet searches conducted in July 2011.

Microsoft Sites increased their market share within the Search category by 0.96% compared to June, and were also 0.67% up on July 2010. Google meanwhile had a reversal of fortunes, with a declining market share of searches in July of 0.98%. Google Sites were also marginally down year-on-year by 0.56%,but still accounted for over 91% of searches conducted by UK Internet users.

Yahoo! Sites increased their market share of visits slightly this month to account for 3% of all UK searches online and Ask Sites also made minor gains. However, it was only Microsoft Sites which demonstrated any notable growth in the search market this month and bing was the only search engine to increase its market share of searches year-on-year between July 2010 and July 2011.

"Microsoft has recovered from last month's blip to once again become the UK's second most popular search provider," commented Robin Goad, Research Director of Experian Hitwise. "The gains made by Microsoft Sites this month are almost exactly equal to the losses suffered by Google, which means that some of the searches that were being conducted on Google engines last month are now being typed into bing. In this constantly fluctuating search market, it's important for brands to understand where people are searching for their products, and crucially how rankings, paid rates and search success rates can vary across the different search engines. The key for bing now is to hold on to its gains in the search market and build on its strengths which differentiate it from Google and the other engines." YouTube accounts for 1 in every 35 UK Internet visits YouTube continued its exceptional growth as the fastest moving social network for the fifth consecutive month. One in every 35 visits to a website by UK Internet users now goes to YouTube and the video site now accounts for 22.54% of all visits to social networks, its highest market share of the UK social landscape recorded to date.

The search term 'youtube' was also the third biggest after term typed into search engines this month. The most popular search term was 'facebook', while 'ebay' was second. Facebook, meanwhile, suffered a significant loss of market share of visits this month dropping from 53.72% to 50.14% of all UK Internet visits to social networks. Facebook's dominance of the UK social market hasn't been this low since October 2009, when the network accounted for 50.46% of all visits to the category.

Robin Goad added: "The growth of YouTube over the last year has been outstanding. Now firmly entrenched as the UK's third most visited website after Google UK (www.google.co.uk) and Facebook, YouTube continues to make advances in the field of online video. A lot of YouTube's growth has come from usage on mobile devices. One in 20 visits to YouTube now comes from a mobile device used on a home WiFi network, and that doesn't take into account the millions of videos watched each month using the 3G networks. We already know that mobile is the next digital frontier, and YouTube is a great example of a brand that is already reaping the rewards of attracting a strong affinity with smartphone and tablet users. The next step for marketers is to work out not just how to organise their search and social spend, but how much resource can be dedicated to the growing online mobile industry." YouTube increased its presence in social by extending its market share of visits to the Experian Hitwise Social Networking and Forums category from 20.52% in May to 20.76% in June. Facebook was the second fastest growing social network of the month, followed by Tumblr.

Contact: Alexandra Banks Digital PR Manager, Experian Marketing Services +44 (0)7966 102 823 alexandra.banks@uk.experian.com : mailto:alexandra.banks@uk.experian.com press.uk@hitwise.com : mailto:press.uk@hitwise.com

About Experian Hitwise

Experian Hitwise is the leading online competitive intelligence service. Experian Hitwise gives marketers a competitive advantage by providing daily insights on how 25 million Internet users around the world interact with more than 1 million Web sites. This external view helps companies grow and protect their businesses by identifying threats and opportunities as they develop. Experian Hitwise has more than 1,500 clients across numerous sectors, including financial services, media, travel and retail.

Experian Hitwise (FTS:EXPN), www.experianplc.com : http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/experian , operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, France, China and Brazil. More information about Experian Hitwise is available at www.hitwise.com/uk : http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/hitwiseuk .

For up-to-date analysis of online trends, please visit the Experian Hitwise research blog at www.ilovedata.com : http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/ilovedata and the Experian Hitwise Data Centre at www.hitwise.com/datacentre : http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/datacentre About Experian Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was US$4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and So Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/experian : http://hitwise.chtah.com/a/tBOP8HKB8U3jIB8csdrAAAZxMBF/experian .

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

Insanity behind the poker faces.(Features)

tHriLLers GEOFFREY WANSELL BURIED SECRETS BY JOSEPH FINDER (Headline, [pounds sterling]19.99 ? [pounds sterling]16.99) MAVERICK private spy Nick Heller made his debut as the man who finds out the secrets that powerful people want to hide in Finder's excellent thriller Vanished last year and this second appearance is even better than the first.

Heller has moved back to his home town of Boston and set up his own office when he's begged for help by an old family friend, hedge-fund billionaire Marshall Marcus.

Marcus, who once employed Heller's mother as a personal assistant, wants the investigator to search for his missing daughter Alexa. A headstrong, rebellious 17-year-old, she's gone missing after a night out.

Heller's search rapidly turns into a kidnapping investigation, for Alexa has been abducted by professionals who have buried her alive in an underground coffin -- not unlike the Quentin Tarantino episodes of CSI when Nick Stokes was buried -- with a video link to the internet streaming her desperate cries for help.

This is edge-of-the-seat, pulseracing storytelling with a whiplash finish that leaves you gasping for more: quite excellent.

RIZZO'S FIRE BY LOU MANFREDO (Corvus, [pounds sterling]17.99 ? [pounds sterling]14.99) ANOTHER second in a series, this time about veteran New York cop Joe Rizzo. Richly confirming the extraordinary promise of the first book, the follow-up has style and authenticity, giving a no-nonsense depiction of what life is like on the streets for a New York detective.

But here Manfredo adds yet more subtlety to his portrait of the city's finest. It shows a cop with 26 years on the job losing respect for his profession.

A man is found dead in his apartment after ten days and he's had no visitors. So who strangled him and then made tea in his kitchen wearing his pyjamas? It's a mystery about a forgotten man, but it's more than that, for it explores whether the NYPD's top brass are truly interested in such small crimes -- not least, after the murder of a big Broadway producer comes along.

This is Ed McBain for the 21st century -- and that's high praise -- with the Byzantine workings of the police department at the heart of the story.

It confirms Manfredo as one of New York's finest thriller writers.

THE SECRET SOLDIER BY ALEX BERENSON (Headline, [pounds sterling]12.99 ? [pounds sterling]9.99) NEW YORK TIMES writer Berenson has made a name for himself as an investigative reporter with exceptional skill, but he's turned to thrillers and created former CIA agent John Wells, who provides governments around the world with an 'unofficial' option when it comes to solving their problems.

This time, Saudi Arabia's King Abdulla fears he is losing control of his family and his people and calls on Wells to help.

The novel displays Berenson's particular knack for the up-to-theminute, as it opens with a jihad attack in Bahrain designed to destabilise the regime -- followed by a series of terrorist attacks throughout the Gulf with a similar objective.

Sounds familiar? Certainly, and this is an espionage thriller that reeks of inside knowledge and insight, as Wells discovers that the plotters actually want to initiate a Holy War between Islam and the United States. Written in a spare, taut style and with a real grasp of contemporary geopolitics, it's one of those thrillers that might be true.

retro reads VAL HENNESSY THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE (Oxford, [pounds sterling]9.99 ? [pounds sterling]8.99) WHEN former PM John Major named Trollope as his favourite author, it was the writer's kiss-ofdeath, as far as I was concerned. Life's too brief, I thought, to tackle those 600-page dusty Victorian tomes.

How short-sighted of me. The Eustace Diamonds (1872) takes wicked, satirical swipes at the narrow, privileged world of toffs, corrupt politicians and the conniving marriage negotiations so crucial to the cash-strapped aristocracy.

Our anti-heroine (a very bad lot) is Lady Eustace, widowed, beautiful, young, scheming and teller of whopping lies.

Her scandalous determination to hang on to the family diamonds leads her lawyers, besotted lovers and aspiring parliamentarians on a merry dance which involves perjury, criminal proceedings, the trashing of reputations and social disgrace.

To her long-suffering lawyer the lady is a 'greedy, blood-sucking harpy', to her potential mother-inlaw she's a 'nasty, low, dishonest little wretch'.

For readers, she's a masterpiece of comic invention. The brilliant so-polite-but-deadly dialogue, posh bitchy female spats and hilariously unimpressed servants make this a joy to read.

Good grief, what an admission. I'll be voting Conservative next.

THE FOUNTAIN OVERFLOWS BY REBECCA WEST (Virago, [pounds sterling]10.99 ? [pounds sterling]8.99) TROUBLED Edwardian family life involving a dysfunctional marriage is the theme of West's novel.

Narrator Rose is one of four children growing up in genteel poverty -- low on cash but rich in intellectual stimulation, musicmaking, conversation and love. 'I had long known Papa was wonderful but no good as a Papa,' confesses Rose, a rose-tinted understatement if ever there was one as Papa is a self-absorbed gambler, financial cheat and adulterer.

As he flits in and out of family life, he is adored by wife and children, though you feel pretty sorry for his fragile, slightly scatty wife who sacrificed her concert pianist career for her marriage.

'My husband once passed me in the High Street and looked at me like a stranger,' she recalls sadly.

It's a lovely, gentle book -- a bit like The Railway Children without the trains or the tear-jerking ending.

debut noVeLs IMOGEN LYCETT GREEN FOLD BY TOM CAMPBELL (Bloomsbury [pounds sterling]11.99 ? [pounds sterling]9.99) FOLD IS built around five middleaged men who meet once a month in each other's houses (in Reading, of all the unromantic towns) to play poker.

All the men are wondering -- with the funny yet bleak dial o g u e of other boys' novels (Hornbyesque with a touch of Nick Cave's Grinder Man album thrown in) -- how on earth they ended up teaching or in IT or poor or married to a bitch, in Reading.

The cards they have been dealt by fate seem to influence the way they play poker.

When Nick's losing streak leads him to be seized by a Shrek-sized green monster of jealousy, he plots to unman Doug and mayhem results.

Bloomsbury describes Fold as a tale of friendship and rivalry, jokers and kings, but more alarmingly it reads as a hilarious expose of the insane levels of competition between blokes.

THE MAP OF TIME BY FELIX PALMA (HarperCollins, [pounds sterling]12.99 ? [pounds sterling]9.99) THIS PLAYFUL debut by Spanish author and critic Felix Palma has already been translated into 20 languages and is a bestseller across Europe.

As the English translation by Nick Caistor hits our bookshelves this week, the publisher will wait to see whether Brits embrace the time-travelling Victorian melodrama with the same enthusiasm. The Map Of Time is a clever and engrossing 500-page yarn encompassing mystery, romance and murder. Just the sort of novel to see you through a holiday.

Not everyone will swallow the appearance of novelist H.G. Wells along with a real timemachine nor the 19th-century swagger of the language (things are deduced or presumed, women lift their skirts without further ado).

But Palma, employing Jack the Ripper and the Elephant Man in cameo roles, handles the time travel as well as the historical tour of Victorian London with cocky assurance.

PAO BY KERRY YOUNG (Bloomsbury [pounds sterling]11.99 ? [pounds sterling]9.99) KERRY YOUNG'S impressive debut follows the fortunes of Yang Pao, a young Chinese boy who emigrates with his mother and brother to Jamaica in 1938, after his father has died fighting for revolutionary causes back home.

Jamaica's political development mirrors the life of Pao, who grows up under the protection of Zhang, the godfather of Kingston's Chinatown. Told in a kind of Chinese--Jamaican patois, the firstperson narrative is captivating. Pao makes stupid decisions, marries for prestige, loves a prostitute, brings up two families, covers up murders and becomes boss of Chinatown himself, while continually trying to make sense of Jamaica's ambitions throughout the post-independence turbulence of the Sixties.

With grace, authenticity and humour, Young lets Jamaica's political history shine through the life story of her charming yet fallible hero. Brilliant.

Al Fayed, 78, plots a bright future ... and it's online.(Business)

Byline: Neil Craven

FORMER Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed is planning to build an internet empire by snapping up small but growing online firms.

Al Fayed, who sold London's most famous department store to the Qatari royal family last year for [pounds sterling]1.5 billion, is understood to have approached Bauer Media with a view to buying its discount fashion website cocosa.com.

It is believed that negotiations are at an advanced stage and Al Fayed lieutenant Jeffrey Byrne has already registered a company called Cocosa Lifestyle.

Al Fayed, 78, is understood to have become interested by the fast-growing nature of the internet and wants to move on other potential targets this year.

'Al Fayed has experienced something of an epiphany since he sold Harrods and has become hooked on the idea of online retailing,' said a source.

Bauer declined to comment on any deal, but said: 'We're presented with opportunities all the time.' Meanwhile, the founders of play.com, Richard Goulding and Simon Perree, have merged their online sports nutrition business, Superfit, with Better Health, owned by Phil Balderson.

Balderson, who will run the enlarged group, said combined sales would be about [pounds sterling]5 million this year and are projected to double next year.

'We think there is going to be potential in the market for men in their 30s and 40s wanting to stay fit,' he said.

'When times are tough, people are more likely to buy products that make them feel good.' He said he and his partners were looking for further acquisitions.

MANAGING YOUR ASSOCIATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA RISKS AND COVERAGE EXPOSURES.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The following information was released by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership:

Date(s):Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Location:ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

Member Fee:$95.00

Non-Member Fee:$195.00

CAE Hours: Earn up to 3 hours

Program Description

Just announced! ASAE-Endorsed Business Solutions is providing a free book to the next 20 people to register for this event, and those already registered.

Associations today are behaving more and more like media companies in order to stay connected to their members and to represent the messages of their members' industries--through channels such as print publications, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging, e-marketing, and Internet advertising.

However, as opportunities have emerged, so have risks. Litigation over copyrights and trademarks is exploding. Most non-media organizations like associations rely on their general liability insurance policies for advertising coverage.

But, these general liability policies are shrinking. Do you know if your association is being left exposed?

This session will provide three perspectives (association communications, legal, and insurance) in managing the delicate balance between the benefits and risks related to social media by:

Providing an overview of social media, specifically how and why a proper strategy can help associations identify and reduce risks.

Reviewing social media legal risks related to associations, as well as practical risk minimization applications.

Examining common general liability insurance and the ever-widening gap between what is and what is not covered because of Internet-related forms of communication.

Our expert content leaders will walk you through examples of other associations utilizing social media, while providing you with a mindset for protecting your association from insurance-related ramifications. You will also hear real-life association claim examples, with ample time for your most challenging questions.

Content Leaders:

Terrance Barkan CAE, chief strategist and business architect, SOCIALSTRAT

Michael DiSilvestro, Esq, vice president - Claims, AXIS PRO

Sherri Way, Esq., partner, Krendl Krendl Sachnoff and Way, P.C.

Session Moderator:

Amy Doherty, Sr. vice president, Aon Association Services

Just announced! ASAE-Endorsed Business Solutions is providing a free book to the next 20 people to register for this event.

To extend your learning beyond this program, you have a chance to win one of ASAE's best-selling books:

Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations, Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers, CAE

Social Networking for Nonprofits: Increasing Engagement in a Mobile and Web 2.0 World, Andy Steggles

To qualify, you:

Must register and attend the program.

Provide full payment for your registration prior to attending the program.

Cannot cancel or transfer registration.

Must attend the June 1, 2011 event to pick up your book from the ASAE Building

Winners will be notified via email by ASAE-Endorsed Business Solutions prior to June 1, 2011 for your book selection. Registrants who signed up after the cut-off will also be notified.

Books will not be shipped to winners if not picked up on June 1.

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

(Continental Breakfast will be provided at 8:30 am)

Included in registration fee is a complimentary continental breakfast and a lunch buffet, provided by AXIS Pro, an ASAE-Endorsed Business Solutions partner.

Cancellation Policy: Attendance cancellations must be received within five business days before the program begins. A $75 cancellation fee will apply. There are no refunds for cancellations received less than five business days before a program. No-shows will not be refunded.

Symphony Advanced Media Launches With Accelerated Advertising Performance Measurement.

Symphony Advanced Media, part of the Symphony Technology Group (STG), has announced their recent company launch. Symphony Advanced Media (SymphonyAM) provides cross-media advertising performance analytics and consumer insights to empower brand advertisers to make more efficient media allocation and segmentation decisions and track the performance of their live campaigns for a higher return on investment (ROI) on their media spend.

"As new media platforms emerge, brand leaders must navigate an increasingly complex array of options to engage and influence consumers. It's more imperative than ever for marketers to fully understand how their media investments-strategically and down to the campaign level-are impacting their brand value and bottom line," said SymphonyAM CEO Manish Bhatia. "SymphonyAM enables advertisers to get the full value out of their media investments with the right set of fast, actionable, granular insights."

SymphonyAM recently expanded with the acquisition of San Francisco-based Factor Technology Group, a leading provider of advertising effectiveness measurement. Founded in 1999, FactorTG has executed more than 5,000,000 brand effectiveness surveys for global clients across the media, agency, automotive, CPG, financial services and pharmaceutical categories.

"Over the last two years, we have developed a great partnership with FactorTG to help our clients measure and optimize their advertising effectiveness," noted Paul A. Pereira, vice president of analytics & search engine marketing at Hill Holiday. "We look forward to expanding this relationship and leveraging SymphonyAM's access to even more consumer insights data."

"SymphonyAM provides us with critical insights to help us understand the delivery and accountability of our direct-to-consumer media mix," said Pamela Stewart, director of consumer market research at Shire Pharmaceuticals. "We are pleased that FactorTG is now part of the larger Symphony Advanced Media organization and we are looking forward to a strengthened partnership."

SymphonyAM's advertising effectiveness measurement solutions utilize a unique methodological approach to combine qualitative consumer data with robust quantitative data. The result provides relevant and comprehensive insights about cross-media campaign performance-even on very short, live campaigns. This methodology enables SymphonyAM to address key shortcomings commonly found in traditional advertising measurement approaches, such as slow reporting and the inability to measure low-weight media.

SymphonyAM's leadership team is comprised of seasoned executives from television, Internet, mobile, social media and consumer research organizations. SymphonyAM is headquartered in Palo Alto and San Francisco, CA, with offices in Princeton, New Jersey and New York City. About Symphony Advanced Media Symphony Advanced Media helps clients optimize their integrated channel strategies and media options to rapidly improve campaign performance, increase efficiency and drive more consumer response.

SymphonyAM's analytics solutions combine behavioral data and survey-based solutions to provide actionable strategic insights on advertising performance across all media, including online, TV and mobile. Clients include leading global brand advertisers in the media, automotive, financial services, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods and telecom industries. Learn more about SymphonyAM at www.symphonyam.com.

SymphonyAM is part of part of Symphony Technology Group (STG), the global leader in marketing intelligence whose portfolio of companies include Symphony IRI, Teleca, and EYC.

Keywords: Advertise, Advertising, Automobiles, Finance, Financial Services, Investing, Marketing, Return On Investment, Symphony Advanced Media, Technology, Television, Transportation.

This article was prepared by Telecommunications Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Telecommunications Weekly via VerticalNews.com.

RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION VITAL AS ALGERIA EMBARKS ON REFORMS - UN EXPERT.

NEW YORK -- The following information was released by the United Nations:

An independent United Nations human rights expert today called on Algeria to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression as part of its ongoing political reforms, noting that journalists still face a number of challenges in carrying out their work.

"I would like to reiterate the importance of fully guaranteeing the right of all individuals to freedom of opinion and expression, and access to information, which are essential in a truly democratic society," said Frank La Rue, who just concluded a weeklong visit to the country.

"This visit has been very timely given the growingI would like to reiterate the importance of fully guaranteeing the right of all individuals to freedom of opinion and expression, and access to information, which are essential in a truly democratic society demand of the people for more openness and the full guarantee of their right to freedom of expression, as well as the expressed desire of the Government to embark on a new process of political change, including constitutional reforms," said Mr. La Rue, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Algeria has come a long way since the 1990s, during which 100 journalists were killed, he noted in a news release, adding that journalists no longer fear for their lives while performing their work.

"Nevertheless, journalists face a number of challenges and legal intimidation that impede their important work," he said.

Mr. La Rue urged the Government to urgently decriminalize defamation, which he said has "a chilling effect" on the right to freedom of expression by generating an attitude of self-censorship among journalists.

"Defamation should never be used to stifle criticism of State institutions and policies," he added, welcoming the announcement by the President to decriminalize press offences.

He also welcomed the recent lifting of the state of emergency which has been in place since 1992, calling it a "positive sign." At the same time, he cautioned that the existing legal framework is still restrictive when it comes to the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Mr. La Rue pointed out that the television and radio sectors are still under the control of the Government. He also took note of reports that national television and radio stations did not provide fair and balanced coverage of the recent protests in the country.

While welcoming efforts to provide increased Internet access to eight million users through libraries and public Internet centres, the Special Rapporteur did note that the social networking site Facebook had become inaccessible for a short period during the recent events in neighbouring countries.

Mr. La Rue reports in an independent and unpaid capacity to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.

Hyatt Regency Lexington Hotel Announces the Arrival of BlueFire Bar & Grill.

The newest downtown Lexington restaurant is set to open by July 2010

Lexington, KY (PRWEB) April 28, 2010 -- The Hyatt Regency Lexington hotel announced today that it will open a BlueFire Bar & Grill in the lobby of the hotel. The new concept and design for the downtown Lexington restaurant includes breakfast, lunch and dinner service, free Wi-Fi and seating for up to 250 guests. The $1 million restaurant project will be completed by July 2010 and will not be a disruption to guests staying at the hotel.

The new restaurant and bar will have an upscale ambiance with wood flooring, flat-panel HDTVs, sofa seating, a fountain and a color-changing LED lighting element. The menu will feature traditional Kentucky cuisine presented with a unique style, local craft beers and Kentucky bourbons.

"BlueFire Bar & Grill will enhance the guest experience for both business and leisure travelers," said Larry Bell, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Lexington hotel. "BlueFire's menu is rich with imagination and flavor, and our goal is to be the best bar and grill in downtown Lexington."

The bar area of the downtown Lexington restaurant will be moved from its current location and will face the hotel entrance. In the center of the back bar will be a 60" HDTV with cubbies on either side to display local artwork. Two communal tables with power outlets and built-in lamps will be available for guests to use their laptops. With its proximity to Rupp Arena, BlueFire Bar & Grill is expected to be a favorite for downtown residents, concert-goers and University of Kentucky fans.

"We're excited to bring a new dining option to the local community," said Bell. "BlueFire Bar & Grill will give people who live and work downtown the opportunity to enjoy a casual dining experience in a contemporary setting that's close to home and the office."

The downtown Lexington restaurant will replace the Glass Garden Restaurant and Bar currently located near the lobby. Food and beverage services will be moved to the Kentucky Room and Hyttops Sports Bar until the renovation is complete.

The Hyatt Regency Lexington hotel completed a $16.4 million renovation in 2009 that included all 366 guestrooms, meeting space and the lobby. The newly renovated guestrooms include the Hyatt Grand Bed(TM) complete with plush pillow top mattress, a 32" flat panel HDTV, an iHome stereo with iPod(R) docking station, and a state-of-the-art work center with ergonomic chair and high speed Internet access. Guest bathrooms include an updated shower and a natural stone vanity. The hotel renovation resulted in a 25 percent reduction in energy use.

For more information or reservations at Hyatt Regency Lexington, call 800-233-1234 or visit lexington.hyatt.com.

About The Procaccianti Group (TPG)

The Procaccianti Group (TPG) is a second generation, privately held real estate investment company that specializes in acquisition, renovation and management of investment real estate. TPG has owned or developed more than 20 million square feet of real estate valued at more than $6 billion. The Procaccianti Group is one of the top five privately held hotel owner operators in the United States. For more information visit www.procgroup.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stephanie Apple

Preston-Osborne

502.322.6632

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3919474.htm.