http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/business-travel/off-duty/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/business-travel/off-duty/off-duty-beijing-835411.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/business-travel/off-duty/off-duty-beijing-835411.html ]]> <p> <b>Why? </b> </p> <p> After centuries of isolation, Beijing has burst onto the world financial market. While Shanghai remains the economic centre of China simply because so many large corporations based are there, Beijing is fast catching up as the country’s entrepreneurial centre. Currently, the city is enjoying a year-on-year growth of 12 per cent with big areas for development in the real estate and automobile sectors. In Beijing car ownership increases annually at a rate of nearly 20 per cent - hence the smog. </p> Off Duty Wed, 28 May 2008 11:41:14 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/business-travel/off-duty/off-duty-tampa-833083.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/business-travel/off-duty/off-duty-tampa-833083.html ]]> <p> Even by the standards of sybaritic Florida, “The Big Cigar” is not exactly a cultural centre. But it’s a friendly place to visit, with a gorgeous Cuban Quarter in Ybor City and a healthy zest for good food and music throughout the conurbation. </p> <p> Tampa is situated on low ground between two stretches of water, Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, which together form Tampa Bay, a small inland sea flowing out to the Gulf of Mexico. Its sheltered shoreline has always made Tampa ideally situated for trade but it’s also vulnerable to inundation. The highest point in the whole city is only 40ft above sea level. </p> Off Duty Fri, 23 May 2008 10:52:27 +0100