Mes: octubre 2020

Georgia Ranked #1 for Aerospace Manufacturing and Camden County Best for Space Launch

WOODBINE, Ga., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Separate studies from the consulting giant PwC and Georgia Southern University’s Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER) demonstrate the business attractiveness of Spaceport Camden.

WOODBINE, Ga., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Separate studies from the consulting giant PwC and Georgia Southern University’s Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER) demonstrate the business attractiveness of Spaceport Camden.

PwC’s 2020 Aerospace manufacturing attractiveness rankings (PDF) lists the State of Georgia as the number one state in the country for aerospace manufacturing. According to the report, «[Georgia’s Aerospace and Defense] workforce of 108,000 is employed by more than 800 aerospace companies. Aerospace products, valued at $10.8 billion, account for the state’s top exports and represent the second largest manufacturing industry in the state, representing $57.5 billion in economic impact.»

Separately, a report by CBAER (PDF) at Georgia Southern University found that Camden County already accounts for 278 of Georgia’s 926 direct space industry jobs. According to CBAER, «Camden County has a significantly higher level of specialization in the primary launch sector than does the state of Georgia…the addition of a spaceport could help increase the employment and wages already present in this area.»

Direct space industry gross regional product has increased since 2008 for both Georgia and Camden County, while data shows (PDF) statewide GRP has grown by 88% and in Camden County by 125%. The average annual wages per worker in Camden County are $42,757, while the direct space sector average wages are $150,190 in 2019. This means that a typical job in the space sector earns 3.5 times the regional norm.

«Georgia is the number one state in which to do business, as well as the number one state for aerospace manufacturing. Coupled with Camden’s existing expertise in the space industry, we are poised for massive growth with the approval of Spaceport Camden,» said Steve Howard, Camden County administrator and Spaceport Camden project lead.

Camden County officials have previously touted Spaceport Camden’s potential to support transitioning military from Naval Base Kings Bay and to employ aerospace engineers from Georgia Tech University, the nation’s largest producer of engineers. Camden County anticipates a final decision on its Launch Site Operator’s License Application by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the spring of 2021.

More about Spaceport Camden:
Our Vision is to develop a successful world class spaceport through a public-private partnership that establishes Camden County as the Commercial Space Center of the United States. Our Mission is to create the premier spaceport strategically positioned to provide economic diversity with a competitive advantage for the space sector, Camden County, the State of Georgia and the United States of America. For more information, please view our website at www.SpaceportCamden.us.

Find us on:                  CamdenSpaceport              SpaceportCamden

 

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SOURCE Camden County Board of Commissioners

China Special Vehicle Autonomous Driving Industry Report 2020: Progress of Autonomous Working Vehicles Sanitation, Airport, Agriculture and Mining

DUBLIN, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The «Special Vehicle Autonomous Driving Industry Report,…

DUBLIN, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The «Special Vehicle Autonomous Driving Industry Report, 2019-2020» report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

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This report highlights progress of autonomous working vehicles in four fields: sanitation, airport, agriculture and mining.

Autonomous working vehicles that run on relatively closed roads and fixed routes, are often free of public road traffic rules, making for popularization of highly automated driving technology. Although the COVID-19 pandemic hinders the development of autonomous driving at airports for the time being, autonomous driving technology for sanitation, agriculture and mining is developing by leaps and bounds.

Autonomous sanitation vehicle

Urban autonomous sanitation street sweepers shall travel at speeds lower than 12km/h according to China’s national standards. The use of autonomous driving technology in sanitation field enables all-weather and more efficient operation subject to strict specifications. In China, autonomous sweepers are being piloted in dozens of places nationwide, mainly for enclosed scenarios such as parks and scenic spots. As China spends RMB200 billion to RMB300 billion on sanitation and more than 100,000 sanitation vehicles are sold each year, autonomous sanitation vehicle sales and service market will be worth a staggering tens of billions of yuan considering sanitation vehicles are being replaced by self-driving ones.

In China, vision + radar solution currently prevails among technology roadmaps of autonomous sanitation vehicle manufacturers who differ greatly in underlying algorithms and sensor cost control. As pilot run and operation of autonomous sanitation vehicles are under way in some places of China, solution providers face challenges of cost control posed by mass production, so most of them turn to homemade sensors and low-cost computing platforms like ARM from NVIDIA.

Most start-ups build autonomous sweepers based on existing sweeping vehicles, while body frame and modules of Idriverplus VIGGO are developed specially for autonomous vehicle. VIGGO’s electronic/electrical architecture consists of the following domains: Computing and Control, Powertrain, Body System, Steering System, Business System, and Information and Communication.

The new design that dispenses with driver’s seat saves seat space for water tank or battery to increase effective operating radius. By virtue of down-to-earth R&D and reliable products, Idriverplus acquired orders for 1,000 units of its 5G autonomous vehicles from China Mobile in July 2019. Hundreds of VIGGO sweepers have been sold. In February 2020, Idriverplus also rolled out a spraying sterilizer vehicle for curbing coronavirus disease. Apart from VIGGO, cockpitless design is also found in AXL, a fully autonomous concept mining truck introduced by Scania. The vehicle represents a future trend for mining vehicle.

Autonomous mining vehicle

Autonomous mining vehicles already find broad application in foreign countries. Autonomous mining vehicles of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG), an iron ore tycoon, have run a total of 33.5 million km and transported more than 1 billion tons of ores and materials, with production efficiency 30% higher than conventional manual transport. FMG has operated 137 self-driving mining vehicles.

In China, mining companies need to pay out tens of billions of yuan for workers to transport ores and materials each year, who cannot still ensure transport safety and efficiency. In major mining areas of China, road dump trucks featuring non-widebody and small tonnage are largely used with ownership of roughly 200,000 units, while around 5,000 units of off-road wide body dump trucks for mining are produced and sold annually, with ownership of just over 10,000 units. The refitted autonomous mining vehicle market (OEM and aftermarket) in China is valued at least RMB500 billion.

As concerns technology roadmap, mining trucks usually utilize the LiDAR + vision + radar solution for their common price of RMB800,000 at least makes manufacturers seldom weigh the cost of LiDAR. The three sensor fusion solution allows all-day, all-weather perception by sensing system in bad conditions at mines. That mining vehicles travel at low speeds and in simple environment means that LiDAR is optional so some companies also use vision + radar solution for a sharp cut in refit cost.

Major autonomous mining truck solution providers in China have actual projects carried out but all on small scale. Most of autonomous mining truck start-ups have closed one or two funding rounds, marking that capital has turned attention to the segment. At present, they are close to each other in technology roadmap but still need to improve their technology, with orders they announced often worth RMB100 million or so and few vehicles operated (generally dozens of units), which means no one plays a leading role.

Following a contract for two new autonomous vehicles signed on July 4, 2019, Beijing Tage Idriver Technology Co., Ltd. and Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint Stock Co., Ltd., China’s largest mining truck manufacturer sweeping 80% of the domestic market, signed on April 8, 2020 a supply order for 10 sets of autonomous driving control systems, which will be mounted on 10 units of new NTE200AT vehicles.

Autonomous agricultural vehicle
Autonomous driving for agricultural machinery, the simplest one among all autonomous driving technologies for special vehicles, depends more on high-precision positioning systems and software algorithms. Mainstream hardware configuration is Beidou system + angle sensor + IMU, and vision is optional and available to users who need. In terms of technology roadmap, OEMs often use a hydraulic solution where electro-hydraulic proportional valves are used to drive steering wheel. In aftermarket, the electric steering wheel solution in which motors are used to simulate manual driving is largely used due to being easy to refit and low cost.

Globally, big agricultural machinery manufacturers all have a range of models pre-installed autonomous driving technology (GPS Ready). Examples include John Deere 8R Series, Case New Holland Magnum Series, and AGCO Auto Guide 3000 with standard configuration of Danfoss hydraulic valves. In the Chinese OEM market, hydraulic solutions rule the roost.

In aftermarket, hydraulic and steering wheel autonomous driving solutions take up a considerable proportion of installation and sales. In the Chinese market, flagship products of most system providers are steering wheel solution. Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology Co., Ltd. provides both hydraulic and steering wheel solutions but the hydraulic dominate Shanghai AllyNav Technology Co., Ltd. has offerings of both, of which the hydraulic led previously and the steering wheel got vigorously promoted in 2019. Of the shipments of autonomous driving systems for agricultural machinery in China, electric steering wheel solutions shared roughly 20% and the hydraulic solutions swept 80% from 2018 to 2019.

In view of application, agricultural machinery self-driving systems are still expensive (RMB70,000–RMB80,000/set), and massively used in areas with large farmlands, like Xinjiang and Northeastern China. Agricultural machinery autonomous driving system market in China will be valued at RMB4 billion to RMB5 billion given that virtually 200,000 units of mid- and high-end tractors are sold a year and penetration of such systems is 50%. In future, autonomous driving and variable operations will bring a larger market.

Companies Mentioned

  • COWAROBOT
  • Autowise.ai
  • Idriverplus
  • Gaussian Robotics
  • DeepBlue Technology
  • Eva Robot
  • TC Robot
  • UISEE Technology
  • Charlatte Autonom
  • Aurrigo
  • Eazy Mile
  • Zoomlion Heavy Machinery
  • Lovol Heavy Industry
  • FJ Dynamics
  • ISEKI & CO., LTD.
  • YTO Group
  • Kubota
  • Shanghai AllyNav Technology
  • Wuxi Kalman Navigation Technology
  • ComNav Technology
  • Beijing Unistrong Science & Technology
  • Beijing TAGE Idriver Technology
  • Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint Stock
  • Qingdao Huituo Intelligent Machine (VIPioneers)
  • Beijing EQ Technology
  • Caterpillar
  • Komatsu
  • Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG)
  • Changsha Intelligent Driving Institute (CiDi)
  • Shanghai Boonray Intelligent Technology

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lcs3wd

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets

SiriusXM is Now Standard on All BMW Vehicles Starting with 2021 Model Year

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM announced today that its audio entertainment service is now a standard feature in all BMW models sold in the United States beginning with model year 2021.  BMW owners will also receive a 12-month subscription to SiriusXM’s top tier All Access package with the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.

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NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM announced today that its audio entertainment service is now a standard feature in all BMW models sold in the United States beginning with model year 2021.  BMW owners will also receive a 12-month subscription to SiriusXM’s top tier All Access package with the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.

The standard availability of SiriusXM is part of a new agreement between SiriusXM and the BMW Group that extends the relationship between the companies through the 2026 calendar year. Additionally, as part of this agreement, SiriusXM becomes a standard feature in all Rolls Royce models and BMW Motorcycles, and will be standard in MINI vehicles starting with the 2022 model year.

Additionally, many new 2021 BMW models also feature SiriusXM with 360L, SiriusXM’s most advanced audio entertainment platform, including the 2 Series Gran Coupe, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 8 Series, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and Z4 Roadsters.  SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming content delivery into a single in-vehicle entertainment experience, upgrading the way the subscriber interacts with the service by providing more choice, a more personalized user experience, and access to thousands of hours of on demand content in the vehicle.  For more on SiriusXM with 360L in BMWs click here.

«In-vehicle technology and entertainment have become as important to BMW drivers as the performance and handling of their new automobiles,» said Monika D. Reimel, Head of BMW Aftersales Business Development. «BMW was one of the first manufacturers to offer SiriusXM in our automobiles (2002) and today we are excited to not only include SiriusXM as a standard feature in all of our 2021 models but also combine it with one of the longest initial subscription periods (1-year) in the industry. This new agreement with SiriusXM offers immediate benefits to our enthusiastic customers.»

«BMW delivers their customers a premium experience every time out on the road. We’re very proud that SiriusXM has been a popular feature of that in-vehicle experience dating back to the earliest days of satellite radio in 2002,» said Rodney Pickett, SVP, Automotive Partnerships, for SiriusXM. «Today we are truly excited that our relationship continues to grow, as we announce that SiriusXM will be standard on all BMW Group vehicles, ensuring all of their customers can enjoy our premium programming content for many years to come.»

The All Access subscription that BMW owners and lessees receive provides SiriusXM’s full lineup of varied programming, plus access to SiriusXM outside their vehicle on the SiriusXM app and on connected devices and speakers in their home.  For more on all the programming that SiriusXM offers, and all the ways you can listen, go to www.SiriusXM.com.  

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; technology offices in Silicon Valley and Chicago, and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 146 BMW motorcycle retailers, 117 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

About SiriusXM

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

This communication contains «forward-looking statements» within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as «will likely result,» «are expected to,» «will continue,» «is anticipated,» «estimated,» «believe,» «intend,» «plan,» «projection,» «outlook» or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements:  the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is adversely impacting our business; our substantial competition that is likely to increase over time; our efforts to attract and retain subscribers and listeners, or convert listeners into subscribers, which may not be successful, and may adversely affect our business; our Pandora ad-supported business has suffered a loss of monthly active users, which may adversely affect our Pandora business; privacy and data security laws and regulations may hinder our ability to market our services, sell advertising and impose legal liabilities; we engage in extensive marketing efforts and the continued effectiveness of those efforts are an important part of our business; consumer protection laws and our failure to comply with them could damage our business; a substantial number of our Sirius XM subscribers periodically cancel their subscriptions and we cannot predict how successful we will be at retaining customers; our ability to profitably attract and retain subscribers to our Sirius XM service as our marketing efforts reach more price-sensitive consumers is uncertain; our failure to convince advertisers of the benefits of our Pandora ad-supported service could harm our business; if we are unable to maintain revenue growth from our advertising products, particularly in mobile advertising, our results of operations will be adversely affected; if we fail to accurately predict and play music, comedy or other content that our Pandora listeners enjoy, we may fail to retain existing and attract new listeners; if we fail to protect the security of personal information about our customers, we could be subject to costly government enforcement actions and private litigation and our reputation could suffer; interruption or failure of our information technology and communications systems could impair the delivery of our service and harm our business; we rely on third parties for the operation of our business, and the failure of third parties to perform could adversely affect our business; our business depends in part upon the auto industry; our Pandora business depends in part upon consumer electronics manufacturers; the market for music rights is changing and is subject to significant uncertainties; our ability to offer interactive features in our Pandora services depends upon maintaining licenses with copyright owners; the rates we must pay for «mechanical rights» to use musical works on our Pandora service have increased substantially and these new rates may adversely affect our business; failure of our satellites would significantly damage our business; our Sirius XM service may experience harmful interference from wireless operations; failure to comply with FCC requirements could damage our business; economic conditions, including advertising budgets and discretionary spending, may adversely affect our business and operating results; if we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, our business could be harmed; we may not realize the benefits of acquisitions or other strategic investments and initiatives, including the acquisition of Pandora; our use of pre-1972 sound recordings on our Pandora service could result in additional costs; we may from time to time modify our business plan, and these changes could adversely affect us and our financial condition; we have a significant amount of indebtedness, and our debt contains certain covenants that restrict our operations; our facilities could be damaged by natural catastrophes or terrorist activities; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation could have an adverse impact on our operations and financial condition; failure to protect our intellectual property or actions by third parties to enforce their intellectual property rights could substantially harm our business and operating results; some of our services and technologies may use «open source» software, which may restrict how we use or distribute our services or require that we release the source code subject to those licenses; rapid technological and industry changes and new entrants could adversely impact our services; existing or future laws and regulations could harm our business; we may be exposed to liabilities that other entertainment service providers would not customarily be subject to; our business and prospects depend on the strength of our brands; we are a «controlled company» within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing rules and, as a result, qualify for, and rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements; while we currently pay a quarterly cash dividend to holders of our common stock, we may change our dividend policy at any time; and our principal stockholder has significant influence, including over actions requiring stockholder approval, and its interests may differ from the interests of other holders of our common stock. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the «SEC») and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Source: SiriusXM

Media contacts:
Andrew FitzPatrick, Andrew.FitzPatrick@SiriusXM.com
Kevin Bruns, Kevin.Bruns@SiriusXM.com

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

InventHelp Inventor Develops Enhanced Automotive Service Pad (CNC-516)

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — While computers have automated the service and maintenance of motor vehicles, mechanics still spend hours on their back performing manual work. Thanks to the creativity of an inventor from Laurinburg, N. C., their job can now be much easier.

<a href="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/634035/InventHelp_Logo.html" target="_blank"…

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — While computers have automated the service and maintenance of motor vehicles, mechanics still spend hours on their back performing manual work. Thanks to the creativity of an inventor from Laurinburg, N. C., their job can now be much easier.

He developed COMFY WORK MAT to provide support while working in a lying, sitting or kneeling position near or under a motor vehicle. As such, provides a wider surface area than existing models. Thus, it reduces the chances of muscle strain, pain and stiffness by keeping automotive mechanics comfortable while they work. At the same time, it helps keep clothing clean while working on dirt, gravel, mud and grass surfaces. Built to resist tears, stains, grease and oil, this durable mat is also convenient, effective and affordably priced. This device is also ideal for use in any job where comfort is needed, such as gardening, housework, painting, etc.

The inventor’s personal experience inspired the idea. «I invented this because I saw a need for a more comfortable work surface for lying on my back servicing motor vehicles than I could find on the market.» he said.

The original design was submitted to the Charlotte sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-CNC-516, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp’s Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Global Hotel Card, Inc. Launches New Prepaid eGift Card Offering the Largest Selection of Activities Worldwide with More Than 350,000 Experiences powered by Viator

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Global Hotel Card, Inc., the first online travel agency to offer a gift card for the incentive industry, loyalty programs, employee reward programs and for retail sale in third-party and online shopping centers, announced today the launch of its new…

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Global Hotel Card, Inc., the first online travel agency to offer a gift card for the incentive industry, loyalty programs, employee reward programs and for retail sale in third-party and online shopping centers, announced today the launch of its new prepaid eGift card product. The Global Experiences Card powered by Viator, a Tripadvisor company, can be used to book more than 350,000 global experiences, activities, and tours. The initial launch is offered through B2B distribution channels in reward, loyalty, engagement and employee incentive programs worldwide.

After nine months of integration development with Viator, the timing for the launch of the Global Experiences Card is ideal, as individuals and families are seeking local activities after experiencing quarantine restrictions. The Global Experiences Card powered by Viator offers activities worldwide based on interests, including wellness, sports, culture, food and beverage tastings and more. Booking options include water sports activities (kayaking, canoeing, boat tours and rafting); theme parks; food and wine tours; spa experiences; museums and much more.

«We are pleased to bring this exciting new gift card to incentive, engagement, reward and loyalty programs,» said Peter Friend, founder and CEO of Global Hotel Card, Inc. «After focusing on hotel-based gift cards for 15 years through our Global Hotel Card Powered by Expedia, our new product is already experiencing tremendous interest from current and prospective B2B clients for their program participants. We’re the first group to offer a co-branded prepaid gift card with Viator inventory to the incentives and loyalty industry. For years there was interest in the category, however the integration of mobile apps and Viator’s broad experiences offering has now made the product commercially viable, and the consumer experience much more successful. The timing was finally right and the Viator partnership was the key to success,» concluded Friend.

The Global Experiences Card website, translated in 15 languages and multiple currencies, provides real-time availability of tours, attractions and events based on current local opening restrictions. Where available, individual experience operators provide up-to-date safety information allowing participants information about hygiene, social distancing and other preventative measures the experience operator has in place.

About Viator
Viator, a Tripadvisor company, makes it easy to find and book incredible tours and activities. With access to the world’s largest selection of high-quality experiences, there’s always something new to discover, both near and far from home. With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. From must-do moments to who-knew discoveries, Viator is here to make the most of your time off. Visit https://www.viator.com/ to learn more.

About Global Hotel Card, Inc.
Global Hotel Card, Inc. was the first company to launch a Gift card to the incentives, loyalty, and employee engagement programs in 2005 exclusively with the Travelocity hotel gift card, now the Global Hotel Card Powered by Expedia. During the past 15 years, the company has issued more than 500,000 gift cards in over 120 countries worldwide and managed over $75 million in hotel bookings.

Both the Global Experiences Card powered by Viator and the Global Hotel Card Powered by Expedia are available for bulk purchase by incentive, loyalty, engagement, reward and recognition programs along with direct-to-corporate purchases in 20 currencies worldwide. For more information, contact Todd Tomlin at todd (at) globaltravelcards.com.

Media Contact
Peter Friend, Global Hotel Card, Inc.
Email: peter (at) globaltravelcards.com

 

SOURCE Global Hotel Card, Inc.

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Friends of Europe festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Friends of Europe festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Friends of Europe festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe

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WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Friends of Europe festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Friends of Europe festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe

PR Newswire

GENEVA, 14 October 2020

GENEVA, 14 October 2020 /PRNewswire Policy/ — Excellencies, dear colleagues, friends,

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to share a few reflections with you today.

The COVID-19 pandemic is radiating shock waves across countries, their populations and economies.

As you know, Europe is now seeing an increase in reported cases. More cases have been reported in each of the past 6 weeks than at the height of the first peak in March.

Countries at all income levels are affected, and the rapid emergence and spread of the virus has revealed critical gaps in national health systems’ capacities.

The pandemic has disrupted economies and overwhelmed even some of the most advanced health systems, while some of the measures taken to respond to it, such as so-called lockdowns, have badly affected many people’s ability to earn their livelihood.

Even as we use every tool at our disposal to end the pandemic, we must all use this period of crisis as an opportunity to look in the mirror and ask what we must do differently.

Today I would like to suggest three fundamental shifts that WHO believes all countries must make.

First, invest in public health.

In recent years, many countries have made huge investments and advances in medicine, but too many have neglected their basic public health systems, which are the bedrock for preventing, preparing for, detecting and responding to outbreaks.

In other words, too many countries have prioritised the medicalisation of their health systems at the expense of the basic measures that prevent people getting sick in the first place.

WHO believes that the single most important action all countries can take is to invest in essential public health functions.

This includes immunization, surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, health promotion, vector control and improved water and sanitation that can help us be better prepared.

It also includes essential governance functions, such as regulation to ensure quality and accessibility, and taxation to raise revenue.

These common goods for health provide an excellent return on investment. Yet they are regularly underutilized.

Indeed, many aspects of the current crisis can be attributed to disinvestment in core public health functions, as well as short-sighted social, economic and environmental policies.

Second, take a One Health approach.

The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet, which we can only address with a One Health approach.

Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that is making our earth less habitable.

WHO recently published our “Manifesto for a Healthy and Green Recovery”, with policy prescriptions for protecting natural resources, investing in water and sanitation, renewable energy, healthy food systems, and liveable cities.

It includes more than 80 specific actions for governments at all levels.

Third, go beyond the health sector.

The title of this session is rethinking health systems. I respectfully suggest that is far too narrow.

We will not prevent the next pandemic by focusing only on health systems.

The pandemic has affected every sector, so it stands to reason that every sector must be involved in the recovery, and in preparedness.

We must also address the reasons get people sick and die, in the air they breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink, and the conditions in which they live and work.

Just as the pandemic requires an all-of-government, all-of-society response, so does promoting and protecting health.

Invest in public health. Take a One Health Approach. And go beyond the health sector.

These are the fundamental shifts I believe our world must make, both to safeguard against future health emergencies, and to promote and protect the health of everyone, everywhere.

Thank you.

SOURCE World Health Organization (WHO)

GENEVA, 14 October 2020 /PRNewswire Policy/ — Excellencies, dear colleagues, friends,

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to share a few reflections with you today.

The COVID-19 pandemic is radiating shock waves across countries, their populations and economies.

As you know, Europe is now seeing an increase in reported cases. More cases have been reported in each of the past 6 weeks than at the height of the first peak in March.

Countries at all income levels are affected, and the rapid emergence and spread of the virus has revealed critical gaps in national health systems’ capacities.

The pandemic has disrupted economies and overwhelmed even some of the most advanced health systems, while some of the measures taken to respond to it, such as so-called lockdowns, have badly affected many people’s ability to earn their livelihood.

Even as we use every tool at our disposal to end the pandemic, we must all use this period of crisis as an opportunity to look in the mirror and ask what we must do differently.

Today I would like to suggest three fundamental shifts that WHO believes all countries must make.

First, invest in public health.

In recent years, many countries have made huge investments and advances in medicine, but too many have neglected their basic public health systems, which are the bedrock for preventing, preparing for, detecting and responding to outbreaks.

In other words, too many countries have prioritised the medicalisation of their health systems at the expense of the basic measures that prevent people getting sick in the first place.

WHO believes that the single most important action all countries can take is to invest in essential public health functions.

This includes immunization, surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, health promotion, vector control and improved water and sanitation that can help us be better prepared.

It also includes essential governance functions, such as regulation to ensure quality and accessibility, and taxation to raise revenue.

These common goods for health provide an excellent return on investment. Yet they are regularly underutilized.

Indeed, many aspects of the current crisis can be attributed to disinvestment in core public health functions, as well as short-sighted social, economic and environmental policies.

Second, take a One Health approach.

The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet, which we can only address with a One Health approach.

Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that is making our earth less habitable.

WHO recently published our “Manifesto for a Healthy and Green Recovery”, with policy prescriptions for protecting natural resources, investing in water and sanitation, renewable energy, healthy food systems, and liveable cities.

It includes more than 80 specific actions for governments at all levels.

Third, go beyond the health sector.

The title of this session is rethinking health systems. I respectfully suggest that is far too narrow.

We will not prevent the next pandemic by focusing only on health systems.

The pandemic has affected every sector, so it stands to reason that every sector must be involved in the recovery, and in preparedness.

We must also address the reasons get people sick and die, in the air they breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink, and the conditions in which they live and work.

Just as the pandemic requires an all-of-government, all-of-society response, so does promoting and protecting health.

Invest in public health. Take a One Health Approach. And go beyond the health sector.

These are the fundamental shifts I believe our world must make, both to safeguard against future health emergencies, and to promote and protect the health of everyone, everywhere.

Thank you.

SOURCE World Health Organization (WHO)

Ascend Hotel Collection Adds New England Getaways In Time For Leaf Peeping Season

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Palmer House Resort and <a target="_blank"…

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Palmer House Resort and The Valley Inn have recently joined Choice Hotels International, Inc.‘s (NYSE: CHH) Ascend Hotel Collection, a global portfolio of resort, boutique and historic hotels. Located in New Hampshire and Vermont, these hotels are ideally suited for travelers looking to take advantage of the fall season to explore the outdoors and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each hotel, surrounded by mountain and forest views, exemplifies the unique stay experience that Ascend hotels offer and that leisure travelers desire.  

«We’re delighted to welcome guests to these tucked away gems, so they can immerse themselves in true New England adventure, whether it’s fishing, hiking, skiing, golfing, swimming, playing tennis or relaxing by a cozy fire pit. Plus, guests can now stay at these hotels in time to take in the area’s picturesque fall foliage,» said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. «As people continue to return to traveling, we look forward to adding more unique upscale properties to the Ascend Hotel Collection in locations that allow them to satisfy their travel curiosity.»

  • The Palmer House Resort: Located at 5383 Main St. in Manchester, Vermont, The Palmer House Resort is nestled in the heart of Green Mountain National Forest. The 50-room hotel provides various accommodations across its 16-acre property, including the main hotel, a chalet and two historic homes. The sprawling grounds are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a nine-hole golf course, two hard-surfaced tennis courts, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a fishing pond, a 15-foot fire pit and scenic views of Equinox Mountain. The hotel also features a free daily breakfast, fitness center and restaurant and bar, Clove + Maple. For guests who venture off-property, Manchester is a quaint, historic community with several local shops and restaurants. The city is also home to Hildene, the Lincoln family summer house and Orvis Company headquarters.
  • The Valley Inn: Surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest at 17 Tecumseh Rd. in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, The Valley Inn is at the center of the area’s many outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, skiing, golfing, tennis, boating and swimming. The 44-room hotel offers accommodations ranging from standard rooms with two queen-sized beds to townhouses with kitchenettes. The property features a spacious lobby with fieldstone fireplace and balcony overlooking the forest, seasonal outdoor pool, breakfast room with complimentary breakfast, game room and large meeting space that allows for socially distant gatherings. The charming Waterville Valley town also offers several restaurants and shops, in addition to the nearby Rey Cultural Center, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and Plymouth State University.

Ascend hotel guests can participate in the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program, rated a top hotel loyalty program by both USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and U.S. News & World Report. Choice Privileges membership is free and offers fast rewards and exclusive member rates for those who book directly at www.choicehotels.com.  

All Choice-branded hotels are participating in Commitment to Clean, an initiative that builds upon the strong foundation of franchisees’ longstanding dedication to cleanliness with enhanced training and best practices for cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing. For more information on Commitment to Clean, visit https://www.choicehotels.com/about/commitment-to-clean-hotels.  

Ascend Hotel Collection®: Let the Destination Reach You.
The Ascend Hotel Collection global portfolio of independent resort, historic and boutique hotels is part of Choice Hotels, one of the world’s largest leading hotel companies. Recognized as the hotel industry’s first «soft brand» concept, there are more than 315 Ascend Hotel Collection properties worldwide, including in France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, and throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Membership with the Ascend Hotel Collection enables distinctive, independent properties to gain a global presence while maintaining their local charm. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com/ascend.    

About Choice Hotels®
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 7,100 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in over 40 countries and territories as of June 30, 2020, the Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.

© 2020 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Lucid Motors Expands Luxury EV Lineup with Its Most Attainable Lucid Air Model Yet, Featuring 406 Miles of Range and 480 horsepower from just $69,900

Reservations Now Open for All Lucid Air Models

NEWARK, Calif., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Lucid Motors, which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs, has unveiled new details about the full Lucid Air model range, including the pricing of the elemental model of the…

Reservations Now Open for All Lucid Air Models

NEWARK, Calif., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Lucid Motors, which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs, has unveiled new details about the full Lucid Air model range, including the pricing of the elemental model of the range, called simply Lucid Air, a well-equipped version with 406 miles of projected range and 480 horsepower available from just $69,9001. This new Lucid Air model initiates the full range of high-performance, ultra-efficient luxury EV sedans, which includes Lucid Air Touring, Grand Touring, and Dream Edition versions. Customers can now reserve this new more attainable model of Lucid Air for $300 at https://www.lucidmotors.com/air/reserve.

The Lucid Air delivers a level of performance, efficiency, and luxury that is currently unseen in today’s EVs.

«The Lucid Air is a vehicle that thrills me personally because it delivers a level of performance, efficiency, and luxury that is currently unseen in today’s EVs,» said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors. «Our vision from the beginning – what drives this company – is creating the world’s best EV technology while making it progressively more attainable over time. With the starting price of the Lucid Air range announced today, we are setting the stage for broader adoption of the latest, game-changing EV technology.»

The Lucid Air is available to reserve now with a starting price of $77,400 – or $69,900 after the US Federal Tax Credit of $7,500 – with a reservation fee of just $300. For this, customers can expect2:

  • 480 horsepower
  • A projected EPA estimated range of 406 miles on a single charge 
  • A single-motor powertrain with an optional dual-motor, all-wheel drive configuration
  • A 900+ ultra-high voltage electrical architecture with DC fast charging capability
  • Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America’s extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations

The Lucid Air is a car that will reimagine the traditional luxury sedan with new benchmarks in technology, performance, spaciousness, and design. Packaging efficiency capitalizes on Lucid’s advanced miniaturized drivetrain to provide the interior space of a full-size luxury vehicle while maintaining the exterior footprint of a mid-size performance sedan. This enables unmatched aerodynamic efficiency and increased agility and maneuverability, all while enveloping occupants in a carefully crafted atmosphere with meticulous attention to detail.

Luxurious appointments for the Lucid Air model include PurLuxe animal-free interior trim in the Mojave theme, the 34″ Lucid Glass Cockpit curved, floating display, and the largest frunk ever fitted to an electric sedan. Furthermore, the Lucid Air model is also available with DreamDrive, a new benchmark in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). This first-of-its-kind platform is exclusive to the full Lucid Air range, combining the most comprehensive sensor suite on the market with a cutting-edge driver monitoring system.

Alongside the Lucid Air, the Lucid Air Touring model offers yet another paradigm in luxury, performance, and efficiency, available from $87,5001. Interior appointments include an available Glass Canopy Roof for an extravagant sense of space, the Lucid Glass Cockpit Display, and a wide range of choices for interior materials and finishes. It also includes a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive drive configuration that takes advantage of an ultra-efficient, energy-dense drivetrain to deliver2:

  • 620 horsepower
  • A projected EPA estimated range of 406 miles on a single charge 
  • A 900+ ultra-high voltage electrical architecture with DC fast charging capability
  • Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America’s extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations

Reservations for Lucid Air and Lucid Air Touring, as well as the other models in the Lucid Air range, are open now and can be placed at the Lucid Motors website or at an ever-expanding network of retail locations, including the recently opened Beverly Hills Studio and service center. Customer deliveries for the first Lucid Air models begins in spring of 2021.

About Lucid Motors
Lucid’s mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable transportation by creating the most captivating electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. The company’s first model range, the Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design underpinned by race-proven technology. Featuring luxurious interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint, certain models of the Air will be capable of an estimated EPA range of over 500 miles and 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which will be produced at Lucid’s new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, will begin in the spring of 2021.

Media Contact 
Andrew Hussey 
David Buchko 
media@lucidmotors.com

1 Amount includes a potential $7,500 US federal tax credit. Additional state incentives may also be available. A tax advisor should be consulted regarding individual tax treatment. Lucid Motors will submit its certification of credit eligibility to the IRS prior to the start of production.

2 Vehicle specifications subject to change before the start of production. Projected EPA estimated ranges are based upon an approximation of an EPA test cycle.

 

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SOURCE Lucid Motors

Friendly Kia Prepares for 2021 Kia Sorento Arrival with Fall Vehicle Sales

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Friendly Kia is offering fall savings and sales this October in preparation for the arrival of the highly anticipated 2021 Kia Sorento. The automotive world has been swirling over the anticipation of the 2021 Sorento and the local dealership is preparing for the influx of new models.

From now until Nov. 2 Tampa Bay locals can take advantage of money-saving deals and discounts available on new Kia inventory…

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Friendly Kia is offering fall savings and sales this October in preparation for the arrival of the highly anticipated 2021 Kia Sorento. The automotive world has been swirling over the anticipation of the 2021 Sorento and the local dealership is preparing for the influx of new models.

From now until Nov. 2 Tampa Bay locals can take advantage of money-saving deals and discounts available on new Kia inventory at the dealership. Friendly Kia is even offering a $300 Visa gift card incentive on top of select lease and purchase deals.

The fan-favorite 2021 Kia Soul LX is eligible for a 36-month lease deal with $179/month payments and $2,699 due at signing. A variety of lease incentives are available this month for the family-ready 2021 Kia Telluride, with some offers as low as $329 per month for 36 months. Lease incentives and opportunities are available for well-qualified buyers and customer credit is subject to approval prior to offer signing.

Individuals looking for new Kia vehicle purchase options will find the finance opportunities this month at Friendly Kia fit the bill. The dealership is offering special APR financing as low as 0% on select vehicles, including some 2021 Kia Forte, 2021 Kia Sedona, 2020 Kia Niro, 2020 Kia Optima, 2020 Kia Rio and 2020 Kia Sorento models.

Anyone can view the entire lineup of lease and finance incentives available now at the dealership by visiting Friendly Kia online, friendlykia.com. Friendly Kia is located at 5819 US-19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 and is open seven days a week. The Friendly Kia sales department has normal business hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 

SOURCE Friendly Kia