Mes: diciembre 2020

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tablet Hotels, the hotel experts at the MICHELIN Guide, today revealed new data that shows consumers are feeling increasingly optimistic about travel in 2021, with the number of travelers booking stays 90 or more days out growing 208% over the November 1–December 9 period versus the prior four-month period. The data indicates there is significant pent-up demand for travel and that consumers are growing more confident about traveling safely again in the new year as global vaccine efforts accelerate.

The company also announced the launch of the Tablet Recovery Pledge, which is designed to provide travelers with more information about the enhanced safety measures participating hotels are taking to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. More than 1,000 of Tablet’s partner hotels have taken the pledge and confirmed they are acting responsibly to support the health and well-being of guests and staff.

«We launched the Recovery Pledge to give travelers extra peace of mind when choosing a Tablet destination and to give hotels on our platform the opportunity to explain their enhanced health and safety measures,» said Lucy Lieberman, Chief Marketing Officer of Tablet. «Our hotels have always held themselves to the highest standards when it comes to guest safety and sanitation, and they were eager to share the additional steps they were taking during the pandemic, so travelers can book their stays with confidence.»

The Recovery Pledge is the latest in a series of initiatives Tablet has launched in collaboration with its hotel partners to help them meet consumers’ unique travel and work needs amid the ongoing pandemic. The company is also partnering with 25 selected hotels to make rooms available by the day at reduced rates for those looking for a safe and inspiring remote office workspace. Consumers in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Austin, Nashville and London now have the option of booking a room at a Tablet hotel to use during business hours for a refreshing change of pace from their home or corporate office.

Tablet has also recently expanded its Tablet Plus selection, giving travelers even more reason to begin planning trips and getaways again. The company has added hundreds of properties to the VIP program, bringing the total number of participating hotels to over 1,000. Tablet Plus program members receive access to upgrades, member-only sales and other exclusive benefits at Tablet Plus hotels as well as dedicated concierge-level assistance from Tablet’s team of travel specialists.

Tablet Recovery Pledge Methodology

To create the Recovery Pledge, Tablet first compiled research on COVID-19 hotel safety guidelines set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local authorities in various markets, hotel unions, and travel and hospitality brands. Tablet then crafted a survey based on the research and sent it to all hotels with whom the company has a direct relationship. The survey was designed to focus on three critical categories:

• Implementation of safety and cleaning measures related to COVID-19
• Providing access to personal protective equipment for all staff and guests
• Adherence to government-recommended actions designed to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19

More than 1,000 hotels are participating in Tablet’s Recovery Pledge.

About Tablet Hotels

Founded in 2000 and part of MICHELIN since 2018, Tablet offers a curated selection of extraordinary hotels to meet every discerning traveler’s taste and budget and makes booking them quick and easy. The company provides concierge-level customer service from an experienced team of travel specialists and offers membership in the Tablet Plus VIP program, which offers upgrades and exclusive privileges to members when they stay at participating Tablet Plus hotels. Available in eight languages, the Tablet website and iOS app allow users across the globe to discover hotel destinations that provide a uniquely memorable experience rather than just a room for the night.

For more information, please visit TabletHotels.com.

About Michelin

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America, Inc. (www.michelinman.com) has more than 21,400 employees and operates 19 major manufacturing plants.

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SOURCE Tablet Hotels

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Canoo, a company developing breakthrough electric vehicles (EVs), revealed today its all-electric multi-purpose delivery vehicle to be priced starting at approximately $33,000.ⁱ The vehicle is purposefully designed to maximize return on investment for its customers. It is based on Canoo’s proprietary electric platform and will be offered in two initial size variants, with others to follow. Limited availability will begin in 2022, with scaled production and launch planned for 2023. With its multi-purpose delivery vehicle, Canoo plans to offer customers best-in-class total cost of ownership, class-leading cargo volume, and functionally-designed features.ⁱⁱ Customers can pre-order the multi-purpose delivery vehicle for a refundable deposit of $100 per vehicle at www.canoo.com/mpdv.

«We created our multi-purpose delivery vehicle from the inside out, with the ergonomics of the driver in mind and with attention to detail to help them be happier and more productive at work,» said Tony Aquila, Executive Chairman, Canoo. «The vehicle is affordable and offers greater cargo capacity than the current electric delivery offerings in its class. We aim to lower the total cost of ownership and increase return on investment for everyone from local small business owners to large fleets.»

Multi-Purpose for Multiple Use Cases

As an integral part of Canoo’s business strategy, the functional design of the multi-purpose delivery vehicle is meant to service a wide range of customers. It was built specifically with the needs of small businesses and large last-mile delivery companies in mind. The design of the model paired with the best-in-class total cost of ownership (TCO) also makes it a great option for independent contractors, utilities, service technicians and many more.

Large customers, such as last-mile and package delivery fleets, retailers, major corporations and logistics companies, also have the option to co-develop a custom vehicle with Canoo to meet their specific requirements.

Best-in-Class Total Cost of Ownership & Cargo Volume

With this vehicle, Canoo plans to achieve best-in-class total cost of ownership through range and space efficiency, as well as durability and low maintenance costs. Leveraging the company’s proprietary platform is expected to reduce material and service costs, passing on considerable savings to customers.

Canoo’s proprietary electric vehicle platform is the flattest in the industry and has enabled potentially class-leading interior cargo volume on a small vehicle footprint. Interior volume is also maximized through Canoo’s signature driver-forward architecture, which was designed with safety in mind. Canoo estimates that its multi-purpose delivery vehicle customers can achieve between $50,000 to $80,000 improvement on return on capital over six to seven years, depending on the use case, as compared to other top selling delivery vehicles.

Productivity is our Passion

To maximize user functionality, the production vehicle plans to offer a bi-directional onboard charger in lieu of adding a separate DC-AC converter, which will transform the vehicle into a power plant for equipment and tools. A 125V or 240V AC output power plug can be incorporated into the vehicle so tools such as saws, drills and air compressors can be conveniently powered up at remote destinations. The vehicle also enables various workstations. For example, drivers who have to take notes per delivery or job will have the ability to place a laptop or other devices to the left of the driver’s seat.

The vehicle was designed from the inside out to be sensitive to the ergonomics and productivity of the people using it. Additional vehicle customization examples that focus on ergonomics and productivity gains include high roof height, storage lockers, roll-up style door, ramp slide outs and more.ⁱⁱⁱ Both vehicle variants are designed to offer a low step in height of 17 inches, allowing easy and comfortable access to the vehicle. With the space efficiency afforded by Canoo’s multi-purpose delivery vehicle, fleets can accommodate higher storage capacities to meet the increasing demands of their customers.

The vehicle enables greater «up time,» or the actual hours of use, through a range of unique benefits, including:

• Greater cargo space with nearly 30% more parcel volume than other leading delivery vehicles in comparable segments.
• Range efficiency means more stops can be made on a single charge, helping to lower operating costs.
• Energy efficiency provides considerable savings in terms of operating expenses because the vehicle can go further per kilowatt of energy than the competition.
• Urban maneuverability enabled by Canoo’s steer-by-wire technology which eliminates hand-over-hand driving and increases range of motion and route options. 

Anticipated Vehicle Specifications^iv

The multi-purpose delivery vehicle is a ground up electric design, meaning it was not retrofitted or designed based off of a gas- or diesel-powered model. This has enabled a more thoughtful, reliable and efficient EV design made specifically for people to use the vehicle as a workspace, such as plugging in their tools for a remote job.

The multi-purpose delivery vehicle will be built on Canoo’s proprietary EV platform which features a steel frame construction, transverse composite leaf springs, a double wishbone suspension system, variable ratio steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The vehicle will be fully connected with data reporting capabilities and will feature Level 2.5 autonomy and over-the-air software updates. The vehicle will also support cutting-edge software-as-a-service (SaaS) to help fleets improve their total cost of professional ownership (TCPO) by allowing them to manage their assets, route plan, run diagnostics and support drivers with safety, awareness and ergonomic information. Canoo’s industry leading steer-by-wire system will enable a smooth transition into self-driving capabilities once full autonomy becomes commercially available. Steer-by-wire also helps accelerate the internationalization plans for the vehicle, allowing for rapid deployment of a right-hand drive offering.

The two vehicle variants, multi-purpose delivery vehicle 1 (MPDV1) and multi-purpose delivery vehicle 2 (MPDV2), are expected to offer three battery sizes—80, 60 and 40 kilowatt-hours (kWh)—with the 80-kWh size featuring a DC Fast Charging time of 28 minutes from 20% to 80% charge.

MPDV1

Offering more capacity at an affordable price, the MPDV1’s superior range efficiency and urban mobility is enabled by a space efficient footprint. The vehicle is also designed to fit within many height restricted areas like parking garages.

MPDV2

The MPDV2’s roof and step-in height enable individuals to easily walk in/out of the vehicle, and with nearly 6.5 feet of interior height throughout, it is tall enough to accommodate a standing position while inside, leading to greater usability and comfort for drivers.

MPDV3

Canoo is preparing to launch a third, larger variant that will be in the class 3 truck category, following the introduction of MPDV1 and MPDV2.

The Electric Revolution

As companies are increasingly pressured by both regulators and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint, the adoption of EVs among commercial delivery vehicles is expected to see a dramatic increase. This shift is projected to be led by the light commercial vehicle segment, an initial target segment for Canoo. The demand for EV light commercial vehicles in the United States, Europe and China is expected to grow at a 33% CAGR from 2019 to 2028, according to BloombergNEF.

Further, the growth and increase in efficiency of e-commerce has resulted in a change in consumer expectations with e-commerce providers increasingly pushing to reduce package delivery times from two days to the same day. According to Canoo commissioned research, it is projected that same day parcel delivery volumes in the United States will grow to 10 billion parcels by 2030, reflecting an approximate 23% annual growth rate since 2019. This change is expected to result in an increase in demand for smaller delivery vehicles that can efficiently execute smaller volume and more frequent delivery routes.

The vehicle is built off of Canoo’s platform, which has enabled the accelerated design and launch timelines of the company’s second vehicle model. Other variations of the multi-purpose delivery vehicle will follow, and Canoo plans to announce a service network at a later date. 

While a number of EV companies have recently announced plans to produce delivery vehicles, the last-mile delivery market is an entirely distinct segment and classification of vehicle differentiated from larger and midsize delivery vehicles and trucks. Last-mile delivery vehicles operate in predominantly urban environments with diverse use cases, thus requiring a compact size and maneuverability. The vehicles used are generally from the light commercial vehicles segment and a majority of the vehicles are from the class 1 category.

These class 1 vehicles carry the same stringent regulatory and crash testing requirements that passenger cars are subjected to. Canoo’s platform, which is specifically designed for class 1 vehicles, has been validated to support these crash requirements via its passenger vehicle program. This provides Canoo a significant competitive advantage as most of the players in the commercial vehicle space have not crash tested their platforms given their focus on larger sized vehicles.

Following its U.S. commercial debut, Canoo will look to launch the multi-purpose delivery vehicle in other markets such as Canada, Mexico and Europe. Customers looking for more information on the multi-purpose delivery vehicle can visit canoo.com.

About Canoo

Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has developed breakthrough electric vehicles, reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that defies traditional ownership to put customers first. Distinguished by its experienced team – numbering over 300 employees from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space and adaptable to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.

For more information, please visit www.canoo.com.

For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com.

For investors, please visit investors.canoo.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes «forward-looking statements» within the meaning of the «safe harbor» provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as «estimate,» «plan,» «project,» «forecast,» «intend,» «will,» «expect,» «anticipate,» «believe,» «seek,» «target» or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and market share, expectations and timing related to commercial product launches, ability to accelerate Canoo’s go-to-market strategy and capitalize on commercial opportunities, potential success of Canoo’s go-to-market strategy and expectations regarding vehicle specifications, pricing and total cost of ownership and expectations related to the timing of vehicle launches. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Canoo’s and Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. IV’s («HCAC») management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Canoo and HCAC. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination or that the approval of the stockholders of HCAC or Canoo is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Canoo; risks related to the rollout of Canoo’s business and the timing of expected business milestones and commercial launch; risks related to future market adoption of Canoo’s offerings; risks related to Canoo’s go-to-market strategy and subscription business model; the effects of competition on Canoo’s future business; the amount of redemption requests made by HCAC’s public stockholders; the ability of HCAC or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed business combination or in the future, and those factors discussed in HCAC’s final prospectus filed on March 4, 2019, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, the registration statement on Form S-4 (together with all amendments thereto, the «Registration Statement») initially filed on September 18, 2020, and the definitive proxy statement / prospectus contained therein, in each case, under the heading «Risk Factors,» and other documents of HCAC filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission («SEC»). If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither HCAC nor Canoo presently know or that HCAC and Canoo currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect HCAC’s and Canoo’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. HCAC and Canoo anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause HCAC’s and Canoo’s assessments to change. However, while HCAC and Canoo may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, HCAC and Canoo specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing HCAC’s and Canoo’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Important Information for Investors and Shareholders

In connection with the proposed business combination, HCAC has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC. Additionally, HCAC will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Security holders of HCAC are urged to read the Registration Statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the business combination and the parties to the business combination. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

HCAC and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of HCAC’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of HCAC’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading HCAC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and the Registration Statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of HCAC’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, are set forth in the Registration Statement.

ⁱ Reflects the 40kWh base variant of the Canoo MPDV1. Final production vehicle pricing and specifications are subject to change.

ⁱⁱ Best-in-class determinations based on a comparison of the Canoo MPDV1 and MPDV2 against a representative set of leading comparably-sized competitor vehicles, including the Nissan E-NV200, Ford Transit Custom L2H2, Ford Transit L2H2 290, Mercedes Sprinter L1H1 RWD, Mercedes e-Vito L3, and Mercedes e-Sprinter L2H2, among others. Total cost of ownership assumptions include, among other considerations, 6-year vehicle life span, electricity costs ($0.17 / kW) less 10% charging inefficiency, average costs of gasoline and includes incentives/discounts for electric vehicles. All vehicles include insurance payments (benchmarked on MSRP). Assumes reduced annual maintenance costs for battery electric vehicles. Residual values benchmarked on Ford Transit L2H2.

ⁱⁱⁱ Individual features available on select vehicles.

^iv Vehicle specifications and performance metrics are prospective, reflecting current engineering and design direction, manufacturer simulations and EPA-estimated average range calculation methodology. Final production vehicle specifications and performance metrics are subject to change.

 

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SOURCE Canoo

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cipia, formerly Eyesight Technologies, an AI computer vision in-cabin automotive solutions provider, today announced the general availability of Fleet Sense, the company’s new driver monitoring (DMS) device. Fleet Sense was designed for fleets and telematics service providers (TSP), to help reduce fatigue and distraction related accidents and the related costs. The device serves both the driver and the fleet manager, by issuing real-time life-saving alerts directly to the driver, and customized alerts to the dispatcher and fleet manager.  

According to a recent report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 2018 saw roughly 500,000 accidents attributed to large trucks (over 10,000 lb) in the US alone, and the rate of trucking related fatalities rose to its highest in 30 years, cementing trucking as the most dangerous job in the US. The recent rise in trucking related deaths, despite an overall drop in accident related fatalities, underscores the need for new solutions to improve the safety of trucking and reduce the high costs of accidents.

With combined decades of experience in the fleet industry as well as computer vision AI algorithm development experts, Cipia is able to utilize the company’s strengths to anticipate the needs of fleet managers and TSPs, and provide a tailored solution to fit the unique requirements of the industry. Fleet Sense offers fleet managers and TSPs a robust driver monitoring solution (DMS) already trusted by OEMs around the world. The DMS software provides drivers with real-time alerts when drowsiness, distraction or dangerous actions are detected to mitigate resulting accidents, while the Fleet Management System (FMS) receives tailored real-time alerts according to their needs, enabling optimization and increasing the efficiency of fleet manager or dispatcher rather than drowning them in useless alerts.

In addition to the DMS benefits Fleet Sense provides the data from the system to help support other analytics efforts done by TSPs and fleet managers. The data gathered can assist with high-level FMS driver ID, workforce management enhancement and information which can support advanced driver scoring and training systems.

Whereas traditional solutions require between one to three months for integration, Cipia’s Fleet Sense solution utilizes cloud middleware to allow fast integration to the customer’s existing FMS. The company’s unique tools enable the solution to be up and running within a week and reduce integration time to a week.

From a financial aspect, Cipia also offers a unique business model for customers of the Fleet Sense device. For the device, Cipia will function as a hardware vendor, charging a one-time fee for the device with no future service charges or commitments, providing a best in market value for the device.

«With both the human as well as financial cost associated with trucking accidents rising over the past decade, the fleet industry is in need of technological solutions to help avoid costly mistakes,» said David Tolub, CEO of Cipia. «Fleet Sense will not only provide TSPs and Fleets with a robust driver monitoring system, but will also integrate fully to help them maximize their other data driven programs.»

About Cipia

Cipia, formerly Eyesight Technologies, is a leading provider of intelligent sensing solutions that use edge-based computer vision and AI for safer and better mobility experiences. The company focuses on the automotive in-cabin environment, offering Driver Sense – driver monitoring system, Cabin Sense – occupancy monitoring systems and Fleet Sense – a driver monitoring device for fleets. Over a decade of research and development stand behind the company’s proprietary market-leading computer vision technology. Cipia is constantly pushing the boundaries of what intelligent sensing solutions can see and accomplish, for better and safer mobility.

Contacts

Cipia Media Contact:
Lazer Cohen
lazer@westraycommunications.com
+1 347-753-8256

Cipia Company Contact:
Liat Rostock
Liat.r@cipia.com

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SOURCE Cipia

NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Baha Mar, home to iconic oceanfront resorts, Grand Hyatt, Rosewood, and SLS, reopens today to international travelers, marking the resort destination’s steadfast commitment to a strong future for The Bahamas and its hospitality and tourism industry. Following the unprecedented disruptions to global travel this year, Baha Mar and its associates have persevered through the past nine months, supported by the entire Baha Mar family, and motivated by the collective aspiration to once again welcome guests to the spectacular Bahamas. The resort destination reopens today with heightened safety and health measures in place. Baha Mar’s phased reopening begins with the opening of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar today, followed by the return of Rosewood Baha Mar and SLS Baha Mar in 2021.

With the introduction of innovative and reimagined guest experiences, as well as The Baha Mar Commitment to Wellbeing, the resort destination seamlessly incorporates heightened safety measures to create an exceptional, memorable vacation experience for international travelers looking to visit The Caribbean. The Baha Mar Commitment to Wellbeing includes revised cleanliness protocols that go above and beyond Baha Mar’s already rigorous standards, covering all brands across Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood Baha Mar, as well as Meliá Nassau Beach. Furthermore, the standards include enhanced housekeeping and engineering, heightened food safety and digital ordering, touchless payments, and additional technology methods that allow for an abundance of contactless experiences from the moment guests check in. Click here for more information on The Baha Mar Commitment to Wellbeing.

«Today marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of international travel and return of our guests, to The Caribbean and The Bahamas,» said Graeme Davis, President, Baha Mar. «When faced with uncertainty and hardship this year, the Baha Mar team looked ahead towards a bright future, and because of their perseverance and strength, we are opening our doors today and welcoming travelers back to the beloved Bahamas. We are humbled by the tremendous support of our guests and look forward to honoring this monumental occasion with the entire Baha Mar community.»

Through the resort destination’s reimagined lens, guests will rediscover the celebrated Baha Mar experience with new guest amenities, built upon the natural strengths and intimate offerings of the resort destination. The following amenities are now open at Baha Mar:

• The glamourous Baha Mar Casino boasting 100,000 square feet of gaming space
• A variety of alfresco dining with Baha Mar’s leading restaurants including Katsuya, Fi’lia, 3 Tides Fish House, Stix Noodle Bar, Drift and Carna by Dario Cecchini steakhouse
• Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course Royal Blue and the nine court Racquet Club
• Mini Blue, the brand new 18-hole championship miniature golf course
• World-class ESPA spa with expert treatments and therapies combining proven traditional practices with the most progressive concepts in health and wellness
• State-of-the-art Explorers Club offering kids activities, educational wildlife encounters, games and multimedia experiences
• The Current Gallery with captivating exhibitions, outdoor workshops, lectures and partnerships with local collectors
• New retail partnerships with luxury fashion and lifestyle brands, including Montblanc, Tory Burch, Hackett of London, Satchel and Co. and Carlo Milano

Staying at Baha Mar
To safely vacation in The Islands of The Bahamas and at Baha Mar, travelers are required to obtain a COVID-19 RT PCR test five days prior to arrival, apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa, take a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test on day five of the visit, complete a daily online health questionnaire for symptom tracking and always wear a face covering and practice social distancing in public places. As of November 14, visitors are also required to opt-in for mandatory COVID-19 health insurance when applying for the Health Travel Visa, covering travelers for the duration of their stay in the Bahamas. Additionally, Baha Mar guests are required to take a complimentary Antigen Test during the check-in process at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. All Baha Mar associates will be tested prior to returning to work and on a weekly basis to maintain the resort’s commitment to health and safety.

To ensure confidence in booking future stays during this time, Baha Mar has introduced a flexible cancellation policy, allowing for trip cancellations up to 24 hours before guest’s arrival.

In celebration of Baha Mar’s return, the resort destination introduces «Spectacular Awaits,» available to book now at Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood Baha Mar. The offer includes a complimentary fourth night after a three-night stay with free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. To book your «Spectacular Awaits» offer, visit BahaMar.com/offers today.

About Baha Mar
Baha Mar is a master planned $4.2 billion integrated resort development operated by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE). The white sand beach destination includes three global brand operators – Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood – with over 2,300 rooms and 40 restaurants and lounges, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a state-of-the-art convention center, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Royal Blue Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA spa, and over 30 luxury retail outlets. Baha Mar is a breathtaking location with dynamic programming, activities and guest offerings in one of the most beautiful places in the world – The Bahamas. For more information and reservations, visit www.bahamar.com.

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SOURCE Baha Mar

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is making life a little more rewarding on the road next year for members of its award-winning loyalty program, Choice Privileges. Building upon valued program features, elite status qualifications are being reduced so guests can get the most value out of their travel in 2021. These new changes allow guests to receive benefits faster, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to its loyalty members amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

«We cannot thank our more than 47 million loyalty members enough for continuing to choose to stay with us during these challenging times — ranging from essential and frontline workers to families on road trips. Further, they have been unbelievably generous throughout the pandemic by donating over 50 million points to charitable causes we support, including Serta Inc.’s «Stay Home, Send Beds» initiative, the International Franchise Association’s «Franchising Gives Back» program, and organizations such as Operation Homefront and the American Red Cross,» said Jamie Russo, vice president, loyalty programs and customer engagement, Choice Hotels. «These new reduced requirements are meant to make it easier for loyalty members to achieve and maintain elite status. That way, they can take advantage of all the benefits we offer while having peace of mind knowing they are free to travel when ready. We look forward to finding new ways to recognize guests for their incredible loyalty in 2021, so they know how much we and our small-business hotel owners appreciate them.»

Following program updates from earlier this year, Choice is continuing to help loyalty members earn rewards faster through:

– 2021 Elite Status Requirements: Reducing the number of nights members are required to stay in 2021 to qualify for elite status in 2022. They can now achieve:

• Gold status after staying seven nights, as opposed to 10 nights.
• Platinum status after staying 15 nights, as opposed to 20 nights.
• Diamond status after staying 25 nights, as opposed to 40 nights.

– Extensions for Gold, and Platinum and Diamond Members: As previously announced, all Elite Choice Privileges members will maintain their current Elite status through December 31, 2021, regardless of travel activity in 2020.

• Members who have stayed at least five nights between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will maintain their upgraded Elite status through Dec. 31, 2021.

Choice continues to offer its Status Match program, which allows its loyalty members to match their elite status from another major hotel rewards program to the Choice Privileges program. With nearly 100% of Choice’s domestic hotels continuing to operate, Status Match provides travelers with an added opportunity to make their most of their stay. Choice Privileges members can redeem their points in various ways, including for gift cards on everyday essentials like groceries, as well as donating points toward charitable causes and organizations.

Named a top hotel loyalty program by both USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards and U.S. News & World Report, Choice Privileges membership is free, offering fast rewards, including bonus points, airline miles, or credits for premium coffee and shared rides through the exclusive, one-of-a kind, Your Extras program. For more information or to enroll in Choice Privileges, visit www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges.

Choice Hotels’ Commitment to Clean initiative and flexible cancellation policies are designed to help give guests added peace of mind when booking a Choice-branded hotel. All Choice-branded hotels are participating in Commitment to Clean, an initiative that builds upon the strong foundation of franchisees’ long-standing dedication to cleanliness with enhanced training and best practices for deep cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing.

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 September 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.

MIAMI, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Lucid Motors, which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs, today announced the opening of its newest retail location – the Lucid Studio in Miami at Brickell City Centre – on Saturday, December 19. This location is the first of a network of Lucid Studios that will open on the East Coast of the United States over the next year – including an additional location, the West Palm Beach Studio at Rosemary Square, in early 2021. All Lucid Studios are designed to give customers the opportunity to experience Lucid’s advanced electric vehicle technology and reserve their own Lucid Air all-electric sedan.

At any Lucid Studio, customers can review options for the full Lucid Air lineup of luxury, high-performance EVs, which resets the bar for electric vehicle performance and efficiency with up to 517 miles of projected range on a single charge for select models and a 0-60 mph time as low as 2.5 seconds. This includes the Lucid Air Pure, a very well-equipped model available from $69,900^[1], the Lucid Air Touring, which starts at $87,500¹, and the Lucid Air Grand Touring that starts at $131,500¹. The first available Lucid Air model will be the exclusive, limited production Dream Edition, available from $161,500¹, featuring up to 503 miles of range, with 1080 hp and a quarter mile time of 9.9 seconds. Lucid Air production begins in Spring 2021 at the newly completed Lucid Advanced Manufacturing Plant (AMP-1) in Casa Grande, Arizona.

«The opening of our first East Coast Studio in Miami signifies a remarkable milestone for Lucid, marking the expansion of our retail network across the United States and introducing Lucid to an ever-growing audience. Our first product, Lucid Air, a true luxury EV, is setting new standards in power, efficiency, comfort, and range. I’m confident that these attributes will resonate with Floridians attracted to the benefits a state-of-the-art EV can have upon their family, their community, and indeed, the world,» said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors.

Studio Experience
Every Lucid Studio offers a digitally-oriented luxury experience. By supporting every phase of the customer journey, Lucid Studios allow customers to experience the brand and its products in a location that underscores the company’s unique design aesthetic.

Exploring a Lucid Studio, visitors will get a vision of how the company draws inspiration from the beauty, innovation, and diversity of its home state of California. Lucid Studios augment the physical experience of seeing and touching a Lucid Air, along with the materials used in the interior, with an elevated digital experience. Using a 4K VR configurator, Lucid’s Virtual Reality Experience combines the physical and virtual worlds to allow seamless personalization of everything from interior finishes and materials to exterior color.

Virtual Experience
Mirroring the luxury Studio experience online, customers who prefer shopping from home can engage with the Lucid «Design Yours» configurator, a cloud-based configuration solution powered by ZeroLight’s Concierge product. From the comfort of their own homes, customers can interact with a car while exploring key features and configuration options.

Future Studios & Service Centers
The newest Studio in South Florida is just one of a network of 20 locations set to open throughout North America by the end of 2021. Other Studio locations will include New York City, Boston, D.C. Metro, Chicago, and multiple California locations.

About Lucid Motors
Lucid’s mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating the most captivating electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. The company’s first car, 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. Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air, which will be produced at Lucid’s new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, will begin in the spring of 2021.

References:

^[1]Net retail cost after $7,500 US federal tax credit

Media Contacts
Andrew Hussey
media@lucidmotors.com

 

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SOURCE Lucid Motors