Mes: marzo 2021

Georgia Power’s preparedness efforts help reduce outage times for customers

ATLANTA, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The average outage time for Georgia Power customers was 42% less than the national average in 2019, according to the most recent available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. With severe storm weather possible throughout the year, the company’s comprehensive storm response plans help ensure the readiness of critical personnel and facilities necessary to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect and deserve.

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ATLANTA, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The average outage time for Georgia Power customers was 42% less than the national average in 2019, according to the most recent available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. With severe storm weather possible throughout the year, the company’s comprehensive storm response plans help ensure the readiness of critical personnel and facilities necessary to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect and deserve.

«We prepare every year knowing it will be nothing like the year before,» said Georgia Power’s Storm Center Director David Maske. «Our teams know firsthand the impacts severe weather can have on our customers, and we remain prepared to respond whenever we are called upon.»

In 2020 alone, the company responded to more than 26 severe weather events that impacted Georgia in a record-breaking storm season, with the most impactful storm Hurricane Zeta, which caused significant damage to Georgia Power’s distribution system leading to over 5,700 cases of damage and impacting over 822,000 customers. Zeta’s impacts were severe and were exacerbated when a strong cold front with gusty winds quickly followed behind the storm, less than 12 hours later. More than 4,000 Georgia Power personnel, with assistance from out-of-state utilities, were mobilized as part of the company’s restoration effort. Throughout 2020, Georgia Power crews responded to more than 22,650 outage events and replaced or repaired 8,500 spans of wire equal to nearly 400 miles of power lines.

Storm Response Pandemic Preparations
Georgia Power teams are prepared to respond to service interruptions that might occur because of severe weather while taking proactive actions including special «distancing» and other precautions to help protect customers and employees from the spread of the virus.

In the field, the power restoration process includes these key steps:

  • Assessing Conditions – Responding crews – or in major storms, damage assessment teams – work to identify trouble spots and the resources needed to fix them, which could involve coming onto customers’ property. Crews will employ appropriate distancing efforts and customers are asked to keep children and pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew members as well.
  • Making Repairs – Georgia Power crews focus on repairs that return power to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time.

Regardless of the storm season, Georgia Power encourages customers to keep safety first, with the following tips:

Before a Storm: Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Make plans for vulnerable family members who might have difficulty in a power outage. Turn off large appliances as power surges can overload them and charge cell phones in case you lose power.

During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water.

After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage.

For additional tools you can use to stay prepared for severe weather, visit www.Georgiapower.com/storm.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

 

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SOURCE Georgia Power

CME Group Announces Multiple Micro E-mini Equity Index Futures Trading Volume Records

CHICAGO, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that Micro E-mini Equity Index futures reached back-to-back trading volume records last week of 4.4 million contracts on February 26 and 4.2 million contracts on <span…

CHICAGO, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that Micro E-mini Equity Index futures reached back-to-back trading volume records last week of 4.4 million contracts on February 26 and 4.2 million contracts on February 25, across all four indexes – the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, Russell 2000 and Down Jones Industrial Average Indexes. These new highs surpassed the prior record of 4.1 million contracts set on September 8, 2020.

Additionally, a record 1.9 million Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contracts traded on February 25, exceeding the prior record of 1.8 million contracts on September 3, 2020. Micro E-mini Russell 2000 reached a record 362,663 contracts traded on February 26, exceeding the prior record of 327,842 contracts set on January 29, 2021.

«Our Micro E-mini Equity Index futures are among the most actively traded equity index products, enabling clients to manage risk in our highly liquid markets,» said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equity Index and Alternative Investment Products, CME Group. «Since their introduction in May 2019, we’ve seen strong growth and participation across Micro E-mini Equity Index futures and options, including among sophisticated, active traders. Their smaller size allows traders of all sizes to more nimbly execute equity trading strategies, scale index exposure up or down or hedge existing equity portfolio positions.»   

For more information on CME Group’s Micro E-mini Equity Index products, please see: www.cmegroup.com/microeminis.

As the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex® platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. With a range of pre- and post-trade products and services underpinning the entire lifecycle of a trade, CME Group also offers optimization and reconciliation services through TriOptima, and trade processing services through Traiana.

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and, E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec, EBS, TriOptima, and Traiana are trademarks of BrokerTec Europe LTD, EBS Group LTD, TriOptima AB, and Traiana, Inc., respectively. Dow Jones, Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and S&P are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and S&P/Dow Jones Indices LLC, as the case may be, and have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

CME-G

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SOURCE CME Group

Hurtigruten Addresses Recent Data Incident and Ongoing Dedication to Protection of Customer Information

SEATTLE, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hurtigruten, the world’s leading expedition cruise line, values all guests and understands the importance of protecting personal information. On December 14, 2020, Hurtigruten learned that an unauthorized actor encrypted the computer systems relating to two of their ships, the MS Fram and MS Midnatsol. The data impacted for limited MS Fram guests was between 2018-2020 and for limited MS Midnatsol guests 2016-2020. Immediately upon learning of…

SEATTLE, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hurtigruten, the world’s leading expedition cruise line, values all guests and understands the importance of protecting personal information. On December 14, 2020, Hurtigruten learned that an unauthorized actor encrypted the computer systems relating to two of their ships, the MS Fram and MS Midnatsol. The data impacted for limited MS Fram guests was between 2018-2020 and for limited MS Midnatsol guests 2016-2020. Immediately upon learning of this incident, Hurtigruten disabled the affected computer systems, took down their internet connection to prevent any further intrusion, and launched a forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. 

Based on the investigation, the personal information that might have been affected by this incident consisted of affected customers’ – names, dates of birth, passport numbers and passport expiration dates. Affected customers’ email addresses, mailing addresses, and/or phone numbers might also have been affected by this incident. Credit and debit card information, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and government-issued identification card numbers were not affected by this incident. Hurtigruten does not store credit card or debit card numbers. Additionally, if affected customers were treated by a medical provider during their stay on the MS Fram or the MS Midnatsol, certain information collected by that medical provider may have been affected by this incident, such as the medical provider’s notes about the affected customer’s visit. 

Hurtigruten values the information security of all customers and is currently working to resolve this situation. Hurtigruten immediately took steps to contain the issue and commenced an investigation to determine the data and individuals that may have been affected. Hurtigruten also reported this matter to Norwegian law enforcement based on the company’s Oslo headquarters location and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hurtigruten is continuing to work with third-party cybersecurity experts to enhance the security of their systems and reduce the risk of a similar event happening in the future.

Hurtigruten is in the process of contacting customers in order to improve our cyber threat prevention, detection and response. While there is no indication of actual harm to any individuals as result of this incident, Hurtigruten does recommend taking steps to ensure personal information is safe in including monitoring accounts, set up fraud alerts, monitor personal health information, gather additional information from creditors on how to freeze accounts as needed and contact additional resources to explore fraud protection options in the future through the FTC.

Hurtigruten regrets this incident, and it is important to the company that customers have answers to questions about their personal information. For all inquiries relating to the matter please email us at Feedback.US@hurtigruten.com, www.hurtigruten.com, or call Hurtigruten’s toll–free number, 1–866–552–0371, between 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST,  Monday through Friday, excluding major U.S. holidays.  

About Hurtigruten 
Hurtigruten is the world leader in exploration travel. As the largest cruise operator in polar waters, and with 126 years of know-how, they offer immersive experiences to some of the world’s most pristine and remote destinations, including Antarctica, Alaska, Arctic Canada and the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Svalbard, and more. Hurtigruten’s fleet consists of 14 expedition ships, custom built for adventure travel, including two of the world’s first hybrid electric-powered ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen. These ships are two of the most advanced and environmentally friendly expedition vessels at sea.  Hurtigruten is an industry leader in sustainability, with a deep commitment to improving the marine environments they call home.   

 

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SOURCE Hurtigruten

National Kidney Foundation Applauds Congressional Champions for Legislation to Protect Living Organ Donors

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Living organ donors can suffer job losses, denial of insurance coverage, and significantly higher health-insurance premiums after giving the gift of life, but four bipartisan Members of Congress have come together to change that by introducing

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Living organ donors can suffer job losses, denial of insurance coverage, and significantly higher health-insurance premiums after giving the gift of life, but four bipartisan Members of Congress have come together to change that by introducing The Living Donor Protection Act of 2021 (LDPA), S. 377 and H.R. 1225.

«We applaud Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) for joining together to reintroduce the Living Donor Protection Act (LPDA), which will help advance kidney transplantation and remove critical barriers to organ donation,» said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient.

Specifically, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2021 will protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three easy, low-cost ways: 

  • Prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors;
  • Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition for private and civil service employees, and;
  • Directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

Every day, 17 patients die on the transplant waitlist, 12 die waiting for a kidney. Of the over 100,000 patients on the waitlist, only 22,817 received a kidney transplant in 2020. Patients wait an average of 3-5 years for a kidney transplant, but in some states the wait can be as long as 10 years. The availability of living donors is crucial to the survival of many kidney patients. Living donation was responsible for a total of 5,726 transplants in 2020, a decrease of 22.6 percent over the record of 7,397 living donor transplants set in 2019. Living organ donation not only saves lives, it saves money. Each year, Medicare alone spends approximately $89,000 per dialysis patient and less than half, $35,000, for a transplant patient.

Quotes from Members of Congress

«There are few acts more selfless than donating an organ to someone else. To donate an organ is to save someone’s life—those who make that sacrifice should be able to do so without facing needless roadblocks or insurance discrimination. Yet, with insurance companies charging living organ donors higher premiums or refusing them coverage altogether, it can often feel economically impossible to donate an organ,» said Rep. Nadler. «The Living Donor Protection Act, which I’m proud to sponsor alongside Rep. Hererra Beutler and Senators Gillibrand and Cotton, seeks to knock down those roadblocks and provide selfless donors with the certainty they deserve.»

«The Living Donor Protection Act would encourage more organ donors to step forward by protecting them from denial of insurance coverage, higher health-insurance premiums, and job loss. Not only do living organ donors save lives, but these transplants have better patient outcomes and are more cost-effective for the Medicare system,» said Senator Cotton.

«I appreciate NKF’s longstanding work on behalf of living donors and am happy to work with them and bipartisan colleagues in the House and Senator Cotton to sponsor the Living Donor Protection Act,» said Senator Gillibrand. «There are far too many people who have to wait far too long to receive a life-saving organ transplant. The bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act would help ensure that the individuals who are willing to save someone’s life through an organ donation can do so without facing insurance discrimination or losing their job as they recover from their generous act. I urge all my colleagues to cosponsor the Living Donor Protect Act and help us pass this bill this Congress.

«We lose a dozen American lives each day because folks are forced to wait too long for kidney transplants. But there’s hope here; there’s action Congress can take to help get more people this life-saving treatment before it’s too late. I’m proud to help reintroduce the Living Donor Protection Act that will protect living organ donors and remove barriers for those waiting in a long line to receive a transplant. I’m going to continue championing common-sense, bipartisan solutions that seek to match life-saving organs with the thousands of Americans who desperately need them.» – Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler

Quote from the American Council of Life Insurers

«The Living Donor Protection Act makes certain someone is not denied access to life, disability or long-term care insurance coverage solely because of their selfless act to be a living organ donor,» said American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO Susan Neely. «America’s life insurers have long been committed to providing access to financial security for all Americans, regardless of where or how they work, their life stage, or the economic status of their household. That is why we strongly support this bill and hope it will help more people choose to save a life through organ donation.»

The National Kidney Foundation encourages the public to email their legislators regarding the LDPA, and also join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #MyKidneysMyLife and tweeting their legislators to support the Living Donor Protection Act of 2021! Learn more at advocacy.kidney.org

About National Kidney Foundation Living Organ Donation Resources:
THE BIG ASK: THE BIG GIVE platform, which provides nationwide outreach, is designed to increase kidney transplantation through training and tools that help patients and families find a living donor. It includes direct patient and care partner support through our toll-free help line 855-NKF-CARES, peer mentoring from a fellow kidney patient or a living donor, online communities, an advocacy campaign to remove barriers to donation, and a multi-media public awareness campaign. All resources are free and designed to teach kidney patients, or their advocates, how to make a «big ask» to their friends, loved ones, or community to consider making a «big give,» a living organ donation. www.kidney.org/livingdonation.

Kidney Disease Facts
In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it.  1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for chronic kidney disease.  Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Blacks or African Americans are almost 4 times more likely than White Americans to have kidney failure.  Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure.

Approximately 750,000 Americans have irreversible kidney failure and need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. More than 500,000 of these patients receive dialysis at least three times per week to replace kidney function. Nearly 100,000 Americans are on the waitlist for a kidney transplant right now.  Depending on where a patient lives, the average wait time for a kidney transplant can be upwards of three to seven years.

About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.

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twitter.com/nkf 
www.kidney.org

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SOURCE National Kidney Foundation

El negocio internacional de CDK Global se convierte en Keyloop

LONDRES, 1 de marzo de 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Francisco Partners (FP) completó hoy su adquisición de CDK Global International, una antigua división de CDK Global (NASDAQ: CDK) por USD 1,45 mil millones (https://www.franciscopartners.com/news). La adquisición por parte de FP, una empresa de inversión líder a nivel global que se especializa en la asociación con empresas de tecnología, representa su convicción de que Keyloop se encuentra en una…

LONDRES, 1 de marzo de 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Francisco Partners (FP) completó hoy su adquisición de CDK Global International, una antigua división de CDK Global (NASDAQ: CDK) por USD 1,45 mil millones (https://www.franciscopartners.com/news). La adquisición por parte de FP, una empresa de inversión líder a nivel global que se especializa en la asociación con empresas de tecnología, representa su convicción de que Keyloop se encuentra en una posición privilegiada para ayudar a quienes participan en el sector automotriz, tanto concesionarios como OEM, a responder ante cambios importantes durante la próxima década, a la vez que transforman la experiencia de venta comercial automotriz.

Keyloop Logo

Tom Kilroy se une inmediatamente a Keyloop como el nuevo director ejecutivo; Neil Packham, exdirector ejecutivo de CDK Global International, seguirá prestando servicios a la empresa en carácter de asesor durante su desarrollo. Tom Kilroy proviene de FP, donde fue socio operativo. Anteriormente, ocupó el cargo de director de operaciones de Finastra, una empresa fintech con más de 10.000 empleados e ingresos de aproximadamente USD 2 mil millones. Aporta una profunda experiencia en mejores prácticas de las empresas globales de tecnología que ofrecen software indispensable. 

Keyloop planea actuar con rapidez y decisión para cumplir con su misión de transformar la experiencia de compra y propiedad de automóviles junto con concesionarios y OEM. La experiencia de venta comercial automotriz está cambiando con la llegada de los automóviles conectados, los nuevos modelos de venta minorista y el gran aumento del compromiso digital. Keyloop está preparada para desempeñar un papel fundamental en esta evolución.

Tom Kilroy comentó lo siguiente sobre los anuncios de hoy:

«El sólido desempeño de Keyloop, su impresionante historial y su brillante personal son los atributos clave que le han permitido ser una empresa tan atractiva. FP adquirió Keyloop porque reconoció no solo el sólido portafolio de productos que tiene Keyloop actualmente en el mercado, sino también el potencial para la innovación en una de las industrias más importantes y de rápida evolución en el mundo.

«Todos hemos visto cómo los actores de la tecnología han establecido nuevos estándares para experiencias excepcionales en venta minorista digital. Ahora los consumidores de automóviles comienzan a exigir lo mismo. Debido a que las concesionarias atraen y brindan servicios a la próxima generación de compradores de automóviles, la transformación digital debe ser la prioridad de su agenda, y Keyloop será el socio que los ayudará tanto a ellos como a los OEM a lograr esto». 

«Estamos lanzando nuestra empresa Keyloop con el objetivo de mejorar aún más la experiencia del cliente automotriz».

Haga clic aquí para acceder a la sala de prensa virtual de Keyloop, donde encontrará una variedad de recursos para acompañar esta historia (las versiones traducidas estarán disponibles en línea durante la semana), incluyendo comunicados de prensa actuales, preguntas frecuentes, material de referencia de los medios y logotipos. 

Acerca de Keyloop 

La misión de Keyloop es crear y conectar tecnología que promueva la experiencia de compra y propiedad de automóviles junto con las concesionarias y los OEM. Es un proveedor global líder de soluciones de software para la industria minorista automotriz, que presta servicios a aproximadamente 16.000 concesionarias y a la mayoría de los fabricantes de automóviles en más de 90 países. Con sede en el Reino Unido, Keyloop también opera en la región de EMEA y Asia. Para obtener más información, visite www.keyloop.com.

Acerca de Francisco Partners 

Francisco Partners es una empresa líder en inversiones globales que se especializa en asociarse con empresas tecnológicas y basadas en tecnología. Desde que se lanzó hace más de 20 años, Francisco Partners ha invertido en más de 300 empresas de tecnología, lo que la convierte en uno de los inversionistas más activos y de mayor trayectoria en la industria tecnológica. Con más de USD 25 mil millones en activos bajo gestión, la empresa invierte en oportunidades donde su profundo conocimiento del sector y experiencia operativa pueden ayudar a las empresas a desarrollar todo su potencial. Para obtener más información sobre Francisco Partners, visite www.franciscopartners.com.

Perfil de Tom Kilroy 

Antes de unirse a FP, Tom fue director de operaciones de Finastra, una empresa de software fintech con más de 10.000 empleados, más de 8.600 clientes (incluyendo 90 de los 100 bancos más importantes del mundo) e ingresos de aproximadamente USD 2 mil millones. Durante los diez años que trabajó en esa empresa, Tom ocupó varios cargos con la responsabilidad de impulsar el crecimiento y la rentabilidad. En 2017, dirigió la integración de Misys y D+H. En 2012, como director ejecutivo interino, Tom lideró la privatización de Misys plc y fue una parte fundamental del equipo que la transformó bajo propiedad privada. Antes de eso, Tom trabajó durante ocho años en GE Healthcare, una división de General Electric.

Logotipo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1444817/Keyloop_Logo.jpg  

FUENTE Keyloop

Puerto Rico Golf Shines on World Stage; Caribbean Destination Ideal for Tropical Travel

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — It was an exceptional week for Puerto Rico on the world golf stage last week. Island native Rafa Campos played brilliantly during the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open that concluded yesterday, and the United States Golf Association welcomed the Puerto Rico Golf Association into its network of Allied Golf Associations (AGA), becoming the 59th AGA and first outside of the 50 United States.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — It was an exceptional week for Puerto Rico on the world golf stage last week. Island native Rafa Campos played brilliantly during the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open that concluded yesterday, and the United States Golf Association welcomed the Puerto Rico Golf Association into its network of Allied Golf Associations (AGA), becoming the 59th AGA and first outside of the 50 United States.

«The Puerto Rico Open illuminated the Island’s positive shift pertaining to events and travel,» said Brad Dean, CEO.

Puerto Rico is home to 18 courses – with new ones planned – world-class beaches, dozens of resorts, thousands of restaurants, and is traveler friendly. As the air hub of the Caribbean, a top Airbnb destination, and a bilingual Island that requires no passport for U.S. citizens, it is ideally suited for invigorating escapes.

The plethora of health and safety protocols in place enabled the world-class golf tournament and Island to continue their long-standing partnership, mirroring the positive emerging trends in Puerto Rico.

«The Puerto Rico Open was the largest, highest-profile event to be held on the Island since the pandemic began, and the wonderful partnership illuminated Puerto Rico’s positive shift pertaining to events and travel,» said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. «Our Destination Marketing Organization’s mission is to showcase Puerto Rico’s global brand, and the PGA TOUR partnership and Golf Channel coverage highlighted our golf courses, culture, history and many other attributes.»

Campos thrilled the golf world with his play on the Championship Course at Grand Reserve Golf Club, an amenity of the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico. Finishing tied for third, he was in contention to win the championship until the very end.

«It was a great week, and I’m very happy,» Campos said. «I’m very fortunate and want to thank all the fans out here, the supporters in Puerto Rico.»

Along with PGA TOUR member Campos, Puerto Rico was represented in the tournament by Edward Figueroa, who qualified through the 2020 Golf Puerto Rico Island Championship.

Campos and Figueroa added to Puerto Rico’s rich golf history. Legendary champion Chi Chi Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA TOUR.  He designed El Legado, a popular 18-hole course in Guayama.  It is one of Puerto Rico’s wonderfully diverse yet complementary playing options, including four of the top 50 rated courses in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and the Atlantic Islands (source: Golfweek).

Other course designers represented on the Island include Tom and George Fazio, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Rees Jones, Tom Kite, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr.  All are open to the public, and many are amenities of beautiful resorts, including Royal Isabela; Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino; The St. Regis Bahia Beach; Wyndham Grand Rio Mar; Palmas del Mar; Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and the forementioned Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve.

Learn more about visiting Puerto Rico at DiscoverPuertoRico.com, including:

About Discover Puerto Rico 

Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively positioning the Island’s diversity and uniqueness for leisure, business and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and non-governmental players throughout Puerto Rico’s visitor economy and community at large, to empower economic growth. Visit: www.DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

Dan Shepherd
danshepherdpr@gmail.com 
(703) 403-5317

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SOURCE Discover Puerto Rico

ACB Supports Accessible and Inclusive Currency

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — On Friday, February 19, the American Council of the Blind sent the following letter to Secretary Yellen and the U.S. Treasury regarding the proposed Harriet Tubman redesign of the $20 bill.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — On Friday, February 19, the American Council of the Blind sent the following letter to Secretary Yellen and the U.S. Treasury regarding the proposed Harriet Tubman redesign of the $20 bill.

This is a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. to make a significant milestone in history in two ways.

According to recent press reports, as well as statements from the White House Press Office, the Biden Administration is considering accelerating the redesign of the $20 bill to incorporate a picture of Harriet Tubman. The Council welcomes such a redesign, provided that the newly redesigned bill incorporates an accessibility feature for the blind and visually impaired. Inclusion of an accessibility feature is required by the federal district court’s injunctive order dated Oct. 3, 2008, which mandates that accessibility be provided in all future currency redesigns. See Am. Council of the Blind v. Paulson, 581 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2008).

The American Council of the Blind has been striving for accessible currency for the past 45 years. U.S. paper currency of all denominations is of the same size, shape, and texture. The currency of the United States is the only major currency in the world which does not incorporate an accessibility feature for the blind and visually impaired. The time to rectify this injustice has long since passed.

Our currency stands as a symbol for who we are as a nation. As a nation, we must be committed to equality for all people, including those with visual disabilities. It is therefore imperative that the next redesign incorporate an accessibility feature. This action is not only required by the injunctive order issued by the court; it is also the right thing to do.

«This is a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. to make a significant milestone in history in two ways. First, by implementing the court mandate of 2008 and making the bill accessible, the U.S. would join 81 other countries who already provide accessible currency for people who are blind and visually impaired. Secondly, placing Harriet Tubman’s picture on the $20 bill would be historic as she would be the first person of color to be pictured on U.S. currency. I encourage the Department of Printing & Engraving to implement both of these actions,» said Peggy R. Garrett, chair of ACB’s Multicultural Affairs Committee.

The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With more than 65 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org.

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SOURCE American Council of the Blind

Carbon Capture Technology Faces a Difficult Few Years, Finds IDTechEx Research

BOSTON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), or carbon capture and storage (CCS), is a set of technologies used to strip carbon dioxide from industrial waste gases or directly from the atmosphere. Once the carbon dioxide is captured, it is either stored permanently underground (carbon storage) or it is used for a range of industrial applications (carbon utilization), such as CO2-derived fuels or building materials….

BOSTON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), or carbon capture and storage (CCS), is a set of technologies used to strip carbon dioxide from industrial waste gases or directly from the atmosphere. Once the carbon dioxide is captured, it is either stored permanently underground (carbon storage) or it is used for a range of industrial applications (carbon utilization), such as CO2-derived fuels or building materials. CCUS technologies are likely to play a key role in the fight against climate change, with the UN estimating that CCUS could mitigate between 1.5 and 6.3 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalents per year by 2050.

The world has already taken its steps along this pathway. Over the last decade, the deployment of carbon capture technology has been steadily scaling up, with global carbon capture capacity reaching 40 million tonnes in 2020. Plans for more than 30 new CCUS facilities have been announced since 2017. If all these projects proceeded, global capture capacity would triple to around 140 million tonnes per year.

However, this is a drop in the ocean compared with global CO2 emissions, which reached 36 billion tonnes in 2019. Although global emissions are believed to have dropped to around 31 billion tonnes in 2020, stemming from the global slowdown in the wake of COVID-19, this is probably a blip in the wider picture, and global CO2 emissions are likely to continue growing over the next few years. For CCUS to have a meaningful impact on emissions in a timely manner, it will need to scale up hundreds of times compared with today’s levels.

CCUS technologies also face some major challenges that could hamper widespread deployment. Although each aspect of CO2 capture, utilization, and storage faces its own challenges, a common challenge facing all aspects of the industry is that of economics.

Separating out CO2 from a mixture of gases is costly. Although separation is fairly straightforward for waste streams with high concentrations of CO2, such as in natural gas processing or ammonia production, it becomes costlier as the relative amount of CO2 in the stream decreases. Capturing one tonne of CO2 from a flue gas stream in an average coal-fired power plant currently costs around $40-80. Capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere can cost around $600. The energy requirements to capture the CO2 are also an issue – a coal plant equipped with CO­2­ capturing equipment can require about 25% more fuel to generate the same amount of power as one without it.

Once the carbon has been captured, there’s the challenge of what to do with it. Captured CO2 can either be stored underground or utilized for various industrial applications. Underground storage is by far the most widely used option, with most industrial-scale CCUS facilities using captured CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where CO­2 is injected into oil wells to boost productivity. This is somewhat problematic in its own sense, as it is essentially using CO2 to access more oil which will then be burned to give out CO2, but it also requires high oil prices to be commercially viable. The drop in oil prices stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic made EOR less viable in 2020, resulting in the Petra Nova facility’s closure in Texas, which was the world’s largest installation of CO2 capture on a power plant. Carbon pricing schemes and tax credits such as the 45Q scheme in the US can help make CO2 storage more viable, although such schemes are still in their early stages across much of the world.

Despite these challenges, progress in CCUS may be something the world can’t afford to ignore. Innovative companies across the world are working to overcome the challenges associated with CCUS, for example, through improved capture technology and the development of catalysts that can quickly and cheaply convert CO2 molecules into useful chemicals and fuels. The next few years could be essential in ensuring the future success of the industry. «Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage 2021-2040«, a new report from IDTechEx, explores the technical and commercial factors that are key to ensuring the success of the industry.

This report provides a comprehensive view of the global CCUS industry, providing a detailed analysis of both the technological and economic factors that are set to shape the industry over the next twenty years. The report considers carbon capture, carbon utilization, and carbon storage individually, discussing the technology innovations, key players, and opportunities within each area, alongside a twenty-year forecast for the deployment of carbon capture technology.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/CCUS, or for the full portfolio of Green Technology research available from IDTechEx, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/GreenTech.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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press@IDTechEx.com
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SOURCE IDTechEx

Tourism Minister Attends Bahamas Charter Yacht Show in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation (BMOTA), attended the opening of a special Bahamas Charter Yacht Show on February 25, at the Rybovich Superyacht Marina in <span…

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation (BMOTA), attended the opening of a special Bahamas Charter Yacht Show on February 25, at the Rybovich Superyacht Marina in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The two-day charter broker-only show was organized by the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) in partnership with the BMOTA and the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA). Participating in the show were 80 of the top charter brokers who book charters to The Bahamas, along with yachts ranging in sizes 78 to 213 feet.

Exhibitors included: ABM, Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Romora Bay Resort & Marina, Valentine’s Resort & Marina, Bay Street Marina, Hurricane Hole Marina, Nassau Yacht Haven, Abaco Beach Resort, Tropic Ocean Air, United Island & Yacht-United Shipping and Makers Air.

Originally scheduled to take place in Nassau, Bahamas in February 2021, the show was moved to the Rybovich Superyacht facility to accommodate the international brokers and respect the current COVID-19 restrictions by the Bahamas government.

While at the show, Minister D’Aguilar conducted one-on-one meetings with the brokers thanking them for their continuous support of The Bahamas and educated them on The Bahamas’ new digitized Click2Clear cruise platforms, safety travel protocols, new marina products and destination experiences available to them and their guests.

The Minister noted that «prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism to The Bahamas was performing remarkably well and was poised for record-breaking performances. The impact of the pandemic, however, was felt by us all. Despite a slower rebound, especially with our hotels and airline operators, we are indeed grateful to our neighbors in the North who continue to visit us by private aircrafts, boats and charter yachts, which have benefited our Family Islands greatly.» 

«As COVID-19 cases here in the U.S. decline daily, and as more and more businesses begin to reopen and persons prepare to travel again, we want to remind you and your guests, that The Bahamas, blessed with great beauty, diversity and geography (located 50 miles from the U.S., the world’s greatest economy and three of the largest cruise ship ports) is open for business. Our entry protocols are quick and easy, and we are ready to share our hospitality with you,» said Minister D’Aguilar.

According to Peter Maury, President of ABM and owner of Bay Street Marina, «We simply could not let the opportunity to hold this event at Rybovich Marina pass us, especially when the international charter brokers were already here in Florida, and 90% of the charter yacht business that comes to The Bahamas is booked through these brokers.» 

«COVID -19 has changed the rules of engagement for doing charter business.  The Bahamas government must be commended for its swift actions to curtail COVID-19 cases, install digitized cruise and charter platforms and reopen its borders and economy, quickly and safely, especially as other destinations remain closed for business,» said Joseph Dargavage, Vice President of ABM, Partner at Romora Bay Resort & Marina and Chairman for the Bahamas Charter Yacht Show.

«As a result of this, The Bahamas destination has now been added to many new brokers’ schedules, and we have seen an increase in enquiries and charter yacht bookings to the destination like never before.  We are only beginning to scratch the surface of the potential revenue that yacht chartering can provide to us.  In fact, The Bahamas is still in its infancy stage in this charter arena, and based on the feedback and interest shown in The Bahamas destination, I expect yacht charter business in The Bahamas to grow five-fold, within the next five years,» he said.

«We also plan to conduct a series of small Bahamas charter show events in Florida throughout the year to further promote The Bahamas, its ease of getting there, safety protocols and culture.  Plans are also underway to hold the 2022 Bahamas Charter Yacht Show in Nassau, comprising three days in Nassau with post trips to the Out Islands,» said Darvagage.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It’s Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIES
D. Earnestine Moxyz
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
emoxyz@bahamas.com

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SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

Exhibition Hub, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Accelerates Its American Expansion Across Multiple US Cities

LONDON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Have you ever dreamed of stepping into a masterpiece painting? Have you ever dreamed of stepping into a masterpiece painting? Since this Spring, you will be able to when Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience comes to multiple cities across the US: New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, <span…

LONDON, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Have you ever dreamed of stepping into a masterpiece painting? Have you ever dreamed of stepping into a masterpiece painting? Since this Spring, you will be able to when Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience comes to multiple cities across the US: New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Boston & Houston.

After huge success in Europe, where it delighted the sophisticated and demanding European art lovers, entertainment producer Exhibition Hub and leading entertainment discovery platform Fever, have accelerated the expansion across North America, announcing the launch of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in Boston, with tickets selling in just hours in both Atlanta and New York.

This 360-degree, immersive digital art experience, allows visitors to take an awe-inspiring journey into the incomparable universe of Vincent van Gogh, one of history’s foremost artistic geniuses, bringing to life a new form of immersive Edutainment.

The experience illuminates and transforms a unique physical space into a fully immersive exhibit, where Van Gogh’s work takes over the walls, through cutting-edge 360-degree digital projections, and unique one-of-a-kind VR experiences. Visitors are immersed directly into the paintings themselves and become the eyes of Van Gogh, an element that differentiates this experience from other similarly immersive exhibits. The family-friendly, COVID-safe experience is sure to delight all ages.

Click here to see a glimpse of the full experience.

«We believe there is a pent-up demand for immersive entertainment in a COVID-safe environment,» said Mario Iacampo, CEO of Exhibition Hub. «As the world slowly returns to normal, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience allows people to once again gather and enjoy art and entertainment in a safe, socially distanced manner.»

Visitors to Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will be required to wear face masks at all times and must adhere to anti-COVID transmission protocols as outlined by the CDC. Hand sanitizer stations will be available to visitors on-site. The exact location for the experience will be announced in the coming weeks.

Since launching in 2015, Exhibition Hub has produced more than 70 exhibitions and immersive experiences around the world, reaching more than six million visitors. The company curates, produces and distributes a large number of exhibitions across the globe, from Europe to America and Asia, delivering experiences to wide audiences and adapting its productions to numerous types of unique venues: from museums to exhibition centers, galleries to shopping malls, and cathedrals, and historical sites.

Exhibition Hub has also teamed with leading entertainment discovery platform, Fever, best known for its immersive experiences Candlelight, The Mad Hatter Gin (& Tea) Party and, most recently, the Los Angeles based Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience.

Since 2015, Fever have been democratizing access to culture and delighting global audiences through their experiences. In this time they have revolutionised the experience economy ensuring experiences like Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience continue to delight culture seekers. Fever strive to continually offer affordable tickets, allowing for competitive prices and also special prices for seniors, veterans and students.

Press Contact: press@feverup.com  

About Exhibition Hub:

Exhibition Hub is a curator, producer and distributor of large exhibitions across the world, from Europe to America and Asia. They deliver edutainment experiences to wide audiences and adapt their productions to any kind of venue: from museums, exhibition centres, galleries to shopping malls, old churches, historical places and other unique spots.

Nowadays, Exhibition Hub focuses more and more on immersive experiences. They offer a spectacular 360° light and music show as well as a unique virtual reality experience.

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SOURCE Exhibition Hub