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Hard Rock Hotels® Partners With Historic London, Ontario Property With Plans For New Hotel Development

LONDON, ON, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hard Rock Hotels today announced plans to locate a new property in London, Ontario, as the iconic global brand continues to expand its reach with another world-class hotel and entertainment venue in North America. Working in tandem with managing partners at Dora Hotel Company and The Cribbage Group, Hard Rock will transform the historic site of the former Kellogg’s Canada Factory into a unique location that brings the brand’s world-renowned music and entertainment offerings to the region. Hard Rock Hotel London, Ontario will greatly complement existing tourist activities in the region and create a wide variety of educational, cultural and historical experiences for guests of all ages to enjoy.

Located at 100 Kellogg Lane, the planned 353-room hotel will be completed in two phases, with an initial 163-room opening planned for late 2022 and final site completion in 2025. Embracing historical aspects of this site, the design will embody luxury industrial elements that preserve the original atmosphere and charm of the site. This includes the original courtyard that is highlighted by a building developed by Albert Khan, widely acknowledged as the foremost industrial architect of his time and the «Architect of Detroit.»

«We are thrilled to partner with the Dora Hotel Company and The Cribbage Group on this project, bringing Hard Rock’s world-class entertainment experiences to an already-bustling area in Ontario,» said Todd Hricko, SVP of Hotel Development at Hard Rock International. «This property will provide a multitude of local attractions and unique on-property activities sure to create lasting memories for all who visit.»

«Signing the agreement for the creation of Hard Rock Hotel London, Ontario is the beginning of what is sure to be an extraordinary partnership between The Dora Hotel Company, Hard Rock International, The Cribbage Group and the city of London,» said Tim Dora, President of The Dora Hotel Company. «We are excited to begin work on this property and bring to life the unparalleled energy of Hard Rock. There is no doubt this hotel will be a game changer for Canadians and those traveling from around the globe to Ontario for this Hard Rock Hotel experience.»

Located on the property are a plethora of delicious restaurants and fun attractions for guests of all ages. The property features the future home of London Children’s Museum, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, the highest indoor ropes course in North America, 145-foot ziplines, a 75-foot freefall and more than 20,000 square feet of trampoline park at The Factory, as well as food and beverage offerings such as Powerhouse Brewery, Paradigm Spirits Co., The Canteen and The Club House. Close in proximity to the hotel are local attractions such as Budweiser Gardens, RBC Place London and other sports and entertainment facilities.

The hotel will feature Hard Rock’s signature amenities such as The Sound of Your Stay^® program, a three-part offering that gets guests in the groove with an in-room Crosley vinyl player delivered to their door, a Heritage guitar delivery complete with amp and headphones for jam sessions and a choice of carefully curated playlists that are available for guests to stream or download. Other signature Hard Rock amenities on-property include Body Rock^® Fitness, a cutting-edge workout with innovative training systems just steps away from all rooms, and The Rock Spa^®, which welcomes guests to treat themselves to rest and relaxation in various forms.

Through music appreciation and an imaginative environment, Hard Rock Hotels delivers products for the varied aspects of life – work, play and personal sanctuary. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotel properties, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com.

About Hard Rock Hotels^®
Hard Rock Hotels is an award-winning internationally recognized leader in the hospitality industry – offering world-class entertainment, contemporary designs, incomparable service and one-of-a-kind brand amenities, catering to modern travelers who seek a reprieve from traditional, predictable properties. Driven by integrity, philanthropy and unparalleled guest experiences, the brand adorns 33 distinctive hotels in the world’s most enviable destinations. Hard Rock Hotels continue to provide amazing live music, dining options that make guests’ taste buds sing, head-to-toe wellness services and many more amenities, all while practicing social distance guidelines and adhering to SAFE+ SOUND protocols. For more information on Hard Rock Hotels, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com.

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SOURCE Hard Rock International

Enjoy Amazing K-Contents Online

NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — MCST (Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Minister: Park Yang-woo) and VKC (Visit Korea Committee) will host the «Korea Grand Sale 2021,» a culture & tourism festival for foreigners, from January 14 to February 28, 2021.

Korea Grand Sale is a representative shopping tourism festival that provides attractive tourism contents and shopping benefits to attract foreign tourists…

Korea Grand Sale is a representative shopping tourism festival that provides attractive tourism contents and shopping benefits to attract foreign tourists during the off-season of tourism in winter. This festival will be specially held online in 2021 due to the COVID-19 situation.

A variety of programs are offered: ▲Online cultural tours around Korea wherein people can experience and purchase Korean cultural content in a contactless way; ▲Special Online Shopping Promotion wherein discounts are offered for items of K-beauty, K-food, and K-fashion, which are popular among foreign tourists; and ▲Share your Korea, a social media campaign with a hashtag designed to grab the attention of foreigners and encourage them to participate on social media as well as on the Internet.

Enjoy online tours, don’t miss out on E-Class

To begin with, Hallyu star Eric Nam will act as a guide for the Korea Grand Sale and tell stories about the festival. His introduction of K-Pop, K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Food, and K-Heritage will be made into a video and broadcast on YouTube and tvN Asia channel. In addition to simply introducing Korean tourism, online classes will also be offered. It will provide foreign tourists the opportunities to learn about K-content (Korean food, K-POP, Korean beauty, Korean language, etc.) and experience Korean culture firsthand from the experts in each field. Discount coupons will be also given away for those who join programs to make their online tour experience even more enjoyable.

Have fun shopping even from outside Korea: Online Shopping Promotion

Shopping benefits will be provided as well. Korea Grand Sale will open an «Online Shopping Promotion» so that foreigners living outside of Korea can readily purchase popular Korean items on the Internet. A variety of goods including K-Beauty items, Korean food, and K-Pop merchandise that are gaining popularity around the world will be sold at up to 60% discount. In particular, joint promotion with G-market, 11street, and other E-commerce platforms will make the shopping experience more convenient. Furthermore, ‘Korea travel voucher events’ will be organized for customers who bought goods during the special sale to encourage them to visit Korea.

Korean Tourism Product Purchasing promotion

There will also be a Korean tourism product purchasing promotion as a collaboration with the tourism industry, one of the hardest hit by COVID-19. A range of travel-related companies providing service related to flights, accommodations, and cultural activities will offer a variety of promotions: special offers for flights to Korea, early bird promotion, up to 80% and extra 8% discount on major hotels, provincial tourism products, and special discounts for activities related to Korea culture and performances. These promotions are intended to encourage foreigners to choose Korea as the first travel destination after the pandemic.

Sharing «my Korea», a social media campaign

As a social media campaign for foreigners, «#Share_Your_Korea» will take place for 46 days. It aims to let travelers around the world recall the memory of their last trip to Korea by uploading «their Korea, their K-content» on social media with the hashtag, attract attention to Korea, and consequently make people look forward to traveling to Korea.

Along with this, Korea Experience Program will take place in collaboration with KOCIS (Korean Culture and Information Service). Foreign influencers living in Korea will join this program to promote the charm of Korea overseas.

In cooperation with Google Korea, held a global digital marketing education program for companies and local businesses participating in the Korea Grand Sale 2021. Moreover, to actively promote this online Korea Grand Sale abroad, advertisements and marketing were strengthened through international networks of private enterprises such as cash card companies, airlines, duty-free stores, Korea Tourism Organization, and KOTRA and their related organizations.

MCST and VKC will promote Korea as a shopping tourism destination with Korea Grand Sale as a steppingstone and further enhance Korea’s reputation as a travel destination by attracting a lot of foreign tourists after COVID-19.

The 2021 Korea Grand Sale, which will be opened with the online concert of K-pop idol singer ‘OH MY GIRL’, will be held for 46 days from Jan. 14. For further information, please visit the official website of the Korea Grand Sale. (en.koreagrandsale.co.kr)

Korea Grand Sale is a culture & tourism festival for foreigners featuring a combination of shopping, tourism, and Hallyu content. First held to overcome the off-season of the tour industry, the Korea Grand Sale is a promotion for inbound tourism that offers discounts and customer incentives for not only shopping but also flights, accommodations, cultural activities, beauty, food, entertainment, and others. This year’s Korea Grand Sale 2021 will be held online due to the COVID-19 situation with upgraded online/contactless content.

Media Contact

Kevin Lee, International Contents Platform, Inc., +1 2014036282, kevinlee.icp@gmail.com

SOURCE Korea Grand Sale 2021

Sting Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of ‘The Soul Cages’ with Digital-only Expanded Edition

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, A&M/UMe celebrates the 30^th Anniversary of Sting’s stirring third album, The Soul Cages, by releasing a digital-only expanded edition.

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, A&M/UMe celebrates the 30^th Anniversary of Sting’s stirring third album, The Soul Cages, by releasing a digital-only expanded edition.

Originally released in January 1991, the Expanded Edition features the original nine-song Soul Cages album plus 13 bonus tracks that consist of remixes, extended mixes, and a pair of songs sung in Spanish and Italian incarnations. Seven of these bonus tracks have not been previously available for digital download or streaming.

The core nine-track song cycle for The Soul Cages centers around Sting’s deep sense of personal loss following his father’s passing. The balance of the album’s lyrical content embarks on a recurring seafaring motif in honor of his father’s lifetime lamentation about never becoming a sailor, one of his unrealized personal dreams. The opening track, the slow-churning «Island Of Souls,» follows a son’s reverie about his fervent wish to take his shipbuilding father somewhere, anywhere out on the water in order to get away from it all, while «Why Should I Cry For You» chronicles the arc of the narrator’s fragile inner resolve. The relatively jaunty nature of the hit single «All This Time» runs cleverly counter to its burial-at-sea narrative, as the majestic, moody album closer «When The Angels Fall» ruminates on Sting’s staunch Catholic upbringing and the long-term effects of familial spiritual beliefs.

In fact, the ongoing impact of the deeply entrenched subject matter comprising The Soul Cages would remain with Sting, the artist for decades to come. Ultimately, it fueled him to author the music and lyrics for his first stage musical, The Last Ship, which debuted in 2014 and focused on the rise and fall of the shipbuilding industry in his native England.

Produced by Sting and Hugh Padgham, The Soul Cages also marked the first occasion that longtime stage and studio collaborator, the acclaimed guitarist Dominic Miller, appeared on one of Sting’s albums. Other notable topline Soul Cages creative contributors include keyboardists David Sancious and the late Kenny Kirkland, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and drummer Manu Katché. For his own part, Sting played bass, mandolin, and synthesizer on The Soul Cages, in addition to singing all of the album’s lead vocals.

The Soul Cages has been certified platinum by the RIAA, and it topped the album charts in five countries, including the U.K. and Canada, topping out at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, «All This Time,» made a tremendous chart impact right out of the gate, ultimately reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Hot 100, No. 1 on both Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock, and No. 9 on Adult Contemporary. The title track, «The Soul Cages,» won a Grammy for Best Rock Song in 1992, and it climbed to No. 7 on Mainstream Rock and No. 9 on Modern Rock. The album’s other key singles were «Mad About You» and «Why Should I Cry For You.»

The Soul Cages – Expanded Edition Available HERE:

sting.com
facebook.com/sting
twitter.com/OfficialSting
instagram.com/theofficialsting
YouTube.com/StingVEVO

STING: THE SOUL CAGES – EXPANDED EDITION [digital only]

Island Of Souls
All This Time
Mad About You
Jeremiah Blues (Part 1)
Why Should I Cry For You
Saint Agnes And The Burning Train
The Wild Wild Sea
The Soul Cages
When The Angels Fall
I Miss You Kate (Instrumental) [Bonus Track]
Come Down In Time [Bonus Track] *
Tempted (Live) [Bonus Track] *
Ne Me Quitte Pas (Live) [Bonus Track] *
Oo La La Hugh [Bonus Track] *
Mad About You (Original Remix) [Bonus Track] *
Mad About You (Remix Edit) [Bonus Track] *
Mad About You (12″ Remix) [Bonus Track] *
Mad About You (Italian Version) [Bonus Track]
Why Should I Cry For You (Spanish Version) [Bonus Track]
Why Should I Cry For You (Extended Mix) [Bonus Track]
The Soul Cages (Edit) [Bonus Track]
All This Time (Edit) [Bonus Track]

* Not Previously Available Digitally

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SOURCE A&M/UMe

Solstice Raises $3.1M to Offer Affordable and Inclusive Renewable Energy to Households Across the United States

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Solstice Power Technologies, Inc. (https://solstice.us/), a software and customer management company dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to every household in America, has closed an oversubscribed $3.1 million funding round. The funding was led by Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures with additional investments from American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Schneider Electric Ventures, Next Wave Impact, Active Impact Investments, Powerhouse Ventures, Gratitude Railroad, H/L Ventures, SustainVC, Halcyon Angels, and prominent angel investors. The funding will be used to expand Solstice’s operations to additional states in 2021 following a year of unprecedented household impact and revenue growth for the company in which it quadrupled its revenue run rate. Initially, Solstice will focus on Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, New Jersey, with more states quickly following.

The clean energy industry is poised to experience exponential growth in 2021 as demand for climate solutions surge from governments, corporations, and civil society. Climate change is a top concern for many Americans and its mitigation requires massive clean energy expansion, yet 77 percent of American households cannot install rooftop solar power due to rented housing, the structure of their rooftop, the upfront cost, or access to financing. Solstice connects households and community organizations to «community solar»—shared solar farms that are installed in a centralized location where local residents can enroll in a portion for free, without any home installations, and enjoy guaranteed savings on their monthly utility bill.

«The benefits of renewables have mainly accrued to higher-income homeowners over the last several decades, and there has never been a more urgent time to democratize access to the green economy,» said Steph Speirs, Co-Founder and CEO. «Solstice has worked for years to put solar within reach of excluded households, and we are excited to partner with our investors to accelerate an equitable transition to clean energy.»

«We are pleased to renew our support to Solstice in its mission to both facilitate access to renewable electricity for all and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. The company plays a key role in this ecosystem, as an effective orchestrator between the project developers and local energy consumers, but also with local business or community partners eager to promote clean energy,» said Edouard Bulteau, Principal at Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures.

One of the only companies in the solar industry co-founded and led by women of color, Solstice has generated demand for 111MW of clean energy across 25 community renewable projects in multiple states, with the total clean energy capacity from enrolled households, small businesses, and nonprofits representing the environmental equivalent of not burning 31 million pounds of coal. In addition, Solstice’s software manages the end-to-end customer experience for the life of the 20-year renewable energy project on behalf of developers and financiers, from customer enrollment to billing/crediting to ongoing customer engagement.

Building community trust is the motivating force for Solstice’s work. As part of its community partnership program, the company shares its revenues with local partners (such as municipalities, schools, employers, and houses of worship) that spread the word to their members about the benefits of green power. Since 2019, Solstice has donated more than $150,000 to these local community groups and individual Ambassadors in order to build clean energy wealth closer to home.

«We were excited to invest in Solstice because of their accomplished and exceptional leadership team. Community solar is a fast-growing category for great reasons—the cost of solar has plummeted, but rooftop is simply not possible for many people and this allows affordable energy to be delivered to exponentially more people,» said Mike Winterfield, Founder and Managing Partner of Active Impact Investments.

In owning the customer experience for community renewable energy projects, Solstice advocates for these projects to include more lower-income populations and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Among the chief barriers for participation in clean energy is the minimum FICO credit score qualification requirement of 680+ imposed by project financiers and/or developers in an effort to mitigate perceived payment default risk. Upon discovering that the traditional FICO standard excluded more than half the country from participating in solar, Solstice partnered with the Department of Energy to create the EnergyScore, an innovative and proprietary qualification standard that is simultaneously more accurate than FICO credit scores in predicting utility bill payments, as well as more inclusive of low-income Americans. The funding proceeds will expand the deployment of the EnergyScore to additional projects across the country, giving clean energy to households that would have otherwise been locked out of the market.

«Solstice is a mission-driven company that shares our desire to close equity gaps in America by making solar energy available to every American. Community solar saves consumers money on their current energy bills today while simultaneously building community resilience. Solstice knows how to deliver the power of the sun to underserved communities and we fully embrace that goal moving forward,» said John McIntyre, Managing Director of the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact Fund.

«Solstice is a shining example of the way we should be doing business in the U.S.» said SustainVC Managing Principal and Solstice board member Sky Lance. «Founded by women of color, Solstice is not only speeding the adoption of solar in the U.S., but they are pushing to get green energy into the hands of those that need it most.»

About Solstice Power Technologies
Solstice is dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to the 77% of Americans who cannot install a rooftop system. Community solar offers a solution, enabling residents to support local clean energy at no upfront cost and save money on their electric bill every year. Solstice offers customer solutions for the community solar industry–enrolling households and local organizations in shared projects, creating financing innovations that expand access to underserved Americans (the EnergyScore), and providing a frictionless subscriber management software platform for projects. To learn more about Solstice and community solar in your area, visit http://www.solstice.us or watch Emerson Collective’s recent short film on Solstice’s work at http://www.bit.ly/solsticefilm.

Media Contact
Grace McMeekin
Solstice Power Technologies
781.850.6569
grace@solstice.us

Media Contact

Steph Speirs, Solstice Power Technologies, +1 781.850.6569, steph@solstice.us

Grace McMeekin, Solstice Power Technologies, 781.850.6569, grace@solstice.us

Twitter, Facebook

SOURCE Solstice Power Technologies

Stephen P. Weisz, CEO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Honored with Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) recently recognized Stephen P. Weisz, chief executive officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC), as the association’s 2020 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership recipient. The award was presented at the CFHLA 2020 Members of the Year Awards Ceremony held in Orlando, Fla.

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The award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by CFHLA and is named after the first CFHLA Board of Directors Chairperson, Charles Andrews, and exemplifies perseverance and dedication to a cause. CFHLA selected Mr. Weisz for his efforts to enhance Central Florida’s hospitality industry and the community as a whole. Past recipients of the award include Walt Disney, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins.

«I’m incredibly honored and, quite frankly, very humbled to receive this award and be among the extraordinary list of individuals who have received this recognition,» said Weisz. «I truly appreciate and believe in the CFHLA’s mission of ‘advancing tourism and the community through hospitality.’ Those of us in the hospitality industry understand it’s not just about checking people in and out, it’s about finding a place in the community where we can thrive and grow and give back.»

A graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration, Mr. Weisz joined Marriott International, Inc. in 1972. His 48-year career includes 39 years with Marriott International where he held several key executive management positions. Mr. Weisz served as president of Marriott Vacation Club International from December 1996 until the latter part of 2011 when Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation was established as a separate, public company from Marriott International, Inc. In 2018, Mr. Weisz led the strategic initiative to acquire ILG, Inc. The combined company has more than 100 resorts and over 660,000 Owners and Members in a diverse portfolio that includes seven vacation ownership brands. It also includes exchange networks and membership programs comprised of nearly 3,200 resorts in over 80 nations and nearly 1.8 million Members, as well as management of approximately 160 other resorts and lodging properties.

About Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is a leading global vacation company that offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental and resort and property management, along with related businesses, products and services. The company has a diverse portfolio that includes seven vacation ownership brands. It also includes exchange networks and membership programs, as well as management of other resorts and lodging properties. As a leader and innovator in the vacation industry, the company upholds the highest standards of excellence in serving its customers, investors and associates while maintaining exclusive, long-term relationships with Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels Corporation for the development, sales and marketing of vacation ownership products and services. For more information, please visit www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com.

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SOURCE Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation

Naples Underground Featured on the History Channel

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — History was made in 2007, as the History Channel premiered their first ever full-length documentary, diving into the hidden secrets of Naples via Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea) founded and run by lead Speleologist Enzo Albertini. The program, titled «The Secret Cities» begins at a depth of 6 metres, in the excavations of San Lorenzo, traveling all the way into the Decumani area,…

The program aired on Sky channel 406, quite the momentous occasion as it was the first time the History Channel shot a documentary on Naples. In the past, they had only broadcast an in-depth study on the Napoli Liberation, a program which was made up of local footage and computer reconstructions of the Pompeii eruption, but no real footage was shot at the time.

This time, the History Channel documentary was filmed by a cohort of American television producers led by Executive Producer Dolores Gavin, accompanied by Producers Sarah Wetherbee and Emre Sahin who worked with Vincenzo Albertini to explore the underground city in a way which also tells the stories of a world long ago and their rich history. Their relationship and conversations with Mr. Albertini over the course of their many days and excursions there, allowed for an in-depth level of conversation into which aspects of Italy’s great history accounts for the current geological marvels that exist within Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea). It was especially in these moments of conversation, that we see a National hero and honorary Tourism Ambassador Vincenzo Albertini shining through in his depth of knowledge and ability to paint such an inviting sense of adventure and intrigue over the city of Naples.

This dynamic troupe of storytellers, begin their journey by visiting the Pompeii excavations and showing the entire world how Naples was saved from the eruption of 79AC. They then make their way into the entrance of the Anticaglia house, from a trap door which descends into the stalls of the Roman theater, the remains of the Teatro di Nero.

The tour then continues under the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Naples where the Seat of San Lorenzo was born and where the remains of the columns of the ancient Court can still be seen today. At each of these great points in the unique landscape, Vincenzo Albertini continues to supply extensive insight into exactly which geological features we are seeing at the moment in time and also giving us the historical context, seamlessly merging story, lore and geology, bringing it into the Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea) of today.

After exploring the secrets hidden in the underground, the History Channel cameras arrive in the hypogeum of Naples and for the first time they show the city. This momentous broadcast of Naples to the world was celebrated by Italians everywhere and a special salute was given to Vincenzo Albertini and his team.

Instagram @napoisotterraanea

Contact:
Lizzie Maria
+44 (0) 7570 82 0089
289159@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Napoli Sotterranea

Economic Growth Expected to Accelerate as Vaccine Deployment Quickens and Warmer Weather Approaches

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. economy is expected to grow 5.3 percent in 2021, a substantial improvement from the currently projected 2.7 percent contraction in 2020, with a strong pick-up in growth projected to commence over the spring months, according to the latest commentary from the Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. The latest forecast of full-year 2021 real GDP growth is an upgrade of 0.8 percentage points from the previous month’s forecast, reflecting the ESR Group’s view that the expansion of COVID-19 vaccination efforts and the approach of warmer weather will likely reverse the economic weakness experienced at the end of 2020. The ESR Group also noted that the continued recovery will likely be considerably faster than the recovery following the Great Recession and upgraded its 2022 growth forecast by 0.4 percentage points to 3.6 percent. Immediate risks to the forecast center around the path of the pandemic and progress on vaccination distribution. Impediments to that process could result in meaningful, adverse impacts to the timeline of projected growth. Otherwise, the ESR Group believes that conditions are favorable for a strong recovery, with inflationary pressure and higher interest rates being the most significant longer-term risks to growth.

Housing activity is expected to remain strong in 2021, but sector growth will likely decelerate from the torrid pace set in the second half of 2020. While the ESR Group expects home sales to rise 3.8 percent in 2021, the monthly pace is likely to slow through much of the year. Home price appreciation is also expected to slow along a similar timeline. Purchase mortgage originations are expected to rise in 2021 to $1.8 trillion from 2020’s projected $1.6 trillion, while refinance origination activity is forecast at $2.2 trillion in 2021, down from the projected all-time high of $2.8 trillion in 2020. With mortgage rates near historic lows, the ESR Group estimates that 67 percent of outstanding mortgages have at least a half-percentage point incentive to refinance.

«COVID-19 remains the dominant force altering the path of the economy through the behaviors of people, businesses and policy makers,» said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist. «Therefore, the best policy for economic recovery is the broad distribution of an effective vaccine, which is underway. The sooner this can be successfully accomplished the sooner growth can accelerate, and our thought is that by mid-year vaccine distribution efforts will be well-established, allowing for a strong second half.»

«One impact of our projected growth acceleration is likely to be modestly rising interest rates, whether as a result of increased growth expectations – as consumer savings are augmented by stimulus leading to stronger consumer spending – or by a modest increase in inflation driven by demand growth outpacing a recovery in supply,» Duncan continued. «We believe the Fed’s policy of tolerating a modest overshoot of its long-term inflation target is likely to be tested.»

«Our latest forecast projects that the continued waning of pent-up demand from last year’s delayed spring homebuying season, coupled with a modest rise in interest rates, will likely slow the pace of housing, measured both by the volume of mortgages refinanced and by the pace of home sales. However, in our view, a modest slowdown in the sales pace is unlikely to prevent year-end 2021 home sales from being higher than 2020,» Duncan concluded.

Visit the Economic & Strategic Research site at fanniemae.com to read the full January 2021 Economic Outlook, including the Economic Developments Commentary, Economic Forecast, Housing Forecast, and Multifamily Market Commentary. To receive e-mail updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group, please click here.

About Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of Americans. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for families across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit:

Fannie Mae Newsroom
https://www.fanniemae.com/news

Photo of Fannie Mae
https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif

Fannie Mae Resource Center
1-800-2FANNIE

Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, and other views published by the ESR group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

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SOURCE Fannie Mae

Costa Cruises Celebrates Float-Out Ceremony For Costa Toscana; Italian Cruise Line’s New LNG Ship Will Be Delivered In December

GENOA, Italy and TURKU, Finland, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Costa Cruises, the Italian company of <a target="_blank"…

GENOA, Italy and TURKU, Finland, Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Costa Cruises, the Italian company of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, today celebrated the float-out ceremony of the new flagship Costa Toscana at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland.

Costa Toscana, as her sister ship Costa Smeralda, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology currently available for reducing emissions, both at sea and during port calls. Costa Group, which includes Costa Cruises, Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, was the first in the cruise industry worldwide to introduce this technology, having ordered five new LNG-powered ships, two of which, Costa Smeralda and AIDAnova, have already entered service. They are part of an expansion plan that includes seven new ships to be delivered to Costa Group by 2023, for a total investment of more than six billion euros.

During the float-out ceremony, Costa Toscana officially touched the sea for the first time, with the flooding of the basin where she has been built in recent months. She will enter service in December 2021, once the interior fittings have been completed.

Mario Zanetti, chief commercial officer of Costa Cruises and president of Costa Group Asia, commented: «Despite the current challenging scenario, Costa Group is confirming its investment in fleet expansion. We are confident in the recovery of our industry, and we are excited about the arrival of new ships like Costa Toscana, which embodies the elements we want to focus on for the future. First of all, it is an excellent and innovative ship, attractive for new customers, which is going to be fundamental, especially when people will be able to freely travel again and will have a great desire for holidays. Looking beyond the pandemic, the second element we are focusing on is to complete the transformation of our fleet and operations into a sustainable model. In addition to LNG technology, we are developing other innovative solutions, such as shore power and batteries, as we continue to work towards achieving zero emissions over time.»

«The float-out is always a very special occasion for us shipbuilders, as the ship is finally set to her natural environment. As this is also the start of the final stage of shipbuilding, all the exciting colors, venues and features will start taking their final form. In the coming months she will be finalized at the pier and then tested and commissioned in the autumn for delivery,» CEO of Meyer Turku, Tim Meyer, said.

Costa Toscana has been designed to be a traveling «smart city,» where sustainable solutions and circular economy concepts are applied to reduce environmental impact. Thanks to the use of LNG, it will be possible to virtually eliminate emissions of sulfur dioxide (zero emissions) and particulate matter into the atmosphere (95-100% reduction), while also significantly lowering emissions of nitrogen oxides (direct reduction of 85%) and CO₂ (up to 20%). On board, special desalinisation plants will process seawater directly to meet daily water supply requirements, and energy consumption will be reduced to a minimum thanks to an intelligent energy efficiency system. In addition, 100% separate collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum will be carried out on board, as part of an integrated approach aimed at supporting circular economy projects.

The new flagship is a tribute to Tuscany, the result of an extraordinarily creative project, curated by Adam D. Tihany, designed to enhance and bring to life in a single location reflecting the best of this wonderful Italian region, which gives its name to the ship, its decks and main public areas.

Tihany has worked with an international pool of prestigious architectural firms – Dordoni Architetti, Jeffrey Beers International and Partner Ship Design – to design the different areas of the ship. All the furnishings, lighting, fabrics and accessories are made in Italy, whether standard produced or designed specifically for the new flagship by 15 partners who are highly representative of Italian excellence.

The facilities on board will fit perfectly into this extraordinary setting: from the Solemio Spa to the areas dedicated to entertainment; from the themed bars, in collaboration with major Italian brands, to the 16 restaurants and areas dedicated to the «food experience,» including the restaurant dedicated to families with children, and the LAB Restaurant, where you can try your cooking skills under the guidance of Costa’s chefs.

The «heart» of the new flagship will be the «Colosseo,» a space in the centre of the ship spread over three decks, dedicated to the best shows. The big screens, positioned both on the walls and on the dome, offer the possibility of creating a different story in every port of call and in every moment of the holiday.

Also not to be missed is the large stairway on three decks facing astern: the ideal place for entertaining guests, both young and old, with an open-air balcony on the top deck featuring a crystal floor that lets you experience the thrill of «flying» over the sea.

To relax and enjoy the sun there will be four swimming pools, one of which will be indoors with salt water, with a new beach club, which will recreate the atmosphere of a real bathing establishment.

Comfortable and elegant, the more than 2,600 cabins on board perfectly reflect Italian style and taste. The «Sea Terrace» cabins will offer a beautiful veranda where you can have breakfast, sip an aperitif or simply enjoy the view.

Costa Toscana will make its debut in Brazil in the 2021-22 season. In particular, the inaugural New Year’s Eve cruise will depart from Santos on Dec. 26, 2021, with a week-long itinerary visiting Salvador and Ilhéus, and returning to Santos on Jan. 2, 2022. From Jan. 2 to April 10, 2022, Costa Toscana will offer another 15 cruises with the same itinerary, embarking in Santos and Salvador. The 15 cruises also include the Carnival and Easter departures, which will be the ship’s last cruise before the Brazil–Italy crossing, departing from Santos on April 17, 2022.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/costa-cruises-celebrates-float-out-ceremony-for-costa-toscana-italian-cruise-lines-new-lng-ship-will-be-delivered-in-december-301209166.html

SOURCE Costa Cruises

FCA Announced as First Automotive OEM to Implement Amazon’s New Alexa Custom Assistant

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

Alexa Custom Assistant makes it fast and easy to create intelligent voice experiences in FCA products
Technology introduces the unique capability of two in-vehicle voice assistants to co-exist and work together to fulfill customer requests
Dual-assistant cooperation enabled by advanced artificial intelligence

FCA will be the first automaker to implement Amazon’s Alexa Custom Assistant into its…

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

Alexa Custom Assistant makes it fast and easy to create intelligent voice experiences in FCA products
Technology introduces the unique capability of two in-vehicle voice assistants to co-exist and work together to fulfill customer requests
Dual-assistant cooperation enabled by advanced artificial intelligence

FCA will be the first automaker to implement Amazon’s Alexa Custom Assistant into its vehicles, making it fast and easy to create intelligent voice experiences for FCA products. The Alexa Custom Assistant solution is built directly on the Alexa technology stack within FCA’s Uconnect system and can be tailored to each FCA brand personality and customer need with a unique wake word, voice, skills and capabilities.

This innovative technology also introduces the unique capability of two in-vehicle voice assistants to simultaneously cooperate and fulfill customer requests. This allows the FCA intelligent assistant to act as the product specialist with features and capabilities specific to the vehicle, while Alexa helps the customer with weather, smart home control, music and more.

«Our customers expect to easily connect with their digital lifestyles wherever they go and today we responded with plans to offer new intelligent experiences built on Alexa’s world-class voice AI technology,» said Mark Stewart, Chief Operating Officer, FCA – North America. «We look forward to the expanding partnership with Amazon and the integration of Alexa Custom Assistant within our powerful Uconnect system, as we continue on our path to put customer needs and expectations at the center of everything we do.»

The Alexa Custom Assistant enables this dual-assistant cooperation by using advanced artificial intelligence to determine the customer’s intent and then routing the request to the proper voice assistant for the job — if the assistant invoked by the customer cannot fulfill the request, but the other voice assistant can, it will hand-off the request without any additional customer participation, resulting in a convenient, intuitive and delightful customer experience.

«We are pleased to work with FCA as the first automotive partner to implement Alexa Custom Assistant in its vehicles,» said Ned Curic, Vice President, Alexa Automotive. «FCA has made it a priority to offer an intelligent assistant experience their customers will love, and we are excited to collaborate with them to deliver that capability.»

FCA has already begun the planning process for the integration of the Alexa Custom Assistant in its future models.

Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is a global automaker that designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles in a portfolio of exciting brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep®, Lancia, Ram and Maserati. It also sells parts and services under the Mopar name and operates in the components and production systems sectors under the Comau and Teksid brands. FCA employs nearly 200,000 people around the globe. For more details regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visit www.fcagroup.com.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fca-announced-as-first-automotive-oem-to-implement-amazons-new-alexa-custom-assistant-301209294.html

SOURCE FCA

Premios Internacionales de la Paz: donde verlos, los homenjeados, actuaciones musicales, y todo lo demas que necesita saber

WASHINGTON, 15 de enero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A medida que se acerca la inauguración presidencial, y seguimos sintiendo el impacto de la Insurrección del Capitolio, sintonice los Premios Internacionales de la Paz, una celebración de unidad y paz.

<img src="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1421275/TuneIn.jpg" title=""…

Un grupo selecto de personalidades internacionales se unirán a la inauguración de los Premios Internacionales de la Paz, presentados por PeaceTech Lab, para celebrar a los líderes mundiales y agentes de cambio más destacados de nuestro tiempo, cuyo objetivo común es construir un futuro más justo y equitativo.

Como verlos:

Los Premios Internacionales de la Paz se transmitirán en vivo en el canal de YouTube de PeaceTech Lab: bit.ly/internationalpeacehonors el 17 de enero a las 8:00 pm ET / 5 pm PT.

El programa también estará disponible en YouTube /Live y YouTube /Music.

Para registrarse para verlos gratuitamente, visite: internationalpeacehonors.org y para más noticias y siga @internationalpeacehonors.

Los homenajeados:

Los homenajeados de este año incluyen: el Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director del Instituto Nacional de Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas; el cacique amazónico Raoni, líder del pueblo kayapó en Brasil; Opal Tometi, cofundador de Black Lives Matter; el cantautor y activista de derechos humanos Ricky Martin; el «Padre de Internet», Vint Cerf; y el cantautor y humanitario Ricardo Montaner.

Actuaciones Musicales:

Una lista internacional de superestrellas ofrecerá homenajes y actuaciones especiales, que incluyen: el artista español Alejandro Sanz interpretará «La quiero a Morir«; El cantante colombiano Camilo y su esposa Evaluna Montaner compartirán una versión de su éxito recientemente lanzado «Amen«; El músico y activista de fama mundial Sting compartirá una versión íntima de su canción «Frágil«; y la cantautora italiana Laura Pausini, interpretarán «Io Si» de la película The Life Ahead con Sofia Loren.

Presentadores:

Los presentadores de premios incluyen: el ícono del baloncesto Stephen Curry de los Golden State Warriors; el músico y ambientalista Sting; la actriz y activista Eva Longoria; el famoso chef y humanitario José Andrés, y un mensaje especial del 33º Presidente de los Estados Unidos, Jimmy Carter.

Anfitriona:

Natalia Jiménez, una voz representativa de la paz, cantautora y ganadora de los GRAMMY® y Latin GRAMMY®, será la anfitriona de los Premios Internacionales de la Paz deleitando a una audiencia mundial con su calidez y carisma.

Sobre PeaceTech Lab:
Establecido por el Instituto de Paz de Estados Unidos, PeaceTech Lab está comprometido con el uso de tecnología, medios y datos para prevenir la violencia y construir comunidades prósperas y pacíficas en todo el mundo. www.peacetechlab.org

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1421275/TuneIn.jpg

FUENTE PeaceTech Lab