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Dean Katamanin and The Future of Luxury Travel

NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Amidst a global pandemic lockdowns and restrictions created a demand for consumers to pursue alternative methods in their search for travel whether they seek to reach family, less restricted areas or just plain ole fun. In Prior years Private jet travel used to be restricted to the uber-rich however in recent years the industry has seen changes such as hourly rate jet memberships, fractional ownership, and per seat bookings. There are over 4,000 private jet…

In today’s world, discretionary spending is down, the average savings account has increased by 10%, the CARES Act lifted the Federal Excise Tax reducing the cost of private travel by 7.5%, making booking a jet more affordable or attractive compared to a cramped commercial aircraft. There are 134,071 people that «like» the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation on Facebook while only 27,380 people «like» the Transportation Security Administration and if that tells you anything, it’s that people want to fly private and we’re entering an age where private travel is soaring and booking a private plane is almost as easy as booking an Uber.

Jet operators are looking for avenues to offset their owners’ monthly expenses, lower repositioning costs and reduce their number of empty legs, resulting in a rise in the accessibility of flying private. A handful of industry innovators can be credited with capitalizing on this industry wide shift, and one of the people leading the charge is Dimitri «Dean» Katamanin with his Naples-based company Jet Agency. Jet Agency is disrupting the private jet travel space by providing its customers access to its own proprietary technology (known as Jet Genius) to allow for streamline bookings, better flight management and logistics operations, as well as an easier and more user friendly customer experience. (insert a one or two line good review on the tech from a client here).

While many business leaders struggle to revive their careers at the beginning of 2021, Dean Katamanin finds himself positioned for more success than ever before. His MBA background and extensive industry knowledge have allowed him to focus on the tech side of private travel and enhance the customer experience by leaps and bounds. In a time when legacy travel companies are relying on dated scheduling and pricing systems, Dimitri is making things easier, more efficient, and more cost-effective for this expanding base of new customers.

Dean became fascinated with private aircrafts at a young age when traveling with his family and their friends on Frank Sinatra’s G2SP, taking in the landing through the flight attendants jump seat, instantly, he was hooked. Upon graduating from undergrad at Northwestern University, his passion was calling where he joined Jet Flite International, an operator of private aircraft, and was quickly promoted to Vice President. Not long thereafter, he started his own brokerage company.

To capitalize on the influences of the entertainment industry and their private lives, Dean’s career took flight upon hanging his wings as a partner at Jet79 where he teamed up with film studios, concert promoters, and sports teams which lead to an elite clientele of movie stars, musicians, and athletes as well as many high net worth individuals, through his ability to create superlative experiences via his personalized touches and first rate service.

Dean’s involvement in every facet of the jet business including owner, operator and broker allowed him to see the lack of synergies in the industry, where operators don’t cater to clients’ needs and clients can’t handle a fleet. Recognizing enhancements to technology and the role it plays in disrupting archaic industry, along with the flourishing demand in private travel, Dean’s career is soaring to new heights in his current position as the Managing Partner of Jet Agency. Jet Agency is transforming the private aviation industry with their proprietary technology by offering streamlined quoting and lower pricing through operational efficiencies. Not only will Jet Agency revolutionize the way private aviation is consumed today, but it will also make it more accessible with less hassle.

As a practicing yogi, Dean is a firm believer in one’s energy, and improving that of those around him through volunteering and financial contributions in memory of lost loved ones. Dean’s admiration towards his family and Russian heritage is what he credits as the nurturer of the positive outlook he shares, and his experiences with his family is the tenant that makes him who he is today. His optimism and resilience have served him well throughout 2020, making the best of these circumstances for his company and career.

Dimitri Katamanin received his Master of Business Administration in Advertising from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

Media Contact: Dean Katamanin
Contact Email: dk@jetagency.com
Phone Number: 310-893-3472
Website: https://jetagency.com/

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SOURCE Jet Agency

Fannie Mae Multifamily Closes 2020 With Record Volume of $76 Billion

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) provided $76 billion in financing to support the multifamily market in 2020, the highest volume in the history of its 32-year-old Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS^®) program. During a year of pandemic-related disruptions to the nation’s economy and financial markets, Fannie Mae supported the needs of multifamily borrowers while increasing its commitment to affordable…

«Fannie Mae continued to play an important role as a source of financing for multifamily rental housing at a time when borrowers and their tenants faced unprecedented challenges,» said Michele Evans, Executive Vice President of Multifamily, Fannie Mae. «Working with our DUS lenders, we served as a reliable source of financing for multifamily borrowers in an extraordinary year that called for the development of resources for renters and forbearance for borrowers.»

«We want to thank our DUS lenders for their partnership and help in ensuring liquidity for all multifamily market segments, at all times,» said Rob Levin, Senior Vice President of Multifamily Customer Engagement, Fannie Mae. «We are very proud that we exceeded our 2020 mission goal and we look forward to working with our lenders in 2021.»

Multifamily Affordable Housing volume rose more than 9 percent to $7.8 billion last year from $7.2 billion in 2019. Structured Transactions volume totaled $11.6 billion, up nearly 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2019, helping support multifamily affordable housing, particularly workforce housing. Our Manufactured Housing Communities financing program also helped support affordable housing, reaching a record $5.5 billion, a 120 percent increase from $2.5 billion in 2019.

The following top 10 DUS Lenders produced the highest business volumes in 2020. Also listed below are the Top 5 Lender rankings for highest volumes in 2020 for Structured Transactions, Multifamily Affordable Housing, Small Loans, Manufactured Housing Communities, Green Financing, Student Housing, and Seniors Housing:

Top 10 Producers in 2020		Volume ($Billion)
1.	Walker & Dunlop, LLC	$11.4
2.	CBRE Multifamily Capital, Inc.	$6.8
3.	Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC	$6.7
4.	PGIM Real Estate	$5.2
5.	Newmark	$5.2
6.	Arbor Commercial Funding I, LLC	$4.8
7.	Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital	$4.7
8.	Greystone Servicing Company LLC	$4.7
9.	KeyBank National Association	$3.9
10.	Capital One, National Association	$3.8

Top 5 DUS Producers for Structured Transactions in 2020

Walker & Dunlop, LLC
Newmark
PGIM Real Estate
KeyBank National Association
Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital

Top 5 DUS Producers for Multifamily Affordable Housing in 2020

Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital
JLL Real Estate Capital, LLC
Walker & Dunlop, LLC
PGIM Real Estate
KeyBank National Association

Top 5 DUS Producers for Small Loans in 2020¹

Arbor Commercial Funding I, LLC
Greystone Servicing Company LLC
Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC
Walker & Dunlop, LLC
Lument Capital

Top 5 DUS Producers for Manufactured Housing Communities in 2020

Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC
Walker & Dunlop, LLC
Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital
Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital, LLC
PNC Real Estate

Top 5 DUS Producers for Green Financing in 2020²

CBRE Multifamily Capital, Inc.
Walker & Dunlop, LLC
Greystone Servicing Company LLC
Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC
PGIM Real Estate

Top 5 DUS Producers for Student Housing in 2020

Walker & Dunlop, LLC
CBRE Multifamily Capital, Inc.
Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC
KeyBank National Association
NorthMarq

Top 5 DUS Producers for Seniors Housing in 2020

Newmark
KeyBank National Association
Greystone Servicing Company LLC
Lument Capital
PNC Real Estate

Listed below are 2020 production highlights for individual business categories, which are included in the total multifamily production number:

Structured Transactions – $11.6 billion, an increase of nearly 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2019
Affordable Housing – $9.3 billion, comprised of $7.8 billion in Multifamily Affordable Housing (for rent-restricted properties and properties receiving other federal and state subsidies), an increase of more than 9 percent from $7.2 billion in 2019; and $1.5 billion for properties with rent restrictions between 60 percent and 80 percent area median income
Small Loans¹ – $7.6 billion, an increase of more than 58 percent from $4.8 billion in 2019
Manufactured Housing Communities – $5.5 billion, an increase of nearly 120 percent from $2.5 billion in 2019
Green Financing² – $13 billion
Student Housing – $1.6 billion
Seniors Housing – $0.9 billion

¹Small Loans are defined as loans of $6 million or less nationwide and loans for properties with 5-50 units.
²Green Loans are defined as loans for properties with Green Building Certifications or loans targeting a 30 percent reduction or more in energy and water consumption, inclusive of at least 15 percent energy reduction consumption.
**Due to rounding, amounts reported may not add up to overall totals.

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:
fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog

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 (800-232-6643)

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SOURCE Fannie Mae

Winter Labor Market is Getting Colder

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Layoffs in the US labor market are rapidly trending upwards as the virus continues to spread. Initial unemployment claims rose by 181,000 to 965,000 in the week ended January 9^th. In November, the average weekly number of claims was 740,000. Layoff rates from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey are also trending upwards, mostly due to restaurant layoffs. Layoff rates in the Accommodation and food services…

The jump in initial unemployment claims in early January suggests that layoffs and job losses probably increased further as well, especially in restaurants. Restrictions on indoor dining combined with colder temperatures preventing outdoor dining, will continue to hurt restaurant jobs for the rest of the winter.

But while the outlook for the winter is bleak, the US labor market should get much stronger in the second half of 2021, mostly due to the impact of the vaccination campaign. By the summer, the United States could reach herd immunity, preceded by very low rates of new infections in the spring. In the United States, 3.5 to 5 million new jobs should be created by the first quarter of 2022, with the unemployment rate dipping below five percent.

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SOURCE The Conference Board

Latino Corporate Directors Association Weighs in on NASDAQ Proposal to Advance Diversity in Corporate Governance

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) submitted a comment letter in strong support…

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) submitted a comment letter in strong support of the Nasdaq Proposed Rule Change (a9SR-NASDAQ-2020-081) which would require Nasdaq-listed companies, subject to certain exceptions, to have at least one director who self-identifies as female, and at least one director who self-identifies as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian, Native American or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, two or more races or ethnicities, or as LGBTQ+, or to explain why the company does not meet this requirement. The proposed change would require Nasdaq-listed companies to provide statistical information on the company’s diversity on its board of directors.

The Latinx community is the fastest growing labor and consumer force in the United States.

«We support these rule changes because for too long SEC rules have permitted inadequate disclosure of directors’ diversity backgrounds, despite investor demand for this kind of information,» said Roel Campos, LCDA Chair and former Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). «This regulatory indifference has helped sustain the exclusion of American Latinos and other racial and ethnic minorities from boards and the C-suite, despite the existence of an adequate pipeline of qualified candidates. The gap between the labor force and executive representation is widest among Latinx than any other underrepresented group and it must end now.»

Latinos are severely underrepresented among Fortune 500 and 1000 boards and other public companies, and often forgotten when assessing director diversity. Latinos make up nearly 18 percent of the US Population, but less than 2 percent of board seats on the 1,000 largest Nasdaq-listed companies based on revenue.

Nasdaq’s diversity proposal comes at a time in our history when America’s broad Latinx community is increasingly wielding significant importance, both in the economic and political sectors. Latinos are making substantial contributions to the American economy. They are poised to make up 20 percent of the entire American workforce in 5 years and 30 percent by 2050 and Latinos spend $2.6 trillion annually. If the US Latinx population were a country, their Gross Domestic Product market growth rate would be third highest among all global economies. In fact, from 2017 to 2018, studies found that had it not been for strong growth in the US Latinx market, the US economy could have experienced contraction.

LCDA also supports the new disclosure requirements in Nasdaq’s diversity proposal. Current requirements make it difficult for investors to ascertain whether there are any Latinx board members. Investors need improved disclosures and transparency to gauge a company’s commitment to the Latinx community and market. In addition, there is a fiduciary benefit to diverse C-Suites. A 2020 report from McKinsey found, «…a positive, statistically significant correlation between company financial outperformance and [board] diversity, on the dimensions of both gender and ethnicity.» Notably, companies with significant gender diversity were, «…28% more likely than their peers to outperform financially.»

«The Latinx community is the fastest growing labor and consumer force in the United States, yet severely underrepresented among Fortune 500 and 1000 boards and often forgotten when assessing director diversity,» Campos added. «Nasdaq’s Proposal will assist significantly in ensuring that diversity statistics are transparently disclosed and in providing extremely important information to inform all investors in their decision making. Additionally, for those corporations that seek to improve the quality of their board diversity with Latinx representation, the Nasdaq Proposal will assist in that goal being accomplished. We urge the SEC to approve this proposal.»

ABOUT THE LATINO CORPORATE DIRECTOR’S ASSOCIATION
The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) is a national, membership organization promoting C-level and board diversity. Our organization champions diversity at the highest levels of corporate leadership behind a critical mission: increase the representation of US Latinos on corporate boards.

For more information: latinocorporatedirectors.org

Contact: Monique Navarro (915) 790-7788
mnavarro@latinocorporatedirectors.org

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SOURCE Latino Corporate Directors Association

Mandatory COVID-19 testing introduced to bolster border measures

PR Newswire

LONDON, 14 January 2021

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Mandatory COVID-19 testing introduced to bolster border measures

PR Newswire

LONDON, 14 January 2021

LONDON, 14 January 2021 /PRNewswire Policy/ —

International arrivals required to prove negative COVID-19 test result before departure for England.

Passengers arriving from all international destinations will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for England to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that from next week inbound passengers arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a test up to 72 hours before departing the country they are in, to help protect against the new strains of coronavirus such as those seen in Denmark and South Africa.

Today’s (8 January 2021) decisive action is in response to the changes seen in the transmission of the virus both domestically and across the globe. Pre-departure testing will protect travel and will provide an additional layer of safety from imported cases of coronavirus on top of the mandatory 10 day self-isolation for arrivals, helping identify people who may currently be infectious and preventing them from travelling to England.

A negative pre-departure test reduces the risk of someone travelling whilst infectious, acting as another safeguard to prevent imported infections. Passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their pre-departure test result to provide further robust protection from those travelling from high-risk countries.

Prior to departure passengers will need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to carriers, as well as their passenger locator form. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant.

The move further bolsters existing protective measures which helped to safely enable international travel last year, with self-isolation for new arrivals and travel corridors remaining critical in reducing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said:

«We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions.

«Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence – helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks.»

National lockdown restrictions which came into force on 6 January 2021 remain in place meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work.

Permitted travellers will need to take their test up to 72 hours before departure, and this will apply irrespective of whether a country is on the travel corridor list. The government will set out the standards that these tests will need to meet and what proof passengers will need to present.

Passengers arriving into England who have successfully demonstrated a negative result prior to departure from a country not on the travel corridor list will still have the option to reduce the self-isolation period from 10 to as little as 5 days by paying for a test through the Test to Release scheme. The scheme requires a test to be taken on or after the fifth full day since leaving a country not on the travel corridor list.

Passengers will be required to show their negative test result before boarding, and transport operators will deny boarding if necessary. On arrival back into the UK, Border Force will check passengers test results through the current spot check regime, to ensure that individuals are compliant with the new rules, and passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of 500 pounds.

There will be a limited number of exemptions, including for hauliers, children under 11, crews and for those who travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests. Further exemptions will be set out on GOV.UK.

This follows the recent decision to temporarily suspend direct travel from South Africa to England after new evidence emerged from health authorities reporting an outbreak of a variant strain of coronavirus spreading to some local communities.

Those who travel indirectly from South Africa must self-isolate for 10 days.

All travellers will still be required to complete a passenger locator form before arrival into England. This is critical in being able to track the virus in case of any local outbreaks, and those who fail to complete a passenger locator form will be subject to an increased fine of 500 pounds.

SOURCE UK Department for Transport

LONDON, 14 January 2021 /PRNewswire Policy/ —

International arrivals required to prove negative COVID-19 test result before departure for England.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said:

«We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions.

National lockdown restrictions which came into force on 6 January 2021 remain in place meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work.

Those who travel indirectly from South Africa must self-isolate for 10 days.

SOURCE UK Department for Transport

Partnership Details Strategic Priorities At DSM 202ONE Annual Kickoff

GREATER DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — This morning, the Greater Des Moines Partnership shared its 2020 accomplishments and provided details on its 2021 priorities at the DSM 202ONE Annual Kickoff.

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The Partnership announced the results of its economic development work with state and local partners which included 14 existing company expansions, six new company locations, $1.26 billion in capital investment and 1,658 jobs created or retained. Additionally, speakers presented on The Partnership’s work in 2020 and ongoing efforts to support small businesses, advance regional inclusion efforts, push forward on major placemaking projects and more. Some of the highlights include:

More than 200 people signed the CEO Commitment to Racial Equity in DSM.
More than 700 people attended The Partnership’s virtual Inclusion Forum and additional 800 individuals attended DEI webinars.
$1.7 million awarded to 292 companies through Small Business Recovery Grant program, and 325 heaters provided to more than 60 local restaurants through the Extend the Season Grant.
100 DSM leaders served on the DSM Forward Task Force, guiding creation of 16 industry and 6 business function playbooks to help business recovery.
Created the COVID-19 Rapid Response Hub, displaying real-time resources for the DSM business community.
Worked with regional partners to advance efforts on major projects including the Central Iowa Water Trails project, the Firehouse Community Campus, USL Pro Iowa Soccer Stadium and Global Plaza, Lauridsen Skatepark and Des Moines International Airport new terminal.
Hosted thousands of attendees at virtual and social distanced events including Downtown Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines drive-through markets, World Food & Music Celebration, In for Lunch, DSM Book Festival, Historic East Village Holiday Promenade and Brenton Skating Plaza.

Learn more in The Partnership’s 2020 Annual Report video.

«The ‘power of one’ allowed us to meet the challenges of the moment in 2020, and it allowed us to support the community in ways that we could not have imagined in the past,» said 2020 Partnership Board Chair Tom Mahoney, Chairman of the Board of ITA Group Holdings. «Because of the power of one, The Partnership was able to pivot and increase programs, best practices and new strategies, while also building momentum and strategic initiatives for the future.»

During the program, Partnership 2021 Board Chair Fred Buie, President of Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company, discussed in further detail The Partnership’s 18-month strategies that began in July 2020 and continue through the end of 2021:

Inclusion: Focus on implementing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) connections, programs and services that deliver professional-level expertise, training and development opportunities to The Partnership’s 365+ Investors, 24 Affiliate Chambers and 6,500 Members.
Broadband Expansion: Increase connectivity to broadband in our 10-county region to improve access to distance learning, telecommuting and telehealth and bolster startup business and e-commerce activity.
Talent Pipeline: Enhance the DSM talent pipeline and prepare DSM for the Future World of Work.
Talent & Economic Development Marketing: Attract and retain businesses and a diverse breadth of talent.
Business Recovery, Retention & Expansion: Heighten the focus on business recovery, retention and expansion through conducting outreach to businesses to assess needs and outline a plan to address their needs.
Placemaking: Move forward on placemaking projects including the Central Iowa Water Trails, Pro Iowa Soccer Stadium and Global Plaza, Des Moines International Airport terminal expansion, Lauridsen Skatepark and more.

Learn how to take action on The Partnership’s 2021 Strategic Priorities.

«Thanks to the work of our Investors, Affiliates, Members and regional stakeholders, we have already put the wheels in motion for a strong year — a year of hope, a year of recovery,» Buie said. «We are collaborative. We are forward-thinking. We work together across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. These elements will help us push these strategic priorities and major projects forward in 2021.»

The Partnership also announced its 2021 Board of Directors and Executive Board. In addition to Buie and Mahoney’s roles, Rowena Crosbie with Tero International, Inc. and Mike McCoy with NCMIC Group, Inc. will serve as Vice Chairs. Sean Vicente with KPMG LLC will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

This year’s DSM 202ONE Annual Kickoff presentation was headlined by Nick Nurse, an Iowa native and head coach of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Nurse took questions from WHO-HD’s Jodi Long.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership 
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com. 

Contact:  
Courtney Shaw 
cshaw@DSMpartnership.com
(405) 747-8757  
Learn More About DSM USA 

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SOURCE Greater Des Moines Partnership

Schneider Electric, Enel and the World Economic Forum Publish ‘Net Zero Carbon Cities: An Integrated Approach’ Report

BOSTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Schneider Electric, global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, the Enel Group,…

BOSTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Schneider Electric, global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, the Enel Group, multinational power company and leading integrated player in the global power, gas and renewables markets, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, have published the first deliverable of the «Net Zero Carbon Cities – Systemic Efficiency Initiative»; a global framework setting the vision to accelerate the decarbonization and resiliency efforts in cities around the world.

Entitled «Net-Zero Carbon Cities: An Integrated Approach», and developed in collaboration with the WEF, the report outlines the need and benefit deriving from an integrated energy approach in planning and managing buildings, mobility, leveraging on a digitalized and intelligent grid infrastructure in an urban context.

Cities today account for nearly 70% of global carbon emissions and consume 78% of the planet’s energy, making such an approach critical to reaching the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5⁰C above pre-industrial levels.

«The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the importance of global partnerships as we strive to make our cities and societies more sustainable, inclusive and resilient,» said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric. «Curbing emissions from the world’s cities requires urgent action, and it is an ambition that will need alignment of all stakeholders, both public and private actors, companies and citizens. This report outlines the ways in which systemic efficiency can be realistically and practically achieved, and how each of us can play a part.»

«To ensure a successful energy transition, we must work together, calling on local and national public administrations, private sector players and civil society to take on the common agenda of reducing our emissions,» said Francesco Starace, CEO and General Manager of Enel Group. «Electricity has already proved to be the lifeblood of cities, and this will increasingly be the case as electrification grows around the world. As a global leader in the power sector, we want to contribute to the development of a sustainable urban vision for the future by working with global partners to integrate electrification, smarter digital technology as well as efficient buildings and infrastructure.»

The report was developed within the WEF’s Net Zero Carbon Cities – Systemic Efficiency Initiative, co-chaired by Mr. Tricoire and Mr. Starace. Since the initiative’s launch a year ago, Schneider and Enel have been working with the community to accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions in 100 cities by 2030.

It articulates the need for an integrated approach to improving energy productivity, electrifying transport, decarbonizing heating and cooling systems, as well as enabling demand-side flexibility, in addition to providing concrete recommendations and instructive experience-sharing around these concepts. Mr. Tricoire and Mr. Starace are also to illustrate these ideas during the panel for Building «Net-Zero» Cities, which will be held on Monday January 25th, 10:00-11:00 CET (The Davos Agenda).

The framework paper – as the first deliverable of this cooperation – is kicking off a list of future deliverables, among them; toolkits, interactive digital platform and building & cities metrics to measure the progress of cities towards a green and sustainable transition. Each deliverable will be the result of a close collaboration between major cities and several mayoral networks, as well as high-level representatives from academia, non-governmental organizations, industry and finance.

The report can be found here.

About Enel

Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the global power, gas, and renewables markets. It is the largest European utility by ordinary EBITDA, and is present in over 30 countries worldwide, producing energy with over 87 GW of installed capacity. Enel distributes electricity through a network of over 2.2 million kilometers, and with more than 74 million business and household end users globally, the Group has the largest global customer base among its European peers. Enel’s renewables arm Enel Green Power is the world’s largest renewable private player, with over 47 GW of wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower plants installed in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Enel X, Enel’s global advanced energy services business line, is the worldwide demand response leader, with a total capacity of over 6 GW managed globally; the company has installed around 116 MW of storage capacity as well as, in the electric mobility sector, it has made available more than 170,000 public and private EV charging points worldwide.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

www.se.com

Discover Life Is On

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SOURCE Schneider Electric

Holland America Line Opens Bookings for Europe 2022 Cruises – Four Ships Span the Region on Itineraries Ranging from Seven to 21 Days

Two Pinnacle Class ships and a special 150th Anniversary transatlantic crossing highlight a full Europe season

SEATTLE, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2022 Europe season that features culturally rich locales and a new combination of ships, including two Pinnacle Class vessels. From April through October, dozens of unique Europe itineraries — ranging from seven to 21…

Two Pinnacle Class ships and a special 150th Anniversary transatlantic crossing highlight a full Europe season

In addition to transatlantic crossings to and from Europe, the five Holland America Line ships will cover the entire region on voyages that were designed to inspire even the most avid traveler. The ships will explore the Baltic, British Isles, French and Spanish rivieras, Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe including Iceland, Greenland, Norway and the North Cape.

Highlights of Holland America Line’s 2022 Europe cruising season include:

HISTORIC 150TH ANNIVERSARY TRANSATLANTIC: On Oct. 15, 1872, Rotterdam I — the first Holland America Line ship — embarked on its maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York. Exactly 150 years later on Oct. 15, 2022, Rotterdam VII will depart Rotterdam once again as Holland America Line recreates this historic crossing on its 150^th anniversary with calls at Plymouth, England; an overnight in New York City, New York, then continuing onto Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

8 DEPARTURE CITIES: Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Boston, Massachusetts; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Venice, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Piraeus (Athens), Greece.

14 OVERNIGHT PORTS: Dublin, Ireland; Istanbul, Turkey; Le Havre (Paris), France; New York, New York; Reykjavik, Iceland; Rouen (Paris), France; South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Valletta, Malta; and Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rotterdam and Venice.

18 EVENING DEPATURE CITIES (between 10 p.m. – midnight): Bordeaux and La Rochelle, France; Cadiz (Seville), Spain; Dublin; Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia; Haifa, Israel; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Lisbon, Portugal; Livorno (Pisa/Florence) and Ravenna, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Mykonos and Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Portland and Gibraltar, United Kingdom; and Warnemünde, Germany.

MEDITERRANEAN:

Westerdam will sail the entire 2022 Europe season in the Mediterranean on cruises roundtrip from Venice, as well as between Barcelona, Venice, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Piraeus (Athens). The seven- and 12-day itineraries cover the eastern and western Med, including Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, France and Spain.
The Pinnacle Class Nieuw Statendam sails seven-day cruises between Barcelona, Venice, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Piraeus (Athens). The ship spans the eastern and western Med, including Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Sicily. In May, Nieuw Statendam sails from Barcelona to Copenhagen on a 12-day voyage along the Iberian Peninsula.
Volendam offers the Europe Voyages of Distinction program. These incredibly diverse itineraries have been specially curated for guests looking to explore off the beaten path. The ship will offer 14-day cruises roundtrip from Venice and between Civitavecchia and Venice that include unique ports like Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; Ashdod and Haifa, Israel; and Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey.

NORTHERN EUROPE:

The Pinnacle Class Rotterdam returns to Northern Europe for a second season in 2022. The ship will sail seven-day Norwegian Fjord cruises roundtrip from Amsterdam, as well as 13- and 14-day itineraries roundtrip from Amsterdam and between Amsterdam and Rotterdam to the Baltic and North Cape, up across the Arctic Circle
Volendam sails 13- to 21-day cruises roundtrip from Rotterdam, along with one «European River Explorer» itinerary from Rotterdam to Civitavecchia (Rome). The cruises visit the Baltic, Norway and North Cape, British Isles and a «Northern Capitals» itinerary that visits several must-see cities including Dublin, Ireland; Dover (London), England; Rouen (Paris), France; and Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium.
Nieuw Statendam offers three Northern Europe cruises to the Baltic and Northern Isles, ranging from 10 to 14 days, all roundtrip from Copenhagen.

TRANSATLANTIC:

Departing July 16, Nieuw Statendam sails a «Viking Passage» itinerary from Copenhagen to Boston. The ship will call at Iceland, Greenland and Canada over 18 days.
In April, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Volendam and Westerdam will cross the Atlantic Ocean, departing Fort Lauderdale for Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Civitavecchia (Rome), respectively. The crossings range from 13 to 15 days.
Come November, Volendam and Westerdam make their way back to Fort Lauderdale via Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona.

Many of the cruises can be extended into Collectors’ Voyages, which offer the ultimate European exploration. Ranging from 14 to 35 days, these artfully crafted longer journeys combine nonrepeating, back-to-back itineraries, enabling guests to visit more ports and spend extra time discovering centuries of art, history and culture.

Save Now, Cruise Later: Have it All Sale
For a limited time, guests who book 2022 Europe cruises by Feb. 28, 2021, can receive up to $2,300 in amenities, including a free Signature Beverage Package, pre-paid gratuities, free Signature Dining Package and 50% reduced deposits, plus free WiFi for suites. Europe cruise pricing starts at $1,499 per person, double occupancy, for a seven-day sailing. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional.

For more information about Holland America Line and Europe 2022 cruises, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures to Alaska and the Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its fleet of premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will join the fleet in July 2021.

The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line’s ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland America Line’s esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs.

In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently enhancing health and safety protocols and how they may impact future cruises. Our actual offerings may vary from what is displayed or described in marketing materials. Review our current Cruise Updates, Health & Safety Protocols and CDC Travel Advisories.

CONTACT:	Erik Elvejord
PHONE:	800-637-5029, 206-626-9890
EMAIL:	pr@hollandamerica.com

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SOURCE Holland America Line

Théa Chooses OmniSci to Capture, Analyze and Visualize Automotive Data at Scale to Drive Connected Vehicle and Telematics Innovation

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Théa, a fast-growing company that delivers connected vehicles infrastructure and telematics-based commerce solutions to OEMs, banks, dealerships and other organizations in emerging markets, has partnered with OmniSci to capture, analyze and visualize automotive data at scale to drive innovation. OmniSci‘s accelerated analytics platform’s scalability was a key factor in the decision; Théa’s leaders were looking for a partner that can grow alongside their organization.

Théa is working to improve the interaction between people and vehicles. Using advanced technologies in software and hardware on board new and used vehicles, the company lets local communities bring more services to the car users, it also accelerates automotive innovation by using massive data generated by both new and aftermarket cars in its applied science and research. OmniSci’s advanced data visualization technologies enable Théa Auto to better communicate its data-driven customization capabilities to existing and potential clients.

«We’re advancing new ways of customizing the connected vehicle experience for our clients,» said Ruslan Yegembayev, CEO and founder of Théa. «Our technology allows customization in the same way that a smartphone is different from a traditional button phone. There’s only one user experience available on a traditional phone, but smartphone users are able to customize their experience by downloading applications that directly correlate with their needs and interests. Similarly, Théa’s approach is to link online and offline commercial services to a connected car – giving a smartphone experience to vehicle owners and users. Partnering with OmniSci gives us the tools to expand the possibilities in the connected vehicle experience with data at scale, these tools are also critical in data driven applied science for automotive and mobility sectors.»

By working with OmniSci, Théa can accelerate its analytics and data visualization capabilities, driving technological innovation and fueling further industry growth. The company currently has products in dozens of vehicle models and is using its unique technologies and immense data capture capacity to create customizable solutions for multiple sectors connected with the automotive industry. As such, the partnership expands OmniSci’s reach in the connected vehicle sector.

«The commercial possibilities are virtually limitless when you can capture, visualize and apply automotive data to customize people-vehicle interactions,» said Joe Lee, VP Global Sales. «We’re proud to partner with Théa, a visionary in the space, to help them expand and enhance their product set and accelerate the company’s strong growth trajectory. We look forward to working with them as they create a better user experience in the exciting connected vehicle space.»

Find out more about Théa at www.thea-auto.com. Learn more about OmniSci at www.omnisci.com.

About OmniSci

OmniSci is the pioneer in accelerated analytics. The OmniSci platform is used in business and government to find insights in data beyond the limits of mainstream analytics tools. Harnessing the massive parallelism of modern CPU and GPU hardware, the platform is available in the cloud and on-premise. OmniSci originated from research at Harvard and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). OmniSci is funded by GV, In-Q-Tel, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), NVIDIA, Tiger Global Management, Vanedge Capital and Verizon Ventures. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. Learn more about OmniSci at www.omnisci.com.

‍About Théa

Théa is a deep tech product development company with a focus on the automotive and mobility sectors, mostly in massive and growing emerging markets. Théa delivers connected cars infrastructure as a service, which includes automotive hardware, connectivity and data infrastructure, necessary to deliver end-user applications and the marketplace. The product is used by local car assembly plants, dealerships, financial institutions and other partners to develop hyperlocal vehicle ecosystems, both for new and aftermarket vehicles. The technology is focused on using telematics data to improve connected cars products, telematic based commerce, as well as to accelerate automotive innovation, in particular in areas of applied physics, cybersecurity and the HMI. The Singapore based company has also offices in Russia, India, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. To find out more, please visit www.thea-auto.com.

CONTACT

Amy Dardinger

adardinger@sspr.com

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SOURCE OmniSci

Porsche Promote All-Electric Taycan Using Web-based Augmented Reality Print Advertising With Blue Logic and Aircards

LONDON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Porsche uses Web-based Augmented Reality (WebAR) to transform their print marketing used within major magazines across the Middle East.

Dubai-based digital agency Blue Logic partners with <a target="_blank"…

LONDON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Porsche uses Web-based Augmented Reality (WebAR) to transform their print marketing used within major magazines across the Middle East.

Dubai-based digital agency Blue Logic partners with WebAR agency Aircards to develop and launch a highly engaging Web-based Augmented Reality print activation to promote the launch of the new all-electric Porsche Taycan.

The WebAR powered print ads were featured in major magazines across the Middle-East, including publications such as Vogue Arabia, Emirates Woman, GQ Middle-East & Forbes. The experience transforms a classic Porsche ad into the modern version in front of peoples eyes, live from the page using Web-based Augmented Reality technology.

The print ad displayed a QR code, inviting readers to ‘Scan To See The Future’. Readers could scan the QR code with their mobile camera and activate the experience instantly. Once activated, readers could point their phone at the advertisement to turn a classic Porsche model into the brand new Porsche Taycan, with no app required to view the experience.

QR code activations have seen an exponential rise in popularity due to the recent pandemic and ever increasing focus on contactless activations. Blue Logic and Aircards took advantage of the mainstream adoption of this activation type to enable maximum possible user engagement.

Head of Commercial Operations, Lewis Collins said’

‘It was great to work alongside the innovative team at Blue Logic to provide this Web AR activation for such an iconic brand like Porsche. This experience is another fantastic example of how Web-based Augmented Reality can be used within print media to elevate the brand message.’

Lewis continued:

‘The Taycan is Porsche’s first all-electric car – so promoting innovation with innovative technology like WebAR is very fitting! We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Blue Logic on future activations.’

You can watch a video of the experience in-action to see how it works.

The Porsche Taycan experience was developed on the 8th Wall WebAR framework. Aircards are an 8th Wall Premier Partner and are the agency behind experiences such as the Verizon Santa’s Grotto experience, and the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Yosemite portal.

For those unfamiliar with WebAR, the key unique feature is that no app download is required to view the Augmented Reality experience. It all simply takes place in the mobile web browser of any compatible iOS or Android device, significantly lowering the barrier to entry as compared to app-based AR experiences of the past.

‍About Aircards: Market-leading WebAR Agency; creators of some of the biggest WebAR campaigns of 2020. Their impressive work includes high-profile activations for Dell Technologies, AB InBev, Samsung, Vodafone, Verizon, Unilever (Pot Noodle) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Aircards provides an end-to-end service, from ideation to development, hosting and advanced analytics.

About Blue Logic: Blue Logic is where cutting-edge technology and creativity intersect – providing an experience to the end customer keeping clients delighted. Bringing innovations and delivering a bespoke digital experience to customers with a formidable combination of technology and design expertise is Blue Logic’ core.

A digital agency with innovation at the core, bringing together over 100+ man-years of experience across technology, communication, content and design, delivering powerful digital solutions to clients across a variety of industries and sectors.

Blue Logic believes that digital is much more than a technology and marketing investment. Their vision is to help clients realize the full potential of implementing a digital ecosystem, through our expertise in technology, user experience, content and consulting.

Media Contact

Matt Watson, Aircards , 44 07850605086, matt@aircards.co

SOURCE Aircards