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Agora Data Closes Latest Crowdsourced Securitization

Agora

Leading auto fintech firm Agora Data announced the closing of ACAST 2022-1, the company’s most recent crowdsourced securitization on May 5. Powered by proprietary machine learning algorithms and radical artificial intelligence, Agora continues to disrupt the auto finance market. This most recent transaction aggregated more than 40 independent dealers and finance companies with auto loan portfolios ranging from $100 thousand to more than $60 million into a single securitization. This closing marks another major milestone in Agora’s commitment to non-prime auto loan originators and the auto finance market. “I am excited for the dealer community as our patent pending use of artificial intelligence and finance solutions enable dealers of all sizes to compete on a level playing field with the large dealer groups and institutions,” said Steve Burke, CEO of Agora Data. Burke went on to say, “Securitizations enable Agora to offer higher advances plus abundant and affordable capital to independent dealers. The dealer receives all of the upside cash as consumer loans continue to perform. Furthermore, the non-recourse features of securitization help dealers with balance sheet management.” Agora’s technology-based solutions offer dealers the best way to grow without giving up their equity or assuming too much risk. The company’s advanced data analytics forecast non-prime cash flows with precision using predictive modeling and artificial intelligence. The company’s platform also provides benchmarking and trends to maximize loan performance and optimize underwriting criteria to improve profitability. "Our prior securitizations are performing in line with expectations, validating Agora's comprehensive data analytics with at least 98 percent accuracy," said Chris Hawke, Agora's CFO. “For dealers, that means the secret to low-cost funding is now unlocked. As a bonus, dealers can leverage their newly found capital to grow more safely, efficiently, and sustainably, since their operations are based on predictable and reliable data." The company expects to close more crowdsourced securitizations in 2022, providing unprecedented access to low-interest-rate funds and accelerating the growth of independent dealers and finance companies nationwide. For more information about Agora’s suite of dealer resources, including its free technology platform with real-time data, visit www.agoradata.com or call 1-877-592-4672. About Agora Data, Inc: Agora Data is a leading auto fintech firm with a robust platform that delivers a suite of tools to empower independent dealers and finance companies to finance their non-prime customers. Agora’s family of auto finance products provides a wide range of critical funding paths so originators can obtain the cash they need to fuel growth, compete, and build wealth. Powered by patent pending technology, originators can access real-time data analytics and planning resources to help optimize the performance of their portfolios. Agora Data made history by closing the first-ever crowdsourced subprime auto securitization in 2020 and continually brings groundbreaking products to an underserved market. For more information, visit agoradata.com or contact us at 1-877-592-4672. Contact Details Shelly Vandeven +1 682-282-4130 media@agoradata.com Company Website https://agoradata.com/

May 09, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BLUEPEAK TO BRING A FASTER, MORE RELIABLE INTERNET TO ALTUS, OKLAHOMA

Bluepeak

Bluepeak, an innovative internet provider, announced today that it has received franchise approval from the city of Altus, Okla. to build a high-speed fiber network to meet the growing needs of the community, today and in the future. The approximately $9 million network expansion will bring Bluepeak service to more than 9,000 residences and businesses in Altus. “We’re very proud of our partnership with the city of Altus to enhance internet connectivity here,” said Rich Fish, CEO of Bluepeak. “We can’t wait to bring our next-generation, fiber-to-the-home network to the great community of Altus to meet the growing needs for how we all live.” With Bluepeak’s advanced fiber connection, residential customers can get up to 5 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) of symmetrical bandwidth (upload and download speeds) and businesses can get up to 10 Gbps and beyond of symmetrical bandwidth. Bluepeak’s fiber network will provide faster speeds, better connectivity, and the bandwidth to connect more devices for internet, streaming, gaming and more. “We're excited to have Bluepeak investing in our community, and improving broadband access in our city," said Altus Mayor Robert Garrison. "We look forward to building a great relationship with them to make Altus an even better place to live and work.” “I support the efforts of Bluepeak to bring broadband into southwest Oklahoma,” said Okla. Sen. Brent Howard. “The opportunities that will come with quality, high-speed internet will open new work possibilities for the residents of Altus. We live in an age of information and remote capabilities; this will make Altus more connected and accessible for growth.” Bluepeak has coordinated with the city of Altus and will begin construction on the new network this summer. For more information and to receive the latest updates, visit www.mybluepeak.com. About Bluepeak Bluepeak is building a faster, more reliable internet without the things that get in the way of great service - like red tape, hidden fees, and slow response times. Offering up to 5 gigabits of speed for residential customers and 10 gigabits for businesses, Bluepeak is a whole new ballgame - from internet to TV, to connecting every device in a home, to powering a business, Bluepeak not only provides the best fiber connections in the communities it serves, but also meets the growing needs for how its customers live. Contact Details Bluepeak Jesse Granger +1 720-703-4315 mediaqueries@mybluepeak.com Company Website https://www.mybluepeak.com

May 09, 2022 07:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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New Bill Organizer from CSG Makes Managing Life’s Expenses Easier and More Secure

CSG

Managing and paying monthly expenses just got more convenient with the new Bill Organizer from CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS). With Bill Organizer, service providers can seamlessly provide bill summaries and details to customers via the customer's financial institution bill pay website. This one-stop view of all monthly expenses makes it easier for consumers to see, manage, and pay bills all in one place as well as budget more effectively. A global leader in customer engagement, revenue management, and payments solutions, CSG is now fully integrated and certified with Mastercard Bill Pay Exchange ™. This integration opens the door for thousands of banks and credits unions across the United States, who already offer convenient, secure, and automated bill pay to consumers, to seamlessly include services provider statements and make it easy for consumers to pay their bills online and on-time. Mastercard Bill Pay Exchange is a digital solution that makes it easier for consumers to view, manage, and pay their bills in one central location with real-time biller setup, electronic bill presentment, choice of payment type, and payment confirmation from billers. “Recent world events have led to two major changes: we’re all interacting online more, and life is more expensive,” said Eric Carrasquilla, SVP, digital engagement solutions, CSG. “This shift means companies must meet their customers where they are and make it easy for consumers to take care of everyday responsibilities, like budgeting for our households and paying our bills on-time. Through our partnership with Mastercard, CSG makes it effortless for service providers to inform customers about their bills, and simultaneously help consumers manage and pay their expenses safely and conveniently right from their bank accounts.” Benefits of the new Bill Organizer include: Delivers the convenience, security and speed of bill pay through more banks and credit unions as consumers increasingly demand better and faster ways to transact digitally Reduces operating costs for service providers by decreasing paper statement production, paper check processing and manual reconciliation Increases consumer peace of mind and vendor bottom line with on-time payments made easy through simple one-time set-up, recurring payment processing and payment confirmation “Mastercard is focused on improving how people and businesses pay and get paid, providing greater choice and convenience to meet their needs,” said Manal Toukan, Senior Vice President, Product Management, North America at Mastercard. “Through our collaboration with CSG and the real-time capabilities and multi-rail payment options of Mastercard Bill Pay Exchange, we’re bringing greater speed, efficiency, and choice to billers and consumers alike.” Available today, Bill Organizer delivers flexible bill pay options for today’s digital economy. To learn more visit, https://www.csgi.com/portfolio/bill-organizer/. # # # About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2022 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Mastercard Bill Pay Exchange is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Global Public Relations +1 (917) 520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

May 09, 2022 06:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

The Metaverse’s Biggest Hit Yet: LISA Joins MetaCity M as a Model

Gamamobi

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 6 May 2022 - The world's first ever metaverse mobile game: MetaCity M, developed by Gamamobi today, officially announces LISA, a member of BLACKPINK, a girl group who is massively popular across the entire world, will join MetaCity M as a global model under YG Entertainment. The news of LISA becoming MetaCity M's global model has taken the industry by storm. LISA is known for her cute and loveable style off-stage and her overwhelming dance performance, which is a perfect match for the wholesome style of the MetaCity M. The collaboration, therefore, comes as a bombshell for fans worldwide, who are eagerly waiting to find out what surprises will come next in this exciting collaboration. 《MetaCity M》is the first ever mobile Metaverse game to announce LISA as a global model! The world's first open-world metaverse mobile game where all dreams come true! Having begun development in 2020, MetaCity M precisely focuses on the concept of the 'Open World Metaverse'. Each planet in MetaCity M features more than 1,600 small towns, 690 second-tier cities, and 55 first-tier cities. The massive 510 million square kilometer world allows players everywhere to play with friends and neighbors nearby, and drive, walk or even fly with people far away from all over the world. Explore different countries every day and see the world in all 4 seasons, or take part in the simple joys of life such as watching the sunrise and sunset, or enjoying a mountain top view. Take a spaceship to other planets and experience interplanetary exploration to visit players on alien planets. Use your life construction skill to develop your hometown with a global player base to create a truly unique town in the metaverse. 《MetaCity M》Welcome to our world's first open-world metaverse game! As LISA joins MetaCity M as a global model, fans are more hotly anticipating the release of MetaCity M than ever before. To learn more about LISA, our newest model, keep up to date with the latest news on the MetaCity M website. 《MetaCity M》Website： https://metacitym.com/ Discord： https://discord.gg/JEFGR2FRt9 Twitter： https://twitter.com/MetaCity_M Facebook： https://www.facebook.com/mcm.gamamobi/ instagram： https://www.instagram.com/metacitym/ Contact Details Gamamobi Inka Tada business@gamamobi.com

May 06, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CleverTap Appoints Honey Bajaj as SVP & Global Chief of Consumer Experience

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s leading retention cloud, today added to its core leadership team with the appointment of Honey Bajaj as SVP & Global Chief of Consumer Experience. In this position, Bajaj will pioneer CleverTap’s extensive program to help companies reimagine customer experience and realise the “Art of Possible”. Bajaj is a design strategist, an innovation leader and a social entrepreneur with extensive work in India and the U.S. Her ability to problem solve and identify patterns in human behaviour has earned her multiple prestigious awards and recognition as an Innovation Global Shaper and Inventor of the Year (2016). She is also a dual degree holder with a Master’s Degree in Engineering and Management and a Master’s in Sustainability Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Design and Innovation Methodologies in the Digital World. Before joining the CleverTap Leadership Team, Honey built an innovation pipeline for several Fortune 500 companies, including Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures, Disney, Microsoft Research, MIT Media Lab and Tata Group, one of India’s largest and highly profitable conglomerates. There she developed detailed market segmentation frameworks based on purchase behaviour to orchestrate product launches and go-to-market strategies. Bajaj has also dedicated her talent in designing for scale and impact to serving the needs of government bodies, financial institutions and healthcare organisations. Her work, which spans over a decade, has impacted over 50 million lives. “As we scale CleverTap into a global category creator for “Retention Cloud”, we realise that our customers are eager to co-create experiences that will fuel growth and the future of their own digital businesses. For this reason, we are expanding our leadership team with a new appointment that benefits the most important stakeholder: our customers’ customers,” Vikrant Chowdhary, CleverTap Chief Growth Officer, explains. “From fintech to e-commerce, and from on-demand Super Apps to media and streaming services, companies need the inspiration and tangible examples of the “Art of Possible” to unleash human- centred design thinking, unlock new perspectives and drive powerful momentum and positive results for all stakeholders.” This outcome, he continues, is “inextricably linked with our customers’ abilities to realise and hyper-personalize omnichannel journeys for their customers.” “I have always focused on designing for impact and inventing for scale by contextualizing tech for the consumers. The truth is, no matter what we think we’re doing, we are all in the customer-experience business. Before you can accomplish it, you need to envision it. The digital behaviour and expectations of customers is evolving faster than most industries are able to deliver.I am looking forward to my journey with CleverTap to embed human-centered principles and design thinking into a series of initiatives and programs,” Honey Bajaj says. “These efforts will allow digital-first companies to co-create and simulate digital journeys that will fuel growth through superior customer experience and will enable CleverTap’s customers to realise their consumer journeys in a more seamless and contextual manner as the lines of the digital and omnichannel world are no longer separated.” About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could amount in the actual result being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

May 06, 2022 12:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

REALTORS® Reveal Buying and Selling Tips for a Competitive Real Estate Market

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/CRjkmgrwWmc Buying or selling a home is among the greatest financial decisions an individual or family will ever make. For both buyers and sellers, there are many factors that must be considered, from interest rates to space for growing families and, of course, location. Given the complex nature of this exciting transaction, many consumers turn to expert advice from real estate agents. The National Association of REALTORS ® reported that 70% of metro areas recorded a double-digit annual increase in the median single-family existing-home sales price. The median sales price of single-family existing homes rose at a faster pace of 15.7% in the first quarter to $368,200 (14.3% in the previous quarter). NAR forecasts homebuying activity to return to more normal levels and for home sales to be down 9% from last year. For buyers who have been frustrated by competing with multiple offers, a less hurried market is on the way. Inflation will start to moderate to 5.5% in the second half of the year, lower than the current 8.2%. NAR noted a decrease in year-over-year contract activity, with a drop in pending home sales from the last five months. This implies that multiple offers will soon dissipate and be replaced by much calmer market conditions. The good news is that home prices should begin to normalize later this year. As the market continues to shift is it important to consult an expert real estate agent. Real estate professionals save home buyers time and help take the stress out of the process. They have knowledge of local, county, and state property taxes, can decipher public property information, and advise on price trends and neighborhoods. An expert real estate agent can also: coordinate with lenders; research mortgage rates and terms; schedule appraisals and inspections; navigate all required state and federal forms; and handle closing documents. If you’re looking for a REALTOR ® in your area, visit REALTOR.com. ® Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 05, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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100 Teachers to Win Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises in Celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week

YourUpdateTV

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 – 6) Norwegian Cruise Line is relaunching its award-winning Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM contest, rewarding 100 teachers across the U.S. with a sailing aboard its newest groundbreaking ship, Norwegian Prima. In addition, the top three grand prize winners will receive a seven-day cruise for two and up to a $25,000 donation for their school. Recently, Senior Vice President of Branding and Communications at Norwegian Cruise Line, Christine Da Silva, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the initiative and why it’s so important to recognize the work of our teachers. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/4ldobDA3veo Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM campaign serves to recognize and celebrate educators for their relentless dedication to inspiring students every day, and unwavering commitment to bringing joy to the classroom. In addition to honoring these often-under-valued teachers, this campaign highlights the intersection of travel and education, two areas that Norwegian Cruise Line is extremely passionate about. Travel is one of the most immersive means of education. It broadens our perspective, encourages us to discover, adapt and accept new cultures and experiences. The month-long campaign is now live and runs through June 3, 2022. Norwegian Cruise Line is encouraging nominations of certified or accredited teachers in the U.S. and Canada who strive to bring joy into their classrooms and inspire their student’s day-in and day-out. The top 100 teachers across North America will win an exclusive invitation to the inaugural sailing of NCL’s newest innovative ship, Norwegian Prima, from Galveston, TX from Oct. 27-31, 2022. The top three winners will also receive a seven-day cruise for two on voyages departing from the U.S. and Canada through Dec. 31, 2023, as well as $25,000, $15,000 or $10,000 respectively for their school. To nominate a beloved teacher, to vote and for the contest terms and conditions, please visit www.nclgivingjoy.com. About Christine Da Silva: Christine Da Silva is the Senior Vice President of Branding and Communications for Norwegian Cruise Line, responsible for the development and execution of the brand’s global branding strategy as well as its external and internal communications and events. Overseeing branding and communication, she leads the development of the brand narrative; is responsible for reputation, crisis and issue management; and has been instrumental in the launch of engagement initiatives including the game-changing Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM and Encore Moments campaigns as well as the debut of the Company’s latest vessels. Da Silva has over 25 years of experience guiding brands and businesses in delivering authentic and impactful messages through integrated communication and marketing strategies that drive growth, sales and awareness. She is based in the Company’s head office in Miami, Florida. About Norwegian Cruise Line: As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 55 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to over 300 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 05, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ThreatModeler Recognized as Silver Stevie® Award Winner for Best Cloud Platform by the 2022 American Business Awards®

ThreatModeler Software, Inc

ThreatModeler, a leader in securing cloud infrastructure from design to deployment, today announced that CloudModeler has earned a Silver Stevie® Award for Best Cloud Platform as part of the 20th Annual American Business Awards®. Optimizing ThreatModeler’s automated capabilities, CloudModeler enables organizations to implement true DevSecOps, providing actionable insights through continuous monitoring and empowering teams to discover unknown flaws in real-time. Designed with cloud migration in mind, CloudModeler enables DevOps teams to detect security flaws before they become code vulnerabilities, enabling instant remediation, mitigating risk and ensuring compliance post-deployment. “ThreatModeler is dedicated to creating a collaborative platform where security experts or non-security professionals alike can visualize design flaws within a few hours or minutes instead of weeks,” said Archie Agarwal, Founder and CEO, ThreatModeler. “This award highlights the value we have been able to deliver with CloudModeler, enabling enterprises to develop and deploy cloud architectures quickly, confidently and compliantly.” The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – large and small. More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s American Business Awards® winners. ThreatModeler’s distinction as a best cloud platform was clear to the ABA judges, who provided the following comments as part of their assessment of the CloudModeler solution: “A product designed with the specific pain point or niche market needs in mind, and solutioning implemented in a way that is easy to use, light to implement and maintain, brings efficiency and cuts cost from day one! ThreatModeler fits every category of this type of product. With the cloud being the top platform and destination for services and cybersecurity being the top priority and concerns of almost all businesses with a presence in cloud, threat modeling is a crucial part of the development cycle that ensures the product is secure and robust enough to protect both the business and the customers. I am impressed by the result metrics and statistics provided in the submission demonstrating how ThreadModeler has helped shorten the whole development efforts, cut costs, and avoid cyber risk and threats for its customers.” “[This submission] clearly demonstrates the success and growth of the company. ThreatModeler’s suite of products empowers DevOps to measure, design and validate threat drift from development to deployment within a fraction of the time and cost tied to other tools. Optimizing ThreatModeler’s automated capabilities, CloudModeler enables organizations to implement true DevSecOps, providing actionable insights through continuous monitoring, empowering teams to discover unknown flaws in real-time.” To learn more about ThreatModeler, CloudModeler and more, click here. Details on The American Business Awards and the list of Stevie winners are available here. About ThreatModeler Software, Inc. ThreatModeler Software, Inc.’s suite of products empowers DevOps to measure their threat drift from code to cloud. With a fraction of the time and cost tied to other tools, users can design, build and validate threat drift from development to deployment. Teams can instantly visualize their attack surface, understand security requirements and prioritize steps to mitigate threats. CISOs can make critical security-driven business decisions to scale their infrastructure for growth. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Contact Details Clayton Murtle ThreatModeler@luminapr.com

May 05, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Post-COVID Travel Boom Visits Rural America

YourUpdateTV

Visit North Carolina has launched Dream Big in Small Town NC, an initiative to boost economic recovery by attracting travelers and potential workforce to small towns in 16 counties facing population loss. Starting with a sweepstakes promotion and a satellite media tour in Haywood County, the campaign showcases natural beauty and small-town charm in places with special challenges resulting from the pandemic. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/xcNldQZAVdk Created by the General Assembly as the Rural Tourism Recovery Pilot Program, Dream Big capitalizes on travelers’ interest in exploring small towns by drawing attention to the people, places and businesses in three distinct regions designated as the Scenic Mountains, the Northeast Lakes & Rivers, and the Inner Banks. As a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Visit NC is coordinating the program with the N.C. Department of Commerce and other private and public entities involved in growing the state’s first-in-talent workforce. “Dream Big is a natural extension of Visit NC’s economic development role as the state’s tourism marketing organization,” said Wit Tuttell, Visit NC’s executive director. “Our efforts center on showcasing local landmarks, memorable experiences, distinctive lodging, dining and shopping with the goal of an economic infusion from visitor spending. Dream Big takes the mission further by calling attention to the allure of living and working in charismatic places whose appeal is rooted in character and authenticity.” Funded with $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the pilot program designates Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties in the Scenic Mountains; Edgecombe, Halifax, Vance and Warren in the Northeast Lakes & Rivers; and Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington in the Inner Banks. Dream Big also has a dedicated presence on VisitNC.com, complete with links for job postings, as well as program partner Airbnb’s website. The Scenic Mountains is the first region to take the spotlight. During the satellite tour in Waynesville, representatives from national, regional and in-state media outlets joined the virtual tour and Q&A session. The launch also features a sweepstakes with a prize package that includes: A $1,000 Airbnb stay voucher to experience Small Town NC life. A $500 VISA gift card to help with travel expenses by plane, train or automobile A choice of gift cards for dining, recreation and shopping in the Scenic Mountain destinations. Similar promotions and satellite media tours are planned for the program’s launch in Northeast Lakes & Rivers this summer and in the Inner Banks in the fall. According to a recent report from Destination Analysts, 28.4 percent of people surveyed plan to visit small towns or rural attractions this travel season. Increased demand is reflected in the doubling of short-term rentals available outside of North Carolina’s urban counties since the pandemic began. For 2021, Airbnb reports a 128 percent increase in nights booked in rural areas compared with 2019. For the same period, nights booked for rural stays of more than four weeks grew 160 percent, which supports Dream Big’s promise to engage visitors for more than a getaway. Tuttell also noted findings from a poll by booking.com that 58 percent of travelers said it’s important for their trip be beneficial to the destination's local community. Twenty-nine percent said they would research how their tourism spending would affect or improve local communities. Beyond exposure from the satellite tour, Dream Big will reach the traveling public through a presence on VisitNC.com and posts on @VisitNC’s social media channels. A media influencer campaign will bring selected tastemakers to the destinations to engage their followers in the local culture and lifestyle appeal for people interested in a change of scenery. Airbnb, which will also promote the campaign on its website and social media channels, will use its inventory of short-term rental properties to host the media visits. About Visit North Carolina: Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Established in 2014, the EDPNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. The mission of Visit North Carolina is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. For more information on North Carolina’s destinations and travel assets, go to VisitNC.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 04, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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