News Hub | News Direct

Lifestyle

Beverage: Coffee/Tea/Non-Alcoholic Beverage: Spirits/Beer/Wine Casino/Gaming Fashion Food/Cooking/Baking Health & Fitness Home Goods Hospitality Leisure Activities & Hobbies Parenting Pets Photography Seniors Travel & Tourism
Article thumbnail News Release

NAVEX Opens Nominations for 2023 Customer Excellence Awards

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, today announced nominations are now open for the third annual NAVEX Customer Excellence Awards. This prestigious award acknowledges and celebrates the exceptional performance of NAVEX customers’ ethics, compliance and integrated risk management programs. The nomination window will be open until July 12, 2023. Previous Customer Excellence Award winners include Dell Technologies, Castolin Eutectic Holding GmbH, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Genpact. Interested NAVEX customers can submit their entry today via the NAVEX Customer Excellence Award website. “A robust risk and compliance program is fundamental to creating and maintaining a highly motivated workplace culture,” said Steve Chapman, Chief Customer Officer at NAVEX. “Our annual excellence awards recognize especially strong programs that demonstrate measurable impact on business success. We look forward to seeing all of this year’s nominations.” The Customer Excellence Awards recognize exceptional program performances from NAVEX's 13,000+ customers worldwide, covering 70 million employees, categorized by company size and across three categories. Ethics & Compliance – Recognizes the exceptional ability to identify and mitigate risks, provide meaningful insights into corporate culture and drive risk aware decision-making through E&C programs. Integrated Risk Management – Recognizes the exceptional ability to adapt to specific risk landscapes, bring visibility to risk across the organization and use informed data to influence decisions that ultimately make for a more resilient and successful business. GRC Program of the Year – Recognizes the exceptional ability to break down silos across the business to align ethics and compliance, and/or integrated risk management, resulting in a comprehensive risk and compliance management program that provides efficiency and actionable insights. As in years past, an expert panel of judges will determine the winners, consisting of some of the most respected names in the industry, including Vera Cherepanova, Studio Etica; Matt Kelly, Radical Compliance; Michael Volkov, The Volkov Law Group; Kyle Welch, George Washington School of Business; Carol Williams, Strategic Decision Solutions; along with NAVEX executives Florian Haarhaus, International General Manager; Steve Chapman, Chief Customer Officer; and Carrie Penman, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Scott Levesque +1 617-388-5773 scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://www.navex.com

May 03, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Former L'Oréal President Jim Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Emergent Health Corp. Reports Year to Year Revenue Increase of Over 380% and Quarter to Quarter Revenue Increase of Over 100%

Emergent Health Corp.

Emergent Health Corp. (OTC: EMGE), a curator, developer, and marketer of products in the Regenerative Health Space announced today announced revenues of $373,406 for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 as compared to $185,471 for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, an increase of over 100% and revenues of $574,613 for the Year Ended December 31, 2022 as compared to $119,567 for the year ended December 31, 2021, an increase of over 380%. The financial statement can be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.otcmarkets.com/otcapi/company/financial-report/367945/content. Jim Morrison, former L'Oréal President and Emigrant’s new full time CEO stated, “The company is now engaged with several large biologics companies, and we expect enormous growth over the second and third quarter.” Emergent projects to continue increasing its revenues quarter to quarter as it expands its business internally and externally by acquisition. Recent Developments: On February 23, 2023, announced that it anticipates closing the acquisition to acquire Nanosthetic Cosmetic Labs (“Nanosthetic”) shortly. Nanosthetic, of Fort Lauderdale Florida, holds proprietary intellectual property that has been developed over the past ten years. The press release can be viewed in its entirety here. On February 21, 2023, Emergent on behalf of its subsidiary, Evolutionary Biologics, Inc., announced that it has executed a Letter of Intent to acquire a privately held company in the regenerative medical field. The company is profitable and does $5.4 Million in current revenues and projects a total of $9 Million in revenues for 2023. The press release can be viewed in its entirety here. The global biologics market size was valued at US $366.43 billion in 2021 and it is expected to hit over US$ 719.84 billion by 2030 with a noteworthy CAGR of 7.8% from 2022 to 2030. A biologic medication is a product that is made from live organisms and contains living organism components. Examples of biologics are Recombinant protein, tissues, allergens, genes, cells, blood components, blood, and vaccinations are all examples of biologics. Examples of what can be treated are Anemia, hemophilia, chronic migraine, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other disorders and infections are treated with biologics. Our focus is on aesthetics cosmetics and men’s and women’s health, but also wound care and tissue regeneration. Various government efforts, higher share of biologics in the market, and rising use of biopharmaceuticals over chemically produced molecules, and many other factors are driving the biologics market expansion in the forecast period. ABOUT EMERGENT HEALTH CORPORATION Emergent curates, develops and sells products in the Regenerative Health Space. Its products comprise of ingestibles as well as topicals for the whole family. The company distributes its products online and through Content Based Shopping using Influencers to position products in their produced content throughout the United States and Internationally. Its subsidiaries; PharmaZu, is a pure play, e-commerce products and service provider focused on the Pet Community, Pet Pharmacy and Pet Wellness using Influencers and their content, including the pet pharmacy, vet telehealth and pet wellness businesses; Regen BioWellness, is a distributor of various products in the plant-based and regenerative medical fields. Evolutionary Biologics, is a new kind of biologics company founded for a clear purpose: bring cutting edge regenerative products to the medical community. Emergent does not claim any of its products are approved by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For more information, please visit Emergent's Website and Social Media on Twitter. Before using any products, you should always consult with your Veterinarian and/or Family Doctor. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “plans,” “suggests,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “intends,” or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Jim Morrison, CEO Emergent Health Corporation Website i nfo@emergenthealthcompany.com Contact Details Emergent Health Corp. info@emergenthealthcompany.com Company Website https://emergenthealthcompany.com/

May 02, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

LITTLE SAINTS INTRODUCES ST. MEZCAL, THEIR FIRST NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRIT, INTO THEIR PORTFOLIO OF PLANT MAGIC BEVERAGES

Little Saints

Little Saints, the only mocktail brand to combine Reishi mushrooms, CBD and terpenes in their ingredients –a formula expertly crafted by of a food scientist, environmentalist and a shaman– today expands their non-alcoholic offerings with the release of St. Mezcal. Known for its rich history and rituals of connection, Mezcal is the fastest growing spirit in the US and the least represented in the non-alcoholic space, making St. Mezcal the first functional alternative on the market. Little Saints is believed to be the first spirit producer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) using a pure palo santo extract –sourced sustainably from Peru– as an ingredient in its St. Mezcal formula, which will be sold at a suggested retail price of $49.99 in a beautifully-designed, Mezcal-inspired 750ml glass bottle. Little Saints St. Mezcal ingredient profile is highly intentional with a complex blend of flavors and functional, sacred plants for a multi-sensory and mood-enhancing experience. The sophisticated, first-of-its-kind blend is highlighted by palo santo (a surprising blend of wood and fennel), ginger, cardamom and vanilla along with an added burn (from capsicum peppers) that hits your throat even when mixed into a blended beverage. It also delivers the rich smell profile associated with certain alcoholic spirits, like Mezcal. Inspired by, but not trying to replicate, the traditional alcoholic Mezcal spirit, St. Mezcal serves as an idyllic, delicious beverage option meant to be consumed neat or as a non-alcoholic replacement for mocktails and cocktail recipes. Little Saints St. Mezcal is joining the menus of today’s buzziest hottest bar and hotel menus including but not limited to Patent Pending (NYC), Clay (NYC), Saint Tuesday (NYC), La Noxe (NYC), Howard’s Bar and Club (Austin), Perla’s (Austin), Liz Lambert ’s Hotel Saint Vincent (New Orleans) and Austin Proper Hotel (Austin). Little Saints sources its palo santo extract, a fragrant wood known for its energy-cleansing and spiritual properties, directly from a forest in Northern Peru. Creating the pure palo santo extract was an extensive process the Little Saints team perfected alongside its Peruvian partners, over a year-long period to optimize the smell and taste of the extract, in addition to procuring a USDA timber permit to import directly from the Peruvian suppliers. The palo santo used to make the extract in St. Mezcal is harvested sustainably from dead and fallen trees, and a percentage of the proceeds of St. Mezcal goes back to the community in Peru that harvests it. Lion’s mane, an adaptogenic mushroom, has been added in 100mg/serving, a dosage adequate to boost brain power and creativity by stimulating the growth of neurons in the brain–the very thing alcohol negatively impacts. Out of all adaptogenic mushrooms, lion’s mane was included as a segue to better social dialogue and more meaningful interactions. The dosage is stated intentionally as it’s commonplace for brands to include the ingredient without dosage information to mask insufficient amounts for noticeable impact. According to NPR in 2023, the non-alcoholic beverage category is a $400m category in the United States, growing at 20% year or year. In comparison, the US alcoholic drinks market is a $284b market growing at a flat 7% per year. Consumers are seeking savvy, high quality choices. “ Most non-alcoholic spirits don’t hold up by themselves. Some of them are okay in cocktails, but I would never drink them on their own. St. Mezcal is one of two N/A spirits that I would ever drink neat or on the rocks, and I would prefer St. Mezcal out of those two. It is zero proof but it has a kick like a thunder. I want to highlight that it has a flavor balance and that it gets you in a nice mood. It does something to you… It’s not just like I’m not drinking and I’m good for the night. It will put you in a good mood. ” — Nikola Nikoletic, Head Bartender at Patent Pending NYC Little Saints was founded by environmental lawyer turned plant-based foods entrepreneur, Megan Klein, and shaped by a female food scientist with a Masters in adaptogens (plants that help the body adapt to stress). As a woman-led company, Little Saints sets out to elevate emotional wellbeing and to encourage connectivity with nature. Launched at music festivals from day one, the brand embodies play in all its forms. It is the mocktail and spirit to drink for a consequence-free mood lift. “St. Mezcal takes the non-alcoholic spirit game up a notch, adding a mood-enhancing ingredient to traditional mocktail menus. I wanted to pair something sensory and spiritual like palo santo with something highly efficacious like lion’s mane. I use both in my everyday life, and I see the benefits - the palo santo helps me clear negative energy and feel creative, and the lion’s mane activates my brain and gives me a buzz that helps me feel creative, focused and playful.” —  Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints. Little Saints' bold flavored non-alcoholic drinks are designed to provide an uplifting sensory experience through thoughtfully combined plant magic ingredients. With the philosophy that play is wellness, their mission is to inspire indulgence in art, movement and connection with their community via the canned ready-to-drink plant magic mocktails and new St. Mezcal spirit. Through sourcing, partnerships and distribution purchasing decisions, Little Saints promotes environmental sustainability and conscious capitalism. With integrity and an open mind, Little Saints serves the community by donating more than 1% of its revenue to organizations fostering equity in relation to plant medicine and mental health. Little Saints St. Mezcal is the brand’s first entry point into the spirit world, but certainly not the last as the brand looks to expand functional, delicious offerings in the non-alcohol mocktail and spirit space. About Little Saints Little Saints is a brand of plant magic beverages inspired by our deep reverence for plants and equally deep commitment to play. Working with functional ingredients sourced from sacred plants—plants with special spiritual and curative properties—Little Saints creates non alcoholic, sugar-free plant magic mocktails and spirits. With flavors inspired by classic cocktails —like Paloma, Spicy Margarita, Ginger Mule, Negroni Spritz, and Mimosa—the ready-to-drink mocktails are sugar free and formulated with Little Saints proprietary blend of Reishi mushroom, CBD and botanical terpenes, and the new St. Mezcal spirit continues their mission of providing consumable functional benefits without the alcohol but with the joy. This plant magic "stack" was created in collaboration with Little Saints' adaptogen-expert food scientist and sacred-plant-medicine shaman to inspire positive emotions and a lifted spirit. The brand debuted in 2021, launching first at outdoor festivals throughout Michigan where Megan served mocktails from the back of a mint-green trailer to attendees intrigued by the unique option of an uplifting, natural, clean, and alcohol-free alternative. Since then, the brand has gone national and is already an industry favorite, staking its claim within the non-alcoholic beverage space which continues to grow exponentially faster than the alcoholic space–a signal of a growing cultural shift. Little Saints is at the forefront of a growing movement of an intentional wellness focused lifestyle that eschews drinking alcohol in favor of healthier options. Little Saints is available at select specialty retailers nationwide, including Erewhon in Los Angeles, Berkeley Bowl in San Francisco, as well as non-alcoholic bottle shops such as Spirited Away, Minus Moonshine, and Sechey in New York. The suggested retail price is $5.99 per 8oz can and $49.99 for St. Mezcal per 750ml bottle. For additional information on Little Saints, check out the website littlesaints.com and follow the brand on Instagram at @littlesaintsco. About Founder Megan Klein Megan Klein, Little Saints' Founder + CEO, is a longtime advocate for plant-inspired living. As an environmental lawyer early in her career for Earthjustice, Megan fought against frackers and factory farm polluters. Later, she became a modern farmer, running the country's largest vertical farm and playing a role in the burgeoning local food movement in the Midwest. As an extension of her work in local foods, in 2017 Megan founded Field + Farmer a plant-based food and beverage brand sold in grocery stores throughout the U.S. While running that company, Megan enrolled in the Kellogg School of Management, where she was when the pandemic hit—and when her thoughts turned to emotional healing. Megan founded Little Saints in May 2021 in Detroit and has since moved herself and the company to Miami. Contact Details Little Saints Amanda Smeal amanda@amandasmeal.com Company Website https://littlesaints.com

May 02, 2023 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Lily, The First Non-Alcoholic Single Canned Beverage Featuring the Rare & Ancient Adaptogen, Egyptian Water Lily to Launch This Spring

DrinkLily

The first in its category, Lily, a functional non-alcoholic beverage, was created by two native New Yorkers committed to finding a guilt-free way to soothe their anxiety. Over the course of two years they developed a formula designed to gently unwind that tension, leaving consumers with a mood boosting feeling. Every can of Lily harnesses the power of the ancient adaptogen providing tranquility from the Egyptian Water Lily, which was cherished by pharaohs for thousands of years. This flower is packed with rare antioxidants known for sparking creativity and aiding in restoring energy levels, sleep quality, soothing anxiety, stress relief, blood circulation & detoxification. With only 32 calories, 3 grams of sugar, 40% of your daily recommended antioxidants, and no artificial ingredients, each can is something you can feel good about. The drink’s bright and refreshing taste has a base of organic Italian blood orange juice sourced from the lush volcanic soil surrounding Mt. Etna in Sicily. Also in the brew is organic black tea leaves and invigorating Korean Red Ginseng root. The ginseng, a powerful adaptogen, provides an abundance of essential B vitamins (B1, B6, B12). The black and gold tea leaves are sourced from the fertile Yunnan province of China, and deliver a nutty flavor to go along with mind stabilizing L-theanine. Lily’s co-founders and childhood friends Bradley Morgan and Isaac Lliguin, grew up in Manhattan and frequently struggled with coping from the daily stressors of their high pressure jobs. “I was working from 7AM to midnight as the lead producer for a daily TV show on VICE in Brooklyn. After years of commuting between boroughs and working late hours, the stress really started to affect my health. The responsibilities for creating a new television show every day felt endless: writing, producing, editing, while managing high profile talent and staff. And the more weed I smoked, the less it seemed to help with the stress. With the guidance of holistic medicine professionals, I began my search for natural solutions,” says co-founder Bradley Morgan. In the summer of 2020, Bradley was introduced to the Egyptian Water Lily in a tiny Chinatown tea shop. After experiencing the blissful and anxiety reducing qualities of the flower, the path to creating Lily had begun. With other flavors currently in development, Lily is excited to continue their journey of sharing the benefits of this special flower with everyone who knows what it feels like to be a bit overwhelmed with modern day life. Available in 4-pack ($20), 8-pack ($40) and 24-pack ($120) options, the slim and sleek designed 11.5oz cans are available nationwide online and at select health and wellness stores throughout the tri-state area. To learn more about Lily and retailers, please follow along on Instagram @drinklily or visit www.drinklily.com. ABOUT LILY: Co-founded by New York City kids and childhood friends, Isaac Lliguin and Bradley Morgan, Lily, the functional beverage brand was founded in 2023. After years of development, Lily is the first on the market and in the non-alcoholic category to harness the powers of the Egyptian Water Lily and was first concieved as a result of needing to find an energy boosting and stress relief alternative. With only 32 calories, 3 grams of sugar, 40% of your daily recommended antioxidants, and no artificial ingredients, each can is something you can feel good about. The drink’s base is organic Italian blood orange juice with organic black tea leaves and Korean Red Ginseng root. The ginseng, a powerful adaptogen, provides an abundance of invigorating B vitamins (B1, B6, B12) along with mind-stabilizing L-theanine. Contact Details DrinkLily Gabrielle Perez Press@DrinkLily.com Company Website https://www.drinklily.com/

May 01, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail Digital Asset Direct

Connected Mom - Spring into Summer Gadgets

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details News Media Group Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

May 01, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

USDA’s ‘Defend the Flock’ Campaign Addresses How to Help Keep Your Backyard Chickens Safe from Bird Flu

YourUpdateTV

Over the last several years, more people have turned to raising chickens at home. But a highly infectious bird flu called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has created challenges for backyard growers, already affecting more than 58 million birds nationwide. Recently, Dr. Julie Gauthier, the Assistant Director of Poultry Health at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the crisis and how their ‘Defend the Flock’ campaign is helping address the issue. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/-7Wg4IcF5Bc The U.S. poultry industry is one of the largest in the world and an important sector of our agricultural economy. Disease outbreaks can devastate flocks, impact trade, cause job and financial losses, and affect prices on eggs, prepared poultry, and other staples. The Defend the Flock education program offers free tools and resources to help everyone who handles or works with poultry follow proper biosecurity practices. These practices will help keep your birds healthy and reduce the risk of avian influenza and other infectious diseases. Tips include: · Keep flocks away from open water and wild birds that can carry disease · Separating your poultry from the rest of your property, using only one entry and exit point · Clean regularly and wear dedicated clothes and shoes when tending to your flock · Clean equipment and vehicles with soap and water before and after they are near your flock · Don’t share tools, poultry supplies or equipment with other flock owners · Report sick birds and know the warning signs, including lower egg production, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, and runny nose, sneezing and trouble breathing. Report any signs of illness or unexplained deaths to your veterinarian, animal health official, or call the USDA at 866-536-7593 For more tips and advice to keep your chickens safe, search online for ‘Defend the Flock’ About Dr. Julie Gauthier Dr. Julie Gauthier is Assistant Director for Poultry Health and a Veterinary Medical Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture/APHIS. The doctor is a Veterinary Medicine Prevention Officer for the U.S. Army Reserve where she has served for more than five years. Dr. Gauthier received her Master’s in Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 27, 2023 10:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

AmeriLife’s LeadStar Announces Latest Platform Enhancement Backed by RGI Solutions, Combining Best-in-Class Leads Platform with Enterprise-Wide Direct Mail Leads Solution

AmeriLife

LeadStar, the proprietary, private leads platform created with and exclusively for AmeriLife -affiliated agents, announced today that it has partnered with data-driven business solutions company RGI Solutions to develop LeadStar Direct, the latest enhancement to LeadStar that will sit alongside its Marketplace platform and deliver agents fully compliant direct mail lead campaigns and a CRM solution. LeadStar Direct, which is slated to be launched later this summer, will initially allow agents to seamlessly order Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Final Expense lead mailers that are tested, fully compliant, and have 100 percent data availability with no territorial blackouts – all in one central location and without having to juggle multiple leads vendors. Leveraging the proven success of RGI Solutions, all lead cards in LeadStar Direct will be continuously tested and optimized to generate the performance required to deliver more sales at a lower cost for agents. Additionally, agents using LeadStar Direct will have access to award-winning customer support should they need it. This support, alongside LeadStar Marketplace’s seamless onboarding for real-time data leads and both inbound and warm-transfer customer calls, will provide agents with the tools they need to start selling quickly and confidently on all channels. “Our agents spoke and we listened, and with both cost and compliance being top of mind today, LeadStar Direct is coming online at the perfect time,” said William DeCourcy, senior vice president of Growth Marketing and Customer Acquisition for AmeriLife and founder of LeadStar. “We’re excited to deliver premier direct mail lead options to agents, through an Amazon-like storefront, which includes competitive pricing, worry-free compliance, and a best-in-class user experience that is the hallmark of the LeadStar platforms.” “We’re thrilled to join forces with LeadStar and AmeriLife to bring this much-needed program to market,” added Nathan Addesa, president of RGI Solutions. “RGI has been longtime partners with a number of AmeriLife’s affiliated companies. This enterprise partnership will drive end-to-end efficiencies and total compliance for everyone in the AmeriLife network.” Launched in October 2022 in partnership with Fluent and SalesRiver (formerly known as Leadrilla), LeadStar Marketplace delivers exclusive, real-time leads as well as inbound and warm-transfer calls – directly to field agents – at the industry’s best prices. With the ability to customize lead volume and types against individual agents’ needs, LeadStar Marketplace empowers agents with unmatched flexibility, reliability and performance to accelerate their sales and grow their businesses. Now, together with LeadStar Direct, agents will have access to one of the best one-stop-shop lead solutions in the market today. “The launch of LeadStar and LeadStar Marketplace was a major milestone not only for AmeriLife’s affiliated agents, but the industry as well,” said Ovi Vitas, Chief Marketing Officer for AmeriLife. “LeadStar Direct is yet another reminder to our partners that we remain laser focused on their needs, working tirelessly to deliver tools and technology that will truly move the needle for the growth of their business.” ### About RGI Solutions With over 40 years of experience, RGI Solutions has helped thousands of clients in the insurance industry. RGI’s focus is to help clients grow their top line revenue. Our innovative cost per lead program generates consistent flows of direct mail leads to agents, carriers and marketing organizations. RGI also helps companies grow thought its Agent Boost solution. This recruitment program cost effectively sources highly qualified agents for our clients. For more information, visit us at RGIDA.com. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

April 26, 2023 01:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Unleash Your Inner Adventurer

YourUpdateTV

Are you looking for a vacation destination that offers endless adventure and relaxation? Well, look no further than northeastern North Carolina’s charming lake and river towns. Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC, and Bruce Tyler, co-founder of Weldon Mills Distillery, recently conducted a satellite media tour to talk about the hidden gems and local hotspots that make this region so special. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/CF6-KlI9A90 With spring in full flow, Visit North Carolina rolls out Dream Big in Small Town NC in the state’s Northeast Lakes & Rivers region, an area dotted with waterside gems, refreshing views and resonant history. Travelers can try their luck with sweepstakes prizing as they follow the Dream Big initiative’s roadmap to under-the-radar destinations that will welcome a boost in visitation and interest in longer stays. “Halifax, Henderson, Tarboro, Warrenton — these towns and others invite travelers to cozy up and connect,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. “Their appeal is immediate as well as timeless with fresh vitality springing from the big dreams of hometown heroes and newly arrived visionaries. Now is a perfect time for travelers to discover places worth knowing.” Dream Big in Small Town NC, created by the General Assembly as the Rural Tourism Recovery Pilot Program, targets 16 counties at risk for population loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative began with a focus on five Scenic Mountain counties and now continues in Edgecombe, Halifax, Vance and Warren counties, whose bodies of water include Kerr Lake, Lake Gaston, and the Tar and Roanoke rivers. The final phase, beginning in June, will zero in on seven Inner Banks counties. Easily reached from exits along Interstates 85 and 95, the Northeast Lakes & Rivers destinations combine distinctive culture with landmark history plus natural beauty and recreation. Start the getaway dream by entering the sweepstakes for a chance to win: · A $1,000 voucher from program partner Airbnb. · Three $100 gift cards for a choice of restaurants, shops and activities. · A $500 gift card from Visit NC to assist with travel expenses. For outdoor lovers, the rivers and lakes create ample reason to explore, Tuttell said. In Henderson, Kerr Lake and its 850 miles of shoreline have a dozen local access points, including eight in a state recreation area known for hiking and birding as well as water activities. At Lake Gaston, between Warrenton and Roanoke Rapids, adventure seekers can sign up for lessons from international wakeboarding champion Adam Fields’ AF Wake. Tarboro visitors can access the scenic Tar River Paddle Trail, and distance paddlers can embark on the Roanoke River State Trail from Weldon. Stunning views of history and nature reward hikers and bikers at Medoc Mountain State Park and on the Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail, which makes loaner bikes available. “There’s joy in these outdoor activities plus a sense of wonder from the historic moments since the time of the Tuscarora,” Tuttell said. “In Halifax, North Carolina became the first colony to call for independence from Britain. Weldon was home to the world’s longest railroad, which played an outsize role in Civil War history. The Roanoke Canal Trail includes stops on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Princeville became one of the first towns in the country chartered by Black residents, and Warren County is recognized as the ‘birthplace of environmental justice’ based on a 1982 protest.” If economic growth has favored urban areas in recent decades, the Lakes & Rivers towns have been fortified by a deep-rooted community spirit and sense of possibility. Ambitious locals who left have returned with big ideas for revitalizing and reinventing the places where they grew up. Homecoming enterprises include Tarboro’s On the Square restaurant and Tarboro Brewing, Halifax’s Hen & the Hog and Halifax Studios, and Littleton’s Blue Jay Bistro, Main Street Wines and Daphne’s Coffee Shop plus the revitalized Lakeland Cultural Arts Center. Near Norlina, Seven Springs Farm & Vineyard opened in 2020 to become a popular spot for music events and wine tastings. Lori Medlin, president and CEO of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau, cites a pair of entrepreneurs who were inspired to turn a former sleepwear factory in Weldon into a distillery. Almost immediately after opening in 2019, Weldon Mills Distillery gained national attention with its award-winning bourbons and other spirits. The founders of Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck arrived by way of Great Britain. And in nearby Vance County, downtown Henderson attracted an achiever who opened The Eleanor on Belle hotel and a shop called Gear and Beer. “Small towns are best explored at leisure,” Tuttell said. “Between the outdoors and the distinctive downtowns, there’s infinite opportunity to dream big in our Lakes & Rivers destinations.” Dream Big comes with a two-facet approach to economic development: a tourism promotion to infuse revenue into local economies plus appeal to people interested in relocation. As a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Visit NC is coordinating Dream Big with the N.C. Department of Commerce and other private and public entities involved in growing the state’s first-in-talent workforce. Funded with $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the initiative has a dedicated presence on VisitNC.com, complete with links for job postings in the Scenic Mountains ( Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey ) and Inner Banks ( Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington ) as well as the Northeast Lakes & Rivers. The Dream Big homepage also links to the Airbnb website with content to help travelers plan trips and find short-term rental properties in each region. Beyond the exposure from the satellite media tour and sweepstakes, Dream Big will reach the traveling public via @VisitNC’s social media channels. A digital content creator campaign is bringing selected tastemakers to the destinations to engage followers in the local culture and lifestyle appeal for people interested in a long-term change of scenery. Program partner Airbnb, which is also promoting the campaign on its social media channels, is using its inventory of short-term rental properties to host the content creators. “North Carolina is full of unmatched opportunities for big dreams to take hold,” Tuttell said. “We want people to bring them here and make them real.” · For a quick look at enticements in Dream Big destinations, click here. · Find photos from Dream Big destinations here. About Wit Tuttell Wit Tuttell was named Executive Director of Visit North Carolina in November 2013. He oversees the strategic planning, policy development and marketing initiatives for North Carolina's official state tourism office and the industry sectors it serves. North Carolina's state tourism office, formerly the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development, was transferred to the non-profit Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina in October 2014 and renamed Visit North Carolina. Tuttell has been in North Carolina tourism since 2006. During this time, the office has been recognized with numerous national awards for excellence in marketing and advertising. He has served as chair of the board of directors of Travel South USA and serves on the board of the U.S. Travel Association. In 2022, Tuttell was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the tourism industry including working for Universal Studios Florida and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. He graduated from the University of Florida and was also a reporter for the Anchorage (Alaska) Times. About Bruce Tyler Attorney Bruce Tyler, a 26-year Army veteran, and Michael Hinderliter opened Weldon Mills Distillery in 2019. Their quest to create a distillery in a historic building with character led them to Weldon, a historic town on the Roanoke River that's known as the “rockfish capital of the world.” Weldon Mills quickly became a regular award winner at competitions, including the East Coast Craft Spirits Awards, the Microliquor Spirit Awards, the SIP Awards and the San Diego International Wine and Spirits Challenge, which named Weldon Mills the Distillery of the Year for 2022. Best known for its bourbons (The All Malt, Reserve, Select and Soldier's Cut, which honors the 82nd Airborne Division and raises money for Gold Star Families), Weldon Mills also crafts vodka, gin, tequila and other spirits. Tyler is vice president of the Distillers Association of North Carolina Board of Directors. 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

April 26, 2023 11:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

OYO USA Clocks 48% Growth in Revenue from Bookings on its Own Platforms

OYO

Global travel tech company OYO’s US business witnessed a 48% growth in revenue from bookings on its own platform, such as the app, website, mobile web and call centers in Q4 2022 vs same period in 2021. OYO’s app led the growth with a 99% surge in revenue from bookings in Q4 2022 vs same period in 2021. The company had earlier disclosed that its app is the second most downloaded travel app with over 100 million downloads globally. Growth in revenue from bookings via the company’s call centers saw a 59% increase for the same period. Talking about the improved direct demand, Gautam Swaroop, CEO OYO International said, “US is a highly competitive travel & hospitality market. Driving revenue from bookings onto one's own platform and channels is always a demanding task. While bookings through online travel agents such a Booking.com and Expedia.com play an important role in increasing revenues for our hotel partners, direct demand through OYO’s own platforms leads to better margins for our hoteliers. We have improved direct bookings through simple yet effective measures to bring in operational efficiencies and create a strong business impact. We saw a 3x growth in app conversions and a 2x growth in conversions from the call center using product, price optimizations and by creating operational efficiencies, performance management & better incentive structures in the organization.” Nikhil Heda, Head of Business Development, OYO USA added, “We have focused on things that matter to travelers while planning their stays and improving reach and readability of our communication. As a result, we have seen 1.4X growth in our email opens and 2X growth in click throughs of notifications on our app. This has resulted in a significant improvement in demand via OYO’s own channels. Optimizations such as focusing on the right SEO keyword and improving property reviews on Google have also resulted in improved direct bookings, in turn resulting in substantial savings in OTA commissions for our owners.” Commenting on their experience of working with OYO, Ajay Patel, owner of OYO Hotel Eloy Casa Grande, Arizona said, “We have been seeing 1.5X growth in RevPar from bookings via OYO’s app and call center. Over the last 6 months this has resulted in us paying lower commissions. Typical OTA commissions range anywhere between 15% to 18% and reduced reliance on other channels have helped us save over 50% of the commissions.” OYO offers hotels access to a large base of regular customers through its app and website, and also lists hotels on multiple Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to boost booking demand and, revenue. OYO’s best-in-class Artificial Intelligence-enabled pricing software automatically drives the best booking prices across all channels, based on room type, seasonality and other factors, therefore, enabling such increase in online revenues. Earlier this year OYO said that it is planning to add over 100 hotels in the US in 2023. This is nearly double the number of hotels the company added to its portfolio in 2022. OYO will focus on adding more hotels in the states of Oregon, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida. Texas continues to be the largest and fastest growing market for OYO in the US, while it also has sizable concentration of hotels in Oregon, South and North Carolina, Florida & Georgia. In 2022, the company saw a ~23% increase in new hotels added to its portfolio in the US vs 2021. OYO has started offering hotels the flexibility of not having to invest heavily in redoing the hotel to join the OYO platform, something that other budget hotel chains insist on. Therefore, the initial investment to join OYO is minimal. It has been focusing instead on standardizing service led components such as customer support and booking experience. The company helps ensure great experience for customers, with ease of search and a quick booking experience, highly competitive room prices as per market demand patterns, automated tools such as Artificial Intelligence powered chatbots to quickly resolve customer queries, loyalty programmes and easy refund, if needed. OYO’s US operations recently announced that it has outpaced the budget hotel segments growth in per available room revenue (RevPar) with an 18% rise in 2022 vs pre-covid year, 2019. The budget hotel segment in the meanwhile, grew by only 6% in the US. Disclaimer: Oravel Stays Limited is proposing, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, to make an initial public offering of its equity shares (the “Equity Shares”) and has filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (“DRHP”) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). The DRHP is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, websites of the Stock Exchanges, i.e., BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com, respectively, and is available on the websites of the Global Coordinators and Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited and Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited at www.investmentbank.kotak.com, www.jpmipl.com and www.online.citibank.co.in/rhtm/citigroupglobalscreen1.htm; the websites of the Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., ICICI Securities Limited, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited, JM Financial Limited and Deutsche Equities India Private Limited at www.icicisecurities.com, www.nomuraholdings.com/company/group/asia/india/index.html, www.jmfl.com and www.db.com/India, respectively. Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to the same, refer to the Red Herring Prospectus which may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the future, including the section titled “Risk Factors”. Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP filed with SEBI for making any investment decision. The Equity Shares offered in the Fresh Issue (as defined in the DRHP) and the Offer for Sale (as defined in the DRHP) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and, may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Equity Shares are only being offered and sold (i) within the United States only to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and pursuant to the applicable laws of the jurisdictions where those offers and sales are made. There will be no public offering of the Equity Shares in the United States. Contact Details Anupriya +91 97911 63065 anupriya.d@oyorooms.com Company Website https://www.oyorooms.com/

April 26, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

1 ... 7576777879 ... 256