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Velocity Global Announces New Product Enhancements and Technology Integrations as Demand for Global Hiring Increases

Velocity Global

DENVER, May 25, 2023 — Velocity Global, the world’s expert on work, today announced new platform updates to improve the customer experience, accelerate the hiring process, and help companies more strategically meet escalating hiring demands and complexities. In addition to a more seamless, intuitive user experience and improved onboarding management, customers will also have access to a new technology integration with leading HR platform Lever. The integration allows HR managers and leaders to hire globally faster while also giving them full visibility into the employee lifecycle without having to interface with multiple systems. These updates are rooted in years of expertise and unmatched collective experience in international hiring, global expansion, and distributed workforce management and represent ongoing investments to the company’s technology platform. They are also indicative of Velocity Global’s mission to make it easier for companies of all sizes and at any stage of growth to compliantly hire, pay, and manage talent across more than 185 countries with the click of a button. Intuitive Design and Improved Onboarding Management Velocity Global’s platform combines its industry-leading accuracy and attention to detail with speed and automation. With new enhancements that include a more intuitive design and navigation, customers will enjoy further reduced time to hire and onboard talent through a more seamless experience and increased visibility into their global workforce. Furthermore, updates to the onboarding management process streamline the quoting and employment agreement experience for hiring managers in two ways. First, customers will now have self-service options that exponentially decrease the time to extend employment contracts. Second, new contract management features save HR managers time and logistical back and forth. Customers can now leverage in-app onboarding forms, automated contract review and approvals, and secure contract signatures for a more frictionless contract management experience. 360° View of the Customer Lifecycle with Lever Leading talent acquisition platform, Lever, joins Velocity Global’s extensive ecosystem of HR platforms - including applicant tracking systems (ATS) like Greenhouse and human resources information systems (HRIS) like Namely, BambooHR, and HiBob - that allow our customers to expand their global operations with minimal administrative burden. Lever provides a unique recruitment tool that streamlines the way businesses identify, engage, and hire top candidates. By integrating seamlessly with the Velocity Global Work Platform™, HR leaders and hiring managers can scale a seamless hire-to-onboard experience globally. In addition to automating international onboarding, Lever provides a range of features for job posting, application tracking, candidate communication, and reporting. In full, Lever’s integration gives customers: Better visibility with a 360-degree view of the employee lifecycle from recruitment to compliance and HR Better analytics through a myriad of analytical staffing reports, from diversity recruitment to time to hire Increased efficiency through less copying and pasting of data from the applicant tracking system (Lever) into the Global Work Platform™ Reduced errors related to manual data entry “Having a strong track record in compliance and in-depth local expertise is non-negotiable for EOR providers. However, buyers in the fast-evolving EOR space are increasingly looking for an integrated global technology platform that provides a one-stop-shop for talent and employers,” said Jeanine Crane-Thompson, Principal HR Analyst at NelsonHall. “Enhancing the user experience through integrations with key HR technologies that cover the full employee lifecycle will be a critical differentiator for EOR providers. This provides forward-thinking HR departments with a solution to easily and quickly support broader strategic initiatives, geographic expansion, and business growth plans.” “At Velocity Global, we are driven by proactive problem-solving for our customers and providing a first class solution that handles the complexity of global employment while simultaneously being easy to use,” said Liz Li, Chief Product Officer at Velocity Global. “As the demand for hiring across borders increases, we are committed to innovating on behalf of our customers to meet this urgency and demand. This is just the beginning of what is to come. We’re excited to roll out more product enhancements and updates in the coming year, turning a global workforce into a competitive advantage for our customers.” These new product enhancements and the Lever technology integration is available today to all Velocity Global customers. For more information, visit VelocityGlobal.com. About Velocity Global Velocity Global gives you the power to build your team everywhere—combining seamless technology and local expertise in 185+ countries. We make it simple to compliantly hire, pay, and manage talent anywhere. With Velocity Global, the world is yours. Contact Details Media Contact press@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

May 25, 2023 11:32 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Grape Launches Layer One Ecosystem to Power AI Driven Decentralized Internet

Grape

The Grape team's core vision is both true decentralization and global mass adoption of blockchain and web3. For this reason, Grape set out to solve the core issues preventing both. Issues such as web3 and cryptocurrency being difficult to use or understand for the average person, the fact that almost none of the technologies used in Web3 are truly decentralized and the issue that there is not a seamless ecosystem that can handle the demand needed for complex decentralized applications. Grape is actively solving these barriers through: A Complete Ecosystem - Bringing all of the necessary technologies into one ecosystem (decentralized file storage, adaptable smart contracts, dag layer one, AI tools, etc..) to create a single environment for the creation of decentralized assets and applications. True Decentralization - Creating a DAG core without supernodes or back doors, making it completely user powered and therefore 100% decentralized. Power for the Future - The Grape team wanted to allow for the limitless creation of complex applications and content on Grape, so creating a system without hard limits on transaction processing was top priority. This has been achieved through Vine and its advanced node system. Each user node adds an additional 1,000 transactions per second in processing power to Vine. This means that by adding only 15 individual user nodes to Vine, it can be as decentralized as a coin like Bitcoin, with the ability to process as many transactions as major centralized systems, like Visa at 15,000 TPS. Increasing the amount of user nodes, Vine can easily power 700,000+ transactions per second while maintaining absolute decentralization. Nodes can be created easily via the wallet. Mass adoption - The Grape team believes that hyper simplicity, compatibility and usability are all key to the mass adoption of web3 and cryptocurrency. For this reason, Grape is building ANNE, their AI Neural Network Engine which will power their AI smart contract generator. Using this, users will be able to create complex decentralized websites and Dapps in minutes to hours, rather than months and years. The Grape team believes that by making blockchain and web3 easy to use, mass adoption is inevitable. By allowing anyone to produce Dapps with text commands, the amount of decentralized sites and applications can go from hundreds a year to hundreds of thousands a year. Creating adoption and perpetual growth, while fostering ideas. Compatibility - The Grape team believes that making things as seamless and compatible with the industry is important for the future. Things like EVM compatibility and integration into commonly used Web2 systems are being built into Grape’s core without compromising security and decentralization. Finance3 - Grape hopes to drive the decentralized finance revolution through key partnerships that combine the convenience of fiat with the privacy of cryptocurrency. Taking Part in Grape Grape is offering two opportunities for users to get GRP before its full launch. Grape Distribution The first is through their seven whitelist distribution rounds, where a limited number of people are able to take part in the distribution. Distribution site: Buy.grap3.com Grape Airdrop The second opportunity is through their airdrop. Those interested can increase their chances of getting up to $1 million USD in GRP. It involves joining their socials, tweeting about them, joining the testnet, and email blasts. For an even better chance at whitelisting and a super drop, users should also invite people to help build the Grape community. Grape Airdrop - https://guild.xyz/grape By participating early on in Grape's platform, users can secure the lowest prices and potentially benefit from their substantial airdrops. About Grape Grape is a decentralized layer one ecosystem that aims to provide developers with the tools and infrastructure they need to create complex, future-proof web3 applications. The contact information and social media pages below provide more information about this growing project. Distribution Site | Testnet | Airdrop Site | Website Contact Details Grape Meagan Platt meagan@grap3inc.com Company Website https://grap3.com/

May 25, 2023 10:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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TableRegistration.com and TeamRegistration.com Partner with Vertical Insure to Make Great Insurance Coverage Part of Every Purchase

Rally Ventures

Vertical Insure is excited to announce TableRegistration.com and TeamRegistration.com as its latest product partnerships. Both products allow non-profits to easily host group registrations for fund-raising events. TableRegistration and TeamRegistration are products of Tall Timbers Group, a Minnesota-based startup, that has a portfolio of user-friendly software products primarily for non-profit organizations. Vertical Insure provides vertical SaaS platforms, like TableRegistration and TeamRegistration, with embedded, white label insurance products that can be deployed to their current customer base. Vertical Insure enables companies to provide the customized insurance options their customers need — resulting in added value and new revenue without any extra overhead or IT bandwidth. TableRegistration has initially deployed Registration Cancellation to its customers. This product protects registrants’ purchase from unforeseen events that prevent them from participating, including sickness, injury, inclement weather and other covered reasons. "We're excited to partner with Vertical Insure," said Scott Juranek, CEO and Founder of Tall Timbers Group. "Their embedded insurance products ensure our customers can have peace of mind when registering for events and activities. Their team has been great to work with, and we’ve appreciated their expertise and guidance throughout the onboarding process.” "Our goal is to help companies like Tall Timbers Group grow their business and increase revenue with our range of insurance products that can be seamlessly integrated into their existing software platforms," said Brock Noland, Co-Founder and CEO of Vertical Insure. “We’re looking forward to working with the Tall Timbers team and bringing great insurance options to their customer base.” About Vertical Insure: Vertical Insure is the embedded insurance platform built for vertical SaaS platforms. The company offers customized insurance options that are 100% built around each business and its customers, resulting in added value and new revenue without any extra overhead. Make insurance part of any purchase in any vertical with Vertical Insure. For more information, visit www.verticalinsure.com. About TableRegistration.com/TeamRegistration.com: TableRegistration.com and TeamRegistration.com are products from Tall Timbers Group, a Minnesota-based startup that aims to build and grow a portfolio of user-friendly software products primarily for non-profits. For more information, visit https://tableregistration.com or https://teamregistration.com. Contact Details Rachel Subasic rachel@rallyventures.com Company Website https://www.verticalinsure.com/

May 25, 2023 08:03 AM Central Daylight Time

FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) Secures Partnership With Google For The Launch Of “Bard” AI

Benzinga

By Jad Malaeb, Benzinga FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE), a leading AI-driven enterprise SaaS technology provider of global policy and market intelligence, announced that it has been selected by Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG:) Google as a launch partner for Bard by Google. This partnership with Google marks a significant milestone for FiscalNote, as it expands its leadership in the application of AI to laws and regulations. Bard by Google is an innovative generative AI platform that allows users to interact with advanced models to create new ideas, products and services. As a launch partner, FiscalNote plans to expose select data and information to Bard's users, thereby capturing critical insights into how users engage generative models to understand political and regulatory information. This expanded user interaction will help create a flywheel for FiscalNote to drive future product development, enhance accuracy and relevancy for FiscalNote customers and potentially enable the company to swiftly extend its leadership in the application of AI and large language models related to these specialized data sets. FiscalNote's selection as a launch partner for Bard by Google is a testament to the company's decade-long AI leadership in aggregating and training models in the legal, regulatory and political domains. FiscalNote already possesses an impressive portfolio of politically-driven AI tools, including intelligent ESG tracking, automatic transcript creation and an intelligent sentiment gauge. The partnership is also a momentum-builder in the company's continued strategic partnership efforts with fellow leading AI innovators and pioneers. By leveraging this AI partnership with Google, FiscalNote plans to develop novel applications and user experiences that deliver more effective results for its customers. The combination of generalized foundation models with FiscalNote's domain-specific models is expected to create defensible insights to further enable the company to optimize its own models and data collection efforts. Tim Hwang, FiscalNote's Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder, said, "FiscalNote is honored to have been chosen by Google as a launch partner, as we join this exciting journey of AI innovation and collaborate with a fellow AI pioneer to leverage the potential of generative AI technology to optimize creativity, reimagine learning, boost productivity, and unleash the potential of trusted data to empower customers and consumers around the globe." FiscalNote's selection by Google as a launch partner for Bard follows the company's recent announcement that it was named one of only 14 inaugural 'trusted partners' by AI research and deployment company OpenAI for its ChatGPT Plug-In, enabling access to select FiscalNote market-leading real-time data sets and content for users of OpenAI's platform. FiscalNote is a leading technology provider of global policy and market intelligence, and by uniquely combining AI technology, actionable data, and expert and peer insights, FiscalNote empowers customers to manage policy, address regulatory developments, and mitigate risk at a global level. Since 2013, FiscalNote has pioneered technology that delivers mission-critical insights and the tools to turn them into action. Home to CQ, FrontierView, Oxford Analytica, VoterVoice, and many other industry-leading brands, FiscalNote serves over 5,000 customers worldwide with global offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

May 25, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Asure Software's (NASDAQ: ASUR) Impressive Q1 2023 Financial Results Raise Guidance and Analyst Estimates For 2023

Spotlight Growth/ASUR

In the dynamic landscape of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, one company stands out with its impressive financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. Asure Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR) has kicked off 2023 with a bang, delivering a stellar first quarter that not only surpassed expectations but also set the stage for an exciting year ahead. Let's delve into the details of Asure's Q1 2023 financial results, its strategic partnerships, and the bullish response from Wall Street analysts. ASUR Financial Highlights Asure reported revenue of $33.1 million for Q1 2023, marking a 36% increase from the same period in the previous year. The company's recurring revenue also saw a substantial rise, reaching $28.0 million, up 22% from Q1 2022. The company's net income stood at $0.3 million, a significant improvement from the previous year's first quarter, showing a $3.4 million increase. EBITDA was reported at $6.8 million, up $4.3 million from Q1 2022, and adjusted EBITDA was $8.2 million, up $4.8 million from the same period in the previous year. Gross profit for the first quarter was $24.4 million, a 58% increase from Q1 2022. Non-GAAP gross profit was $25.7 million, with a margin of 78%, compared to $16.7 million and a margin of 68% in Q1 2022. Business Developments and Partnerships Asure has been actively expanding its business operations and partnerships. The company has partnered with Harbor Compliance to simplify federal, state, and local tax registrations and business licensing. This initiative, powered by AsureMarketplace, aims to reduce administrative burdens for customers by providing a seamless solution for tax payroll registration and compliance with multi-state entity registration requirements. In addition, Asure has announced an integration with ZayZoon to provide on-demand wages to employees of Asure’s payroll customers. This collaboration allows employees of small businesses to access their earned wages instantly, promoting financial wellness and providing their employers with a distinct competitive advantage for recruitment and retention. Raised Financial Targets and Guidance Asure has also raised its financial targets and guidance for 2023, reflecting the company's confidence in its growth trajectory. The company's first-quarter results, characterized by a 36% year-over-year revenue growth and strong gains in operating margins, are the result of targeted sales initiatives and the positive reception of increased offerings in AsureMarketplace. ASUR Chairman and CEO, Pat Goepel, stated that the company is investing in the business to enhance the differentiation of its solutions by introducing new products and improving user experiences. The company plans to continue working with current and prospective clients to remain intentional with the integrations that they release. ASUR: Analysts Bullish Response To The Strong Quarter Wall Street analysts have been very active with their updates after Asure’s Q1 2023 financial results. The company now holds a total of seven "strong buy" ratings and an average twelve-month price target of $19.83, which implies an additional upside of over 53% from its current price. Here is a breakdown of each analyst's rating and price target for ASUR: Vince Collicio of Barrington reiterated his “buy” rating with a $17.00 price target Joshua Reilly of Needham reiterated a “buy” rating with a $20.00 target Eric Martinuzzi of Lake Street assigned shares with a “buy” rating and a $19.00 target Bryan Bergin of TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” with a $19.00 price target Richard Baldry of Roth MKM maintains a “buy” rating with the most bullish price target of $25.00 An analyst from Northland Securities initiated the stock with a “buy” and a $19.00 target Jeff Van Rhee of Craig-Hallum continues to maintain a "buy" rating and has a $18.00 price target Conclusion The first quarter of 2023 has been a period of significant growth and expansion for Asure Software, Inc. The company's financial results demonstrate a strong performance with substantial increases in revenue, net income, and gross profit. Asure's strategic partnerships and integrations, such as those with Harbor Compliance and ZayZoon, are expected to further enhance its service offerings and customer experience. The company's raised financial targets and guidance for 2023 reflect its confidence in its growth trajectory and the effectiveness of its targeted sales initiatives. Asure's commitment to investing in its business and enhancing its solutions is a promising sign for its future. The bullish response from Wall Street analysts further underscores the positive outlook for ASUR. With seven "strong buy" ratings and an average twelve-month price target indicating a potential upside of over 53%, the consensus is that Asure is well-positioned for continued success. In conclusion, Asure Software's impressive Q1 2023 financial results, strategic business developments, and positive analyst coverage paint a picture of a company on a strong upward trajectory. As Asure continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it is poised to further solidify its position as a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management software solutions. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated four thousand dollars cash by Asure Software for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The Post " Asure Software's (NASDAQ: ASUR) Impressive Q1 2023 Financial Results Raise Guidance and Analyst Estimates For 2023 " First Appeared On Spotlight Growth. Contact Details Asure Software, Inc. Spotlight Growth info@spotlightgrowth.com

May 25, 2023 05:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Polylastic Index to Launch on May 30th, 2023

Polylastic

Polylastic is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated Polylastic Index is scheduled for official launch on May 30th, 2023. This milestone event represents a significant achievement for Polylastic and the entire cryptocurrency community, as it introduces an innovative index designed to provide broad exposure to the rapidly evolving DeFi ecosystem. The Polylastic Index has been carefully crafted to offer a comprehensive overview of the cryptocurrency market, enabling users to track the performance of various digital assets across different sectors. By providing a curated selection of index baskets, Polylastic aims to simplify the investment process and cater to traders with diverse risk appetites and investment strategies. Furthermore, Polylastic distinguishes itself by offering a community-decided index, allowing token holders to actively participate in shaping the index's composition and decision-making processes through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). This unique feature empowers the community, granting them a voice in determining the assets to be included in the index and ensuring a diverse and inclusive approach to portfolio construction. The launch of the Polylastic Index on May 30th, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the project's journey and paves the way for a new wave of opportunities within the crypto industry. Whether individuals seek exposure to DeFi, exploration of emerging sectors, or portfolio diversification, the Polylastic Index provides an unprecedented tool to navigate the dynamic and ever-expanding crypto market. As the launch date approaches, stakeholders are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates and details on how to participate in the Polylastic Index. This is an exciting time for the Polylastic family, as they proudly lead the way in driving innovation and empowering the community. Polylastic is a leading cryptocurrency project that aims to provide comprehensive solutions for navigating the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Through the launch of the Polylastic Index, the project seeks to simplify investment strategies and empower its community of users to actively participate in shaping the index's composition. Polylastic strives to be at the forefront of driving innovation in the crypto industry while fostering inclusivity and diversity in portfolio construction. *Disclaimer: Polylastic does not offer financial advice. The content found on polylastic.io should not be regarded as a replacement for personalized cryptocurrency trading advice. The information provided on polylastic.io and through Polylastic's services should not be relied upon when making any decisions. Always exercise due diligence and come to your own conclusions. Contact Details Polylastic VJ Ibones vj@polylstic.io Company Website https://polylastic.io/

May 25, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Home "SMART" Home

News Media Group, Inc.

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

May 25, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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OPPO Announces Kaká as Global Brand Ambassador for its UEFA Champions League Partnership

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 25 May 2023 -Global smart technology company OPPO today announces Ricardo Izecson Dos Santos Leite, better known as Kaká, as Global Brand Ambassador for its partnership with the UEFA Champions League. As a former FIFA World Player of the Year and winner of the Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and much more, Kaká is an icon in the world of football and one of the most decorated players of his era at both the club and international level. Together with OPPO, Kaká will be back to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium where the Miracle of Istanbul in 2005 took place. OPPO looks forward to celebrating the return of Kaká and 2023 UEFA Champions League final to Istanbul with global fans. “We are thrilled to welcome Kaká as OPPO Global Brand Ambassador for the UEFA Champions League 2022-23 season,” said Elvis Zhou, OPPO Overseas CMO. “Partnering with a global sporting event of the caliber of the UEFA Champions League gives OPPO an unrivaled opportunity to share our mutual spirit of inspiration with audiences around the world. We believe miracles don’t just happen, they are made of expertise and perseverance. With Kaká, the witness and creator of miracles, joining the OPPO squad this year, we will be better positioned to communicate and engage with our global fans while inspiring them to enjoy, experience, and share miracle moments from their favorite football matches.” “OPPO’s spirit of ‘Inspiration Ahead’ is the same spirit that lies at the heart of every athlete’s ambition to achieve greatness in the face of adversity,” said Kaká. “As a big technology fan, I’m excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with a global technology leader like OPPO to further connect and inspire football fans around the world during this year’s competition, and witness more miracles together.” OPPO Global Brand Ambassador Kaká will visit Jakarta, Indonesia on June 3 rd and Beijing, China on June 5 th for a series of OPPO activities. Finally, during 2023 UEFA Champions League final, Kaká will meet with global fans in Istanbul, Turkey at OPPO booth at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium and take some photos using OPPO Find N2 Flip and Find X6 Pro. With Kaká and the UEFA Champions League final set to return to Istanbul this summer, OPPO looks forward to enjoying the extraordinary and inspiring match and celebrating the birth of a new champion with fans around the world. To learn more about OPPO’s partnership with the UEFA Champions League and the events taking place at this year’s final in Istanbul, click here. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. Contact Details OPPO Media Contact press@oppo.com

May 25, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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World Record Travel by Travelport: 7 Wonders of the World in Less than 7 Days

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tfcL-uWQy s Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, and Jamie McDonald, a British adventurer better known as “ Adventureman ”, today announced a new world record – the fastest time to visit the new Seven Wonders of the World, achieved in less than seven days. Confirmed by Guinness World Records, the journey was achieved in 6 days, 16 hours, and 14 minutes, using only public transportation. The challenge was set to Adventureman by Travelport in order to put the company’s modern retail platform, Travelport+, to the test, proving that the company’s technology allows its travel agency partners to simply plan, book and manage even the world’s most complex trip. “When we began upgrading our agency partners to Travelport+ in 2021, it was with the intent of making the complicated travel industry easier and faster to navigate,” said Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer at Travelport. “This epic adventure was the ultimate test for our platform – could we take the world’s most complex trip and make it simple? Could we ensure it was easy to service? Would the platform be agile enough to accommodate whatever unforeseen bumps the trip encountered? Six days, sixteen hours and fourteen minutes later, we had our answer: yes, yes and yes. This trip also proves that, after a few challenging years for the industry, travel is most definitely back and better than ever.” Travelport+ provides global travel agents with modern retail technology that allows them to compare millions of travel routes and select the best one for each individual traveller. Travelbag, a travel agency who has been a longtime partner of Travelport, booked all aspects of Adventureman’s trip via Travelport+, and they were able to search, filter, find, compare and build the most complex itinerary with ease using Smartpoint Cloud. Adventureman had round-the-clock access to a dedicated Travelbag Travel Specialist who, on his request, tracked evolving travel restrictions, identified schedule changes, and made necessary tweaks to his itinerary in real time. He also was able to access Travelport’s Trip Manager feature on the go, in order to add ancillaries and extras (meals, paid seats, etc.) to his itinerary. For travelers who want to visit one, or all, of the seven modern wonders themselves, Travelbag has a range of packages available, allowing travelers to visit all seven wonders of the world themselves (packages starting from £31,000) or visit an individual wonder (packages starting at £1,300 per person). Depending on each traveler’s individual requirements, Travelbag can tailor-make the perfect holiday. “At Travelbag, we’ve planned and booked thousands of trips, and yet, even we had never seen an itinerary this complex before,” said Caroline Foxwell, Sales and Service Leader at Travelbag. “The retailing tools from Travelport+ are so powerful – Smartpoint Cloud made booking and servicing this trip so easy, it practically did the job for us. Travelport+ helps us to build the perfect itinerary for our clients, time and again, even when that client is a globetrotting, world record-setting superhero!” Adventureman began the trip at the Great Wall of China, the world's longest human-made structure, and the world-record clock started ticking the moment he left the first wonder via toboggan. Second, he visited India’s Taj Mahal – the country’s top tourist destination, which is widely considered a symbol of eternal love. From there, he traveled to Jordan and then by bus to the ancient city of Petra, whose carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became even more famous from their role in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Departing Jordan, Adventureman flew to Rome to see its legendary Colosseum, envisioning ancient gladiator battles before he made time for a quick pizza pit stop (the only non-airplane food he consumed during the trip). Christ the Redeemer, the world’s largest art deco statue, brought Adventureman to Brazil, where he was equally in awe of the view from its platform as he was of the statue itself. The sixth wonder, Machu Pichu (an Incan citadel nearly 8,000 feet above sea level) was Adventureman’s favorite: he plans to go back one day and bought a stuffed llama toy there to bring back for his daughter. Finally, after only 6 days, 16 hours and 14 minutes, he reached Chichén Itzá, an archeological site that was a hallowed place of ceremony in the Mayan culture. For Adventureman, a main focus of the record-breaking trip was raising funds for his charity, the Superhero Foundation. As a child, Jamie was diagnosed with a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia, and doctors warned his parents that he might lose the ability to walk. Through the help of many doctors, hospitals and his family, his health improved, starting him on his lifelong mission of giving back to sick kids around the world. To kick start fundraising efforts, Travelport has donated $22,856, a dollar for every mile that Jamie, a Pride of Britain winner, traveled for this challenge. The money will be utilized to continue the charity’s mission: helping families in need fund treatments, therapies and equipment that aren’t freely available to them through their traditional or local healthcare support system. “In my previous adventures, I’ve run solo across America (the equivalent of 210 marathons) and have cycled 22,000 kilometers from Thailand to the United Kingdom, and yet, this was certainly my most complex, complicated trip yet,” said Jamie McDonald, better known as Adventureman. “With travel, there are just so many variables – weather, restrictions, delays, customs, traffic, cancellations, you name it. When you’re attempting to set a world record, speed and agility are absolutely key. There was no other partner besides Travelport that could’ve made this all possible.” For the trip to be endorsed by Guinness World Records, Adventureman had to abide by several rules: Use only scheduled public transportation, with licensed taxi rides unable to exceed 50 kilometers Keep a logbook with clearly indexed evidence (receipts, tickets, etc.) supporting each step Obtain receipts and/or tickets everywhere available Use accurate professional equipment (i.e. GPS tracking equipment) Take videos and photos showing the applicant, the location and the date at each site visited Get a written or recorded statement from an official member of staff, local dignitary and/or police officer at each site Understand that the ‘clock’ starts the moment the challenger leaves the first wonder site, and it does not stop for any reason until the challenger sets foot in the final site Protecting the environment is of the utmost importance to both Travelport and Adventureman. The company calculated the carbon emissions from Adventureman’s trip using using the Travel Impact Model, a shared framework for calculating air travel emissions maintained by Google and developed as part of Travalyst, an independent not-for-profit organization of which Travelport is a member. Travalyst is working to unify industry tools and information to bring sustainable travel to the mainstream. As such, the total CO2 emissions of the world record trip was 2,523 kg. Travelport will remove these emissions with high-quality carbon dioxide removal services from Climeworks. To learn more about the Seven Wonders Challenge, to book a trip to the Seven Modern Wonders, or to make a donation to the Superhero Foundation, please visit Travelport.com/7wonders Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 24, 2023 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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