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Blake Lively, who is a regular attendee and a fashion favourite at the Met Gala, has confirmed that she won’t be at the 2023 event on May 1. According to E News, the actor stated that she won’t be able to attend the star-studded event this year. However, she also mentioned that she will be keeping an eye on the event and the red carpet looks, which is based on the theme of ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’. Blake humorously added that she will wear her 2022 Met Gala look on her couch on Monday.
At last year’s Met Gala, Blake made headlines in her Atelier Versace gown that had an oversized bow, which she later untied to reveal green fabric. The ensemble was a tribute to New York City and the event’s theme, ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion.’
Blake and Ryan Reynolds welcomed their fourth child in February, and the couple has three daughters, James, Inez, and Betty. Ryan shared that their daughters are excited about the new addition to the family. ‘They’re in. They love it,’ he said. The actor also expressed his own excitement, stating that they had to be excited to do it four times. ‘It’s gonna be nuts, but we’re very excited,’ he added.
Despite her absence, fans will undoubtedly miss Blake’s fashion statement at the Met Gala this year.


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A battery pack made by Johnson Controls Inc., which provides automotive interior systems, batteries and facility management systems and services, has won the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s “sustainable product of the year" award because of its impact on vehicle energy storage.
Designed by engineers at the Johnson Controls headquarters in Glendale, the 48-volt micro hybrid battery is a lithium-ion based system that works with a conventional starter battery and can cut fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent, the company said. The product also costs hundreds of dollars, not thousands of dollars like a traditional hybrid vehicle system.
The micro hybrid battery pack was chosen from 31 entries.
“We were thoroughly impressed by the magnitude and depth of sustainable work being done by companies in Wisconsin,” said Tom Eggert, executive director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. “The Micro Hybrid from Johnson Controls exemplifies innovative, sustainable, economically viable product development taking place in this state.”

domain: news


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Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency headlines
Bitcoin is up 4.5% slightly at 7,046
Ethereum is up 9% at $170
and XRP is up 3.5% at 19 cents
Those are your leaders by market cap
Top gainers in the last 24 hours:
ABBC coin up 24%
and Komodo up 21%
dForce raised $1.5m in a new round of funding led by Multicoin Capital.
Crypto entrepreneur Alex Masmej sold $20,000 in income-sharing tokens on the Ethereum blockchain.
Andreeseen Horowitz is reportedly raising a second crypto fund
China is set to launch its national blockchain platform next week on April 25th.


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You would never touch a dirty toilet seat and then wipe sweat out of your eyes, right? Well, according to a terrifying new analysis of bacteria found in gyms, you’re probably already doing something way worse. In a recent experiment, FitRated.com examined bacterial samples taken from 27 common pieces of workout equipment at large chains around the country. And let’s just say the results aren’t pleasant.
According to the report, our sweat accessories are actually way germier than some of the gross surfaces we come into contact with everyday. Case in point: An exercise bike has 39 times more bacteria than a plastic cafeteria tray and the treadmill has 79 times more bacteria than a water faucet.
But the worst offender? Free weights. Next time you go to pick up your favorite Dumbbells for curls, keep in mind that researchers discovered that these babies had 362 times (!!!) more bacteria than a toilet seat. Excuse us while we go invest in some Wow Wipes…
So why are weights so gross? Most of us are fairly good at wiping down cardio machines before and after we use them. But chances are, you probably aren’t as diligent about bringing those antibacterial wipes around with you while doing your weights.
Since it’s kind of impossible to police who’s wiping down what at the gym, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth until you can hit the showers. Because you really don’t want to contract one of these seven disgusting diseases you can get at the gym.


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While we were looking forward to the global launch of the Xiaomi Mi 5X, the Chinese company has now confirmed that its upcoming smartphone will mark the launch of an entirely new series instead. The confirmation came in the form of a video teaser.
With this, the company has put the spotlight on the Android One phone that it's working on in collaboration with Google. Rumors so far say the device will be called the Mi A1, and will be a stock Android Xiaomi Mi 5X version with full screen display.
Sadly, nothing is officially confirmed at the moment, except of course that there will be a 'flagship dual camera.' The event is set for September 5 in India, so we won't have to wait much longer.
How can traditional phone will sell in India take e.g of Samsung their budget phones are worthless same with LG and other well known brands. Only moto,xiaomi,One plus,Honor are the ones who releases proper devices
A full screen display is a display with minimum bezeless on the sides and top/bottom Eg : LG G6 , Samsung S8 , Xiaomi Mi Mix , Essential Phone 1 etc
What's a 'full screen display'?


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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine reminded Ohioans today that they may be able to obtain partial refunds if they purchased Skechers-brand rocker-bottom shoes. Last month, Attorney General DeWine announced that Ohio was part of a federal and 44-state settlement with Skechers to resolve claims that it overstated weight-loss benefits in advertisements for its Shape-ups, Tone-ups, and Skechers Resistance Runner shoes.
“Skechers told consumers about certain supposed health benefits of these shoes but an investigation by Ohio and other states found these claims to be lacking,” said Attorney General DeWine. “This settlement is a chance for consumers to get back some of their money.”
Under the settlement, Skechers will allocate up to $40 million nationally for consumers who purchased the shoes and who file a refund claim.
Consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Resistance Runner should go to www.ftc.gov/skechers to file a claim and for more information about how to obtain a partial refund through this settlement. Consumers also can call 866-325-4186 to learn more on how to file their claims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is overseeing the refund process, which is being handled by an FTC-selected administrator.
Consumers can also visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov for more information about the settlement and a link to the FTC refund site.
Skechers will also pay an additional $5 million to the states, of which Ohio will receive $156,000. These funds will be used for consumer protection and education.
Agreed Entry, Final Judgment (PDF)
Dan Tierney -- 614-466-3840
Mark Moretti -- 614-466-3840


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Latest Make Stories
This special season ticket offer is available until Feb. 5 by visiting mnswarm.com/seasontickets SAINT PAUL, Minn., Jan.
For every reported act of kindness tagged with the #LTLendAHand hashtag on social media, LendingTree will donate $1 to help fund children's wishes through its partnership with Make-A-Wish®
"Give A Minute, Help Make-A-Wish®" Initiative Draws More Than One Million Participants PHOENIX and MIAMI, Nov. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading U.S.
Prescription discount card program will benefit Make-A-Wish DESTIN, Fla., Nov.
3D printer manufacturer Solidoodle to showcase new Solidoodle Press and Solidoodle Workbench models at World Maker Faire in New York. Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) September
LG to Share Commitment to Open Innovation and Sustainability with Makers NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Encouraging U.S.
TULSA, Okla., Aug.
In-Store Promotion Used to Support Wish Day Experience ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zac, a six-year old boy battling Leukemia, made his major league debut today.
Call to makers now open for Maker Faire Detroit 2014 at The Henry Ford.
Airline Miles Help Wish Kids Travel to Wish Destinations Around the World Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) March 31, 2014 Most Americans have seen or heard of a wish
- A volcanic mudflow.


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Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD), a strategic design agency based in Toronto, Ontario, has announced that they will be uniting with their sister company, SLDNXT. To coincide with the partnership, SLD has unveiled a new corporate identity that will further establish them as a global leader in retail design.
SLD is uniquely positioned to combine their proven Think Blink process with the pioneering technology and insights of SLDNXT. With over three decades of experience and a refined focus on the retail industry, SLD will continue to deliver transformational change for brands, from packaging and environmental design to graphics and digital.
“The rebranding of Shikatani Lacroix and addition of SLDNXT brings clarity and focus to our organization,” says president, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “As a company that is dedicated to making retail relevant and engaging, this announcement reinforces the essential role that digital and retail play in building stronger customer experiences.”
With offices in Toronto, Chicago and Shanghai, SLD’s new logo and identity allows for a cohesive brand that translates globally. The new square shaped logo symbolizes SLD’s commitment to breaking out of the box, and also represents the inclusivity that defines the company. Though the shape itself is strong and confident, it is contrasted by the inviting nature of lowercase type. An updated shade of orange, which serves as SLD’s brand color, gives a fresh and modern feel to the overall redesign.
“The longevity of SLD is a testament to our talented team and supportive clients,” says Lacroix. “We are extremely excited to be moving forward as a unified company.”


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Application downtime costs Australian businesses an average of more than $762,000 per incident, according to new research.
Melbourne-based IT services company JK Vine Consulting has joined the Compuware Application Performance Management (APM) Accelerate Partner Program.
In the never-ending mission to do more with less, government IT teams often lose sight of the need for careful application performance management (APM), which helps ensure the speed and reliability of applications and services as they’re delivered to end users.
I would have thought that any secrecy agreement that Snowden signed when he was employed by the NSA and CIA[…]
Cannot the NBN Co introduce a new plan at a Speed of 20/4 Mbps. Only 3 plans are available to[…]
“If we can have more retail service providers offering a $60 a month retail priced plan with no monthly data[…]
“Just nine years ago on fixed line networks that number was 11GB a month. We’ve gone from an average of[…]
Something like a third of NBN Co fixed line connections will use the inferior FTTN technology. 5G mobile will be[…]


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YouTube is all about live streaming lately, and now the video-sharing platform has announced COD (ahem—slang for “Call of Duty”) players can soon stream their gameplay when Activation launches the latest title for its popular franchise next week.
“Call of Duty Elite takes the live streaming experience even further, letting viewers on Elite see the player card of the user that is streaming,” announced Activision in a press release. “With just a couple clicks, viewers can dig deeper to see such information as class loadouts, recent match data, as well as career stats across supported Call of Duty games on Elite.”
The partnership essentially allows gamers to watch exploits in real-time multiplayer Call of Duty: Black Ops II matches for free. The deal is coushiony for Google and Activision, too. The Internet Giant gets engaging content to bulk its website, while Activation lands premium promotion.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II launches worldwide on Nov. 13, presumably at the $60-something price mark, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC. The title will also release in North America on Nov. 18 for the new Wii U.
Pre-orders are available at Amazon:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Amazon Instant Video Credit) | $59
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II [Hardened Edition] (Amazon Instant Video Credit) | $179+
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II Digital Deluxe Edition (Amazon Instant Video Credit) | $59
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II Care Package | $338+
Get the press release below for more details.
- Google announces Q3 earnings call for October 13th
- Is Google subsidizing the price of the $299 LG Nexus 4?
- Microsoft Office for Android and iOS shows its face, release in early 2013
- Review: LG Nexus 4 — a world class smartphone for $300
- Google’s John Hanke details Niantic Labs, new Field Trip app, and ubiquitous computing
Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Teams With YouTube To Deliver In-Game Live Streaming
–Treyarch’s Innovative New Live Streaming Functionality Marks Historic First for Video Games –New Pillar for eSports Competition Elevates Gameplay to a Sporting Event
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI -0.63% , today announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops II’s new live streaming feature, available when the game launches on November 13th, will let players live stream gameplay on YouTube directly from the Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 game consoles. The first of its kind innovation coming from Activision and the game’s developer, award-winning studio Treyarch, will allow players to live stream Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer League Play games, as well as the player’s webcam and audio commentary while playing.
Call of Duty Elite takes the live streaming experience even further, letting viewers on Elite see the player card of the user that is streaming. With just a couple clicks, viewers can dig deeper to see such information as class loadouts, recent match data, as well as career stats across supported Call of Duty® games on Elite.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II player live streams will be viewable on YouTube via web browsers, mobile and tablets through Call of Duty Elite as well as individual YouTube user channels.
“From the beginning of development with Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the team has been pushing boundaries on every front to offer Call of Duty fans things that they haven’t been able to do before,” said Mark Lamia, studio head of Treyarch. “With our competitive play and eSports initiatives, we wanted to deliver live streaming capabilities built right into Call of Duty: Black Ops II, because Call of Duty is not only fun and exciting to play, but we believe it will be just as exciting to watch. By making the capability of live streaming as accessible as possible to our fans, straight from a player’s console without the need for any additional hardware or sophisticated setups, we are empowering our fans to share their multiplayer experiences.”
“Our partners are using YouTube Live to bring entertainment, must-see moments and more to millions of people around the world. With Call of Duty: Black Ops II, people can live stream their gameplay directly from the game or watch the best players live on YouTube, which is an awesome next step for the eSports community,” said Sang Kim, Head of Game Partnerships.
A verified YouTube account is required to live stream. A valid Call of Duty Elite registration is necessary to view the streams and related information inside Call of Duty Elite. Call of Duty: Black Ops II player live streams will be subject to limitations and restrictions. Additional Call of Duty: Black Ops II live stream destinations will be announced in the future.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II launches worldwide on November 13, 2012, on the Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. The title is also expected to be released in North America on November 18, 2012, for the new Wii U(TM) game system from Nintendo. Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated “M” (Mature – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs – content suitable for persons ages 18 and older) by the ESRB. More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops . Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter
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Stepping up its fight against high inflation, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its key interest rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point for the third consecutive time and signaled more significant rate hikes to come – an aggressive pace that will increase the risk of a possible recession.
The Fed’s decision raised its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 3% to 3.25%, the highest level since early 2008.
Officials also forecast that they will raise their benchmark rate further to around 4.4% by the end of the year, up one percentage point from what they forecast last June. And they expect to raise the rate further next year, to around 4.6%. It would be the highest level since 2007.
On Wall Street, stock prices fell and bond yields rose in response to the Fed’s expectation of further significant rate hikes to come.
The central bank’s action on Wednesday followed a government report last week that showed high costs were spreading more widely through the economy, with price spikes in rents and other services worsening even as some Previous drivers of inflation, such as gasoline prices, have abated. By raising borrowing rates, the Fed is making it more expensive to take out a mortgage or car or business loan. Consumers and businesses are likely to borrow and then spend less, which cools the economy and slows inflation.
Fed officials have said they are looking for a “soft landing” where they manage to slow growth enough to bring inflation under control, but not so much as to trigger a recession. Yet economists are increasingly saying they believe the Fed’s steep rate hikes will, over time, lead to job cuts, rising unemployment and a broad-based recession at the end of this year or early next year.
In their updated economic forecasts, Fed policymakers expect economic growth to remain weak over the next few years, with rising unemployment. He expects the unemployment rate to reach 4.4% by the end of 2023, up from its current level of 3.7%. Historically, economists say, whenever the unemployment rate has risen by half a point over several months, a recession has always followed.
Fed officials now see the economy growing just 0.2% this year, significantly lower than its 1.7% growth forecast just three months ago. And he expects slow growth below 2% from 2023 to 2025.
And even with the big rate hikes planned by the Fed, it still expects core inflation – which excludes the volatile food and gas categories – to be 3.1% by the end. next year, well above its target of 2%.
Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged in a speech last month that the Fed’s actions will “suffer” households and businesses. And he added that the central bank’s commitment to bringing inflation back to its 2% target was “unconditional”.
Falling gasoline prices slightly lowered headline inflation, which was still a painful 8.3% in August from a year earlier. Lower gasoline prices may have contributed to a recent boost in President Joe Biden’s approval ratings, which Democrats hope will improve their prospects in November’s midterm elections.
Short-term rates at a level the Fed is now considering would make a recession more likely next year by sharply raising the costs of mortgages, auto loans and business loans. The economy hasn’t seen rates as high as the Fed predicted since before the 2008 financial crisis. Last week, the average fixed mortgage rate rose above 6%, its highest level in 14 years. Credit card borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 1996, according to Bankrate.com.
Inflation now appears increasingly fueled by higher wages and consumers’ constant desire to spend and less by the supply shortages that had plagued the economy during the pandemic recession. On Sunday, however, Biden said on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he believed a soft landing for the economy was still possible, suggesting that his administration’s recent legislation on energy and health care would make lower the prices of pharmaceuticals and health care.
Some economists are beginning to worry that the Fed’s rapid rate hikes — the fastest since the early 1980s — may cause more economic damage than necessary to bring inflation under control. Mike Konczal, an economist at the Roosevelt Institute, noted that the economy is already slowing and wage increases – a key driver of inflation – are stabilizing and, by some measures, even declining a little.
Polls also show that Americans expect inflation to come down significantly over the next five years. This is an important trend because inflation expectations can become self-fulfilling: if people expect inflation to fall, some will feel less pressure to accelerate their purchases. Less spending would then contribute to moderating price increases.
Konczal said there was room for the Fed to slow its rate hikes over the next two meetings.
“Given the cooling that’s coming,” he said, “you don’t want to rush into that.”
The Fed’s rapid rate hikes mirror actions taken by other major central banks, contributing to concerns about a possible global recession. The European Central Bank last week raised its key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point. The Bank of England, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Canada have all made big rate hikes in recent weeks.
And in China, the world’s second largest economy, growth is already suffering from repeated government blockages. If the recession sweeps through most major economies, it could also derail the US economy.
Even at the accelerated pace of Fed rate hikes, some economists — and some Fed officials — say they have yet to raise rates to a level that would actually limit borrowing and spending and slow growth.
Many economists seem convinced that widespread layoffs will be needed to slow the rise in prices. A study released earlier this month under the auspices of the Brookings Institution concluded that unemployment may need to reach 7.5% to bring inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.
According to research by Johns Hopkins University economist Laurence Ball and two economists from the International Monetary Fund, only such a severe slowdown would reduce wage growth and consumer spending enough to calm inflation.
#Fed #raises #interest #rates #soaring #inflation #recession #risk


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Android Oreo’s rollout has been painfully slow over the past few months, but lately, it’s finally been gaining some traction. LG has been pushing out Oreo to quite a few device variants in recent weeks and today, it’s heading out to three more.
After promising Oreo for the LG G6 earlier this year, the company started rolling out the update on Verizon a couple of weeks ago. Now, that rollout is expanding in the US with the Sprint variant of the phone. The update arrives with May’s security patch in tow and weighs in at a hefty 1.8GB (via GSMArena).
Along with that, users in the UK are reporting that Oreo is rolling out to the unlocked LG G6. There’s no mention yet of what’s changed outside of the usual, but the update does arrive with April’s security patch.
Finally, Android Oreo is also finally making its way to LG V30 users on T-Mobile. This rollout kicked off early this month, but was put on pause due to bug reports. Now, that update is resuming its rollout with April’s security patch.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:
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New Zealand milk producers are looking at significantly better milk prices this season, as dairy commodity markets continue to strengthen.
Leading co-op Fonterra has this week forecast a milk price for its members of $5.70/kg of milk solids, up 21% on last season’s value. To this will be added a share of distributable profit, taking the total forecast return to $6.05/kgMS.
The new figure compares with an opening forecast for 2009/10 of $4.55/kgMS in July and a revised figure of $5.10/kgMS in September.
Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said that, although the recovery in consumer demand remained “fragile”, the higher forecast reflected the co-op’s increasing confidence around the recent gains in international dairy prices.
“The improvement in global dairy markets reinforces that dairying is a business that’s in good heart with sound long-term prospects, though a big gain like this in the payout forecast, just shows how much volatility there is,” he said.
“It’s heading in the right direction and we’re making the most of the opportunities for our farmers. But, we also know there’s a risk of rapidly rising prices potentially bringing on more milk from other countries. We saw this happen in 2007 and we saw how quickly the market can fall as a result.”
Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier (pictured) pointed to the fact that, over the past four months, the average price of whole milk powder sold on the co-op’s auction platform had risen by a total of 88%.
There was a tight supply situation globally for many dairy commodities and this was reflected in latest pricing.
But he warned that prices for non-powder products such as cheese and casein had not risen at the same rate. “If Fonterra cannot achieve an equivalent return for these products compared to milk powders, the difference comes off profit,” he warned.
And while Fonterra’s overseas businesses were also performing well, the high NZ$/US$ exchange rate would impact negatively when the profits were converted back into New Zealand dollars.
“The high dollar is certainly hurting earnings, and the level of volatility is making forecasting a challenge,” said Mr Ferrier.
For more on the rising dairy market, see Phil Clarke’s Business Blog


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You can get ice cream in lots of different flavours like mint, vanilla and chocolate. Yum.
Well there's a new type of ice cream being launched in the UK and it's made from camels' milk!
The makers reckon it has half the amount of fat of dairy ice cream, and three times the amount of vitamin C.
The camels' milk is shipped in from the world's only commercial camel farm in the Netherlands, which is home to 58 of the humped beasts.
The owners of the farm say they have to keep the camels happy as if they're stressed they don't produce milk.
The dessert is already popular in the Middle East and the makers are hoping it will take off here.


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The lineup for this year's Evo championships has been announced, and it came with both a snub and a surprise. Evo 2020 won't have the latest Mortal Kombat as part of its main stage lineup, but it will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 with an 8-player invitational.
Announced on a live stream with Evo president Joey Cullar and fighting game star Mike Ross, the Evo 2020 lineup includes eight games and one special exhibition:
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Tekken 7
- Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition
- Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Samurai Shodown (2019)
- Granblue Fantasy: Versus
- Soulcalibur 6
- Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late [cl-r]
- Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
The first three games are obvious locks. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had the most entrants of Evo 2019, Tekken 7 had an incredible showing (though it hopefully addresses the recent dominance of one character), and Street Fighter is a fighting game standard, with a new version launching this month.
One major classic that didn't make the cut is Mortal Kombat 11. Despite NetherRealm Studios' game still rolling out DLC and maintaining popularity, there won't be a Mortal Kombat game at this year's Evo. 2019's Samurai Shodown revival will be helping to carry the banner for retro classics, and Dragon Ball FighterZ returns to bring back more Goku-on-Goku action.
Soulcalibur 6 makes a somewhat surprising return, though given how unique it is in the fighting game space, it's nice to see the weapon-based fighting game still get a spotlight. Under Night In-Birth will also show up with its new [cl-r] version, an underdog from last year, and the brand new Granblue Fantasy gets a main stage spot as well.
If Mortal Kombat missing out was the first major surprise of the night, the second came at the end, when Cuellar announced an eight-player Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 invitational. The lineup is only partially determined at the moment; only four players ,the four previous Evo champions, are invited right now, much to the surprise of some of those players. Given how Marvel has fallen from the days when it used to headline this tournament, it's heartwarming to see the chaotic three-on-three fighter get some attention on its anniversary. It might even add some fuel to rampant speculation that's been going around.
Outside the Mortal Kombat snub, though, this lineup is surprisingly solid. I'm sad the NRS players won't have their game on the main stage, but this is a surprising mix of new and old, with different dimensions, styles, and lots of anime. Hopefully Mortal Kombat will still get to shine in a side tournament.
Evo 2020 will take place July 31 through Aug. 2 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.


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TURNHOUT, Belgium – Miko, the Euronext Brussels listed specialist in coffee service and plastic packaging, posted a decrease in turnover, operating profit (EBIT), operating cash flow (EBITDA) and net profit in the first half of 2020, of 12.51 %, 53.08 %, 19.53 % and 61.99 % respectively.
Group turnover saw a considerable downturn of 12 %. This is linked to the COVID-19 crisis, which resulted in coffee sales to the hospitality sector practically coming to a standstill during lockdown, while the sale of coffee to office-based businesses significantly decreased as people were forced to work from home.
The lockdown affected all our home countries and resulted in a drop in turnover of 29.31 % to EUR 43.6 million. The consequence is that the Miko coffee service department suffered an exceptional deterioration in EBITDA of 57.92 % to EUR 4.4 million.
A substantial offset for the major pressure on sales within the coffee service department was achieved by a rise in sales within the plastics packaging department, and this primarily within the home care and margarine-tubs units, in which several new projects were launched.
Moreover, both plastics units succeeded in gaining a share of general growth seen in the retail market during lockdown. Turnover increased by 7.14 % to EUR 56.5 million. This translates to a healthy increase in EBITDA of 32.09 % to EUR 9.1 million within this department.
Frans Van Tilborg, CEO of the Miko Group: “We have been asking our employees to perform under the most exceptional of circumstances over the recent months. Many were prepared to continue working extremely hard throughout the Corona crisis, while others had no option but to remain at home for reasons of technical unemployment. We must express our thanks to all our colleagues.
The pandemic has also taken its toll on our organisation. We are not in a position to predict the extent of the possible future damage that we might suffer. While we see a clear improvement in sales, now that the lockdowns in our various home countries have been lifted, it is clear that we cannot make any predictions in relation to second waves or the long-term effects on the economy. And that is why we cannot comment on our expectations.
Nevertheless, we will unrelentingly aim to make up for the damages suffered. In line with this, we have not hesitated to implement reorganisations amongst most of our coffee service subsidiaries. Further efficiency-enhancing measures are currently being studied. We went ahead with the relaunch of our Bruynooghe coffee, a brand based in West Flanders, which was restyled and rebranded just before the pandemic.
And we have seen some very favourable responses! We plan to accelerate our current IoT (Internet of Things) and digitalization projects. And COVID-19 will undoubtedly bring opportunities where external growth is concerned… Since our leverage multiple is currently at 1.76, our financial situation remains healthy.”


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New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): New Delhi recently hosted a northeastern cultural evening where artists from different tribes of the region showcased their rich culture and traditions.
The occasion was the Northeast Colors event that was organized by the Delhi Paite Indongta, an association of members of Paite tribe living in Delhi.
It aimed to promote the rich and vibrant culture of the region, establish a forum for exchange of ideas and promote the commercialization of traditional costumes in the capital, as it would benefit artisans and craftsmen from the region.
" I have traveled extensively in the northeast. I have come across great people and great culture and all the time I keep learning new things about the northeast and still continue to learn," said GK Pillai, former Union Home Secretary.
" Northeast has fantastic ray of colors in the form of traditions of various tribes and communities living in the northeastern states. So we realize that we can do something to highlight the colors of different tribes, said M T Kaithang, Program DirectorA fashion show was also organized in which youth from the Paite tribe showcased their traditional clothes that were a fusion of vibrant, colourful and vivid patterns.t also gave the models a chance to appear and be noticed on a national platform.
"We all saw that the fashion designers showcased their creativeness through their designs that were displayed during the show. It clearly reflects the talent that youth of northeast has and which can go further," said Suan Lian Ching, a participant
"For northeast people in Delhi, most of them are youngsters and are very talented. But they do not know where to show this talent. I think promoting this talent is one of the biggest priorities of the organizers," said Siam Naulak, an audience. (ANI)


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Is Starbucks Getting a First Mover Advantage with Mobile Payments?
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) announced today that the company will offer a mobile-payment application that will work with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) android phones. The move is a first step towards fully implementing a mobile-payment program through the Google Wallet service, which is currently in beta-testing. Starbucks made the decision to begin development of the Android App following the commercial success of an earlier, more limited application it released for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones. The iPhone App hit markets in January and was well received by consumers, leading to over three million mobile transactions in the months following its release.
The mobile app allows users to access digital Starbucks cards, where they can update account balances, view transactions, and earn points towards rewards programs. Starbucks expects to expand its mobile payment option to some 9,000 retail locations, and an additional 1,000 locations in Safeway (NYSE:SWY) grocery stores, by year end.
Last month Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Exec K.C. MacLaren, Director of Mobile and Emerging Platforms, spoke on the company’s ambitions for its mobile-payment program, emphasizing that the initiative would be directed more towards enhancing customer loyalty than increasing sales revenues.
Starbucks could be a game changer for Google if the company signs on as a full participant in the Google Wallet program, which already features retailers Macy’s (NYSE:M), American Eagle (NYSE:AEO), fast-food chain Subway, pharmaceutical retailer Walgreens (NYSE:WAG), and 20 other brand name stores.


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Apple App Store revenue was up 37% to an all-time high in the fiscal 2016 third quarter that ended June 25. Also, the average amount spent per customer was the highest ever measured. Apple expects its services category to be the size of a Fortune 100 company by next year, says CEO Tim Cook.
Services — Apple Music subscriptions, iTunes Music, iCloud storage plans, paid apps from Apple’s App Store, and Apple Care service plans, Apple Pay, etc. — now account for 11% of Apple’s overall revenue. That’s up from 8% in the year-ago period.
Speaking of Apple Pay, Apple’s mobile payment services is now live in nine markets, including six of Apple’s top 10 markets. Cook says that three of four contactless payments are now made with Apple Pay. More than 11 million contactless locations/points of sale have been tallied in all participating Apple Pay countries.


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MARKET REPORT: Intu Properties sees shares slide after going public with its desire to raise funds to shore up its rickety balance sheet
It looked like much of the bad news had already been priced in when Intu Properties, owner of Trafford Centre and Newcastle's Eldon Square, went public with its desire to raise funds to shore up its rickety balance sheet.
The shares shed 2.5 per cent in early trading after it confirmed it is in 'constructive discussions' with shareholders and potential new investors who are being asked to back the cash call.
According to one weekend report, Intu is looking for £1 billion of emergency cash.
While it is an eye-watering sum, it may not cut the mustard. According to City broker Peel Hunt, an injection of the order talked about would leave Intu 'arguably still over-levered'.
Fundamental changes in shopping habits resulted in the first fall in retail sales in more than a quarter of a century last year, according to the British Retail Consortium.
This dramatic shift towards online outlets has had a knock-on impact on landlords such as Intu, which have seen Toys R US, Debenhams, House Of Fraser, New Look and HMV either fail or shrink their bricks-and-mortar presence.
Intu's share price has reflected the retail industry's changing fortunes. Last January its stock was worth around 120p, while it was more than 400p at its peak around a decade ago.
Last night it closed down 1 per cent, or 0.23p, at 22.63p.
It was a quiet start to the week for Britain's blue-chips with the FTSE 100 drifting down 0.3 per cent, or 23.12 points, to 7651.44. Wall Street was closed for Martin Luther King Day.
Topping the UK index was BAE Systems (up 3.7 per cent, or 23p, at 647.6p) after the City gave its seal of approval to a proposed £1.5 billion deal to snap up the military guidance business of US manufacturer Collins Aerospace.
Elsewhere, Goldman Sachs took a forensic look at the media sector, which it said is primed for earnings growth coupled with merger and acquisition activity.
Upgraded to 'buy' was used car listings site Auto Trader (up 1.8 per cent, or 10.2p, to 583.6p), while Relx, the publisher formerly known as Reed Elsevier, was among Goldman's top picks. It finished down 0.5 per cent, or 9p, at 1995p.
WPP, meanwhile, was downgraded to 'neutral' with the risk and reward of investing in the advertising group now 'more balanced'. The shares slipped 0.2 per cent, or 2p, to 1017.5p.
Among those stocks rated 'sell' by Goldman was the struggling school and college books firm Pearson. It ended the day flat at 588.6p, supported by whispers that it may be the subject of a break-up bid.
Sticking with the London arm of the US investment bank, but moving sectors, Goldman gave a nudge to shares in builder Barratt Developments (up 2.1 per cent, or 17p, at 818.4p) as it raised its recommendation to 'neutral' from 'sell'.
Convatec, the wound care specialist and maker of stoma bags, fell 3.4 per cent, or 7.3p, to 205.5p on a downgrade to 'underweight' by JP Morgan Cazenove to reflect the potential failure risks allied to the company's turnaround plans.
Dropping down into small-cap territory, junior explorer Rockfire soared 30.3 per cent, or 0.25p to 1.07p as it began a new round of drilling at its Plateau gold project in Queensland, Australia, in a bid to expand its resource estimate at the site.
Immunotherapy specialist Scancell jumped 17.6 per cent, or 1.1p, to 7.35p following a deal that will see a US antibody company use its Avidi Mab technology to research potential cancer treatments.
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“In October, after a period of testing with 45,000 beta users, Napster relaunched as a legal download site with a library of 500,000 songs – ‘the world’s largest,’ Chris Gorog, Napster CEO says. It offers subscriptions for US$9.95 per month, or simple downloads at 99c per track or US$9.95 per album. In the United States, the only country where it operates, it’s in second place, a long way behind Apple’s estimated 75 per cent of the business,” Charles Arthur reports for The New Zealand Herald.
[MacDailyNews note: Apple’s iTunes Music Store has over 500,000 songs available currently.]
“This dominance by a company that has only a tiny slice of the computer market is [due] to its users: they’re just too eager to adopt new things,” Arthur reports. “‘We think [Apple users] could be as much as 25 per cent of the online music business in the US,’ says Gorog. That’s remarkable, given that there can’t be more than a few million machines able to use the iTunes Music Store. ‘In part, it’s because Apple were first to market, entered the market seven months before Napster, with a device [the iPod] that has trapped their audience so that there’s no place for them to go other than iTunes.'”
“Why should one bunch of computer users be so much more eager to take up this technology than another? ‘Macintosh users are historically early adopters of technology, and the online music business is still in the stage of early adoption,’ Gorog says… Yet even at this early stage of the race, Napster has a number of disadvantages compared with Apple,” Arthur reports. “It’s a lot smaller, and has less cash: Roxio has just US$60m in the bank, compared with the US$5bn or so in Apple’s. It can’t do the big advertising splashes. Its US launch was accompanied by small teaser cartoons using its logo. It can’t rely on a dedicated audience, as Apple can with its computer buyers. Users of the original Napster have migrated to new file-sharing networks, or just grown up and bought the CDs. And it can’t generate extra profits on selling associated hardware, as Apple can from the iPod.”
“Ah, the iPod – which, like Apple’s iTunes software, does not play files encoded in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, used by virtually every online music store, including Napster. Would Gorog like the iPod to support WMA? ‘We think it would be great!’ he says, which almost certainly means Apple won’t. ‘We believe that Apple is very vulnerable for the reason that their service is only available to people with an iPod,’ he says. (If you want to put music from the iTunes Music Store on to a portable player, you need an iPod; but you can also burn it to a CD.) ‘If you buy an iPod, you’re trapped in the iTunes store. That’s like being told that you can only go into HMV’s store, and never Virgin,'” Arthur reports.
“The weakness in this argument is that if both HMV and Virgin sell the same repertoire, who cares which store you’re locked in? What matters now is visibility,” Arthur reports. “Napster lost a big opportunity late last year: HP had been about to sign a deal that would put Napster on every HP computer. That didn’t happen – and instead in January HP signed with Apple to pre-install the iTunes software on its machines, and resell the iPod. Gorog seems unhappy when asked about the implications of this. ‘I don’t know what you’re referring to,’ he says. ‘We never comment on deals that were in negotiation; that were or were not in negotiation.’ Sounds like a sore point,” Arthur reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Good luck, Gorog. You’re gonna need a bunch of it. Still, flapping your lip and constantly trying to denigrate other services doesn’t sound like a valid method of trying to right your sinking ship. Try doing something productive instead. Begging Steve Jobs for iPod WMA support that’ll come the day before Steve fires up Windows Longhorn on his PowerBook G5 sounds pretty last ditch to us. Meow.


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Who’s the greenest?
Felicity Landon asks if there’s a case for a sustainability ranking for ports
Many ports are making the most of their sustainable virtues these days, but how can their sustainability be measured and compared? The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) champions Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification through EcoPorts but, as ESPO secretary general Isabelle Ryckbost points out, this is based on a straight ‘pass’ of the criteria which demonstrate the port is considering the environment, with no grades involved.
To try to rank ports in some sort of sustainability index would be like comparing apples and pears, she says. “Some ports have integrated systems; others are landlord ports. Some have heavy industry within the port, some don’t. For industry within the port area, you could say that they are already subject to sectoral legislation of their own, so you shouldn’t measure them twice.
"You would have to establish what is under the direct management of the port authority – it is just the building and staff and people driving cars to and from the port, or is it also operations?”
Ports could possibly be ranked on one pollutant or issue – noise or dust or carbon footprint, for example, but even that would be difficult, she says. “You would have to define the extent of operations and what is direct or indirect. Do you include hinterland traffic and industries, where ports might have influence but are not fully in the driving seat? The picture will be different in many ports.”
ESPO’s experience, says Ms Ryckbost, is that port performance is being measured ‘very seriously’ at the individual port level with ISO 14001 and EMAS (the EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) well established, along with PERS.
When comparing 2013 and 2017 statistics, sustainability has definitely improved. In 2013, 54% of the ports interviewed had Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in place. In 2017, the figure is 70%.
The European Port Industry Sustainability Report 2017 gives an update of the ‘top ten’ environmental priorities of the port sector; the top four are air quality, energy consumption, noise, water quality, and these are followed by dredging operations, garbage/port waste, port development (land-related), relationship with local community, ship waste and climate change.
Twenty-five ports in Europe and neighbouring countries are already in the EcoPorts Network certified by PERS, the only port sector specific environmental management standard.
The PERS criteria are used by the World Bank when assessing projects, says Ms Ryckbost. But in any case, with more than 90% of European ports being in urban areas, they know they have to be serious on issues such as noise, dust and pollution, to keep the acceptance of the surrounding community for further developing the port.
“The environmental challenge is the most important challenge for ports, especially those close to cities. The problem we face is that ports can’t move – and they are easy targets. We often hear politicians saying ‘ports should do something’. But ports can’t do everything – they don’t have it all in their hands. They can stimulate, encourage, etc., but they can’t obligate their tenants and users.”
Patrick Verhoeven, managing director – policy and strategy at the International Association of Ports and Harbors, describes the EcoPorts (PERS) network as a ‘quality label’ for environmental port management.
At an international level, IAPH has been running the Environmental Ship Index (EDI) project for several years, which gives points to ships that perform better on air emissions than what is required under international law. On that basis, port authorities can decide to give them incentives, such as a reduction in port dues.
“We are, however, not in favour of making incentive schemes mandatory," says Mr Verhoeven. "They should remain voluntary initiatives, both for shipping companies and for port authorities.”
If a major new sustainability ranking was to be developed, an important consideration is which body or authority would create, implement and monitor the ranking, which would be no small task, says Kathryn Beaven, DP World’s director of Global Sustainability.
“Anything that helps the shipping and ports industry to become more sustainable is to be welcomed,” she says. “Yet with companies such as DP World increasingly working to meet a broad range of sustainability issues and requirements – which often stretch outside of our own sector – it’s important to note that having a specific sustainability ranking for ports would only address a particular aspect of the wide range of work that responsible companies have under way.”
DP World’s commitment to sustainability covers a range of areas beyond minimising impacts on the environment, to include investing in its people, safety, and building a vibrant, secure and resilient society, she says.
“Through our work, we’re also meeting broader aims, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the set of 17 aspirational aims to help build a better world.”
DP World is "committed to being a world leader in sustainability" and has a strong focus on measurement and evaluation of its sustainability efforts across its 78 marine and inland operations, adds Ms Beaven.
“For example, we rank our ports internally, in terms of total emission and total energy used. Last year, DP World’s overall score increased in the comprehensive benchmark for corporate sustainability published by Bloomberg and RobecoSAM. Our ranking went up across the specific environmental and social dimensions. The scores, measured out of 100, assess criteria such as climate strategy, environmental policy, human capital, health and safety and social reporting. Our annual report includes a specific section on sustainability, which helps us to track and evaluate our progress, such as achieving almost 40m litres of reduced water consumption.
“We believe working in a sustainable and responsible way is essential to us building a strong business for our customers, our people and our society. We will continue to invest in innovation and measure and report on our progress – we know there is always more we can achieve.”
Would a sustainability ranking be helpful in attracting the environmentally-conscious millennials into the industry? Ms Beaven says young people, the leaders of tomorrow, increasingly want to work for sustainably-minded organisations, so it is very important that companies who want to attract the best talent can showcase their sustainability commitments.
“A sustainability ranking could be one way for companies to showcase their sustainability commitments – but there are other important ways to engage young people with our industry,” she says. “To help educate and engage young people with the port, trade and logistics industries, DP World has developed a Global Education Programme for employees to deliver in schools around the world, which involves our employees teaching young people around the world about the maritime sector and related career options. Since the launch last year, we have reached over 7,500 students in 13 languages across 17 countries, with 96% reporting a positive impact.”
SIGHTS ON GLOBAL NO.1 RANKING
Last year, the Port of Vancouver introduced its vision to be ‘the world’s most sustainable port’. This vision is a reflection of the port authority’s long-term goal to operate in a manner that will ensure that every Canadian continues to enjoy a healthy environment and the benefits of trade for generations, says spokeswoman Daniela Jang.
“We are now benchmarking ourselves against world ports and will be setting up appropriate goals, objectives and metrics. Going forward, how we are doing will be reported in our biannual sustainability report.”
The port authority defines a sustainable port as one that promotes economic prosperity through trade, supports a healthy environment and fosters thriving communities through a carefully balanced approach, she says.
That requires striking a careful balance between meeting the needs of customers and protecting the environment by offering financial incentives, such as discounts to harbour due rates, to customers that participate in a suite of available innovative environmental programmes and initiatives.
Are shipping companies and other customers focusing in on sustainability as a priority? “There is a shared interest in operating sustainably, including minimising the impact of operations on the environment and surrounding communities,” says Ms Jang. “The port authority partners with industry and other port authorities, where possible, to advance towards its vision.”
Through its EcoAction programme, Vancouver recognises carriers that go beyond requirements – offering discounted harbour dueS rates to ships that have implemented voluntary emission reduction measures and other environmental practices. Its Blue Circle Awards recognise marine carriers that excel in environmental stewardship and attain the highest participation rates in the EcoAction programme.
Ships can qualify for gold, silver or bronze levels, obtaining up to 47% off the basic harbour due rate, for meeting voluntary industry best practices.
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Visitors spent an additional £673 million across Britain due to activity by national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland, latest figures show.
The agency reported the figures, which cover its activity from April 2021 to June 2022, as it was set to bring industry leaders together at its annual review event on 22 March, highlighting its plans to support the industry and grow the visitor economy.
Its annual review event ‘Driving change and building value,’ being held during English Tourism Week and just over a year since the lifting of COVID-related international travel restrictions, is also shining the spotlight on tourism’s importance to the economy.
It comes as VisitBritain’s latest inbound tourism forecast shows a continued strong recovery in overseas visitor spending. It estimates £29.5 billion will be spent by international visitors in the UK this year, up 4% on 2019. It estimates 35.1 million inbound visits, 86% of 2019 levels.
Domestically, the agency’s latest research shows that more than a third of Brits are likelier to choose a UK trip in the next six months, compared to pre-pandemic.
British Tourist Authority Chairman Nick de Bois said:
“Almost a year to the day since travel restrictions were lifted marks a timely opportunity to bring the industry together and acknowledge the incredible resilience and innovation of tourism businesses across the country, as we emerge from what must surely be the most challenging period the sector has ever faced.
“With spring upon us it is also timely to shine the spotlight on Britain’s outstanding visitor offer, the industry’s economic importance and tourism’s ability to drive growth for the British economy.”
Mr de Bois said VisitBritain’s priority was to continue to build back visitor spending, competing hard in markets seeing strong recovery and driving urgency to book a trip to Britain today.
The agency has just launched multi-million pound GREAT Britain marketing campaigns in the USA, its largest and most valuable market, Canada, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and European markets.
With spending by Americans in Britain already up 40% on 2019, VisitBritain was harnessing this growth investing in, alongside its GREAT campaign, separate campaigns in the USA with British Airways and a pilot cooperative marketing programme with industry, converting the interest to visit into bookings.
In Europe and the GCC its campaign, ‘Spilling the Tea on Great Britain,’ is using a play on Britain’s love of tea, through destination images and short films, to tell a fresh and exciting story about the experiences on offer, showing visitors that ‘whatever your cup of tea, we’ve got it.’
All eyes are on Britain this year with the Coronation and Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, on behalf of Ukraine, and VisitBritain’s campaigns are harnessing these major events and the valuable opportunities to promote Britain globally as a visitor destination.
VisitBritain has also continued its work with the travel trade to make sure Britain’s tourism offer is sold internationally. As well as leisure travel, it supports the business events industry to recover and rebuild, enabling destinations to win international conferences and exhibitions.
Mr de Bois said there were also fresh challenges faced by the sector.
“As businesses rebuild they now also face increasing costs and long-standing workforce shortages that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Working with the Government and industry we are determined to play our part in rebuilding a more resilient, sustainable and accessible visitor economy, equipped to withstand these and future challenges.”
An important step towards this and a priority for VisitEngland was implementing the UK Government’s response to the de Bois Review of Destination Management Organisations, tackling the fragmentation in England’s tourism landscape, including the recently launched programme to create a national portfolio of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships to support and grow the visitor economy.
VisitEngland also continues its support to small businesses, the backbone of the industry, from guidance and tools on its Business Advice Hub to the ‘Taking England to the World’ trade programme. It is also championing a sustainable tourism strategy for England, working to harness the industry’s collective impact.
Tourism is usually worth more than £127 billion to the economy, one of its largest service exports and a major part of British trade, supporting hundreds of thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs and employing more than three million people across the UK.


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Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part article including sections 4 – and 5 – please read Part 1 for sections 1) COVID-19 Unique Event, 2) Virus Drives the Economy, and 3) Outlook for the U.S. Economy
“The economy was a very nice photo, than the pandemic turned it into a jigsaws puzzle that’s all messed up, now we’re trying to put it together and figure out if all the pieces are still here or not.”
Mohammed A. El-Arian, Chief Economist, Allianz
The novel COVID-19 virus has driven the world economy into the deepest recession since the Great Depression while shattering the linkages that previously held it together. Two months into the crisis and economists are still trying to figure out what has happened to supply chains and demand channels. As El-Arian, notes key components of the economy may be missing.
Some components will need to be created. Then all these components will need to realign into a “New Economy.” The challenge of rebuilding the economy will be influencing consumer behavior. Consumer spending is 70% of GDP. Thus, growing employment is crucial toward increasing consumer confidence and recovery. The central question is: how will the economy shift a growth track? We’ll look at crucial signposts along the way in building a new growth track by presenting the following topics: (The first three are from Part 1)
- COVID-19 – Unique Event – Examines the unique characteristics of the pandemic and how they set up certain economic trends. Part 1
- Virus Drives the Economy – Looks at how the virus is driving the economy, how it is out of control and what strategies are working toward containment – Part 1
- Outlook For U.S. Economy – Takes a new perspective by overlaying the virus cycle with a deep U shaped economic cycle and how economic activity changes during each stage. – Part 1
- New Economy – Describes the transformation of our society and how these changes will create losing and winning new businesses and how consumers will likely have conservative spending and saving habits – Part 2
- What We Need To Do To Create a New Economy – Recommends a federal team of scientific experts to be authorized to lead virus containment, investment in self-renewing innovation centers in hard hit pandemic areas and focus employment development on climate change solutions – Part 2
The New Economy will feel different, much more virtually driven by software, the Internet, and be home centric. All major aspects of consumer behavior will be affected by the panipression (combination of panic, recession, and depression) experience opening new opportunities for products and services. In contrast, others will see reduced demand and be forced to close. Investors will want to watch these social trends as they cluster into a set of needs where businesses can flourish and become profitable.
Similar to the deep psychological scars of the 1930s, it will take time to repair the emotional, social, and mental damage of the pandemic. Today, a social trend called the Ameri-Can spirit is helping to heal people in a wave of unifying, uplifting virtual programs. Celebrities, social groups, and crowdsourced teams are using Internet hashtags links to raise funding for charities to provide financial assistance to restaurant workers, hotel workers, farmworkers, meat processing staff, entertainment crews, and thousands of others that have been furloughed or laid off. This Ameri-Can spirit plus our culture of entrepreneurship will create a new economy that will be robust.
Businesses will provide new services or products targeted at a cluster of behaviors related to values, social styles, and desires. Social distancing will change our behaviors so groups of behaviors will disappear, be sustained, or begin to emerge. Socially people will have to be encouraged to take a trip, get on a plane, or have an experience outside of their home when they have so many alternatives.
Let’s look at key consumer and business segments and how they may be transformed:
Consumers will be seeking experiences they cannot get at home. We expect to see more experience-based travel packages that include hotel, meals, and an experience like a Costa Rica eco tour as a destination. For sought after destinations like Hawaii, Europe or Disneyland, the attractiveness will still be there. However, for small resorts, villages, or towns with a singular appeal, they will have to differentiate and create traffic in innovative ways to hold out during the contraction and trough stages of the recession. Airlines are already making ‘pandemic cleanliness promises’ and will continue to build on making passengers feel safe. Hotels will need to make guests feel safe as well and focus on the destination appeal, amenities, and service to a far greater degree than they needed to in the past. Local restaurants that shifted to take out during the pandemic and survived will be able to go back to their usual food fare if it has new appeal. The foodservice industry is likely to be even more competitive than before, with the major chains surviving and the local community restaurants failing during the lockdowns. The rental car industry has many choices with some firms with high debt levels, so we may see industry consolidation.
Work At Home
Home will become a central focus for new services. More services will come to the home than ever before with added twists and features for: meal delivery and pickup, car servicing, pet grooming, mobile dentistry, and laundry delivery. As workers are likely to have little savings and limited credit, so car sales will likely drop, replaced by even more ride-sharing. The auto industry will be faced with declining auto sales yet, there will be increased demand for cars by ride-sharing drivers and new autonomous car services. Personal fitness or yoga training will be offered online, along with many personal development classes held virtually. The number of car trips to work will decline causing gasoline demand to drop lower than pre-pandemic levels. Car rentals for out-of-region trips will be in even higher demand as fewer consumers will own a car. E-Commerce will continue to grow as people have become accustomed to most things being delivered to their homes. Retailers will need to differentiate their offerings by expertise that consumers can’t get online. For example, going to a nursery to buy a plant means seeing the plant’s condition. To close the sale, the consumer will want to ask an expert gardener how to plant it and care for it. Shopping malls will need to develop attractions or experiences to motivate consumers to leave their homes and shop.
Work at Office or Plant
Companies will soon discover that having employees work at home as many days as possible will reduce their costs. The need for office space will likely be reduced, and the need for a variety of support services like cafeterias, lounges, team rooms, etc. will decline. The need for shared office tenant spaces will fall. After all, except for key meetings, it is cheaper to have their employees work from home and eliminate or reduce office space, computer systems, utilities, and all the overhead of an employee office. Manufacturers will figure out how to achieve the same level of production using fewer employees. Production management systems will continue to be installed with sophisticated automation systems using artificial intelligence features. As more robots are installed we expect they will stay in place so manufacturing employment will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels. Features like non-touch time clocks, automated employee temperature monitoring, and other pandemic related services will probably be kept in place post-COVID-19.
Consumers already using the internet 24 hours a day will be looking for more ways to use laptops and internet services. Demand for high-speed internet services will be even greater. Many consumers use personal assistants like Alexa. We expect using personal assistants to gain new users after their shelter-in-home experience. We can expect to see more artificial intelligence features added to ‘dumb’ devices like refrigerators to provide monitoring of food usage, make recommendations, and suggest food purchases based on usage. Home security systems do surveillance today like turning on lights while a person walks from room to room. These systems may add employee temperature surveillance, so companies will know how healthy their employees are at home. There is likely to be increased stress from the blurring of family versus home life, and issues related to child care. This stress may impact work from home so firms will be interested in monitoring work at home activity. Firms will be able to use retina scans to determine how focused a worker is on his screen. The scans will be reported back to companies to know when their employee was at their computer, and for hourly workers, how many hours they have worked.
After their pandemic experience, consumers will be obsessed with their fitness. Some consumers may look for their doctor to become a ‘health consultant’ helping them to stay healthy with a focus on preventive medicine, diet, and lifestyle management. Artificial intelligence will be applied to diagnostics as medicine becomes ever more complex and expensive to reduce doctor’s hours and costs. Telemedicine will become the norm for visits as patients will want to stay home if they can. In some cases, doctor’s offices and clinics will shrink in size as being ‘on-premise’ for doctor visits will be a premium service. Clinics will shift some services to urgent care. Consumers will take even more control of their health, use more online advice services, and drug delivery apps. The use of stress reduction virtual apps will soar to help people transition into normal life as they use mindfulness to go out ‘into the real world’ again.
The merging of the internet with television and streaming channels will be accelerated. Internet applications like polling, audience interaction, and 3D experiences will merge with consumers doing things at home they would otherwise go out to do. During quarantine, entertainers have opened their homes to produce programs they used to do from studios. We expect more mixing of these personal entertainer ‘home visits’ to create an artificial intimacy with audiences that are not with them in person. The boundaries between movies, television shows, and gaming will continue to blur. For example, group ‘Minecraft games’ with a host and multi-player options become the norm. The focus on delivering entertainment to the home means less need for studio space and expensive studio crews. Audiences will still demand live concerts, though we expect to see more tie-ins with virtual pre-concert events and games along with post-concert follow up with entertainers.
Higher education will transition into lower-cost online learning. College online learning will become the standard. In person education will be ‘extra’ at the college level. The emphasis online learning to the home in elementary grades will place new stress on teachers and require far more sophisticated software for learning than is available today. Small colleges that focus on ‘in person’ learning experiences will be hard pressed to attract students during the lockdown or reopening phases of the pandemic control. We expect that many small colleges may be forced to close or merge their curriculum and teaching staff with other larger schools that have the ability to attract a large enough student base to be financially viable.
Home sales will take a long time to recover from the market contraction of the pandemic. Millennials have often been the first to be laid off, have little savings, and spend more on experiences than saving for large purchases. Major incentives will have to be offered by builders and existing homeowners as the market will be slow to return to pre-pandemic sales levels. Homes will be remodeled, and new homes built to accommodate the home centric needs for office space, closed off family rooms, and sound dampening for video conferencing privacy. Apartments that offer ‘work-at-home’ floor plans and capabilities will be in demand while smaller apartments will see reduced demand. The pandemic may force home buyers to think about leaving the city and its density to suburbs or even further out since they can use the internet to do their job. An essential homebuyer requirement that their home is near their office will no longer be as crucial in locating a home for purchase.
Many banks have closed their retail offices due to social distancing. We expect banks to close many retail offices as being too expensive. Thus, customers to see a banker will need to make an appointment to see their banker at a specific branch. Virtual banking relationships will be the norm. Direct digital transfer of funds will grow leaving banks out of money transfers, particularly between customers and small businesses. Tap and go credit cards will be a standard way of handing a transaction at stores without touching cards or receipts. Digital wallets with financial account information will be readily adopted as tech savvy millennials become the dominant consumer group.
Consumers will think about money differently as a result of a panipression experience. Not having money for food, rent, or utilities will leave emotional scars and teach new habits. Similar to the Great Depression generation, consumers are likely to use less credit, increase their savings and be careful about getting over-leveraged with significant purchases. They will make conservative investments similar to baby boomers after the 2008 recession, who did not reinvest in stocks. Building consumer spending will likely take three or more years to reach previous levels.
The New Economy will feel different, much more virtually driven by software, the internet and home centric. All major aspects of consumer behavior will be affected by the panipression experience opening new opportunities for products and services. In contrast, others will see reduced demand and be forced to close. Investors will want to watch emerging social trends as they cluster into a set of needs where businesses can flourish and become profitable.
What We Need To Do To Create A New Economy
Challenge: The most crucial next step is to contain the virus and provide people with the confidence to go about their social life without the fear of becoming infected.
Proposal: Provide unifying intelligent leadership at the federal level to overcome the virus. The people need support, compassion, and hope, not divisive politics, bickering, and conspiracy theories as a basis of policy. A federal team of scientists using facts, research, and the latest techniques for pandemic containment needs to be authorized to bring the virus under control quickly. Other countries like Germany have focused their efforts on containment without politics leading to moderate success in virus containment.
Self-Renewing Economy Investment
Challenge: Rural areas of the country were already in recession from being hollowed out by manufacturing moving overseas. The pandemic has ravaged inner-city areas where many hourly workers lived in tight quarters. Small businesses across all regions are reeling from the lockdowns temporally shutting their businesses down, forcing them onto a financial cliff.
Proposal: Build New Economy innovation development centers using the Silicon Valley model. We see promise in using a Silicon Valley model of integrated partnerships between venture capitalists, company incubators, universities, and local government to build new businesses. The model has been used in places like Portland, Oregon with their Silicon Forest and in Salt Lake City with their Silicon Slope to build successful self-renewing economies. We recommend that this model be used to target inner-city regions, rural areas, or any area where the pandemic has taken a toll on the local economy. Since the federal government has limited funding we recommend the government act as a ‘seed’ investor to jump-start these development centers with partner investments by venture capitalists and cash rich firms like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. To ensure a well-trained labor force, the centers could be located near university campuses and integrated into degree or certification programs. The Department of Education could assist with scholarships for workers that need tuition and fees financial aid to study at the universities.
Climate Change Solutions
Challenge: While the focus over the next three to five years will rightly be on containing the virus and rebuilding the economy, the existential climate change problem continues to go unsolved. The impact of climate change is already felt in rising seas flooding coast side cities and mega wildfires destroying millions of acres.
Proposal: Focus employment development in renewable industries. The pandemic economic slowdown has reduced carbon emissions by 8% during the past two months, according to experts. The latest U.N. climate change analysis recommends that an 8% a year reduction in emissions be continued until 2030 to achieve the global emissions reduction target of 2 degrees Celsius. A U.N. sponsored Science Based Targets Initiative organization of 890 companies has endorsed shifting investments and employment toward reaching the 2030 emissions reduction target. A diverse set of 165 U.S. companies are SBTI members including: Walmart, Target, Coca-Cola, Adobe, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Owens-Corning, Whirlpool, Proctor & Gamble, and Verizon. We should start now solving the next major global challenge by focusing on federal, non-government organizations, private research, and business development on innovative solutions to climate change problems. Focusing on climate change for job creation ensures that we tackle two major issues: employment and climate change. With so many workers unemployed we should shift their skills to a new industry that has been growing fast and is urgently needed while offering long term careers
We expect corporate leaders to take the lead in employment development for a long term economic transformation as political divisions will continue. We noted in our post: A Pandemic Iceberg Hits the ‘Unsinkable’ US Economy’ that the fabric of a robust labor safety net needs to be built to mitigate the impact of an economic crisis like COVID-19 on labor in the future. It is in the interest of executives to build businesses where workers are thriving, not just surviving. The focus must be on building an innovative economy that is creating new jobs through entrepreneurship. Otherwise, we are faced with a stagnating economy dependent on government transfer payments. We conclude with the following declaration from that post:
“Americans built the most innovative, self-renewing, wealth building economy in the world. It is the American spirit of entrepreneurship combined with invention, self-sacrifice, equal opportunity, and creativity that will build the businesses of the future. These new businesses will adjust to new social realities and pave the way for workers to gain job security and become confident enough to spend at robust levels.”
Patrick Hill is the Editor of The Progressive Ensign, writes from the heart of Silicon Valley, leveraging 20 years of experience as an executive at firms like HP, Genentech, Verigy, Informatica, and Okta to provide investment and economic insights. Twitter: @PatrickHill167


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It’s almost that time of year again — the annual mass hysteria of Black Friday where stores slash prices in anticipation of holiday shopping.
And while your first thought might be for Amazon’s Black Friday deals, a new report by Astound Commerce shows that Walmart might not be so far behind at all. A whopping 60% of survey respondents said they’d be heading to Walmart this season — with 63% replying so for Amazon — thanks to their reputation for better prices.
But while some shoppers might enjoy the experience of camping outside their favorite stores in the November weather, doing your Black Friday shopping online at home in your pajamas is an advantage that can’t be overstated during Thanksgiving time — especially since stores like Walmart have a pick-up in store option. Not only can you possibly grab it faster than it would be shipped, but you can save on a cost that might otherwise send you packing for an outlet that won’t charge anything for delivery but might have a higher upfront price.
In an unsurprising embrace of Black Friday enthusiasm, Walmart and Amazon are already rolling out holiday deals.
Further down are the ones you can take advantage of right now, but here are a few noteworthy deals to bookmark so you can get to them first when they go live at 6 p.m. on November 23.
- Google Chromecast, $20 [Save $15]
- Roku 4K Streaming Stick, $48 [Save $21]
- Element 39" Class Smart TV, $125 [Save $66]
- Sharp 55" Class 4K Smart TV, $298 [Save $50]
- Google Home Mini, $29 [Save $20 + get a coupon worth up to $25 off your next Walmart order when linking your account to Google Express]
- Google Home, $79 [Save $50 + get a coupon worth up to $25 off your next Walmart order when linking your account to Google Express]
- Xbox One S Console Bundle, $249 [Save up to $138.84]


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Amazon is expanding its health-care options with a new $5 monthly subscription that allows unlimited delivery of 60 generic prescription drugs.
- The new service, RXPass, will be available in most states except California, Texas, Minnesota, and others where regulations prevent the service.
- Those participating in Medicare, Medicaid, or other government health-care assistance programs are not eligible for the program.
- While RXPass can save customers some money on generic drugs, it won’t provide much relief for brand-name drugs that make up most prescription spending.
- Amazon will likely lose money on the program—but the company expects to see other benefits, CNN reports.
- RXPass is an add-on to Amazon’s existing Amazon Prime program.
Why it’s news
While generic drugs take up 85% of the prescription market, they account for only 20% of overall drug spending, CNN reports. Amazon has chosen to focus its program on generic drugs because there will be less competition from health insurers and other companies that provide generic drugs.
Less expensive medication will undoubtedly be helpful to consumers, but the program has the added benefit of increasing Amazon’s Prime memberships. To partake in the RXPass program, customers must also be Prime members.
Amazon’s latest move into the health-care industry will draw some customers away from other drug providers, but it won’t likely bring down drug prices very much. Generic drugs could become less expensive with more competitors in the market, but drugs without a generic competitor will stay the same, CNN reports.
Backing up a bit
The retail giant that offers nearly every item at your fingertips has just added another service—health care. Amazon Clinic will now be available to help connect customers with healthcare professionals for needs ranging from acne solutions to hair loss.
This is Amazon’s latest effort to branch into the health-care field. Already the company has its own pharmacy and is working to acquire 1Life Healthcare. The clinic is branded as a “virtual health storefront,” according to Amazon’s blog post. No partners in the venture have yet been announced. Amazon Clinic cannot accept insurance and is available in 32 U.S. states.
This latest venture into the health-care field will allow patients to select their condition, choose a provider, and fill out an intake questionnaire online. Patients are then connected to a healthcare provider through Amazon Clinic’s portal.
The initiative marks another attempt for the company to enter the health-care field. Last year, Amazon attempted to purchase Signify Health, a home health services company. Though that attempt was unsuccessful, Amazon appears undeterred.
Amazon previously launched Amazon Care, a way for the company to provide health care services, but the initiative appears unsuccessful as Amazon is phasing out the project.


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Last year, the cruise industry's contribution to the economy of the United States was on the rise, a new economic report by the leading industry organization CLIA-Cruise Lines International Association said. However, in 2020, facing an estimated US$32 billion loss, the industry is expected to contribute less than 50% of what it did in 2019.
According to the CLIA report, cruising contributed US$55 billion to the American economy last year - up 5.3% from 2018. But now cruising is suspended in U.S. waters through the end of 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic.
From mid-March through the end of 2020, it is estimated that the suspension of cruising in the United States will result in a loss of over US$32 billion in economic activity and 254,000+ American jobs. The number includes economic contributions across many sectors, from aviation and transportation to agriculture, lodging, manufacturing, travel agencies, suppliers, service providers, food and beverage services, across the USA.
The industry has been preparing to resume sailings for some time. Upon extending the voluntary suspension through the end of 2020, it said it would prepare and align industry protocols with standards in the CDC-Center for Disease Control and Prevention's new conditional sailing order, including test sailings, among other requirements to be completed before cruises can resume.
In September, the cruise industry announced mandatory safety and health changes in preparation for a return to cruising. CLIA and its member lines adopted extensive mandatory health protocols for ships that can carry 250+ passengers, including passenger and crew testing, enhanced cruise ship ventilation, mask-wearing, response procedures, shore excursion protocols. The cruise industry also announced universal testing on vessels with the capability of carrying 250+ people worldwide.
Carnival Cruise Line has canceled cruises in U.S. waters through the end of January 2021 and some sailings into March. While the Centers issued a "conditional sailing order," it does not allow for sailings to resume immediately or at any named date.
The USA CDC published a Level 4 travel notice on Saturday, November 21, advising that "all people" should avoid travel on cruise ships worldwide due to the very high risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships.


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Conferences, congresses, and business events have undergone extensive changes in the last nine months, spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. Virtual and hybrid event formats have emerged rapidly, while traditional face-to-face models have been enhanced through creative approaches.
We find ourselves in a new reality that in addition to numerous challenges, also opens up countless opportunities to shape our future communication and collaboration. The key to successful business events of the future lies in connecting customer needs with market offers, connecting personal interaction and virtual networking, and connecting the tried-and-true with innovation and new solutions.
In recent months, German event organizers, locations, hotels, and service providers have demonstrated how safe meetings are possible under pandemic conditions. Hybrid events, in particular, which combine on-site and online participation and use a wide variety of new technologies, have grown dynamically in quantity and quality.
The German meeting and congress industry started to rebound in Summer 2020, but the latest surge of coronavirus infections and another lockdown have stalled progress. IMEX Group recently announced the disappointing news that this year’s IMEX Frankfurt, set for May at Messe Frankfurt, has been canceled.
For the world of business events, the recovery is not a sprint but a marathon. As a destination for meetings and events, Germany is well-positioned for this marathon. In addition to being a worldwide leader in attracting business travel and attendance at business events, Germany’s excellent global reputation as a business destination is an important cornerstone for recovery in the aftermath of the coronavirus.
Currently, Germany enjoys the highest level of confidence as a travel destination in times of pandemic in an international comparison, according to a survey by IPK International on behalf of the German National Tourist Board. In the latest Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index, Germany also ranks first for the best global image.
But the German Convention Bureau (GCB) is not sitting idle waiting for the recovery to take hold. During Convening Leaders 2021, GCB is teaming with PCMA and IMEX to foster global collaboration and drive innovation for business events.
“The meetings, incentive travel, and events industry calendar would not be the same without the traditional injection of high energy, learning, creativity and community spirit delivered by Convening Leaders in January,” said IMEX CEO Carina Bauer. “Although we can’t be together in the same property or sharing the delights of exploring a new destination or business venue, I have no doubt that Convening Leaders will start the year strong.”
Last year, IMEX opted to deliver its May Frankfurt and November U.S. events virtually on the platform PlanetIMEX, capitalizing on its community, and providing diverse education and business networking in a fun environment.
In addition to working with organizations such as IMEX, the GCB has supported the business events industry in other ways:
- In March 2020, it launched a new website, eventcrisis.org, with tw tagungswirtschaft, a trade and business magazine for meeting professionals under the dfv Media umbrella, as an information platform and provider of best practices and new solutions.
- The bureau used its social media campaigns to stay in touch with its customers.
- It conducted market research and data analytics to prepare for different future scenarios in order to enable appropriate, evidence-based decisions.
- The GCB launched its recovery strategy — “At the heart of future events” — which combines the best of both analog and digital worlds for future business events.
- The GCB Virtual Venue opened in November 2020 to host digital events and to connect meeting planners with event suppliers.
“The GCB firmly believes in the value of market analysis and business intelligence as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making and to drive new solutions,” said Matthias Schultze, managing director of GCB. “A thirst for knowledge and future hot topics is also at the heart of the research and innovation project Future Meeting Space.”
Jointly launched by the GCB and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, Future Meeting Space looks into trends, innovations, and societal developments and their possible influence on the meetings industry. “The current research phase, in collaboration with the PCMA Foundation, focuses on the purpose of business events and their role in an organization’s communications mix,” Schultze said. “In 2021, we will address the changing ecosystem of meetings in a post-coronavirus era.”
IMEX is in lockstep with that kind of forward thinking, offering perspectives, information, and guidance to global meeting professionals. IMEXfiles, published 10 times a year, shares the organization’s insights on “the topic of the moment” with an audience of 50,000 industry contacts. IMEX’s sustainability report, The Regenerative Revolution, provides case studies, survey data, and insights from big thinkers to show how the circular economy can help rebuild a resilient and regenerative global events industry.
IMEX Group and the German Convention Bureau are sponsoring back-to-back sessions on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Convening Leaders: “Open Innovation for the Business Events Industry” and “Innovating Business Events — The Customer Perspective.”


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By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — An American shipping company and a German auto parts manufacturer are to create 1,150 jobs in Cork in a huge industrial boost for the Munster region.
The family-owned Kostal group is to spend £75 building a new plant in Mallow and upgrading an existing one at Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. The Mallow facility will employ 850 over the next seven years.
Kostal, which supplies companies like Mercedes Benz, BMW, GM, Ford Volvo, Nissan and Toyota, started as an insulation company in Germany in 1912 and moved into car parts in 1927.
The company, which employs more than 9,000 worldwide, first came to Ireland in 1981. It makes a wide range of parts from electronic window lift controllers and rain sensors plastic injection molding.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-owned shipping company Sea-Land Service Inc. has chosen Cork Airport in the south of country over 11 other possible locations in Europe to set up a pan-European shared services center. This will lead to 300 jobs over three years with more later.
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Sea-Land, based in North Carolina, employs 9,100 worldwide and is a subsidiary of CSX Corporation of Richmond, Va. Sea-Land has 99 container ships servicing 120 ports in 80 countries.


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Tesco has cut its projected UK sales growth for the year to just 2 %, marking a symbolic departure from the supermarket giant’s annual expectations of 3%-4% growth.
Tesco finance director Andrew Higginson is reported to have informed brokers that the retail heavyweight is budgeting internally for like-for-like growth of just 2% for the first time this decade.
The move comes after Tesco last week caused consternation among suppliers by looking to negotiate tough new terms to help finance price reductions in the economic downturn.
“Tesco has been budgeting for its business to do 3%-4% like-for-likes in the UK for many years, certainly for most of this decade,” Shore Capital analyst Clive Black told the Financial Times.
“It is not about the profit forecast, it is about them saying they expect the UK economy to be materially slower. That cascades through the business. They are setting themselves to run off a lower cost base.”


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The win was announced last night at a glittering World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
“We pride ourselves on bringing the story of Guinness past, present and future to life, while showcasing the very best of Irish culture through local collaborations and partnerships spanning music, art, design, food and so much more,” said Catherine Toolan of Diageo Irish Brand Homes.
“We could not achieve any of this without our incredibly talented team who welcome millions of visitors every year, from all corners of the world, and provide the famous ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’…
“It means the world to our team to be recognised on a global stage and to bring these awards home to Dublin and The Liberties.”
The Guinness Storehouse, which welcomed over a million visitors last year, beat a who’s-who of global tourist attractions to its award – including Niagara Falls, the Las Vegas Strip and the Acropolis of Athens.
For the second year in a row, it was also named ‘World’s Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience’.
“Compelling things to see and do give overseas visitors more reasons to holiday on the island of Ireland,” said Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive Designate of Tourism Ireland, of the win.
“The Guinness Storehouse offers a unique experience to visitors, celebrating an iconic story of Irish craft, heritage and industry in fresh, modern ways.”
Sometimes dubbed the tourism ‘Oscars’, the World Travel Awards include dozens of categories for brands, destinations, hotels, airports and more on country, regional (e.g. European) and global levels.
Entrants can be previous winners, self-nominated or WTA recommendations, with votes coming from “qualified executives working within travel and tourism and the consumer travel buyer”, it says.
Ireland has form in the awards.
In 2016, Titanic Belfast was crowned ‘World’s Leading Tourist Attraction’, while this year saw Luttrellstown Castle win ‘Europe’s Leading Luxury Wedding Resort’, Jameson Distillery Bow St win ‘Europe’s Leading Whiskey Distillery Tour’, and the Convention Centre Dublin win ‘Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre’.
The Guinness Storehouse win comes as the popular attraction enters Christmas mode, with ritzy installations including an 8.5m Christmas tree and state-of-the-art cinema experience.
Tickets to the attraction cost €24pp for adults, including entry to the Gravity Bar and a pint of Guinness or non-alcoholic drink, and €10pp for children.


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However, the global port operator increased container throughput by 5.5 percent from 2015.
Star Cool CA+ was established to extend the market reach of sensitive, low-respiring perishables, building on Maersk Container Industry’s Star Cool CA system for high-respiring fresh produce.
Korea Development Bank, DSME’s largest shareholder and main creditor, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea said they would provide funds to boost the shipbuilder’s cash flow and convert its liabilities into equity to cut debt.
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The Danish ocean carrier’s plan to acquire Hamburg Süd in 2017 caps a landmark year for consolidation in the container shipping industry, noted Mario Cordero, the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
The South Korean liner carrier’s bankruptcy, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of shipments around the world being delayed, was the biggest in the container shipping industry since the 1986 bankruptcy of U.S. Lines.
The Israeli container carrier told American Shipper Friday it is rejecting the rumor that it has intentions to sell its global shipping operations to instead become a regional Mediterranean carrier.