Technology

Artificial Intelligence Big Data Cloud Computing Cyber Security Data Management Electronics Enterprise & Network Technology Financial Technology Hardware Mobile & Wireless Nanotechnology Semiconductor Software Telecommunications
News Release Digital Asset Direct

COMCAST NAMES JOHN KELLER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE MOUNTAIN WEST REGION

Comcast Utah

Comcast announces John “J.D.” Keller as the new senior vice president for the company’s Mountain West Region, succeeding Amy Lynch who was named Comcast West Division’s Senior Vice President of Customer Experience and Customer Operations. In this role, Keller is the top executive responsible for customer experience, sales, operations, and financial performance for the region. Keller will report to Rich Jennings, President of Comcast’s West Division, and will oversee Comcast’s operations serving Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Idaho with more than 2.5 million residential and business customers and managing more than 2,500 employees. Keller previously held the role of Senior Vice President for the Comcast Twin Cities Region, a position he held for four years. Under his leadership, the region experienced strong growth, operational excellence, and continued commitment to the customer experience. Keller came to Comcast from ADT Security Services, where he served in several senior leadership roles, including Vice President, Sales and Operations, directing the company’s largest region with $1.5 billion in revenue and more than 4,000 employees. Keller began his career working in call center operations for Dean Witter. A native of Utah, Keller earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. “My family and I are excited to be back in the West and have this opportunity to lead the Comcast Mountain West team,” said J.D. Keller, Senior Vice President, Comcast Mountain West Region. “So many new technology innovations and advancements are being developed here in the Mountain West, and here are incredible opportunities to engage more people in today’s digital world. I’m eager to collaborate with local business, community, education and nonprofit leaders to create meaningful change in our communities and connect people to more of what they love.” “J.D. is a strong, innovative leader at Comcast, dedicated to our employees and operational excellence,” said Rich Jennings, Comcast West Division President. “His track record for bringing teams together will serve him well as he settles into his new role. J.D. will be a valuable and steadfast voice overseeing this multi-state region.” ### About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with more than 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Deneiva Knight +1 520-345-9792 deneiva_knight@comcast.com Company Website https://utah.comcast.com/

September 29, 2021 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Trust & Will Receives SOC 2 Compliance Attestation Report

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning platform in the U.S, is proud to announce that it has received a clean SOC 2 Type I attestation report. To date, Trust & Will is the only online estate planning company to carry SOC 2 certification. The attestation report affirms that Trust & Will’s information security practices, policies, procedures, and operations meet the rigorous SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria for security. Trust & Will is now the only digital estate planning company to carry SOC 2 compliance. Obtaining SOC 2 ensures the highest standards for customer data and security. This independent assessment of internal security controls validates its dedication and adherence to the highest standards for security, confidentiality, and availability. Developed by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 is an extensive auditing procedure that ensures a company is handling customer data securely and in a manner that protects the organization as well as the privacy of its customers. SOC 2 is designed specifically for service providers storing customer data in the cloud. “We are delighted to receive a clean SOC 2 Type I attestation report as it substantiates our ongoing commitment to securing our customers’ data,” said Eric Urhausen, Head of Engineering at Trust & Will. “We continuously prioritize the improvement of our security posture, which helps increase trust in our product and in the digital estate planning industry as a whole.” Trust & Will uses Drata’s automated platform to continuously monitor its internal security controls against the highest possible standards. With Drata, Trust & Will has real-time visibility across the organization to ensure the end-to-end security and compliance posture of systems. "Achieving SOC 2 Type I compliance is a significant milestone for the fast-growing Trust & Will team,” said Adam Markowitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Drata. “Paired with Drata's continuous automated monitoring of its controls, Trust & Will further elevates its security posture and sets the stage for its ongoing compliance journey. We applaud the company's approach and leadership, and truly value our partnership." ABOUT TRUST & WILL Trust & Will is a modern approach to digital estate planning, offering legally valid documents designed and approved by estate planning attorneys to adhere to individual state guidelines. Our mission is to provide families with a better way to plan for the future. Since 2017, more than 250,000 Trust & Will members have created an online estate plan to set up their family legacy. We make estate planning simple, affordable, and accessible by providing a secure way to set up a plan online in minutes, using bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC2. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members and is a proud partner of several leading financial institutions, including Northwestern Mutual and Haven Life. To learn more, visit www.trustandwill.com. Contact Details Trust & Will Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com

September 29, 2021 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Nerds On Site Inc. Announces 2021 Fiscal Year-End Financial Results

Nerds On Site Inc.

Nerds On Site Inc. (CSE: NERD) (OTCQB: NOSUF) (“Nerds” or the “Company”), a mobile IT solutions company servicing Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) marketplaces in Canada and the USA, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2021, ended May 31, highlighted by a stable revenue of $10,121,480. All amounts expressed are in Canadian dollars. 2021 Financial Highlights: Total Revenue of $10,121,480 as compared to $10,143,336 for the year ended May 31, 2020 Gross Profit of $2,627,954 as compared to $2,639,410 for the year ended May 31, 2020, maintaining a gross margin of 26% Cash used in operating activities was ($289,860) for the year ended May 31, 2021, compared to ($1,605,328) for the year ended May 31, 2020, reflecting an improvement in cash used in operations of $1,315,468. Net loss for the year ended May 31, 2021, was ($1,387,768) as compared to ($2,034,711) for the year ended May 31, 2020, a decrease of $646,943 or 32%. This is in line with the Company’s cost-reduction strategy Full details of the Company’s 2021 financial results can be found in the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the year ended May 31, 2021, both of which are available at www.sedar.com. 2021 Strategic Partnership with Staples Canada: On March 1, 2021, Staples Canada (“Staples”) and Nerds On Site Inc. announced an exclusive partnership to launch Nerds On Site for Business, that will support small business customers with IT and cyber security services as they continue to navigate the new way of working. A trusted provider in the managed IT and cyber security space, Nerds On Site for Business can help SMEs across Canada with remote and onsite solutions for everything from setting up a company's workforce to work from anywhere to managing an entire IT network. With data, cyber security, and managed IT services in demand more than ever before, one of the key services that Nerds On Site for Business will provide to SME customers is a no-commitment, no-obligation cyber security assessment scorecard of their business, with custom solutions to combat any findings. Properly managing and protecting business systems has become a pivotal step to remain secure in the ever-evolving digital world. Charlie Regan, CEO of Nerds On Site, commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic has established an unprecedented environment for business, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses that are the primary customers of Nerds. We are extremely pleased with having maintained our revenue level while increasing our business activities on the online security and technology field, that we expect will play a highly-important role in the new enterprise normal. We are looking forward to ramping up our business operations and expansion into the US in the upcoming year.” Investor Webinar NERD will host an investor webinar on Wednesday, September 29 at 1:30 pm ET, where CEO Charlie Regan will discuss the 2021 financial results and answer any questions investors may have. Investors can join the call by clicking HERE, then enter the passcode: 614624 About Nerds On Site Inc. Nerds On Site Inc., a company founded in 1995 in London, Ontario, specializes in providing cost-effective, leading-edge solutions to Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), serving as the complete SME IT solution specialist. NERD currently has annual revenues of approximately $10,000,000 and growing. The Company services more than 12,000 clients per year with a superb 96.5% customer-satisfaction rating (more than 90,000 five-star ratings). NERD’s business model is based on sub-contracts in Canada and a franchise model for US expansion. Visit the website to learn more: www.nerdsonsite.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this material may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact Details NERDS ON SITE INC. Charles Regan, CEO +1 877-778-2335 IR@nerdsonsite.com CHF CAPITAL MARKETS Thomas Do +1 416-868-1079 thomas@chfir.com Company Website https://investors.nerdsonsite.com

September 29, 2021 07:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BreatheSuite Receives FDA Clearance for Over-the-Counter Device to Turn Regular Metered-Dose Inhalers into Smart Inhalers

BreatheSuite

BreatheSuite Inc., a Canadian connected respiratory health company, today announced that it has received 510(K) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its BreatheSuite Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) V1 device. Approved for both prescription and over-the-counter use, the BreatheSuite device turns existing MDIs into smart inhalers by automatically and objectively monitoring and providing feedback on inhaler adherence and technique for people with asthma and COPD. Tens of millions of Americans currently use MDIs. Techniques such as shaking the MDI 10-15 times, as well as breath timing and positioning, can greatly impact the amount of medication that reaches the lungs. For every 100 people who use an inhaler, 90 are using it incorrectly; 66 are not adherent to the medication as prescribed (skipping doses, etc.). Inhaler misuse makes up about $5- $7 billion of the approximately $25 billion spent on inhalers annually. The BreatheSuite System – composed of a disposable, battery-powered, portable BreatheSuite MDI add-on device and a mobile application based on behavior change strategies – is designed to work with an MDI by attaching to the top of the canister of the patient’s inhaler. The device and mobile app work together to evaluate and “score” a person’s inhaler technique and usage patterns, storing results in the cloud so the person can track and use this information to improve how they use their inhaler. With consent, this information can also be remotely monitored by the person’s healthcare team to promote customizable care plans. By promoting more effective inhaler use and remote patient monitoring (RPM), BreatheSuite aims to improve quality of care and health outcomes while reducing the economic burden associated with these conditions. Medical costs for chronic COPD were estimated to reach $49 billion in 2020, and the annual economic cost of asthma from 2008-2013 was more than $81.9 billion – with medical costs alone accounting for $50.3 billion. “We are extremely excited to have obtained FDA clearance, which is a critical step in achieving our vision of improving the lives of respiratory patients worldwide,” said Brett Vokey, Founder and CEO of BreatheSuite. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored that now is the time for remote patient monitoring to take a front seat in providing better, more transparent care for all people with asthma or COPD. With FDA clearance, we are poised to become a leader in providing actionable insights to people with asthma or COPD across the United States.” “By having a real-time way to digitally monitor and provide feedback to patients, we hope to enhance healthcare outcomes,” said Dr. Meshari F. Alwashmi, Chief Scientific Officer, BreatheSuite. “Furthermore, having an objective measure of adherence and technique from each user with asthma and COPD will advance the sphere of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of inhaled medications.” The BreatheSuite device does not interfere with regular MDI usage and can be removed and reattached to a new inhaler with ease. The device is compatible with 90% of MDIs on the market, including those manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Teva and Prasco. In addition to FDA clearance, which is a first for a Newfoundland and Labrador-based company, the BreatheSuite device has also been cleared for sale in Canada. About BreatheSuite BreatheSuite is a Canadian connected health company founded in 2018 to help people with chronic respiratory conditions live longer, healthier lives. The BreatheSuite MDI device is designed to track and train proper inhaler usage, while the BreatheSuite App applies behavior change tactics to improve adherence, and tips on how to improve inhaler technique. BreatheSuite works with leading partners across North America to deliver better care to people with chronic respiratory conditions. For more information visit www.breathesuite.com or contact info@BreatheSuite.com. Contact Details SVM Public Relations and Marketing Communications Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.breathesuite.com/

September 28, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Minuteman Press Bethesda Partners with In America Flags to Remember COVID-19 Victims

Minuteman Press International Inc

In America: Remember is a public art exhibition being held at the National Mall that displays 660,000 white flags to honor the people in America who have been lost due to COVID-19. Minuteman Press in Bethesda, Maryland, is a partner for the exhibition, providing printed message cards from people all over the country who are paying tribute to loved ones through the In America website. “We are glad to be able to do our part to help this art exhibition,” says Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press, Bethesda. “Every day, we receive all of the messages that were submitted through the In America website and we print them 8 up on 11 x 17 sheets to create 4.25 x 5.5 cards. Every night, I drop off the finished cards to one of the volunteers, and then they are transcribed onto the flags by another group of volunteers.” Leslie adds, “This is a total team effort and we are proud to be partners in such an important and moving exhibition. Our hearts go out to those who have been lost and their families.” The In America: Remember exhibition was designed by artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg. The exhibition is open for public participation now through October 3 rd, 2021. Hours are Weekdays from 10 AM – Sunset and Weekends from 9 AM – Sunset. For more information, visit https://www.inamericaflags.org. Minuteman Press in Bethesda is located at 8210 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814. For more information, call 301-656-1188 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/md/bethesda Learn more about Minuteman Press products and services at https://minuteman.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 28, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Showstoppers® Gears Up For In-Person And All-Digital Events For CES 2022

ShowStoppers

ShowStoppers ® is gearing up to produce its signature press-only showcase events for journalists to discover new tech for work, home and play during CES 2022. ShowStoppers @ CES 2022 will be in held in person at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, 5 Jan. 2022. For journalists and companies not traveling to Las Vegas, ShowStoppers will also stream press conferences during the week of 10 January on ShowStoppers TV, the acclaimed digital platform that launched in April 2020. ShowStoppers TV broadcasts live and on-demand events that enable marketers, brands, startups, industry leaders, innovators and PR teams to pitch new products and engage in conversation with journalists around the world. “We are so excited to return to Las Vegas – home to ShowStoppers @ CES for more than two decades,” said Dave Leon, partner, ShowStoppers. “We look forward to seeing many new and returning faces. Companies are telling us how much they look forward to connecting again with journalists, in person, to launch new products, services and apps, to share product demos, to drive brand awareness, and generate news coverage and product reviews.” The in-person and digital ShowStoppers press events will organize product launches, sneak previews and hands-on demonstrations for journalists, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives -- from AI to 5G to cloud, VR to digital health; to better, safer, healthier tools for working from home or going back to the office; to future mobility and autonomy, robotics, smart cities or blockchain; to apps and hardware that drive mobile and desktop innovation; to space tech, wearables, IoT, appliances, entertainment, green energy, anti-pandemic technologies, and more. Health and safety are a top priority for ShowStoppers. Taking lead from CES, ShowStoppers will require all in-person attendees, exhibitors and staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. ShowStoppers continues to monitor guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nevada and Clark County. ShowStoppers will follow applicable federal, state and local laws, and is working with the Wynn as it updates rules for events at the hotel. About ShowStoppers Now in its 26th year, ShowStoppers, https://www.showstoppers.com/, is the global leader in producing press and business events spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each event organizes product launches, sneak previews and demonstrations for selected journalists, bloggers, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives. Industry leaders, innovators and startups exhibit to generate news coverage and product reviews, make new connections, promote brand and open new markets. ShowStoppers produces official press events at CE Week, IFA and NAB; partners with CTA, IFA, GSMA and CEATEC; and produces events during CES, IFA, MWC, NAB, CE Week, CEATEC and other tradeshows. ShowStoppers streams online, broadcasting live events, month after month. To learn more about how you and your company can meet the press at ShowStoppers press events in person and online at ShowStoppers TV, contact Lauren Merel, lauren@showstoppers.com, +1 908-692-6068, or Dave Leon, dave@showstoppers.com, +1 845-821-6123. For press registration, please contact Steve Leon, sl@showstoppers.com, +1 310-936-8530. Contact Details ShowStoppers Steve Leon +1 310-936-8530 sl@showstoppers.com Company Website https://showstoppers.com

September 28, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global launches next-gen technology to power its global work platform

Velocity Global

Platform eliminates friction to manage any talent anywhere, anytime in a single click Proprietary technology delivers a seamless cloud experience for clients and talent Velocity Global scales its leading global work platform with the launch of its next-generation technology. Built on proprietary code and best-in-breed cloud solutions, the latest version streamlines the client and talent experience to deliver real-time insights to compliantly manage distributed teams. Velocity Global unveiled the technology experience at the HR Technology Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas. “Our global work platform delivers compliance, accuracy, flexibility, and customization, which inspired our next-generation technology for a seamless client and talent experience,” said Dave Martelon, Velocity Global chief technology officer. Velocity Global’s next-generation technology introduces several features including: Streamlined Supported Employee Onboarding: New team members are guided through a seamless step-by-step experience customized to their country of employment. Interactive Global Dashboard: Clients can view all of their supported employees and their employment status across the globe at a glance, and drill down into details at the country level. Simple Time Off Management: Clients view and approve time off requests for all supported employees in one place. Flexible Payroll Requests: Clients generate, view, and manage recurring and one-time payment requests based on their custom payroll schedule with ease. Consolidated Invoicing and Payments: The platform generates consolidated invoices so clients can pay their talent with a single click of a button. 3rd Party Integrations: The platform is built to reduce the overhead of manual data entry through integrations with clients’ internal systems. “Our team makes the complex simple,” said Martelon. “We built a proprietary infrastructure that connects with leading talent management systems and removes friction for clients and HR departments. The underlying infrastructure is flexible and enables the future of work.” Velocity Global’s work platform combines the company’s proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, personalized expertise, and unmatched global scale to build globally distributed teams. More than 1,000 clients rely on Velocity Global’s platform without the need to set up their own legal entities in other countries or other states. Velocity Global is exhibiting at HR Technology Conference and Exposition at booth #5514. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global Eli Rice +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

September 28, 2021 06:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Video Image

CMS Awards Medicare Pricing and Coding Services Contract to Bellese Technologies

Bellese Technologies, LLC

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently awarded Bellese Technologies the Medicare Payment System Modernization (MPSM) Pricing and Coding Services (PCS) contract. For the past three years, Bellese has worked with CMS, the United States Digital Service (USDS), and stakeholders in the MPSM ecosystem to incrementally modernize the decades-old, mainframe-based legacy payment systems. The Pricing and Coding Services contract is a continuation of the claims pricing modernization work that Bellese accomplished on the preceding contract and includes new work for claims grouping and coding services. Medicare claims payment determination takes numerous variables into consideration, such as fee schedules, price calculations, geographic location, provider type, and payment model participation. The Pricing and Coding Services contract is part of CMS’ holistic approach to give responsive, correct, and accessible services to providers and vendors who support the claims submission process. The modern services will support CMS’ ability to quickly accommodate policy changes and initiatives that determine claims prices. “We’ve been fortunate to be an MPSM pioneer in the application of user research, product management, service design, and the build-out of a cloud-based architectural runway required to support the modern pricer tools,” said Pam Offutt, Bellese Partner and CEO. “Our goal is to give CMS the flexibility they need to quickly provide accurate pricing and coding services to the Medicare community.” John duClos, Bellese Partner and CTO, added that, “the use of a global API specification and a common component strategy contributed to the progressive conversion and modernization of the pricer product. We are excited to build on our success and grateful to continue this important legacy system modernization work with CMS.” ABOUT BELLESE TECHNOLOGIES: Founded in 2009, Bellese Technologies is a human-centered service design company in the Baltimore metro area. Bellese partners with health and human services clients in the public and private sectors. The firm leverages modern technology, human-centered design, and silo-busting collaboration to help its clients expand and accelerate the positive impact they have on society. Currently, Bellese works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, supporting price transparency, Medicare payment system modernization, and quality of care initiatives. Bellese holds the GSA IT 70 Schedule and two CMS agile blanket purchase agreements (BPA) — the Medicare Payment System Modernization (MPSM) BPA and the Agile Delivery to Execute Legislative Endeavors-Quality Related Initiatives (ADELE-QRI) BPA. Bellese has been recognized numerous times as a “Top Workplace” by the Baltimore Sun. Visit bellese.io/careers for information on open positions at Bellese. Contact Details Bellese Technologies Shelley Gold, Vice President Client Relations & Growth Strategy +1 410-486-6800 press@bellese.io Company Website https://bellese.io/

September 28, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Atlys Survey Finds New and Emerging Travel Patterns Amongst Americans Showing Increases in Travel Expenses; Non-Vaccinated Travelers on the Rise

Atlys

Eighteen months after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, countries have reopened borders to travelers. A recent survey conducted by Atlys found new and emerging travel trends, with travel becoming more expensive and uncertain than ever. The survey analyzed data from more than 3,500 travelers who used Atlys to travel abroad to understand these new travel patterns amongst Americans. Travel expenditure increased by a whopping $330 per trip due to COVID-19-related entry requirements, and so has the uncertainty, with 41% of travelers actively involved in travel communities related to their journeys. Additionally, 58% of American travelers were unvaccinated, with the most common destinations being Mexico (37%), Greece (19%), Dominican Republic (12%), Bahamas (11%), and Aruba (13%), and Costa Rica (8%). Major Survey Results Other significant results from the Atlys survey conducted over the summer include: 58% of Americans that traveled abroad this summer were not vaccinated. As countries reopened their borders, non-vaccinated travelers returned to the same travel patterns as before COVID-19. Old travelers are on the rise with a quarter being 50+. Amongst other demographic shifts, 47% of millennials refused to travel because of high costs, while 25% were scared to travel with unvaccinated children. Florida is the hub for unvaccinated travelers: 20% of unvaccinated American travelers live in Florida. The top 4 U.S. states by active COVID-19 cases also led the pack for most outbound travel amongst unvaccinated Americans. Florida accounted for most outbound unvaccinated tourists, followed by Texas, New York, and California. Traveling is inefficient: Each traveler spends more than 5 hours determining entry requirements and filling out paperwork. In addition, 23% of travelers saying they contacted either their airline, hotel,” or travel platform to understand the entry requirements with airlines call waiting times running into hours. The New Normal The current process is highly confusing for travelers. Mohak Nahta, CEO and founder of Atlys, said, “This survey highlights the inefficient processes set in place by governments. While it’s understandable that requirements exist to keep COVID-19 at bay, countries must streamline the process. As countries look to revamp tourism, they underestimate the impact of fast, efficient systems and clear, easy-to-understand processes have.” Countries have introduced a range of requirements to enter, making it more expensive to travel than ever. On average, the extra cost adds up to $330 per traveler and constitutes COVID-19 visas, travel insurance, and COVID-19 tests. In addition, 79% of travelers expressed frustration at the lack of disclosure by hotels & airlines on the added costs of traveling, only to discover them much later when the cancellation was not an option. A COVID-19 visa, also known as a health visa, is a new visa that travelers need to get. While they’re electronic, the approval is not instant. Authorities review each application; they can only be submitted a few days before the trip and are not free. “I wanted to travel to the United Kingdom, but I need to get a test within three days and then once I reach on the second and eighth days, and in between too? I am confused. I just decided not to go," said Sid, a 26-year-old Software Engineer based out of New York City. Many other travelers echo this sentiment, and the survey brings to light the importance of building systems to guide and educate travelers in the post-Covid world. About The Survey Atlys conducted the survey based on data from 3500 Atlys users between May 15, 2021, and September 5, 2021, for U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The Atlys app makes it fast & easy for travelers to get their visas. Contact Details Atlys Media Relations +1 650-550-1417 pr@atlys.com Company Website https://www.atlys.com/

September 28, 2021 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

1 ... 558 559 560 561 562 ... 655