Day: November 4, 2021

ROME, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New collaboration between the leading micro-mobility company and the newborn airline.

Helbiz, a leader in micro-mobility and the first in its sector to be listed on Nasdaq, and ITA Airways, a company 100% owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance to operate in the air transport sector, have announced a multi-business partnership. To kick off this new collaboration, and as a message of goodwill, today Helbiz and Nasdaq welcomed the first intercontinental flight of the newly formed Italian national airline with a dedicated message on the Nasdaq screen in Times Square: “Helbiz and Nasdaq welcome ITA Airways to New York”.

The two companies will make the concept of intermodal mobility a reality. ITA Airways has seized on the exponential growth of micro-mobility globally, a market that analysts predict will continue to grow at double digit rates over the next decade. That is why, when purchasing ITA Airways tickets, it will be possible to book Helbiz vehicles (electric scooters, electric bikes, electric mopeds) in all cities where Helbiz is present. Air transport and micro-mobility combined to offer customers the best possible mobility.

Helbiz has redesigned the food world with its Helbiz Kitchen. After Milan, following its expansion plan, it will open its second location at the ITA Airways headquarters in Rome Fiumicino Airport, to provide all employees with a 100% Made in Italy dining experience. Among other new features, it will be possible to order directly from your mobile phone, avoiding queues and waiting times.

“We are very happy to celebrate our first flight to New York and would like to thank Helbiz for the wonderful welcome”, said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways, adding: “This is an excellent opportunity to announce this new partnership that covers several business areas”. “We are proud to welcome ITA Airways’ first flight to the US and that our multi-business, technology-driven model is appreciated by the Italian national airline”, commented Matteo Mammì, Chief Executive Officer of Helbiz Media.

For more information:
LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director
Barbara Sanicola – barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it
+39 02 26305578 M +39 333 3905243

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6954d8f1-e62a-47bf-9bfb-984cbab7b274

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

Integrated Partner Ecosystem and Solutions Unlock Value of Health and Wellbeing Investments

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Virgin Pulse, the leading global provider of tech-enabled solutions focused on improving the health and wellbeing of its members, today announced the addition of seven new partners, including six global partners, as part of the company’s Winter 2021 product launch. Virgin Pulse’s partner ecosystem streamlines access to more than 50 point solutions, making it easy for companies to connect members with a broad range of specialized health and wellbeing programs. Employers and health plans can also curate a suite of pre-vetted, pre-integrated partner solutions and launch within 30 days through the one-contract VP+ partner bundle.

Virgin Pulse’s seven new partners address the following key health and wellbeing areas:

• Chronic condition management – DarioHealth
• Fitness – Sworkit and Les Mills
• Mental health – Unmind
• Musculoskeletal conditions – SWORD Health
• Nutrition – Noom
• Tobacco cessation – Pivot (U.S. Only)

“Buyers need digital health and wellbeing solutions that can effectively reach their full member populations, wherever they’re located, and easily integrate into existing wellness programs without burdening the benefits administration team,” said Ron Hildebrandt, Virgin Pulse’s Chief Product Officer. “Our global partner ecosystem eliminates the complexity and friction of launching standalone solutions. Through our industry-leading engagement platform, we guide members to programs that match their unique interests and risk factors so they can reach their optimal health and productivity levels.”

Today, human resources and benefits leaders have more options than ever for managing population health conditions virtually and improving overall employee wellbeing. With more than 350,000 health-related apps now available via app stores, nearly 25% of which were added in 2020 alone,¹ careful vetting is necessary to determine which digital products are most effective, engaging and secure. Virgin Pulse’s comprehensive review process ensures each partner within its ecosystem maintains the highest privacy and security standards, drives member engagement and is focused on delivering health and cost-savings outcomes.

Virgin Pulse eliminates administrative burdens by completing comprehensive privacy, security and business operations reviews of all new partners along with handling vendor contracting, procurement, and billing for certain certified partners, including the seven new additions. To address the market’s need for condition management tools, Virgin Pulse is expanding its digital formulary of mental health, diabetes, heart disease and other clinical condition point solutions.

Diverse and Customizable Partner Ecosystem
Virgin Pulse’s partner ecosystem helps companies close gaps in care across more than 20 health and wellbeing categories while addressing the most common and costly health concerns. To optimize program utilization and user experience, all partner solutions are seamlessly integrated and accessible through Virgin Pulse’s Homebase for Health® experience.

Homebase for Health provides a single-entry point to comprehensive digital capabilities, live services and an expansive partner ecosystem. Combined with personalized recommendations and incentives, the platform guides members to make the best possible decisions at every stage of their health and wellbeing journey. Clients and partners report higher engagement and utilization of third-party benefits and programs when delivered and accessed through the Virgin Pulse platform, versus standalone.

About Virgin Pulse
Virgin Pulse is a global leader and premier provider of tech-enabled health and wellbeing solutions focused on driving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs for its clients and members through its Homebase for Health® strategy. Homebase for Health is a personalized ecosystem where Virgin Pulse clients and members can access, navigate and interact with their health, wellbeing and benefits – all in one trusted and familiar place. Fusing high-tech, high-touch, predictive analytics, AI and data, Homebase for Health aims to simplify and unify health and wellbeing for clients, consumers, patients and members across the entire care continuum —from prevention and wellbeing to pre-chronic and chronic disease management to episodic and acute care. Today, more than 14 million users in more than 190 countries rely on Virgin Pulse’s digital and live solutions to change their lives—and businesses—for good. For more tips and insights, connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Sources:

1. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. (2021, July). Digital Health Trends 2021: Innovation, Evidence, Regulation, Adoption. IQVIA.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/institute-reports/digital-health-trends-2021/iqvia-institute-digital-health-trends-2021.pdf?&_=1628605194538. 

More information about Virgin Pulse’s new partners:

Chronic Conditions Management:

• DarioHealth Corp.

DarioHealth Corp. (Nasdaq: DRIO) is a leading global digital therapeutics company revolutionizing how people with chronic conditions manage their health. A comprehensive, integrated digital therapeutics solution, DarioHealth covers multiple chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, weight management, musculoskeletal and behavioral health. Dario’s next-generation, AI-powered, digital therapeutic platform supports more than just an individual’s disease. Dario provides adaptive, personalized experiences that drive behavior change through evidence-based interventions, intuitive, clinically proven digital tools, high-quality software, and coaching to help individuals improve health and sustain meaningful outcomes.

Fitness:

• Sworkit

Sworkit’s digital fitness platform provides at-home and on-the-go workouts and personalized fitness plans to consumers, employers, health plans, and schools in over 120 countries. With a custom combination of 1,000+ strength, cardio, yoga, stretching, and customizable workouts in 13 languages, Sworkit helps members work out on their own time and at their own pace. Sworkit is ranked as a leader in the app stores and was ranked #1 by the University of Florida in a study of fitness apps using the American College of Sports Medicine standards.

• Les Mills

A global leader in group fitness programming, Les Mills has been providing people with innovative ways to exercise for over 50 years. Les Mills is the creator of 20 science-backed group fitness programs, including BODYPUMP® (weights), BODYFLOW™ (yoga with elements of Tai Chi and Pilates), BODYCOMBAT® (martial arts), RPM® (indoor cycling), LES MILLS GRIT® (30-minute high intensity interval training), and the revolutionary immersive cycle experience THE TRIP™. LES MILLS workouts are delivered by 140,000 certified instructors in 21,000 clubs across 110 countries. Over 1,000 fitness classes are available for at-home exercisers via the Les Mills+ streaming platform. Every week, millions of people get fit with Les Mills.

Mental Health:

• Unmind

Founded in 2016, Unmind is a leading workplace mental health platform, empowering more than 2 million employees around the world to live more fulfilling and balanced lives. Underpinned by clinical psychology and powered by technology, the platform helps employees proactively measure, understand, and nurture their own mental health across seven core areas of wellbeing — fulfillment, coping, calmness, happiness, connection, health, and sleep. With Unmind, leaders are empowered to drive positive cultural change across their organization by accessing aggregated and anonymized insights into the wellbeing of their people. Uber, Virgin Media, The John Lewis Partnership, Gymshark, and Standard Chartered are some of the many organizations that have partnered with Unmind to create a world where mental health is universally understood, nurtured, and celebrated.

Musculoskeletal Conditions:

• SWORD Health

SWORD Health is on a mission to free two billion people from chronic and post-surgical pain. It is the first virtual solution to pair its members with a licensed physical therapist and the SWORD Health Digital Therapist, an FDA-listed device with a tablet and motion sensors, to deliver a clinically proven, personalized treatment plan that can be more effective, easier and less expensive than the traditional gold standard of care. SWORD Health believes in the power of people to recover at home, without resorting to imaging, surgeries or opioids. Since launching in 2015, SWORD Health has worked with insurers, health systems and employers in the U.S., Europe and Australia to make high quality musculoskeletal care accessible to everyone.

Nutrition:

• Noom

Noom is a psychology-based digital health platform powered by data, technology, and human coaches that helps millions of people meet their personal health and wellness goals from weight management to diabetes prevention to stress reduction. The company has been awarded multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and was the first mobile application to be recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as a certified diabetes prevention program. Headquartered in New York City, Noom has been named one of Inc’s Best Places to Work and Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Technology.

Tobacco Cessation:

• Pivot

Carrot Inc. is a digital health company that delivers clinically proven, behavioral science-based solutions that empower people to take control of their health. Carrot was named one of the “Most Innovative Companies” in 2020 by Fast Company. Its first product is Pivot, a program that is transforming how people quit tobacco.

• Department of Labor (DOL) nationally accredited apprenticeship program allows Bombardier to attract talented individuals from across the U.S. to grow dedicated talent pool in Red Oak
• Graduates of the program offered full-time employment to support development of Global 7500 advanced smooth flex wing at Red Oak facility
• Program fuels local grassroots aerospace pipeline

RED OAK, Texas, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bombardier today announced the graduation of 10 participants from its first cohort of apprentices enrolled in its comprehensive apprenticeship training program developed in association with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Red Oak, Texas. With the successful completion of the training program, graduates are offered full-time employment at Bombardier’s Red Oak facility as an aircraft assembler or aerostructures apprentice to work on the Global 7500 business jet’s advanced smooth flex wing.

The two-year Department of Labor (DOL) accredited Bombardier Aerospace Apprenticeship Program (BAAP), launched in December 2019, offers students the opportunity to enter the high-tech aerospace sector with no specific pre-requisites. It challenges them to present a winning attitude and develop mechanical dexterity and sound logic skills to pass an entry-level aptitude test. In turn, Bombardier and TSTC offer expert training in conjunction with TSTC’s excellent facilities, allowing students to benefit at no cost from industry-tailored modules, experienced instructors, tools and equipment and financial support. Since its inception, some 80-plus individuals are currently being trained in the program. Bombardier and TSTC plan to recruit more than 50 individuals into the program over the next two years.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the successful graduation of the women and men in the BAAP program who will now transition forward in new careers at Bombardier, helping to ramp up the development of Bombardier’s Global 7500 program,” said Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President, Operations and Operational Excellence, Bombardier. “The accomplishments of these talented individuals aptly underscore the importance of fueling the aerospace pipeline in our Red Oak facility, bringing world-class training opportunities and cementing Bombardier as a key pillar of the community. It’s a wonderful way for Bombardier to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week in the U.S.”

The apprenticeship program offers a unique blend of practical and on-the-job training with theoretical, in-class learning. Educational topics covered include the introduction of health, safety and quality best practices, as well as aircraft drawing and specification comprehension, manufacturing appreciation of standard and regulatory compliances of aircraft assembly and more.

The Global 7500 jet is the flagship of the Bombardier business aircraft fleet, and it has won numerous awards for its innovative design. The Global 7500 aircraft’s advanced smooth flex wing design features sophisticated slats and flap system that maximizes aerodynamic efficiency and performance for improved safety and an exceptionally smooth ride.

About Texas State Technical College
TSTC was established 50 years ago to help create a strong Texas. It is efficiently and effectively helping Texas meet the high-tech challenges of today’s global economy, in partnership with business and industry, government agencies and other educational institutions. TSTC graduates are highly valued by business and industry for their work ethics, knowledge and workplace skills.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services.

^{Bombardier, Global and Global 7500 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.}

For information
Matthew Nicholls
Bombardier
+1 514-243-8214
Matthew.Nicholls@aero.bombardier.com

2021 Safety Standdown Award winner

• A long-time Safety Standdown supporter, Verdea has demonstrated exceptional safety leadership throughout his 25-year aviation career
• Influential award recognizes exceptional efforts to improve aviation safety throughout the industry
• Bombardier’s Safety Standdown celebrating 25 years of aviation safety stewardship and education

MONTREAL, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nick W. Verdea, a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) and Global Leadership Professional (GLP), has been named the 2021 winner of the Bombardier Safety Standdown Award, as selected by the Safety Standdown Advisory Council members. Verdea, Director of Aviation and Corporate Travel for The Williams Company in Tulsa, OK., is a long-time supporter and advocate of this highly influential event.

Verdea accepted the award on November 3, 2021, during the 25^th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown event in Wichita, KS. The two-day, in-person safety gathering brought industry professionals together for enhanced learning opportunities, compelling workshops, presentations and more, laying the foundation for safety training and professional development. For a quarter of a century, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with critical knowledge-based aviation training and lifelong professional development opportunities.

The Bombardier Safety Standdown Award is presented annually to an aviation professional who has demonstrated exemplary dedication to improving aviation safety through the Safety Standdown principles of Learn, Apply, Share. Verdea was nominated for his leadership in aviation safety management over the course of his 25-year aviation career by Richard Westmoreland, Director of Aviation for First Horizon. At The Williams Company, Verdea oversees the daily operations and priorities of a high-performing team of 13 that operates corporate aircraft. A major part of his responsibilities is to execute and expertly manage the annual travel services budget with a compliance concentration on travel experience and cost containment. Verdea’s commitment to safety excellence is admirable and this is clearly reflected in his many leadership roles over his career. He is a dedicated life-long learner and has an impeccable flying record of more than 13,000 accident-free hours in the cockpit.

“On behalf of Bombardier, I wish to congratulate Nick Verdea for his outstanding career and unwavering commitment to Safety Standdown and to promoting aviation safety and professionalism at all levels of our industry for a quarter of a century,” said longtime Bombardier executive, Andy Nureddin, who stewards the Safety Standdown program. “Nick embodies precisely what the Safety Standdown Award stands for: celebrating individuals who are role models in the field and have made a real difference day-to-day. He is the ideal ambassador for our Safety Standdown mission.”

Bombardier’s Safety Standdown is one of the most comprehensive safety conferences in the industry. This year’s in-person event celebrated 25 years of safety stewardship and this year’s theme, “Learn, Apply, Share” reminds aviation professionals and organizations to learn new skills, apply them and share their knowledge to make an impact as a role model.

About Safety Standdown
Conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardier’s customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online resources. Since 1996, more than 10,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars around the world, live and through the webcast, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Bombardier and Learjet are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information
Matthew Nicholls
Bombardier
+1 514-243-8214
Matthew.Nicholls@aero.bombardier.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5720955a-d603-48bb-8597-9964e5b499e2

Barrows Hotel Enterprises

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barrows, the provider of hotel investment and advisory services for hotels in the Middle East and Africa is investing heavily in making the hotel industry more sustainable.

A location where many people come together are hotels and hotel resorts. It is not without reason that the hotel industry is known as a major consumer of energy and consumption of food and drinks. But also consider, for example, the disposal of waste. There is still a lot to gain and improve in the hotel industry. Barrows Hotel Enterprises focuses on making the industry more sustainable and takes this into account in the choice for construction and hotel operator.

Employees and hotel guests have an important role in sustainability. New processes are used by them every day. The social responsibility of the hotel operator is increasing and that is necessary according to Chairman Erwin Jager of Barrows Hotel Enterprises.

Hotel operators and investors fully support making the industry more sustainable. It’s necessary, because one of the main drivers is the increased attention from the global society. “The hotel guest really pays attention to the sustainability of the hotels and we see that when they make a choice for the hotel booking,” said Erwin Jager of Barrows.

Hotel guests are also increasingly willing to pay more for the room and facilities if this benefits a more sustainable stay. The investment will therefore be able to be repaid sooner than was previously the case.

As a Hospitality Professional, we are closely involved in the triangle between developer, investor and hotel operator. We have developed a sustainable strategy that is easy to implement during the construction phase and that benefits the operational processes of the hotel operator. We really add value with these improvements even if the location is in Africa, Middle East or Asia.

Without a hotel operator there is no business model and therefore no cash flow. By focusing on sustainable elements that creates the link between building and company during the first phase, the company is much better able to meet the requirements of hotel guests when it comes to sustainable business processes.

“The use of an international quality mark therefore can give an enormous boost to the quality mark of the hotels and their management. Hotel guests really opt for this and are prepared to pay a higher room rate or an additional service charge”, said Erwin Jager of Barrows.

Barrows Hotel Enterprises internationally manages more than 10,000 hotel rooms in more than 10 countries. The company started in 2008 as a real estate investor in the residential market in Dubai. Since 2012, Barrows has changed its strategy and the company is fully focused on the fast-growing hotel industry in the Middle East and Africa.

For more information
media@barrowshotels.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d802a33-b156-48f6-92c3-e5d72ed87f41