SHANGHAI, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject were released on April 10, 2024, with Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) achieving remarkable results. Three of its disciplines ranked among the global top 50, with "Statistics & Operational Research" making its debut in the top 40. Three disciplines of ACEM ranked among the global top 50 Key Highlights: "Statistics & Operational Research" ranked 36th globally and 3rd in mainland China, entering the top 40 for the first time since 2015. "Business & Management Studies" ranked 42nd globally and 3rd in mainland China, maintaining its position in the top 50 for the 9th consecutive year. "Accounting & Finance" ranked 47th globally and 3rd in mainland China, staying in the top 50 for the 7th year in a row. "Economics & Econometrics" ranked 57th globally and 4th in mainland China. In this year's rankings, 101 universities from mainland China were listed across 54 disciplines, placing the country third globally behind the United States and the United Kingdom. Shanghai Jiao Tong University had 11 disciplines in the global top 50, with Antai College contributing three of them. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are determined by five indicators: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Research Citations per Paper, H-index, and International Research Network, which reflects the sustainable research partnerships established between universities and other higher education institutions.  

OSTFILDERN, Germany, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- INTAMSYS has officially signed a sponsorship contract with WorldSkills Lyon 2024, becoming the supplier of FFF 3D printing equipment for the Mechanical Engineering CAD and Additive Manufacturing Skills at the event. This partnership includes the provision of 47 INTAMSYS FUNMAT PRO 310 3D printers, software and filament supply, as well as training and technical support. This ensures that competitors can fully leverage advanced devices to showcase their skills and innovation. INTAMSYS Becomes 3D Printing Equipment Supplier for the WORLDSKILLS LYON 2024 COMPETITION This sponsorship agreement strengthens the global partnership forged by INTAMSYS with WorldSkills International in December 2023, underscoring INTAMSYS's enduring commitment to global skills education and talent development. Since its establishment in 1946, WorldSkills has been acknowledged as the world championship of skills due to its profound impact, with the WorldSkills Competitions standing as the gold standard for excellence in skills. As the 47th WorldSkills Competition, WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is scheduled to take place in Lyon, France, from September 10 to 15, 2024. Bringing together 1,500 elite talents from 65 countries and regions, the event will feature competitions across 59 skill categories, highlighting competitors' outstanding abilities and innovative potential. INTAMSYS, proud sponsor of WorldSkills Lyon 2024, is dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creators by advanced industrial 3D printing technology in the digital era, which serves as a catalyst for competitors to push the boundaries of design, manufacturing, and innovation. INTAMSYS 3D Printer: FUNMAT PRO 310 As the designated competition equipment, INTAMSYS FUNMAT PRO 310 3D printer revolutionizes desktop 3D printing with its industrial-grade performance, delivering exceptional printing capabilities for engineering plastics. Specifically optimized for full-size printing with engineering materials such as PC and ABS, this solution effectively prevents warping and deformation while accurately translating competitors' design concepts into reality. Moreover, INTAMSYS offers a diverse range of materials, including support materials, empowering competitors to explore possibilities for design innovation. INTAMSYS's sponsorship extends beyond hardware provision, encompassing comprehensive online training and technical support. This ensures that competitors from different countries can fairly grasp the fundamentals of printer. INTAMSYS's technical support team will prepare, calibrate, and test all equipment in advance, guaranteeing optimal performance throughout the competition. Franck le Roux, Executive Director of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 said: "We are pleased and honored to count INTAMSYS among the companies supporting WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and, through our movement, youth and trades. It is thanks to the involvement of our partners that we will succeed, from September 10th to 15th 2024, in showcasing the beauty of our trades and their usefulness to society." WorldSkills Lyon 2024 transcends mere skill competition; it stands as a global celebration of skills and vocational education. INTAMSYS's sponsorship will ensure the seamless execution of the event, fostering the development of global skill talent and making substantial contributions to the advancement of a more prosperous and inclusive society for the future. About INTAMSYSINTAMSYS is a global leader in industrial 3D printing, providing comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions and 3D printing services. Founded in 2016 by a team of experienced engineers, INTAMSYS has become a trusted partner for customers in a wide range of industries. Specializing in FFF technology, INTAMSYS focuses on delivering cutting-edge FUNMAT 3D printers capable of handling a diverse range of engineering materials, as well as its own suite of high-performance materials. With offices in Germany, the United States, and China, INTAMSYS maintains a global network of partners, ensuring seamless service delivery worldwide. For more information about INTAMSYS, please visit www.intamsys.com For more information about WorldSkills Lyon 2024, please visit our website: WorldSkills Lyon 2024 - 10 to 15 September (worldskills2024.com)

SINGAPORE, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global imperative to improve access to and the quality of education continues to be paramount. In this regard, independent charity Vantage Foundation notes that India has made significant strides in its education system, with strong indicators pointing to the country's notable efforts to enhance learning outcomes. Vantage Foundation supports education activities of the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in New Delhi in India Notably, Vantage Foundation recognises the pivotal role played by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in facilitating India's transition toward a digitally empowered society. UNESCO's profound insights, showcased through the State of Education Report (SOER) published by the UNESCO New Delhi Office, serve as a testament to its commitment to driving positive educational reforms. "UNESCO New Delhi produces our flagship report on the issues relating to the domain of education in India such as artificial intelligence in education, technical and vocational education, climate education etc.," explains Joyce Poan, Programme Specialist and Chief of Sector for Education, UNESCO New Delhi. "We collaborated with Vantage on the topic of artificial intelligence and education. These reports are useful to policymakers because they provide updated information and ten concrete recommendations, specific to India." "The SOER was the result of meticulous research by experts and designed for practical application. As such, we can bear witness to its tangible effects in India today," says Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation. "More importantly, its universal insights have the potential to transcend borders, offering far-reaching benefits that extend beyond India." Joyce also highlights the reports' wide-ranging use cases. "Our reports serve as an essential compilation of best practices, going beyond merely informing policymakers. They also represent an important repository of knowledge on the chosen topic, aimed at educating teachers, students, and the public alike," she explains. When asked about the future updates to its knowledge base, Joyce explains, "This year, UNESCO New Delhi will prioritise cultural and arts education in India. Our upcoming report will spotlight best practices from different Indian states and strategies for enhancing cultural and arts education across the country." Through their collaborative efforts, Vantage Foundation and UNESCO New Delhi exemplify a shared dedication to nurturing educational excellence and societal progress. These initiatives are crafted to inspire the next generation to strive for greater accomplishments, both within India and on a global scale. About Vantage Foundation Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organisation launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK with the support of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the NEOM McLaren Extreme E team in 2023. For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

SHANGHAI, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SANY Group (SANY) is taking part in the road construction project in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, the 12th road upgrading project in New Zealand as the country embarks on major upgrades to its transport infrastructure. SANY Supports New Zealand Tourism Through Infrastructure Transformation and Upgrading Globalization is an important element of SANY's development strategy, with the goal of building a better world. The group has been actively exporting high-end equipment to support urban upgrading and infrastructure projects around the world. Upon completion, the Bay of Plenty road will provide more convenient and safer transportation options to the local communities and tourists visiting the region. SANY has delivered three pieces of road construction equipment that are working in synchronization to guarantee both construction quality and efficiency: STR30C-8 lightweight double-drum roller: it's equipped with a Yanmar engine with robust power and offers the choice of front and rear, single and double drum vibration, which can be switched flexibly under any working conditions. The model's high compaction and high-density rolling quality can meet the strict requirements of highway construction. SSR180C-8 single-drum roller: the cabin is certified by Rops/Fops, standard configuration includes a reversing camera and full LED lights to provide a more comfortable and safer operating environment. SMG200C-8 motor grader: the robust model has a Meikang engine with 186KW power, coupled with direct-drive powershift transmission, smooth shifting, and quick response to ensure operation with precision, the easy-to-maintain rotary support device also reduces cost and boosts reliability and durability. As a leading supplier of complete road construction equipment, SANY has built a comprehensive product portfolio of five core categories – pavers, rollers, graders, milling machines, and asphalt mixing plants. In 2021, SANY's hydraulic roller, asphalt plant, and pavers had the highest market share in China, according to the statistics from the China Construction Machinery Industry Association (CCMIA). "With short winters and long summers, the Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand's sunniest and most popular vacation destinations. Its breathtaking natural beauty and unique culture attract numerous tourists from around the world, and we're delighted to support the construction of the roads with our products to help build a better Bay of Plenty, and we look forward to participating in more projects that will create better tourism experiences for visitors from all over the world," said by Jat Zhang, Country General Manager of SANY. SANY Supports New Zealand Tourism Through Infrastructure Transformation and Upgrading

Oleksandr Matvitskyy, innovation expert and a Senior Director Analyst at Gartner® announced as a speaker SINGAPORE, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OutSystems, a global leader in enterprise low-code application development, today announced ONE: OutSystems NextStep Experience, a conference aimed at showcasing the next generation of app development with generative AI. Scheduled to take place from October 15-16 in Amsterdam at the RAI Convention Center, the event provides an exclusive opportunity for the global OutSystems community to share insights and explore the future of the OutSystems platform, with a fast-paced agenda of GenAI use cases, product sneak-peeks, fireside chats, technical walkthroughs and networking opportunities available to prospects, customers, developers and partners alike. "We are looking forward to bringing together developers, tech enthusiasts, and industry leaders for this year's experience, which combines our business-focused NextStep programming with the ONE Conference," said OutSystems Founder and CEO Paulo Rosado. "Our goal is to cultivate an environment that sparks innovation and enthusiasm for new advances in app development, GenAI, and provides plenty of peer sharing and upskilling opportunities." Generative AI (GenAI) is driving a huge shift in how enterprise tech strategies are developed, and it is only getting started. The ONE Conference provides a roadmap for the next generation of application development, showcasing how GenAI revolutionizes speed, power, and agility across organizations, setting a new standard for innovation and progress. Together, business leaders and developers will learn the latest from the OutSystems platform and get inspired to deliver the software that matters most. Attendees will see the latest product innovations from OutSystems, learn from other low-code visionaries, and gain insight into powerful industry trends. Interested speakers are encouraged to submit presentation proposals focusing on technical content, practical examples, and innovative ideas relevant to the OutSystems community. Curated programming across nearly 30 sessions will engage business leaders, enhance the skill sets of technical audiences with immediate and actionable platform learnings, and delve into critical issues facing IT leaders today. Industry stalwart Oleksandr Matvitskyy, a Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, will offer insights into modern-day IT challenges and successful technology and people strategies.  "I look forward to presenting at the OutSystems ONE Conference, where I'll shed light on contemporary challenges and strategies for technology and workforce success," said Oleksandr Matvitskyy, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. "I'm eager to dive into the future of app development together and to uncover fresh approaches to thriving in today's ever-evolving environment." Attendees will have the chance to test out and see early customer success of notable OutSystems innovations, including: AI Agent Builder, the latest AI innovation focused on helping IT teams implement generative AI in real-time for app development, customer service and sales applications. Data Fabric, one of the most substantial updates to OutSystems' low-code platform to help IT teams streamline data discovery, retrieval, and analysis into a unified data experience with built-in security and governance. For more information about the ONE Conference, including registration details and speaker submissions, please click here. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. About OutSystemsOutSystems was founded in 2001 with the mission to give every organization the power to innovate through software. The OutSystems high-performance low-code platform gives technology leaders and developers the tools to rapidly build and deploy their own business-critical applications. The company's network spans more than 700,000 community members, over 500 partners, and active customers in 79 countries across 21 industries. OutSystems is "The #1 Low-Code Platform®" and a recognized leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers around the world. Some of the most well-known brands use OutSystems to turn their big ideas into software that moves their business, people, and the world forward. Learn more at www.outsystems.com.  

SINGAPORE, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wacom announced the launch of Wacom Movink, the first OLED pen display designed and developed to meet the needs of creative professionals, digital artists and design students. jwplayer.key="3Fznr2BGJZtpwZmA+81lm048ks6+0NjLXyDdsO2YkfE="   jwplayer('myplayer1').setup({file: 'https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2388167/wacom_Movink_full_telop_EN_rev11.mp4', image: 'https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2388167/wacom_Movink_full_telop_EN_rev11.mp4?p=medium', autostart:'false', stretching : 'uniform', width: '512', height: '288'}); Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9263051-wacom-movink-oled-pen-display/ Wacom Movink combines a professional pen experience with a 13.3" full HD OLED display in a super slim, ultra-light device without compromising performance, precision, and software preferences. Wacom's thinnest and lightest pen display Weighing only 420g and measuring 4mm at its thinnest point, Wacom Movink sets a new standard. It is 66% thinner and 55% lighter than the similar-sized Wacom One 13 touch. The Corning Gorilla Glass and magnesium alloy body make it sturdy and portable. Wacom Movink is ideal for creative workers wishing to expand their current studio setup between multiple places such as the studio, client meetings, university, home, or anywhere. Deeper blacks, higher contrast and vibrant colors with OLED The 13.3" Samsung OLED display delivers Full HD resolution with 10-bit color and a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. It offers rich blacks and exceptional color accuracy, optimized to offer 100% DCI-P3 and 95% Adobe RGB coverage, with a Delta E difference of 2 or less. Wacom Movink is validated by Pantone® and Pantone® SkinTone™, factory calibrated to industry standards and stores up to 2 custom color profiles. For color critical workflows it can also be hardware calibrated with Wacom Color Manager. Ultimate Wacom pen on screen experience Wacom Movink achieves the fastest response time of any Wacom pen with increased pen detection height and no visible parallax. The OLED display emits no excess heat or noise. Wacom Movink includes a dedicated version of the Wacom Pro Pen 3*, designed specifically for use with Wacom Movink. This pen features a nib remover and three replacement nibs conveniently housed within the pen for quick resolution of any nib emergencies. *Please note that using customizable parts of the Wacom Pro Pen 3 necessitates owning or acquiring a Wacom Pro Pen 3 separately. Enhancing versatility and compatibility through Wacom dual pen technology Wacom Movink incorporates Wacom's Dual Pen Technology, supporting a wide range of digital pens, including older generations of Wacom Pro Pens and pens from digital stationery partners like Staedtler and Lamy. Wacom Movink is compatible with Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Android operating systems, connecting via a single USB-C cable. No additional cables, adapters, or power supply are necessary if the devices support power delivery of 15W or more. Advanced touch technology allows for smooth, intuitive input, while two customizable touch keys in the slimmest bezel of any Wacom pen display can be assigned shortcuts and functions to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency. Wacom Movink is fully supported by Wacom Bridge, an innovative solution that significantly enhances working on supported remote desktop connections. Prices, accessories and availability Wacom Movink 13 will be available from May 27 exclusively through the Wacom eStore. B2B contacts can reach out to the respective Wacom country sales representatives. Wacom Movink 13 Singapore SGD 1,099 Thailand THB 28,700 Indonesia IDR 13,000,000 Vietnam VND 20,490,000 Philippines PHP 46,900 Malaysia MYR 3,899 Sold separately, the light and sturdy aluminium Wacom Foldable Stand offers 6-point support for a comfortable 20 degree working angle and is easy to pack, carry and use. Additional accessories like the Wacom Movink Tablet Sleeve and the Wacom Rollup Case for storing your Wacom Pro Pen 3 are part of an all-in-one accessory package. A HDMI converter for Wacom Movink will be available at a later date.** For more information and the full technical specifications, please visit wacom.com **All-in-one accessory package available soon About Wacom Wacom's vision is to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface solutions. This has made it the world's leading manufacturer of interactive pen tablets and displays as well as of digital styli and solutions for saving and processing digital signatures. The advanced technology of Wacom's intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashion and designs around the world and provides business and home users with their leading interface technology to express their personality. Founded in 1983, Wacom is a global company based in Japan (Tokyo Stock Exchange 6727) with subsidiaries and affiliate offices around the world to support marketing and distribution in over 150 countries. For further information about the products of Wacom, see also www.wacom.com. CONTACT: Adriel Chan, +65-6258-8640, adriel.chan@wacom.com

SHANGHAI, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SenseTime launched its latest Large Model, the SenseNova 5.0, at its Tech Day event in Shanghai. With its cutting-edge technology accelerating the development of Generative AI, SenseTime also launched the industry-leading "Cloud-To-Edge" full-stack large model product matrix that is scalable and applicable across various scenarios. Dr. Xu Li, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SenseTime, said, "In our pursuit to push the boundaries of SenseNova's capabilities, SenseTime remains guided by the Scaling Law as we build upon our Large Model based on this three-tier architecture: Knowledge, Reasoning, and Execution (KRE)." Dr. Xu Li, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SenseTime, introduced the advancements of the SenseNova 5.0 Large Model at the event. SenseNova 5.0: Linguistic, creative and scientific capabilities greatly improved; multimodal interactions added Since its debut in April 2023, the SenseNova Large Model is currently in its fifth iteration. SenseNova 5.0 has undergone over 10TB of token training, covering a large amount of synthetic data. It adopts a Mixture of Experts, enabling effective context window coverage of approximately 200,000 during inference. The major advancements in SenseNova 5.0 focus on knowledge, mathematics, reasoning, and coding capabilities. In terms of linguistic and creative capabilities, the creative writing, reasoning, and summary abilities of SenseNova 5.0 have significantly improved. Given the same knowledge input, it provides better comprehension, summarization, and question and answers, providing strong support for vertical applications such as education and the content industries. On its scientific capabilities, SenseNova 5.0 boasts best-in-class mathematical, coding and reasoning capabilities, providing a solid foundation for applications in finance and data analysis. SenseNova 5.0 is also equipped with superior multimodal capabilities in product application. It supports high-definition image parsing and understanding, as well as text-to-image generation. In addition, it extracts complex data across-documents and summarizes answers to questions, possessing strong multimodal interaction capability. At present, SenseNova 5.0's world-leading graphical and textual perception ranks first based on its aggregate score on MMBench, an authoritative multimodality benchmark. It has also achieved high scores in other well-known multimodal rankings such as MathVista, AI2D and ChartQA.  The industry-leading full-stack large model edge-side product matrix SenseTime also launched the industry-leading edge-side full-stack large model product matrix, which includes the SenseTime Edge-side Large Model for terminal devices, and the SenseTime Integrated Large Model (Enterprise) edge device that can be applied to fields such as finance, coding, healthcare and government services. The inference speed of the SenseNova Edge-side Large Language Model has achieved industry-leading performance. It can generate 18.3 words per second on the mid-range platforms, and an impressive 78.3 words per second on flagship platforms. The diffusion model has also achieved the fastest inference speed in the industry. The inference speed of edge-side LDM-AI image diffusion technology takes less than 1.5 seconds on a mainstream platform, and supporting the output of high-definition images with resolution of 12 million pixels and above, as well as image editing functions such as proportional, free-form and rotation image expansion. SenseTime conducted a live demonstration of its SenseNova Edge-side Large Model on image expansion. The SenseTime Integrated Large Model (Enterprise) edge device was developed in response to the growing demand for AI from key fields such as finance, coding, healthcare and government services. Compared to other similar products, the device performs accelerated searches at only 50 percent CPU utilization, and reduces inference costs by approximately 80 percent. Innovating product applications in the AI 2.0 era with ecosystem partners to further boost productivity SenseTime has partnered with Kingsoft Office since 2023, leveraging SenseNova Large Model to empower the latter's WPS 365 as a smart office platform that boosts office productivity and overall efficiency. In the financial sector, Haitong Securities and SenseTime jointly released a full-stack large model for the industry. Through the large model, both parties facilitated business operations in areas such as intelligent customer service, compliance and risk control, and business development office assistants. They also jointly explored cutting-edge industry applications such as smart investment advisory and aggregation of public sentiments, to realize the full-stack capability of large models in the securities industry. In the transportation industry, SenseTime's large model technology is deployed in the smart cabin of the Xiaomi SU7 vehicle, providing car owners with an intelligent and enhanced driving experience. SenseTime firmly takes the lead into the AGI era with text-to-video in the pipeline SenseTime also displayed its breakthrough with its text-to-video platform, where users will soon be able to generate a video based on a detailed description or even a few phrases. In addition, the characters' costumes, hairstyles, and scenarios can be preset to maintain the stylistics consistency of the video content. About SenseTime SenseTime is a leading AI software company focused on creating a better AI-empowered future through innovation. We are committed to advancing the state of the art in AI research, developing scalable and affordable AI software platforms that benefit businesses, people and society as a whole, while attracting and nurturing top talents to shape the future together. With our roots in the academic world, we invest in our original and cutting-edge research that allows us to offer and continuously improve industry-leading AI capabilities in universal multimodal and multi-task models, covering key fields across perception intelligence, natural language processing, decision intelligence, AI-enabled content generation, as well as key capabilities in AI chips, sensors and computing infrastructure. Our proprietary AI infrastructure, SenseCore, integrates computing power, algorithms, and platforms, enabling us to build the "SenseNova" foundation model sets and R&D system that unlocks the ability to perform general AI tasks at low cost and with high efficiency. Our technologies are trusted by customers and partners in many industry verticals including Generative AI, Traditional AI and Smart Auto. SenseTime has been actively involved in the development of national and international industry standards on data security, privacy protection, ethical and sustainable AI, working closely with multiple domestic and multilateral institutions on ethical and sustainable AI development. SenseTime was the only AI company in Asia to have its Code of Ethics for AI Sustainable Development selected by the United Nations as one of the key publication references in the United Nations Resource Guide on AI Strategies published in June 2021. SenseTime Group Inc. has successfully listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX). We have offices in markets including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and South Korea, etc., as well as presence in Germany, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. For more information, please visit SenseTime's official website or LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Media ContactSenseTime Group Inc.Email: pr@sensetime.com  Strategic Financial Relations LimitedEmail: SPRG_SenseTime@sprg.com.hk 

Regional survey by Marriott Bonvoy uncovers key traits of travel-oriented, value-driven Gen-Zs and Millennials SINGAPORE, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey by Marriott Bonvoy, the award-winning travel program of Marriott International, has found that a majority of Gen Zs and Millennials in Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) prefer the simplicity of belonging to one comprehensive loyalty travel program. While 60% of APEC Gen Zs and Millennials are actively subscribed to loyalty programs, the challenge of juggling several loyalty programs has led most (57%) to seek out one program that meets all their travel needs. Marriott Bonvoy carried out the survey of 1,000 respondents across ten markets in APEC to better understand the shifting attitudes of Millennials and Gen Zs and their travel behaviors. The survey identified an emerging generation of travel-focused, value-driven "Savvy Explorers" in APEC who seek to maximize their travel dollars and unique travel experiences. Travel in 2024 is a priority for Gen Zs and Millennials: 73% report their intentions to take at least two trips in the next 12 months and 91% plan to spend the same, if not more, on their trips compared to the year before. Travel is viewed as an essential lifestyle component, and most are willing to reduce everyday spending on dining out (60%), shopping sprees (57%) and their daily coffee (54%) so as to spend more on a holiday. "Survey results suggest that Gen Zs and Millennials in APEC are purposefully strategizing how they can channel value from their everyday spend toward rewarding travel experiences. They also prefer to be part of only one all-encompassing loyalty travel program which fulfills their needs. To this end, Marriott Bonvoy – which gives members access to over 30 brands in 10,000 destinations -- is well positioned to deliver greater value and unlock more experiences for Gen Zs and Millennials," says John Toomey, Marriott International's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China. "As testament to the program's appeal, we have seen Marriott Bonvoy's membership base in APEC grow by more than 50% since 2019. What's more encouraging is that our members are highly active. They earned 40% more points in 2023 compared to 2022, and are putting their points to good use, with points redemptions increasing by more than 55% in the same period," he reveals.   The trend of greater member growth and activity extends to the Marriott Bonvoy app. APEC member enrolment via digital channels grew by more than 25%, with mobile app downloads and active users more than doubling in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The regional survey also uncovered notable trends amongst Gen Zs and Millennials across the 10 APEC countries. Market-specific trends can be found in Annex A. Travel value unlocked through everyday spend Savvy Explorers take considered steps to unlock travel value through everyday spend. Leveraging on their familiarity with loyalty programs, APEC's Gen Z and Millennials employ varied tactics to maximize their travel rewards: four in five say they have gone out of their way to use a travel-linked credit card for everyday purchases, and 67% actively use a travel loyalty program to book and redeem local experiences and staycations. This trend is supported by usage behaviors of Marriott Bonvoy members in APEC. They accumulated points from stays across more than 8,800 Marriott International properties globally, and through everyday spend. Redemption for hotel stays in 2023 registered a 130% increase compared to pre-pandemic times, accounting for the majority of redemptions, followed by points-to-miles conversions on partner airlines. Hotels become a key destination to explore  Hotel experience is key to winning the hearts and dollars of the Gen Z and Millennial segment, with 99% of respondents believing their hotel choice can make or break their holiday. Hotels are also increasingly viewed as a key destination for exploration, going beyond the role of 'accommodation'. Nearly four in five respondents expect their hotel to provide curated local programming and experiences, whilst 84% prefer to stay at a hotel with designs and activities reflective of its destination. The recent debut of Moxy Hotels – noted for its hallmark playful nature, innovative design and contemporary amenities – in key APEC markets exemplifies Marriott International's commitment to continuously bring new hospitality experiences to the region. Despite a desire to maximize their travel budgets where they can, their hotel is one area that APEC's Gen Z and Millennials are willing to invest extra travel dollars towards. Top motivations for new-generation travelers to splurge include the hotel's room offerings (48%) and location (42%). Whilst amenities remain key considerations, these guests value a seamless travel experience, with mobile-first customer service (61%), reliable WiFi (68%) and flexible check-out (64%) outpacing traditional benefits like lounge access (42%).   Destination 'dupes' fuel intra-regional travel demand   International travel has returned but APEC's Gen Z and Millennials remain committed to destinations closer to home. While iconic holiday locations like the Swiss Alps and Bora Bora maintain their appeal, 55% are opting for destinations within the region that provide a similar experience. These so-called "destination dupes" are fast gaining traction amongst this segment because they allow Gen Zs and Millennials to stretch their travel expenses (69%), discover something new (63%) and are easily accessible (62%). As a reflection of robust intra-regional travel demand in 2023, Marriott International saw over 60% of bookings in APEC coming from within the region.   Corporate backpackers on the rise   Gen Zs and Millennials are also taking bleisure travel up a notch by capitalizing on the opportunity of a business trip to embark on multi-destination tours. In addition to extending their travel plans (68%), 84% plan to explore nearby cities and countries as part of their post-work itinerary. With more than 560 properties across 24 brands in 22 countries and territories in APEC to choose from, Marriott International offers customers a myriad of options to mix work with pleasure. Off-peak travel maximizes destination experience   Gen Zs and Millennials are also carefully planning when to travel to maximize their trip experience. The majority (71%) of Gen Z and Millennials say they would opt to travel during off-peak seasons so as to beat the crowds and get more out of their trip. 67% feel they can do more during low-peak seasons, and 77% leave their holidays feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated.   Where Marriott Bonvoy Can Take You  Marriott Bonvoy allows members to earn when they stay or spend at Marriott International's growing portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands across 139 countries and territories, and in over 8,800 properties. In APEC, members can benefit from the program's key strategic partnerships with Singapore Airlines and co-branded credits cards in Japan, Korea and India. With Marriott Bonvoy Moments, members can get access to once-in-lifetime experiences such the opportunity to get closer to the action with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team at the Singapore Grand Prix. Note to Editor  Findings are from a commissioned survey by Marriott International conducted in April 2024 on 1000 Gen Z (18 – 24 years old) and Millennials (25 – 41 years old) based in Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, who would budget for their own travels.  The term 'Savvy Explorers' refers to Gen Z and millennial travelers who continue to prioritize travel as a key part of their lifestyle and are always on the lookout for ways in which they can maximize and value add to their planned trips through curated accommodations, key experiences and new destinations.   Refer to Annex A for additional data on the preferences of new generation travelers across the APEC region.  About Marriott Bonvoy®  Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with 31 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.  ANNEX A: 10 FUN FACTS ABOUT NEW-GENERATION TRAVELERS ACROSS THE APEC REGION  Most likely to sacrifice dining out for a holiday are Australian (76%), Japanese (74%) and Indonesian (68%) travelers. Despite their renown for culinary diversity, majority would prefer to reduce eating out over giving up other everyday luxuries like monthly subscriptions.   Most frequent travelers in APEC are Southeast Asia's Gen Z and Millennials, with over a third planning to take more than three trips in the next 12 months. Indonesian (51%), Thai (39%) and Filipino (34%) travelers set to outpace others within the region.   Top intra-regional travelers are Japanese (71%), Thai (69%) and South Korean (66%) Gen Z and Millennials who prefer holidaying closer to home. However, bucking the trend are  Indian and Filipino travelers, with over 60% opting for faraway destinations.   Top off-peak travelers are Japanese (87%), Australian (81%) and Singaporean (79%) Millennials and Gen Zs. Interestingly, set to drive the high seasons are Indian travelers, with 58% preferring to travel during peak periods.    Most discerning when choosing their hotel are Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese Gen Z and Millennials, with an overwhelming 90% preferring hotel programming and design that are reflective of the local destination and/or are environmentally friendly.  Top motivators to splurge on travel for Australian, Indonesian and Singaporean Gen Z and Millennials are quality factors such as hotel reputation and location. In contrast, Japanese and Vietnamese travelers place greater weightage on experiences such as in-hotel dining (Japan: 59%, Vietnam: 47%), whilst Thais prioritize hotel aesthetics (41%).   Top countries for business travel include Vietnam (85%), India (81%) and Indonesia (78%). Over 80% are also likely to extend their business trips for leisure (Vietnam: 82%, India: 83%, Indonesia: 80%).  Most valuable travel benefits to APEC's Gen Z and Millennials are elevated hotel experiences like complimentary dining, spa and room upgrades. Nearly two in three Indian travelers (67%) were also likely to redeem unique travel experiences, whilst over half of Thai travelers (51%) would prefer to receive exclusive merchandise.  

SEOUL, South Korea, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GLN International CEO, Kyung-ho Kim, joined as a speaker at Money20/20 Asia, the world's leading fintech event. Money 20/20 Asia takes place in Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), Bangkok, Thailand. By pitching GLN's successful business case and engaging in insightful discussions about transforming cross-border finance in Asia, Kim demonstrated exemplary leadership and foresight. In addition to sharing GLN's stories, Kim also engaged in extensive discussions on the challenges faced by the fintech sector, such as the need to establish a standardized framework that can increase regulatory clarity and facilitate international cooperation. GLN International also set up a booth and showcased the company's cross-border payment network and solutions at this Money20/20, featuring cross-border QR payment, cash withdrawal (ATM), remittance (including international student tuition payment services). The global uptake and strong performance of the cross-border payment system, along with its top-notch data security, have caught the eye of financial institutions and e-wallets globally. "I am honored to join Money20/20 Asia as both a speaker and with our team, where innovation and financial inclusivity intersect. We look forward to collaborating with more partners in the future, exploring together the dynamic intersection of innovation and inclusivity in cross-border payments." said Kyung-ho Kim, the CEO of GLN International. About GLN International GLN International, a subsidiary of KEB Hana Bank, is the fastest-growing global payment network in Korea. GLN offers global payment network for cross-border financial transactions such as mobile payments, mobile ATM cash withdrawal and mobile remittance, targeting digital wallets of member banks and digital payment service providers participating in the GLN network. GLN services are currently available in 16 regions including South Korea, Cambodia, Mainland China, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Saipan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, providing fintech and financial services for Korea → abroad (Korea Outbound), abroad → Korea (Korea Inbound), and abroad → abroad (Cross-Border) transactions.  

HONG KONG, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Huawei Cloud Summit Hong Kong, themed "Leap to Intelligence", brought together more than 500 prominent figures including government leaders, industry experts, business leaders, and partners to dive into technological innovation, industry practices, and ecosystem development. In addition to showcasing key products and technologies such as Pangu models, Ascend AI Cloud Service, GaussDB, and data-AI convergence, Huawei Cloud also unveiled CloudPond and the Hong Kong AI Acceleration Program in an effort to build Hong Kong into a global AI industry highland. Jacqueline Shi, President of Huawei Cloud Global Marketing and Sales Service, said in her remarks that Huawei's three-decade accumulation of ICT technologies, innovation, and expertise is now open to Hong Kong as their launchpad towards intelligence with better technologies, industry solutions, and ecosystem resources. Jacqueline Shi, President of Global Marketing and Sales Service, Huawei Cloud Ir. Tony Wong, JP, Government Chief Information Officer of Hong Kong SAR, stated that The Hong Kong SAR has been committed to giving full play to cloud computing in smart government and smart city. Launched in September 2020, the next-generation Government Cloud Infrastructure Services (GCIS) leverage a secure, stable private cloud and a new application system architecture to facilitate government departments in developing e-gov services at ease and lower costs. Fostering an AI industry ecosystem is also very important to Hong Kong's future. We expect to witness brand-new AI cloud services from Huawei, a leader in the AI realm, propel AI R&D and industry development and ultimately benefit the people of Hong Kong. Ir. Tony Wong, JP, Government Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong SAR, China According to Mark Chen, President of Huawei Cloud Solution Sales, to turn Hong Kong into a global hub of innovation and technology, Huawei Cloud has packaged leading technologies and best practices into three "Natives": Cloud Native, which a solid cloud foundation; AI Native, which unleashes digital productivity; and Ecosystem Native, which brings the industry together. Mark Chen, President of Huawei Cloud Solution Sales Cloud Native: A Solid Cloud Foundation Huawei Cloud now has 88 AZs in 30 geographical Regions with KooVerse, its global cloud infrastructure. It is the only cloud vendor to deploy a 4-AZ data center in Hong Kong, offering top-notch security and stability for customers, not to mention the 9 ms ultra-low latency. Customers now have more options to go cloud as Huawei Cloud has extended to wherever needed through its full-fledged distributed cloud infrastructure, including dedicated cloud, Huawei Cloud Stack, and CloudPond. This is the first time CloudPond is known to the world. Designed with a "One CloudPond, All Cloud Services" concept, CloudPond is an edge service that extends the public cloud to customer premises, featuring cloud-edge collaboration, local data storage, and high stability desired for use cases in smart manufacturing, unmanned driving, and remote diagnosis scenarios. Huawei Cloud Stack, now in version 8.3, provides six highlights: one solid cloud foundation and five innovations covering databases, mainframe modernization, data lakes, AI models, and industrial Internet. Envisioning the wider adoption of cloud, Huawei Cloud also launched a "Leap2Cloud" initiative to help more customers and partners in Hong Kong bid farewell to virtualization and embrace the cloud. Hu Yuhai, Vice President of Huawei Hybrid Cloud, announcing Huawei Cloud Stack 8.3 To ensure network and service stability, Huawei Cloud has SRE centers across the world, translating the inherent uncertainty in rapid business growth into a deterministic SLA for customers. This effort is represented by an SLA of over 99.99% for major Huawei Cloud services. As William Fang, Huawei Cloud Chief Product Officer said, no industry is spared from digitalization and intelligence. The key to navigating this change is to make the most of cloud. AI Native: Unleashing Digital Productivity Huawei Cloud has injected systematic innovation to power Hong Kong's digital intelligence from three dimensions. First, Pangu models adopt a three-layer "5+N+X" architecture to provide not just general capabilities, but also industry-tailored capabilities especially for government, media, finance, and retail. Second, an AI cloud service that can be used right out of the box provides stable and reliable AI compute to power efficient model training and inference. This service also includes a full-link cloud-based toolchain to support migration and development. Additionally, Huawei Cloud offers a dedicated zone of foundation models optimized for Ascend Cloud, enabling users to quickly build applications on AI models. Last but not least, there is no AI without data. GaussDB, a next-generation AI-native distributed database that excels at high availability, security, performance, scalability, and intelligence, allows for a smarter way for database deployment and migration, and greatly improves data processing for AI applications to run smoothly. Huawei Cloud also employs AI to process data, thereby feeding higher-quality data for AI models. Huawei Cloud works with local organizations and enterprises to develop foundation models and AI applications to suit local needs. With Huawei Cloud's diverse, efficient, and stable computing power, HKGAI has achieved a significant milestone in AI innovation in Hong Kong by developing the first foundation model trained in the region. According to Hong Kong Observatory, Huawei Cloud's Pangu Weather Model extends the forecast period of computer model weather forecasts from ten to fifteen days. Huawei Cloud published Hong Kong Finance White Paper with PwC, propelling financial security compliance, innovation, and steady growth in Hong Kong. Ecosystem Native: Better Together A digital industry ecosystem thrives only with joint efforts. Huawei Cloud will work with industry partners such as Cyberport Hong Kong to establish an AI industry cloud platform and AI enablement center in Hong Kong to upskill partners. Talent is a must for AI transformation. At this summit, Huawei Cloud announced the Hong Kong AI Acceleration Program which aims to support 100+ enterprises for AI innovation in the next three years. William Dong, President of Huawei Cloud Marketing Good technologies are a social good. At this summit, William Dong, President of Huawei Cloud Marketing, shared how Huawei Cloud technologies have helped detect rare diseases, protect the rainforest in Sarawak, Malaysia, and predict extreme weather. Mr. Dong proposed the "Cloud for Good" initiative, calling for concerted efforts from customers and partners from Hong Kong and beyond to promote digital inclusion and a better world with cloud and AI.  

HANGZHOU, China, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition (La Biennale di Venezia) organized by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, embraces the theme "Atlas: Harmony in Diversity," curated by Wang Xiaosong and Jiang Jun. It is structured into two sections: "集 (Collect)," showcasing imagery archives sourced from "A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings," and "传 (Translate)," spotlighting works by seven Chinese contemporary artists: Che Jianquan, Jiao Xingtao, Qiu Zhenzhong, Shi Hui, Wang Shaoqiang, Wang Zhenghong, and Zhu Jinshi. Theme of the China Pavilion—Atlas: Harmony in Diversity The China Pavilion embraces "Atlas: Harmony In Diversity" as its theme, with a focus on the concepts of gathering, exchanging, and integrating, aiming to convey the values of embracing inclusivity, coexistence in unity, and shared beauty with diversity from traditional Chinese culture. In particular, "atlas" symbolizes the convergence of diverse identities, races, beliefs, ideas, purposes, backgrounds, and cultures worldwide, fostering opportunities for dialogue, communication, and mutual understanding. In "Collect," digital archives of 100 Chinese paintings scattered overseas will be displayed in archive cabinets and on LED screens. These works are part of "A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings," a project spanning 19 years and comprising 12,405 pieces/sets of ancient Chinese painting treasures, over 3,000 of which are housed in institutions outside China, accounting for a quarter of the total works recorded. Meanwhile, "Translate" features seven Chinese contemporary artists who engage in new creations inspired by the "A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings," exploring various traditional Chinese painting elements, encompassing architecture, landscapes, figures, and flora and fauna. This not only reflects the cultural amalgamation of traditional Chinese literati but also emphasizes the inheritance bridging tradition and contemporary art. Between "Collect" and "Translate," the exhibition draws inspiration from "Mnemosyne Atlas" by 20th-century German art historian Aby Warburg, using image documentation to compile thematic plates for each artwork. It seeks to forge a connection between traditional Chinese paintings and contemporary art through the juxtaposition of diverse images, while also resonating with global image history, creating a dual linkage between Chinese and foreign, past and present. The exhibition is scheduled to run from April 20 to November 24, 2024 (with a preview held from April 17 to 19) at the Arsenale in Venice, Italy.  

Watsons honored as Organization of the Year FAIRFAX, Va., April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world's premier business awards programs, announced the winners of five Grand Stevie® Award trophies in the 11th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, the only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in various categories were announced on 10 April. Those awards were determined by the average scores of more than 150 executives worldwide acting as judges. The 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards have recognized organizations in 25 markets including Australia, Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. The Grand ("best of show") Stevie Award trophy is awarded to only a handful of organizations in each of the nine Stevie Awards competitions. In the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, one Grand Stevie Award is presented to the most honored organization, and one each to the highest-scoring nomination from the four markets that submitted the most nominations. The prestigious Grand ("best of show") Stevie Award trophy has been given to five winning organizations in the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards. Watsons of Hong Kong was the most honored Grand Stevie Award winner, and the Grand Stevie Award winners with the highest-scoring nominations from the four markets with the most nominations in the competition are Farmbot Monitoring Solutions, Beijing apm, IntouchCX, and Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP). The 2024 Grand Stevie Award for Most Honored Organization of the Year goes to Watsons, headquartered in Hong Kong, with 72.5 award points. This award could not be applied for directly. The award is determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won in the competition, with a Gold Stevie win counting for 3 points, a Silver Stevie for 2 points, and a Bronze Stevie counting for 1.5. The Grand Stevie Awards presented to the highest-scoring nomination from each of the four markets that submitted the most nominations to the competition are: From Australia: Farmbot Monitoring Solutions, of Roseville, New South Wales, for their "Farmbot Pump Control – Innovating Water Management for Agriculture" nomination, a Gold Stevie Award winner for Innovation in Digital Transformation, with an average score of 9.00/10. From China: Beijing apm, nominated by Brand Head, winner of a Gold Stevie for their nomination "A 'healing' mall other than a 'shopping" mall' for Innovation in Consumer Events (8.86/10). From India: IntouchCX, Hyderabad, for their Most Innovative Customer Service Team nomination, a Gold Stevie winner in that category, average score 8.67. From the Philippines: Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP), Marikina City, for their nomination "Empowering farmers, enriching communities: the transformative impact of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc.," which won a Gold Stevie for Innovation in Community Relations or Public Service Communications, with an average score of 9.33/10. Winners in the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards will be celebrated during an awards banquet on 24 May at Shangri-La The Fort Hotel in Manila, Philippines. Tickets for the awards banquet are on sale now. PR Newswire Asia is the official news release distribution partner of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. adobo magazine is the official Creative Media Partner of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the newest Stevie Awards program, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive over 12,000 entries annually from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Contact:Nina Moore+1 (703) 547-8389Nina@StevieAwards.com