Turning lemons into lemonade, how one company exceeds expectations

March 24, 2017

Awarded the Ellie Mae Hall of Fame "Excellence in Loan Quality" for the second year in a row.

MIAMI, March 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For the second year in a row, Columbus Capital Lending has won the Exceptional Achievement Loan Quality award from Ellie Mae; the leading provider of on-demand loan origination software solutions for the residential mortgage industry. Over sixty percent of mortgage lenders use Ellie Mae’s Encompass platform to manage their originations.

“One of the founding principles upon which we launched the company was to provide customers with a wow experience,” explained Martin Perez CEO of Columbus Capital Lending. “Using Ellie Mae’s Encompass allows us to consistently surpass their expectations.”

Columbus had built a reputation for providing fast, streamlined loan processing in record time. However with the advent of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule, better known as TRID, the lender was faced with implementing new forms, adjusting disclosures to new time frames and longer closing times.

“TRID had a major impact on our business, the combination of new rules and forms affected the timing of our files by up to six days; that meant risking the loss of contracts and realtor relationships,” said Jorge Vidaurrazaga, VP of Information Technology for Columbus. “We were able to use Encompass to create a series of enhancements to our forms and procedures that allowed us to shorten the time frame. With those enhancements we are actually closing quicker than before the implementation of TRID.”

“Most important in our industry is the issue of staying in compliance with the regulatory environment, loan quality is absolutely indispensable,” emphasized Tino Diaz SVP for Business Process at Columbus. “Encompass makes sure that we are packaging a product that is compliant and can be sold in the secondary market. Encompass enables us to process files much faster, the system has a number of business rules that we have built into it that enable us to control the quality of what we are doing, quickly without the need to search the system. The program is very intuitive.”

About Columbus Capital Lending
Columbus Capital Lending is the premier mortgage lender for the Hispanic market. Its headquarters are located in Miami Florida, with operations throughout the state in addition to Texas and California. Columbus mission is to strengthen America’s social fabric through sustainable homeownership.

Key Contact
Lee Moran
Marketing Director
T. 305.271.8005
E. [email protected]

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Delta Plans New Daily Nonstop Service between New York-JFK and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

March 23, 2017

Delta Air Lines and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 370 destinations on six continents. For more information visit news.delta.com. (PRNewsFoto/Delta Air Lines)

ATLANTA, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will offer a new daily nonstop flight between New York-JFK (JFK) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, beginning Dec. 21, 2017, subject to U.S. Department of Transportation approval. The airline’s strategic alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes will extend the reach of this service to 23 destinations within Brazil and provides seamless connections at Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro.

“We listen to our customers and continuously strive to offer them increasingly convenient ways to travel, both for business and leisure,” said Luciano Macagno, Delta’s Director-Brazil. “It is exciting to have the opportunity to offer a daily direct flight from Rio de Janeiro to our second-largest international hub at New York-JFK. Delta’s continued route expansions demonstrate our commitment to the Brazilian market and the strength of our alliance with our Brazilian partner, GOL.”

Delta’s proposed schedule between JFK and GIG is as follows:

Flight Number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Effective
DL 479	New York-JFK (JFK) at 9:24 p.m.	Rio de Janeiro (GIG) at 10:30 a.m.	Daily	Dec. 21, 2017
DL 478	Rio de Janeiro (GIG) at 10:15 p.m.	New York-JFK (JFK) at 5:36 a.m.	Daily	Dec. 22, 2017

The GIG-JFK route will be operated using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The 767-300 has 35 Delta One full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access for every passenger. The aircraft also has oversized personal entertainment screens, allowing travelers to increase productivity, get more rest, as well as experience the on-demand in-flight entertainment system. Delta customers flying on Delta One will also enjoy industry-leading food with Latin-inspired meal selections by Chef Michelle Bernstein, paired with elegant wines chosen by master sommelier Andrea Robinson.

The 210-passenger aircraft also includes 32 Delta Comfort+ seats and 143 seats in the Main Cabin. Delta’s latest improvements include the introduction of new sleep kits and several other upgraded amenities for passengers seated in the Main Cabin on flights to and from Brazil. Customers flying in Delta Comfort+, Delta’s premium economy service, benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than Delta’s standard international Main Cabin seats; free beer, wine, snacks; and priority boarding. Other product initiatives being rolled out across Delta’s international fleet include the expansion of its Wi-Fi service.

Elite customers and passengers flying in Delta One through New York-JFK and Rio de Janeiro-GIG will also enjoy a premium airport experience at the 24,000 square-foot flagship Delta Sky Club in JFK’s Terminal 4, the biggest club in Delta’s system, and a recently opened GOL VIP lounge located in GIG’s Terminal 2.

Once approved, these flights will be available for booking through www.delta.com. Customers may also access Delta’s Twitter channel in English at @Delta and in Portuguese at @DeltaAjuda, for real-time support before, during and after travel.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is working to be the best U.S. airline in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has been honored with five World Travel Awards in 2016 in the categories of North America’s Leading Airline and Leading U.S. Airline to Central America, to South America, to Caribbean and to Mexico for the second year in a row. Delta has been also recognized with LADEVI’s 2016 Insignia Latam Excellence award for its service to the region. Delta continues to grow in Latin America through its long-term exclusive alliances with GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, Aeroméxico and Aerolíneas Argentinas, and is committed to building a solid regional footprint to enhance its global network and offer its customers the best overall experience. Delta provides service to 33 countries and 55 destinations in the region, offering over 1,900 weekly flights between the U.S. and Latin America/the Caribbean. Delta customers can also receive real-time, on-the-go travel assistance in Spanish and Portuguese through Twitter channels @DeltaAssist_ES and @DeltaAjuda from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST. Brazilian customers can also access Delta’s dedicated Brazilian Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DeltaAirLinesBrasil.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

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Mazda Names Tim Olson as Public Relations Program Manager

March 23, 2017

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

IRVINE, California, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the addition of Tim Olson to its public relations team as Program Manager, Public Relations.

Olson comes to MNAO from the Powersports industry, where he spent the last decade as the public relations manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor of America. Prior to that, he spent a decade working in the editorial space as managing editor for one of the most prominent motorcycle magazines.

In his new position, Olson is responsible for managing day-to-day PR activities and storytelling related to product, corporate, lifestyle and motorsports communications. He will report directly to Eric Booth, Senior Manager, Public Relations, and will be based out of MNAO’s corporate headquarters in Irvine, Calif. For all working media, he can be reached at 949-727-6651 and at [email protected].

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

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Eight Out Of Ten Women Feel They Have Not Reached Their Full Potential

March 23, 2017

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Girls and women around the world view inner strength as important as happiness – and those two qualities are nearly two times more significant than physical beauty and wealth. Yet, eight out of 10 women feel they have not reached their full potential, according to new global research conducted and published by Special K®.¹ This startling statistic represents the “strength gap” – recognized as the difference between how strong women feel (from the inside out) vs. how strong she could be, or her potential.

In a time where women are seemingly at their strongest with 77 percent feeling they possess inner strength – leading global companies, increasingly occupying boards, and bringing new dimensions to gender roles in and out of homes worldwide – three quarters still wish they possessed even greater reserves.

Following International Women’s Day on March 8, Special K is taking a stance as a leader in the food and nutrition space – an area that has a significant impact on girls and women’s sense of self – by announcing its commitment to educating young women about this gap through a partnership with the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign.

Special K‘s report, “The New Face of Strength,” reveals that many women feel the factors contributing to women’s inner strength are within their control – such as nutrition, fitness, a sense of community and mental and emotional wellbeing. In fact, 68 percent of women surveyed cited food as important in fueling inner strength.

“Inner strength is as important as happiness to women around the world – and nearly two times more significant than physical beauty and wealth,” said Doug VandeVelde, Senior Vice President at Kellogg Company. “We are committed to better understanding what defines inner strength, what it means for women today and the vital role nutrition plays in unlocking a woman’s inner strength. Through our partnership with Girl Up in 2017, we’ll provide key nutrition education for 500,000 girls and young women to help guide them toward their full potential.”

Special K + Girl Up
A movement within the United Nations Foundation, Girl Up is led by girls and for girls, with the mission of uniting girls and empowering them to take action on behalf of the hardest-to-reach girls in places around the world where it’s hardest to be a girl.

“We have nearly half a million advocates raising awareness, engaging and educating girls to change the world,” said Anna Blue, deputy director of Girl Up. “We’re thrilled to join forces with Special K to further our mission of inspiring girls and women to learn about their inner strength to make change for girls around the world.”

It is within every girl and woman to reach their maximum potential in all aspects of life. Customized nutrition workshops and digital programs made available by Special K and Girl Up are critical resources to ensure young women around the world have the tools they need to live life at full strength, and they provide a way for the communities associated with both organizations to help build and support female empowerment.

The New Face of Strength
A number of findings detailed in “The New Face of Strength” attest to the importance of inner strength among women, including:

The stronger a woman feels, the more confident and motivated she is – which, in turn, impacts her positivity and proactivity.
- Nine out of 10 women consider inner strength to be key to success, just ahead of intellect.
80 percent of women feel stronger when helping others, contributing to a chain of strength – yet only 57 percent say they have received support from another woman.
- For example, 84 percent of women in the US, 79 percent of women in the UK, 83 percent of women in Australia, 86 percent of women in Canada, 89 percent of women in Mexico and 79 percent of women in France say they feel stronger when helping others.
Inner strength is complex and multidimensional, and it varies by situation – 79 percent of women view determination as an important attribute in a professional space, yet only 59 percent view the trait as important when parenting.
Inner strength is viewed as an inherently female trait or need – 62 percent say that inner strength is most needed by women, with 9 percent feeling it is most needed by men.
We know nutrition contributes to the inner strength gap as 92 percent of women believe that food plays a vital role in how strong they feel.

Visit StrongFeedsStrong.com to learn more about the strength gap and share your story with #StrongFeedsStrong.

About Kellogg Company
At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we strive to make foods people love. This includes our beloved brands – Kellogg’s®, Keebler®, Special K®, Pringles®, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Cheez-It®, Eggo®, Mini-Wheats® and more – that nourish families so they can flourish and thrive. With 2015 sales of $13.5 billion and more than 1,600 foods, Kellogg is the world’s leading cereal company; second largest producer of cookies, crackers and savory snacks; and a leading North American frozen foods company. Through our Breakfasts for Better Days^TM global hunger initiative, we’ve provided more than 1.4 billion servings of cereal and snacks to children and families in need around the world. To learn more, visit www.kelloggcompany.com or follow us on Twitter @KelloggCompany, YouTube and on Social K.

About Girl Up
Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s adolescent girl campaign, supports the empowerment of girls everywhere. Since its launch in 2010, the campaign has funded UN programs that promote the health, safety, education, and leadership of girls in developing countries and built a community of nearly half a million passionate advocates – including Girl Up Global Advocates Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and Latin American business leader Angélica Fuentes.
Our youth leaders, representing more than 1400 Girl Up Clubs in 85 countries, stand up, speak up, and rise up to support the hardest to reach girls living in places where it is hardest to be a girl.
Learn more at GirlUp.org.

About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org.

^{_________________________________}¹ On behalf of Special K, Edelman Intelligence surveyed over 6,000 women across Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Women aged 21-55 were spoken to via a quantitative online survey fielded between December 2015 and January 2016. Each market sample was nationally representative of the online population.

Pharma Companies Tap Startups to Develop Protocol for Tracking and Verifying Prescription Drugs using Blockchain

March 23, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The goal of the pilot is to build an electronic, interoperable system to identify and track prescription drugs as they are distributed in the United States, in response to requirements from US FDA to better protect consumers by improving counterfeit detection and removal of potentially dangerous medicines.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/481712/Chronicled_LinkLab_Pilot.jpg

Blockchain startup Chronicled, which links the physical and digital worlds with cryptographic identity chips and blockchain technology and recently raised $6.25M, and the LinkLab, a life sciences supply chain consultancy, have launched a serialized “track and trace” pilot for the pharmaceutical industry, which is projected to grow to a $1.12 trillion industry by 2022.

The pilot launched at a one-day event in San Francisco, where the startup gathered feedback on the launch of a blockchain-based compliance protocol for that will satisfy the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Blockchain refers to a distributed, peer-to-peer networking paradigm known for its security.

The event is the first phase of a pilot to develop an interoperable platform for the pharmaceutical industry. Representatives from global pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, hospitals, and leading blockchain and enterprise IT companies were in attendance.

Chronicled and the LinkLab have partnered to bring a blockchain-supported DSCSA protocol and compliance solution to market. This solution aims to provide the pharmaceutical industry with a less expensive, less cumbersome, and more secure approach to meeting existing regulatory requirements. The project’s goal is to develop around GS1 standards and to emphasize data privacy.

“The first phase of this project is to prove that one global pharmaceutical manufacturer can comply with their DSCSA regulatory obligations and meet the 2017 and 2023 requirements,” said Susanne Somerville, co-founder of the LinkLab. She continued, “we are excited to be partnering with a major pharmaceutical player in this first phase.”

Upcoming phases will involve multiple players in the pharma supply chain, from manufacturer to pharmacy and hospitals, in order to establish a minimum viable ecosystem. In the future, these pilots may allow the industry to automate the flow of goods, finances, and documents leveraging smart contracts.

“We will be working closely with teams at leading enterprise blockchain projects over the coming months to identify the most suitable enterprise blockchain to serve as a data utility for the pharmaceutical industry,” said Samantha Radocchia, CPO and Co-founder at Chronicled.

About Chronicled

Chronicled, Inc. is a San Francisco-based technology company linking the physical and digital worlds with blockchain and IoT technology. We give encrypted identities to physical objects, from consumer luxury goods to high-value products with secure supply chains. The Chronicled platform helps industries implement interoperable IoT solutions that deliver trust between partners, brand experiences for consumers, and compliance for regulators. In addition to our product offerings, Chronicled is developing an open-source, blockchain-backed registry for the Internet of Things, as well as working with a group of industry leading enterprises and startups to build an open-source protocol for blockchain and IoT. Learn more at chronicled.com and chronicled.org, and follow us on Twitter @ChronicledInc, Facebook, Github, and on our blog.

About The LinkLab

The LinkLab is a unique supply chain consulting group founded to provide life science companies guidance and support to meet world-wide serialization regulations. With deadlines fast approaching, we work to provide companies with innovative approaches to ensure gaps are identified, timelines are met, and business value is realized. The LinkLab formed from observing our industry’s progression in establishing electronic management of prescription medicines and seeing a need to do this better. With experience going back to 2008 in planning for California’s ePedigree law, The LinkLab principals have for the last four years focused on projects which support the packaging, distribution, and commercial requirements of serializing prescription medicines. To learn more, visit http://www.thelinklab.com/.

For more information, contact:

Chronicled
Rebecca Migirov
Chronicled, Inc.
[email protected]

The LinkLab
Susanne Somerville
The LinkLab, LLC
[email protected]

PoliceOne Provides Notice of Data Security Incident Related to PoliceOne Forums

March 23, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — PoliceOne announced that a recent data security incident has compromised the security of PoliceOne Forums users’ email addresses, user names, a small number of dates of birth and MD-5 hashed and salted passwords. Although there is no indication of actual or attempted misuse of this information nor was PoliceOne’s central database compromised, PoliceOne is notifying users whose information may have been subject to unauthorized access and acquisition and providing these users with information and resources that can be used to better protect against the possibility of identity theft or fraud if they feel it is appropriate to do so.

“We take this incident and user privacy very seriously as we have over the past 17 years,” Alex Ford, CEO of PoliceOne stated. “We have fully reviewed our forums, confirming the vulnerability had already been addressed, and continue to review our processes, policies, and procedures that address data security to prevent any future incidents.”

What Happened: On Friday, February 3, 2017, we were notified that the content of our PoliceOne Forum was the subject of unauthorized access and acquisition. The access and acquisition allegedly occurred in 2014, but was just brought to our attention.

What Information Was Involved: The information accessed included email addresses, a small number of dates of birth, user names, and MD-5 hashed passwords. The passwords were also salted, which adds another layer of security; however, the salt was also accessed.

What PoliceOne Users Can Do: We want to make sure you have information regarding what happened, what we are doing to address it, and what you’ll be asked to do as a result. Here’s what you need to know:

– As soon as we became aware of the potential incident, we took down the forums and set any new member login to require a password reset via email for potentially affected accounts

– On your next PoliceOne login, you will automatically receive an email with a link to change your password. We strongly recommend you go to our login page and initiate a password change immediately.

– If you use your same PoliceOne user name or email address and password for any other sites, we highly recommend changing your password on those sites.

– In general, it is a best practice to change any online password every 30 to 60 days due to the increase in hacking activity.

What We are Doing: While our investigation is ongoing, we are currently in the process of completing a security review.

For More Information: We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions about this incident, please contact our Customer Service department at 1-888-765-4231. This notice was not delayed as a result of a law enforcement investigation.

eMerge Americas 2017: Registration is Now Open for the Biggest Tech Conference in South Florida

March 23, 2017

Inspiration, Innovation, and a Nod to the Future Take Center Stage at eMERGE Americas 2016

MIAMI, March 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — eMerge Americas, the technology conference connecting companies with business and government leaders from North America, Latin America and Europe, today announced the launch of registration for the highly-anticipated 2017 event. eMerge Americas also launched the application process for the event’s Startup Showcase, which brings hundreds of innovative entrepreneurs from around the world to compete in front of expert judges and thousands of attendees.

Setting the stage for another successful year of innovative collaboration and forward thinking, the tech conference will return with three of its most popular sessions: the WIT (Women, Innovation and Technology) Summit, the eGov Summit and the Start-Up Showcase. WIT, launched in year two, brings together innovative women leaders from varying fields to discuss how they’re actively working towards disrupting their respective industries through technology. eGov, the gathering of the most powerful public and private sector forces, will once again stimulate conversation around how innovation and technology are increasingly influencing policy and fostering citizenship on the global scale.

“We could not be more eager to head into this year’s event armed with the experience and knowledge of the past three years to make eMerge Americas 2017 the most successful conference yet,” said eMerge Americas CEO, Xavier Gonzalez. “We’ve spent the past few months working diligently to strike new partnerships and secure unique speakers to ensure eMerge 2017 surpasses all expectations.”

The Start-Up Showcase, a unique opportunity for up-and-coming startups to connect with top-level investors and business leaders, is now accepting applications. This year’s showcase includes participation from 125 startups, which will pitch their ideas to a carefully selected team of qualified judges for the chance to win up to $175,000 in prizes.

Registration for eMerge Americas 2017 is now open. For more information or to register, visit emergeamericas.com. For the latest eMerge Americas news, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@eMergeAmericas), Instagram (@emergeamericas) and LinkedIn.

About eMerge Americas
eMerge Americas serves as the preeminent innovative thought exchange transforming Miami into the technological hub of the Americas. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with America’s top business executives, IT decision-makers, and entrepreneurs, partnerships are forged that spur visionary innovation and technological advancements for the betterment of business and society. eMerge’s founding partners include: Medina Capital, A Rod Corporation, Greenberg Traurig, Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and Miami Herald. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: emergeamericas.com.

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Wyndham Grand Cruises into Belize with Luxurious Five-Star Destination

March 23, 2017

PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Continuing its aggressive development in Latin America and the Caribbean Wyndham Hotel Group, the hotel giant with an unmatched global presence of more than 8,000 hotels, today unveiled plans to manage the stunning 242-key Wyndham Grand Ambergris Caye, the first resort in Belize to fly the Wyndham Grand® flag.

Caribbean tranquillity meets Venetian romance and charm at this five-star oceanfront resort, scheduled to open in December 2018. Situated along the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, the resort’s five towers – housing elegantly designed one-, two-, and three-bedroom hotel and residential suites – feature eleven cascading waterfalls and rise up from sparkling pools connected by bridges and canals reminiscent of Venice. The various waterways create the largest pool of its kind in all of Belize for guests and residents to enjoy.

Wyndham Grand Ambergris Caye – owned by Venezia del Caribe, LTD, and developed by Sandy Point Developments, LTD – will offer a signature spa, a fitness center, multiple restaurants, 7,000 square feet of meeting space, and an onsite excursion center. It puts guests within just yards of Belize’s Barrier Reef, the world’s second largest coral reef system, which runs the length of the country and is just three miles from San Pedro, the island’s only town.

“Belize is emerging as a top spot on every traveler’s bucket list, thanks to its pristine beaches, celebrated culture, and continuous recognition as a must-visit destination by respected sources like The New York Times, Lonely Planet, and U.S. News & World Report,” said Paulo Pena, president and managing director, Latin America and the Caribbean for Wyndham Hotel Group. “With overnight visitors hitting a record high last year – up 13% over 2015 – we’re seeing an increased demand for first-class, high-end hotel experiences in destinations like Ambergris Caye. With Wyndham Grand’s understated approach to luxury travel, coupled with the market expertise of established partners like Venezia del Caribe, LTD, and Sandy Point Developments, LTD, we’ll deliver a distinct and unforgettable resort experience for guests.”

The resort’s development will create upwards of 250 jobs. Upon opening Wyndham Grand Ambergris Caye will employ approximately 350 people.

“The combination of Wyndham Hotel Group’s vast global reach and recognition, along with a top-rated loyalty program in Wyndham Rewards, sets the stage for a successful luxury development in one of Belize’s most desirable locations,” said Jeremy Meighan, partner and director for Venezia del Caribe, LTD, and Sandy Point Developments, LTD.

“With the baby-boomer population looking for new places to retire and major airlines adding more flights to Ambergris Caye, the area is experiencing a real estate boom,” said Daniel Hartin, owner of Sandy Point Real Estate. “Wyndham Grand is going to be the benchmark of the luxury market in Belize and we invite travelers to register and explore the ownership opportunities within this prestigious resort at www.wyndhamgrandbelize.com.”

Ambergris Caye is the largest of the more than 200 islands, known as cayes, located off the coast of Belize. Situated off the Barrier Reef, the island is a renowned destination for diving and snorkelling. Regular cooling trade winds create a temperate atmosphere year-round whether relaxing on the beach, hiking through rainforests, or exploring limestone caves and Mayan ruins.

Grand Global Growth

The worldly, upper-upscale Wyndham Grand brand offers an unpretentious and approachable atmosphere, allowing guests to enjoy the grand things in life like pristine guest rooms, relaxing spas, one-of-a-kind dining experiences, and more, with local culture and style infused into each hotel and resort. The brand welcomes travellers in sought-after destinations around the world like Athens, Phuket, Shanghai, Istanbul, Chicago, and Frankfurt.

Wyndham Grand’s presence is burgeoning in the Caribbean with the existing Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico and spectacular new-construction resorts planned for Barbados and Nevis, both of which will be managed by Wyndham Hotel Group upon opening over the next two years. The company is growing its collection of managed properties around the world, recently widening it to more than 100 hotels and resorts globally with the acquisition of Fën Hotels, a leading management company in Latin America with 25 hotels across Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Paraguay, and the U.S.

Wyndham Grand hotels participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the simple-to-use, revolutionary loyalty program from Wyndham Hotel Group. Named the number one hotel rewards program by U.S. News & World Report and the most generous hotel rewards program by IdeaWorks, it offers members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free-night redemption rate in more than 70 countries across the world – the first of its kind for a major hotel rewards program. To learn more or to join for free, guests should visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.

About Wyndham Hotel Group
Wyndham Hotel Group, hotel giant with an unmatched global presence, is one of three hospitality business units of Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN). Driving the democratization of travel, Wyndham Hotel Group is elevating the experience of the everyday traveler, changing the game so every traveler – no matter how much they spend or how they like to travel – has an extraordinary experience. As both a leading hotel brand franchisor and hotel management services provider, the company’s global portfolio consists of more than 8,000 hotels and over 697,600 rooms in 77 countries under the following brands: Dolce Hotels and Resorts^®, Wyndham Grand^®, Dazzler^® Hotels, Esplendor^® Boutique Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts^®, Wyndham Garden^® Hotels, TRYP by Wyndham^®, Wingate by Wyndham^®, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham^®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham^®, Ramada^®, Baymont Inn & Suites^®, Days Inn^®, Super 8^®, Howard Johnson^®, Travelodge^® and Knights Inn^®. Wyndham Rewards, ranked number one hotel rewards program for 2016-2017 by U.S. News & World Report, offers more than 49 million members the opportunity to earn and redeem points at more than 25,000 hotels, condos and homes globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

About Sandy Point
The Sandy Point group of companies in Belize, Central America, is the best choice for amazing real estate ownership opportunities. Boasting the largest group of successful and beautiful resort projects on Ambergris Caye, Belize (named a Top Island Destination multiple years in a row), the Sandy Point group of companies provides clients with expert in-house services of real estate sales, property management and real estate commercial development. Visit sandypointresorts.com to find more information about the award-winning Sandy Point resorts.

Explore choices for the Wyndham Grand Ambergris Caye at www.wyndhamgrandbelize.com.

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Statement of Stacey D. Stewart, President, March of Dimes on House consideration of The American Health Care Act

March 22, 2017

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The March of Dimes released the following statement from President Stacey D. Stewart on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), legislation that will be taken up by the House of Representatives this week:

“Women, children and families need quality, affordable health coverage to lead healthy, productive lives. Unfortunately, in its current form, the American Health Care Act will deny millions of pregnant women and their families the affordable coverage and quality services they need.

“The American Health Care Act fails to meet one critical test of success by causing significant coverage losses. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 14 million people will lose or drop coverage in the first year after passage, and 24 million within a decade. This would include many women of childbearing age and children who need access to vital health services.

“In the individual market, critical consumer protections will also vanish. For example, insurers will be able to place onerous conditions on coverage for anyone who did not maintain consistent coverage for any reason, including people with pre-existing conditions. This would almost certainly result in higher rates for pregnant women or children with complex medical conditions.

“Every year, preterm birth costs our nation over $26 billion. An infant born preterm costs an average of 10 times more than an infant born without complications. Other adverse birth outcomes increase that cost further. Our nation cannot afford to put in place policies that make it more difficult for women to get the coverage and services they need to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

“The AHCA’s proposal to repeal the Medicaid expansion would leave millions of low-income women of childbearing age without access to care. Medicaid coverage offers these women a critical opportunity to get healthy before they get pregnant. Even if they qualify after becoming pregnant, women may receive inadequate services because states will no longer be required to cover maternity and newborn care. Women, infants, and communities will bear the long-term cost if prenatal care is shortchanged and more babies are born sick as a result.

“The March of Dimes urges the House of Representatives to reconsider this legislation. We would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with policymakers to achieve our mutual goals of ensuring better, more affordable coverage for all Americans.”

About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.

For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. To participate in our annual signature fundraising event, visit marchforbabies.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit persistats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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(Español) En «La viuda negra», Daniel Silva interna a personajes y lectores en el corazón del ISIS

March 22, 2017

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