The Home Depot Announces Record Fourth Quarter And Fiscal 2015 Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend By 17 Percent And Provides Fiscal 2016 Guidance

February 23, 2016

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot^®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $21.0 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, a 9.5 percent increase from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 were positive 7.1 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 8.9 percent.

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Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 were $1.5 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $1.4 billion, or $1.05 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2014. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, diluted earnings per share increased 11.4 percent from the same period in the prior year.

Fiscal 2015

Sales for fiscal 2015 were $88.5 billion, an increase of 6.4 percent from fiscal 2014. Total company comparable store sales for fiscal 2015 increased 5.6 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 7.1 percent for the year.

Earnings per diluted share in fiscal 2015 were $5.46, compared to $4.71 per diluted share in fiscal 2014, an increase of 15.9 percent.

Fiscal 2015 results include a pretax net expense of $128 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to the Company’s 2014 data breach, of which $9 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, was recognized in the fourth quarter.

“Our focus on improving the interconnected customer experience, along with solid execution and continued recovery in the U.S. housing market, resulted in record sales and net earnings for 2015,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president. “I’d like to thank our associates for their hard work and dedication to our customers.”

Capital Allocation Strategy

The Company today announced that its board of directors declared a 17 percent increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.69 per share. “As a testament to our commitment to create value for our shareholders, the board has increased the dividend for the seventh consecutive year,” said Menear.

The dividend is payable on March 24, 2016, to shareholders of record on the close of business on March 10, 2016. This is the 116th consecutive quarter the Company has paid a cash dividend.

Combined with today’s announcements, the Company reiterated its capital allocation principles:

Dividend Principle: Targeting a dividend payout ratio of approximately 50 percent of net earnings.
Share Repurchase Principle: After meeting the needs of the business, use excess cash to repurchase shares, with the intent of completing its remaining $11.0 billion share repurchase authorization by the end of fiscal 2017.
Return on Invested Capital Principle: Maintain a high return on invested capital, with a goal of reaching 35 percent by the end of fiscal 2018.

Fiscal 2016 Guidance

Given the strength of the U.S. dollar, the Company provided a range of sales, comp sales and diluted earnings-per-share growth to reflect the difference between 2015 average exchange rates and current exchange rates. If currency exchange rates remain where they are today, this would cause a negative impact to fiscal 2016 net sales growth of approximately $800 million, as well as a negative impact on diluted earnings-per-share growth of approximately $0.06 per share. The low-end of the Company’s sales and diluted earnings-per-share growth guidance reflects this currency impact.

Sales growth of approximately 5.1 to 6.0 percent
Comparable store sales growth of approximately 3.7 to 4.5 percent
Five new stores in Mexico
Flat gross margin rate
Operating margin rate expansion of approximately 70 basis points
Tax rate of approximately 37 percent
Share repurchases of approximately $5.0 billion
Diluted earnings-per-share growth after anticipated share repurchases of approximately 12 percent to 13 percent, or $6.12 to $6.18
Capital spending of approximately $1.64 billion
Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $1.9 billion
Cash flow from the business of approximately $10.0 billion

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at earnings.homedepot.com.

At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,274 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs more than 385,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable store sales; effects of competition; state of the economy; state of the residential construction, housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; demand for credit offerings; inventory and in-stock positions; implementation of store, interconnected retail and supply chain initiatives; management of relationships with our suppliers and vendors; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation, including those related to the 2014 data breach; issues related to the payment methods we accept; continuation of share repurchase programs; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2016 and beyond; financial outlook; and the integration of Interline Brands, Inc. into our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of the acquisition. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended February 1, 2015 and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 1, 2015
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in Millions Except Per Share Data and as Otherwise Noted)

	Three Months Ended					Fiscal Year Ended
	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015		% Increase (Decrease)	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015		% Increase (Decrease)
NET SALES	$	20,980	$	19,162	9.5%	$	88,519	$	83,176	6.4%
Cost of Sales	13,824		12,580		9.9	58,254		54,787		6.3
GROSS PROFIT	7,156		6,582		8.7	30,265		28,389		6.6
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	4,178		3,987		4.8	16,801		16,280		3.2
Depreciation and Amortization	429		404		6.2	1,690		1,640		3.0
Total Operating Expenses	4,607		4,391		4.9	18,491		17,920		3.2
OPERATING INCOME	2,549		2,191		16.3	11,774		10,469		12.5
Interest and Other (Income) Expense:
Interest and Investment Income	(6)		(115)		(94.8)	(166)		(337)		(50.7)
Interest Expense	242		213		13.6	919		830		10.7
Interest and Other, net	236		98		N/M	753		493		52.7
EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	2,313		2,093		10.5	11,021		9,976		10.5
Provision for Income Taxes	842		714		17.9	4,012		3,631		10.5

NET EARNINGS	$	1,471	$	1,379	6.7%	$	7,009	$	6,345	10.5%

Weighted Average Common Shares	1,252		1,306		(4.1)%	1,277		1,338		(4.6)%
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.17	$	1.06	10.4	$	5.49	$	4.74	15.8

Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares	1,259		1,314		(4.2)%	1,283		1,346		(4.7)%
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.17	$	1.05	11.4	$	5.46	$	4.71	15.9

	Three Months Ended					Fiscal Year Ended
SELECTED SALES DATA⁽¹⁾	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015		% Increase (Decrease)	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015		% Increase (Decrease)
Number of Customer Transactions	349.1		332.1		5.1%	1,500.8		1,441.6		4.1%
Average Ticket (actual)	$	58.96	$	57.79	2.0	$	58.77	$	57.87	1.6
Sales per Square Foot (actual)	$	346.55	$	324.58	6.8	$	370.55	$	352.22	5.2

(1) Selected Sales Data does not include results for the Interline acquisition that was completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

N/M – Not Meaningful

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF JANUARY 31, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 1, 2015
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in Millions)

	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	2,216	$	1,723
Receivables, net	1,890		1,484
Merchandise Inventories	11,809		11,079
Other Current Assets	1,078		1,016
Total Current Assets	16,993		15,302
Property and Equipment, net	22,191		22,720
Goodwill	2,102		1,353
Other Assets	1,263		571
TOTAL ASSETS	$	42,549	$	39,946

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Short-Term Debt	$	350	$	290
Accounts Payable	6,565		5,807
Accrued Salaries and Related Expenses	1,515		1,391
Current Installments of Long-Term Debt	3,052		38
Other Current Liabilities	4,019		3,743
Total Current Liabilities	15,501		11,269
Long-Term Debt, excluding current installments	17,913		16,869
Other Long-Term Liabilities	2,819		2,486
Total Liabilities	36,233		30,624
Total Stockholders’ Equity	6,316		9,322
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	42,549	$	39,946

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 1, 2015
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in Millions)

	Fiscal Year Ended
	January 31, 2016		February 1, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Earnings	$	7,009	$	6,345
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	1,863		1,786
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	244		225
Gain on Sales of Investments	(144)		(323)
Changes in Working Capital and Other	401		209
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	9,373		8,242

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital Expenditures	(1,503)		(1,442)
Proceeds from Sales of Investments	144		323
Payments for Businesses Acquired, net	(1,666)		(200)
Proceeds from Sales of Property and Equipment	43		48
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(2,982)		(1,271)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from Short-Term Borrowings, net	60		290
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings, net of discount	3,991		1,981
Repayments of Long-Term Debt	(39)		(39)
Repurchases of Common Stock	(7,000)		(7,000)
Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock	228		252
Cash Dividends Paid to Stockholders	(3,031)		(2,530)
Other Financing Activities	4		(25)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(5,787)		(7,071)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	604		(100)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(111)		(106)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,723		1,929
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	2,216	$	1,723

New Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer Reveals Strong Optimism on Main Street

February 23, 2016

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In a first-of-its-kind study of America’s small business sector released today, the Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer revealed a strong climate for small businesses in the country overall and a groundswell of optimism among local entrepreneurs with a majority (53 percent) saying rapid innovation and an improving economy make now the best time ever to own a small business.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335925
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Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335926
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335927
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Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/335943-AllState-Small-Business-Barometer-B-Roll.mp4

The new Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer combines a survey of more than 2,600 small business owners¹with a comprehensive catalog of public data to measure the strength of America’s small business climate nationally and in 25 major metropolitan areas across the country.

“As a national network of small businesses, we wanted deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses across the country,” said Allstate Agency Owner Octavio Pina. “It’s encouraging to see small business owners report a deep and growing optimism about their prospects, particularly women- and minority-owned businesses. Local entrepreneurs are making sacrifices, overcoming hurdles, investing in their businesses and embracing leadership roles in their communities to pursue their dreams and help Main Street thrive across America.”

“USA TODAY is part of the broader USA TODAY NETWORK whose purpose is to provide reliable insight into important issues at both the local and national level,” said USA TODAY Editor in Chief Dave Callaway. “Partnering with Allstate to provide a deeper understanding of the small business climate is a great opportunity to educate our local communities on a topic vital to their growth.”

The Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer produced an overall score of 61 for the country’s small business sector, which rates as “strong” on the Barometer’s 0-100 scale. That ranking was reflected in the majority of cities across the country, with scores in 25 major markets ranging from 57 in New York to 64 in Indianapolis and Orlando.

The Barometer analyzed an extensive inventory of public data, including statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Register and more. The questions posed to small business owners in the survey evaluated their outlook in eight different categories²: capital³, commodities⁴, customers⁵, innovation, labor⁶, regulation, technology and optimism.

The Barometer’s proprietary data model weighted the scores of each of the eight indicators to determine a final ranking based on the following ranges: “excellent” (81-100), “strong” (61-80), “solid” (41-60), “fair” (21-40) and “challenged” (0-20).

With a national score of 79, optimism received the highest total of any of the eight indicators. In particular, the Barometer revealed optimism to be extremely high among black business owners (100), Hispanic business owners (87), other minority business owners (92) and women business owners (85).

To get a more in-depth breakdown of the national profile, or to see how each city scored, visit www.allstate.com/Barometer.

KEY FINDINGS

Small business owners are optimistic and confident: More than half say there has never been a better time to own a small business.

Nearly nine-in-10 (89 percent) of respondents believe the benefits of owning a small business outweigh the challenges.
The Small Business Barometer ranks optimism to be especially high among women (85) and minorities (92).

Small business owners are innovators: They often try new things – adapting to change, working more, and paying themselves less.

Just over half (52 percent) of small business owners have tried a new business practice in the past three months.
The Allstate/USA TODAY Small Business Barometer ranks innovation strong (73) among small business owners across the country.
Nearly four in 10 (38 percent) tried new technologies, but reported that financial barriers – higher costs, taxes and regulations – did get in the way.

Small business owners report positive performance: Nearly 80 percent reported that in the past year their business has grown the same or more compared to the previous year – an indication the economy continues to improve.

More than six-in-10 (61 percent) of those surveyed said their business is doing “well” or “very well” these days.
Nearly a third (31 percent) of small business owners in the Barometer survey plan to hire workers within the next three months — a potential boon to local economies.

Local entrepreneurs value intangible benefits more than money.

Small business owners say there are a lot of things they value, including: “Being my own boss,” “Having a sense of freedom, “Following my passion,” and “Creating something on my own.”
While nearly half of small business owners claim that being their own boss gives them tremendous enjoyment (49 percent), just one-in-five point to money as one of their key motivators. More than one-third cite flexible work hours (35 percent) and nearly a quarter get satisfaction from creating something all their own (22 percent) or following their passion (22 percent).
Intangible sacrifices, however, are often necessary to make a small business work: Forty percent have frequently missed out on opportunities to spend time with family or friends.

Small business owners still face unique and significant challenges.

More than half (54 percent) of small business owners ranked getting new clients as a five, six or seven on a scale of one (not challenging at all) to seven (very challenging) in terms of difficulty, and 36 percent say it is one of their two biggest problems – the highest response among all challenges.
Four-in-10 (41 percent) have forgone salary to benefit their business, and prices for materials and equipment are going up: Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of respondents reported they raised their own prices in the last year, while only 5 percent said they lowered their prices in that time frame.
Forty percent of small business owners described the regulatory climate as “burdensome,” and 20 percent said it is “extremely burdensome.”

The Allstate USA Today Small Business Barometer

The Allstate/USA Today Small Business Barometer provides information about the small business climate in the United States and 25 of its largest markets. Built from a unique, proprietary data model, the Barometer combines the findings from a custom in-depth survey of 2,640 small business owners with public data to provide an experiential tool with insight into fundamental small business indicators and sentiment. For a full explanation of the methodology used in this study, please visit www.allstate.com/Barometer.

For information and access to resources that help small businesses succeed, check out the http://www.allstate.com/barometer website and http://www.allstate.com/blog.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life’s uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate^®.” The Allstate brand’s network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In the 20 years since Allstate became a fully independent public company, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have donated more than $405 million to support local communities.

About USA TODAY
Founded in 1982, USA TODAY delivers high-quality, engaging content through unique visual storytelling across all platforms. An innovator of news and information, USA TODAY reflects the pulse of the nation and serves as the host of the American conversation — today, tomorrow, and for decades to follow. USA TODAY is the nation’s number one newspaper. USA TODAY’s award winning news site reaches more than 50M unique visitors a month across its digital platforms with more than 20M application downloads. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co. Inc.

¹As part of the Allstate/USA Today Small Business Barometer, Allstate fielded an online survey with 2,640 completed interviews: a base sample of 500 small business owners and geographic oversamples of 25 major markets ranging from N=50 to N=100 in each one to reveal issues and information relevant to small business owners and select subgroups.
² Data related to Labor, Capital, Commodities and Customers reflect a combination of the public and survey data sources, while values related to Innovation, Regulation and Technical challenges reflect data exclusively obtained from the Allstate Survey of Small Businesses.
³ Our measure of Capital is derived from responses to seven questions in the survey, combined with national level data on the Federal Discount Rate, Feds Fund Rate, and 11th District Cost of Funds. Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/rates/interest-rates/prime-rate.aspx#ixzz3tM9Y9Emx.
⁴ The measure of Commodities is derived from responses to four questions in the survey, combined with the International Monetary Fund Commodity Index for a single quarter compared to the same quarter one year previous. Read more: http://www.imf.org/external/np/res/commod/index.aspx.
⁵The measure on Customers relies on survey responses from 10 questions, combined with data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on disposable personal income. Read more: http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=9&step=1&acrdn=2#reqid=9&step=3&isuri=1&903=58.
⁶The measure on Labor is derived from survey responses to seven questions in the survey, combined with national level U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on average hourly earnings, wage comparison, and the unemployment rate. Read more: http://www.bls.gov/data/and http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/tab5.txt.

The 2016 Pepsi® Football Roster Introduces Blue Card To The Global Game

February 23, 2016

PURCHASE, New York, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — #BLUECARD – Continuing its longstanding history of fueling football passion around the world, Pepsi® announced its 2016 global roster of all-star players today. The Pepsi team, uniting thrilling international talent from top clubs, will spark excitement throughout the year with a new integrated global campaign, the Pepsi Blue Card (#BlueCard).

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160218/334910

The Pepsi lineup of superstars includes Argentinian striker Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Colombian phenom James Rodríguez (Real Madrid), Belgian team captain Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Chilean leading scorer Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) and Spanish goalkeeper great David de Gea (Manchester United).

The 2016 global Pepsi football team will be featured in a variety of integrated campaign elements, anchored by a global television commercial released today: https://youtu.be/C-FHnnRYYKc. Bringing to life the Pepsi Blue Card, an unsuspecting pair of delivery drivers get the surprise of a lifetime as a pickup game with members of the Pepsi team breaks out in the most unexpected fashion.

“The Pepsi Blue Card was created to stop boredom in its tracks and unleash unexpected moments of fun,” said Carla Hassan, SVP, Global Brand Management, PepsiCo Global Beverage Group. “While the traditional red or yellow card might stop play, the Pepsi Blue Card signals that things are about to get exciting – which is a perfect kick start to the year for our iconic brand.”

The integrated effort includes a complementary app available for free download on the Apple App and Google Play stores beginning February 23, as well as digital and social content, out of home and point of sale rolling out in markets around the world throughout the year.

The 2016 program builds off an exciting win: PepsiCo’s flagship brands Pepsi, Lay’s and Gatorade have joined forces with the prestigious European club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, as an official sponsor. The UEFA Champions League Final is the world’s most watched annual sporting event. The 2015 final was aired in more than 200 countries, reaching an estimated 400 million viewers, with an anticipated average live match viewership of 180 million.

Player Statements:

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City): “I am excited to be partnering with Pepsi once again, and thrilled to have been selected as a member of the 2016 global team of footballers. I am looking forward to teaming up with Vincent, James, Alexis and David throughout the year to bring fun, unexpected opportunities to football fans around the world.”

James Rodríguez (Real Madrid): “I’m proud to be a part of the Pepsi global roster of footballers in 2016. It was a great experience working with the brand last year, and I am looking forward to teaming up with this year’s Pepsi team to bring unexpected, exciting opportunities to football fans around the world.”

Vincent Kompany (Manchester City): “It’s an honor to partner with Pepsi once again. This campaign is all about fun and a little bit of craziness that you can add to a moment. When you take out the Pepsi Blue Card everything changes – I think we all need that in our days.”

Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal): “Pepsi is one of the most recognizable brands associated with our great sport and it’s amazing to be a part of their global roster of footballers this year.”

David de Gea (Manchester United): “I’m thrilled to join the Pepsi football team for the first time this year. I’ve always been excited to see what the brand brings to our sport and fans – on and off the pitch – and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

MV Construction Group Joins the Habitat for Humanity Family as a Sponsor of Blitz Build 2016

February 22, 2016

MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MV Construction & Development Group has chosen Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami as a charity partner and has sponsored the build of a home for a Habitat family in need. Lead by Manny Angelo Varas, the company’s CEO who is a notable developer, general contractor and Harvard University alumnus of the distinguished Graduate School of Design, this partnership marks a milestone in MV Group’s commitment to the South Florida community.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335863

MV Group’s team, elected officials, and partners shall celebrate at the dedication ceremony the completion of Blitz Build 2016. Blitz is Habitat’s accelerated construction project, where 10 Habitat homes are completed in a 2-week period. This year’s event will be held in West Perrine on properties within a 3-block radius, dedication ceremony to be held on February 27, 2016 at 1:00pm located at 10345 S.W. 182 Street.

“We are thrilled to bring out our team to complete our Habitat home during Blitz Build 2016. We are honored to contribute to the ongoing development of the West Perrine area, and can’t wait for dedication of our home to the Habitat family,” said Varas, CEO and President of MV Group.

“We are delighted to have MV Group helping us further our mission,” stated Miami Habitat CEO, Mario Artecona.”It’s always a wonderful thing to see a busy company take the time to engage in their local community by rolling up their sleeves and being a part of what will become an affordable home for one of our great partner families.”

Based in Miami, MV Construction Group is a full-service construction company that offers a broad range of construction and interior design services. The group acquires major contracts with many of South Florida’s most iconic and well-known developments, totaling over 1,000,000 square feet of construction and $500 million in real estate value. www.mvgroupusa.com

Lopez Negrete Wins Big at American Advertising Federation – Houston Chapter Awards

February 22, 2016

Lopez Negrete garnered 39 awards in total at this year's AAF-Houston ADDYs.

HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc., the nation’s largest independent, Hispanic owned and operated, full-service agency specializing in Hispanic marketing, earned 34 American Advertising Federation – Houston Chapter awards, including a “Best in Show” in the Broadcast category for their “De lo ordinario a lo extraordinario” campaign for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ 2015 Chrysler 200. This marks the thirteenth consecutive year that the agency has earned “Best in Show” honors.

The winning campaign featured acclaimed actor Gael García Bernal in four national television spots that aired across U.S. Hispanic media – one :60 and three :30 commercials. The series focuses on Gael, in his 2015 Chrysler 200, interacting with a young boy, Paquito, claiming to be him from the past. When Paquito catches a glimpse of his “real” future self, he’s inspired to leave ordinary behind and go someplace new with Gael. The commercials use humor, cultural cues and a spirit of individuality to convey a unified message: “Why choose ordinary when you can have extraordinary?”

Other landmark awards given to the agency include the Brett Elliott Award for Excellence in Copywriting and the Special Judges’ Award for Excellence in Art Direction, both for “Salt of the Earth,” another campaign for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. “Salt of the Earth” encompassed three anthemic TV commercials that worked to align the sweat Latino workers put into building a life for themselves and their families with Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s RAM truck division.

“This is a very proud moment for us as an agency. We’ve had a fantastic run earning Best in Show nods in different categories throughout our 30 years, and to receive our thirteenth consecutive Best in Show – to set that new personal record – is very rewarding. And to top that off with the recognition of receiving the Brett Elliott and Special Judges’ awards was an even bigger honor. Our continued success couldn’t be possible without our clients, our suppliers and everyone who made the work – and the wins – possible, and we’re very grateful for each and every one. Most importantly, the winning work performed extremely well in the marketplace, and that is what it’s all about,” says Lopez Negrete Communications President and CEO Alex López Negrete about his agency’s recognitions.

In addition to its Best of Show – Broadcast award, Lopez Negrete Communications also received the following honors:

Brett Elliott Award for Excellence in Copywriting for the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles campaign, “Salt of the Earth”
Special Judges’ Award for Excellence in Art Direction for the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles campaign, “Salt of the Earth”
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Four Gold and one Silver award, and seven Citations of Excellence
Walmart
- Three Gold and four Silver awards, and three Citations of Excellence
Lopez Negrete Communications
- Two Gold and one Silver award, and two Citations of Excellence
Verizon Wireless
- One Gold and one Silver award
Converse
- Two Silver awards
Feld Entertainment
- One Silver award

About Lopez Negrete Communications
Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc. specializes in providing full-service marketing services to corporations wishing to reach and engage with the Hispanic marketplace in America, and stands as the largest Hispanic, independently owned and operated, full-service agency in the United States. Founded in 1985 by Alex and Cathy López Negrete, the agency offers thought leadership and a full range of marketing, advertising and communications services, including strategic planning, research and consumer insights, media planning and buying, creative, brand strategy, digital/social/mobile marketing services, public relations, and promotions. Award winning throughout a rich, 30-year history, Lopez Negrete counts as clients some of the nation’s largest corporations and their prestigious brands, including Verizon Communications Inc. (Wireless and Telecom), Bank of America, Walmart Stores, Inc., SAMSUNG Telecommunications America, NBC Universal Motion Pictures Group, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Feld Entertainment, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, MassMutual Financial Group, Phillips 66, and Southern California Edison. With national headquarters in Houston, Texas and offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Mexico City, Lopez Negrete employs more than 200 employees who keep clients at the forefront of a burgeoning Hispanic market.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335899

Cal/OSHA Warns Condom Use Required in Adult Films

February 22, 2016

OAKLAND, California, Feb. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following Thursday’s meeting of the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board where it did not adopt a proposed standard pertaining to the adult film industry, Cal/OSHA warns that barrier protection including condoms is still required to protect adult film workers from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The existing standard has been in effect since 1993 and is enforced by Cal/OSHA.

“Condoms are required to protect adult film workers from exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Cal/OSHA will continue to enforce the existing regulations and investigate complaints in the adult film industry.”

Workers in the adult film industry should know current laws protect them from injury and illness on the job, and where to go for help if their employer doesn’t follow those laws. More information on how to file a complaint with Cal/OSHA can be found on the Cal/OSHA website or by calling (714) 558-4300. Employers in the adult film industry must also know how to protect their employees from health and safety hazards and understand the consequences of failing to comply with state regulations.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Julia Bernstein or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

Dunkin’ Donuts Plans Puerto Rico Expansion

February 22, 2016

CANTON, Mass., Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Dunkin’ Donuts, one of the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chains, today announced plans to develop new restaurants in Puerto Rico, with an initial focus in San Juan’s metropolitan area. The brand is currently seeking a single operator to develop approximately 50 restaurants across Puerto Rico over approximately seven years.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110217/MM50839LOGO

The company is looking to recruit a franchisee with experience operating multi-unit foodservice concepts in Puerto Rico as well as acquiring and developing local real estate. Qualified candidates should meet the minimum financial requirements for this opportunity, which are $5M liquidity and $10M in total net worth.*

The initial focus area will target the Northeast areas of San Juan, Bayamón and Carolina with many of the restaurants across the market being a mixture of free-standing and in-line restaurants ranging from 100 to 175 square meters. Dunkin’ Donuts currently has more than 8,400 locations in the U.S. and 370 locations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“With more than 11,700 restaurants in 43 countries, it’s evident that our brand resonates with all types of consumers,” said Grant Benson, vice president of global franchising and business development for Dunkin’ Brands. “We’re excited to bring our value proposition – high-quality food and beverages, served fast in a friendly environment and at a great value – to areas throughout Puerto Rico, where we feel there is a significant demand for the brand’s offerings.”

Benson added, “Aside from brand growth, Puerto Rico represents a tremendous and unique opportunity for Dunkin’ Donuts. The development of 50 restaurants across the island could help boost the economy, with a franchisee creating up to a thousand jobs or more for local residents.”

The Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Puerto Rico would serve a wide range of delicious foods and beverages, including hot and iced coffee, hot and iced tea, espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, sandwiches, muffins, croissants and the brand’s signature donuts. The restaurants would also serve products that incorporate local flavors, such as café con leche and tropical flavored frozen and juice drinks.

To apply for this franchise opportunity in Puerto Rico and for more information about Dunkin’ Donuts, visit www.dunkinfranchising.com.

*These financial targets are for recruitment purposes only and the actual financial requirements for every transaction will be based on the candidate’s validated pro forma.

About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for ten years running. The company has more than 11,700 restaurants in 43 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

CONTACT:
Ellie Mannix
Fish Consulting
954-893-9150
[email protected]

FCA US Launches One-of-a-Kind Co-Branded Partnership With Warner Bros. Pictures’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

February 22, 2016

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

Jeep® and Dodge brands debut marketing campaigns as part of promotional partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, opening nationwide in theaters on March 25, 2016
Jeep brand introduces all-new 2016 Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition available now in dealerships across the country
Jeep and Dodge brands to launch commercials using hero scenes from the film

FCA US LLC and Warner Bros. Pictures are joining forces in a one-of-kind co-branded partnership to mark the premiere of the highly anticipated debut of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (opening nationwide in theaters on March 25, 2016). The unique alliance includes the introduction of the all-new 2016 Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition (available now in dealerships across the country), in addition to branded television spots with the Jeep and Dodge brands, and social/digital extensions creating consumer engagement leading up to the film’s premiere next month.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335627

“Thanks to an extensive brand and product portfolio, we were able to address every automobile need for the movie including Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, FIAT, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and from our sister company CNH Industrial, Iveco heavy-duty commercial vehicles,” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, FCA Global. “With much of the film’s production taking place in our own backyard of Detroit, our ability to creatively collaborate with the WB team reached new heights. The product integration was so organic to the filmmakers’ vision and storyline, all we had to do was incorporate scenes from the movie for our commercials.”

“Our partnership with Warner Bros. and the highly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film allows us to expose the Jeep Renegade and its best-in-class capability to an incredibly vast audience,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global. “The new Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition boasts a unique, dark appearance package for the most capable small SUV that we’re confident consumers – including millions of moviegoers – will love.”

Jeep Brand
The advertising campaign launches today, Monday, February 22, when the Jeep brand debuts a 30-second commercial “Into the Storm” across television and online. The spot features footage from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice of Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) behind the wheel of the Jeep Renegade. The commercial speaks to how he feels compelled to move toward danger rather than run away from it. Opening on city street ruins, the narration by actor Jeremy Irons, who portrays Alfred in the film, speaks to that impulse: “You’re not afraid. You like chaos. The madder, the better (as Bruce Wayne is seen driving toward the destruction in the Jeep Renegade — navigating its way in the mayhem). And in these times, we need that. We need you to rush in when everyone else is running away.”

About the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition
Available in Granite Crystal or new, exclusive Carbon Black exterior paint colors, the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition features new 18-inch Gloss Black wheels with Gloss Black accents around the exterior. The Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition models with Granite Crystal paint also feature a two-tone Gloss Black roof. A unique exterior badge hints at the inspiration for this special-edition Jeep SUV.

Inside, the Jeep Renegade’s blacked-out theme continues with a black interior, black premium cloth seats and High Gloss Black finishes. Metal Diamond accents are found throughout on key touch points such as the shifter knob and door handles.

The Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition is based on the Jeep Renegade Latitude 4×4 and comes standard with a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine with MultiAir2, nine-speed automatic transmission, Jeep Active Drive 4×4, Selec-Terrain with four drive modes and a variety of features, including the ParkSense rear backup camera. Also standard on the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition is the Popular Equipment Group, which includes remote start, power driver’s seat and dual-zone automatic temperature control.

Arriving at dealer showrooms later this month, the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition will be available for a U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,250 (not including destination).

Social and digital extensions for the Jeep brand will run across Facebook and Twitter, in addition to Instagram, which will feature Heroes Around Town, following the all-new 2016 Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition at locations where the movie was filmed in areas around Detroit, Michigan.

Dodge Brand
The Dodge brand will launch a co-branded spot in mid-March. The 15-second spot will feature chase scenes within Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice of the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Durango vehicles, playing off the idea that the superhero world needs villains, and even the villains need cars.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE and all related characters and elements © & TM DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

About Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, an Atlas Entertainment/Cruel and Unusual production, a Zack Snyder film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, starring Oscar winner Ben Affleck (Argo) as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big-screen pairing. Directed by Snyder, the film also stars Oscar nominees Amy Adams (American Hustle), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Diane Lane (Unfaithful) and Laurence Fishburne (What’s Love Got to Do With It); Oscar winners Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune) and Holly Hunter (The Piano); and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. Snyder directed from a screenplay written by Oscar winner Chris Terrio (Argo) and David S. Goyer, based on characters from DC Comics, including Batman, created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, and Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is produced by Oscar nominee Charles Roven (American Hustle) and Deborah Snyder, with Wesley Coller, Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer serving as executive producers. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film opens in the U.S. in RealD 3D, and in 2D, and in select IMAX 3D theaters on March 25, 2016. batmanvsupermandawnofjustice.com

About Jeep Brand
Built on 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Renegade, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options.

About Dodge Brand
The Dodge brand is America’s mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the “mainstream performance” brand and SRT is positioned as the “ultimate performance” halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

From muscle cars to compact cars, minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2016 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, dual exhaust, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment centers and 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2016 model year, customers will be able to drive the new 2016 Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat. The Dodge brand lineup also includes the Dodge Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey, including the Crossroad model, and its flagship, the Dodge Viper.

About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

Follow FCA US news and video on:
FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com
Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
FCA360: 360.fcanorthamerica.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/chryslergroup/
Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fcacorporate
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol
YouTube: www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com.

Forbes Travel Guide Announces 2016 Star Rating Awards

February 22, 2016

ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its 58th list of worldwide Star Rating recipients, including 42 new Five-Star hotels, 101 new Four-Star hotels and 57 new hotels in the Recommended category.

Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 29 countries throughout The Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and expects to double its size again in the next year with expansion into the Middle East and Africa. The 2016 Five-Star hotel winners now total 154 — the most in Forbes Travel Guide’s history. The company continues its uniquely selective process for recognizing the finest properties in the markets it rates, rewarding intuitive, gracious service — which makes winning an award one of the most prestigious achievements in the industry.

In addition to the Five-Star hotel winners, two new restaurants earned Five-Star awards, bringing the total to 56. Two new spas achieved Forbes Travel Guide’s highest honor, pushing the tally to 47 Five-Star spas. See the complete Star Rating list here.

“We are delighted to recognize the 2016 Star Rating recipients, a phenomenal group of hotels, restaurants and spas,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide. “These properties set an unimpeachable standard of excellence in hospitality at a moment when the proliferation of voices claiming to provide unbiased ratings online is exploding. With Forbes Travel Guide-rated properties, there is no ambiguity, no doubt: based on a stringent set of standards developed and refined over six decades, our ratings are now accepted and embraced worldwide. We are proud to congratulate each of the owners, property managers and their teams, and everyone associated with the prestigious properties recognized today. Together, we help discerning consumers make better luxury travel decisions worldwide.”

Forbes Travel Guide also recognized a total of 410 Four-Star hotels, 187 Four-Star restaurants and 180 Four-Star spas, as well as its list of 159 Recommended hotels and 68 Recommended restaurants in the markets it rates — the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Costa Rica, England’s Home Counties, London, the French Riviera, Paris, Berlin, Florence, Milan, Rome, Geneva, Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo.

A Snapshot of the List: Highlighting the Big Winners and Trends

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts made the strongest showing among hotel brands, with six new Five-Star hotels in Florence, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Hangzhou, China; Papagayo, Costa Rica; Paris, France; and Whistler, Canada. It also dominated the overall Five-Star hotel list, nabbing 26 of the 42 spots. This is the first time in the company’s history it has achieved six new Five-Star hotels in a single year.
Paris was the year’s biggest winner among new destinations, debuting with nine Five-Star hotels: Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris; Hôtel Plaza Athénée; La Réserve Paris; Le Bristol Paris; Le Meurice; Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris; Mandarin Oriental, Paris; The Peninsula Paris; and Shangri-La Hotel, Paris.
Italy also scored high, with eight hotels earning Five-Star accolades in the country’s first year as a rated destination. Rome continues to be a hot luxury destination, boasting four Five-Star hotels (Hotel de Russie, Hotel Eden, Hotel Hassler Roma, J.K. Place Roma). Florence clinched three Five-Star awards (Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Hotel Savoy, Portrait Firenze) and Milan took one (Mandarin Oriental, Milan).
In the Asia-Pacific region, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake became the first-ever Five-Star hotel in that newly rated destination. China now has a total of 10 Five-Star hotels, with three first-time winners this year. Palace Hotel Tokyo became the first Japanese-branded hotel ever to receive Five-Star recognition. Peninsula achieved two new Five-Star awards, one in Tokyo and another in Bangkok.
Distinctive independent boutique properties around the world continue to gain recognition, including The Goring, London; J.K. Place Roma, Rome; La Réserve Paris; and Portrait Firenze, Florence; and. All garnered Five-Star awards for the first time. Coworth Park, set in the English Royal County of Berkshire, also earned the top honor — demonstrating that the highest levels of service and facilities can be found in all locations, at all property types and in all parts of the world.
Langham Hotels & Resorts nabbed its first Five-Star award in the U.S. The Langham, Chicago won the top honor for both its hotel and spa.
The Caribbean and Mexico scored big wins. In the Caribbean, large branded hotels such as Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve joined independent boutique properties like Barbados’ Sandy Lane Hotel in earning first-time Five-Stars. Mexico had six Five-Star hotels on the list in Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Punta Mita.
In the U.S., Wequassett Resort and Golf Club became the only Five-Star hotel on Cape Cod, its first time winning the coveted honor. It joined Five-Star properties from destinations as diverse as New York City (eight Five-Star hotels); Las Vegas (five Five-Star hotels); and Park City, Utah (two Five-Star hotels).

For details on how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/forbes-travel-guide.

To view the complete list of 2016 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating recipients, visit http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/awardwinners.

About Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide is the originator of the prestigious Five-Star Rating system, and has provided the travel industry’s most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 800 rigorous and objective standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions. Forbes Travel Guide is the most prestigious standard for luxury hospitality worldwide. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com.

ForbesTravelGuide.com combines the objectivity and heritage of the Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating system with insightful recommendations from a hand-selected group of travel experts, tastemakers and Forbes Travel Guide inspectors. ForbesTravelGuide.com is the exclusive online destination for Forbes Travel Guide’s list of Star-Rated hotels, restaurants and spas, and gives its registered members exclusive access to special offers and curated experiences from select Forbes Travel Guide partners.

Connect with Forbes Travel Guide:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michael Frenkel
MFC PR
+1-212-808-6559
[email protected]

Entravision to Air One-on-One Live Interview with Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton

February 21, 2016

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

WHAT:	Entravision Communications Corporation‘s (NYSE: EVC) a diversified media company serving U.S. Latino audiences and communities, has secured an unprecedented, exclusive one-on-one interview with Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. During the program, host Rafael Contreras and Hillary Clinton will discuss key issues among the U.S. Latino voter community in addition to the importance of U.S. Latino awareness of their own political power.

WHEN:	Air Date: Saturday, February 20, 2016 Time: 8:00 am PT – 9:00 am PT

WHERE:	This segment will air on Entravision’s KINC-TV CH. 15 Noticias Univision Nevada station, and will be filmed at Entravision studios in Las Vegas, NV at 500 Pilot Road.

	The program will also include minute by minute online coverage by Entravision political editor Alida Gonzalez on Entravision’s politicaparami.com website, in addition to live coverage on Entravision’s Facebook (PoliticaParaMiUSA), Twitter and Instagram (@PoliticaParaMi).

WHY:	In its ongoing effort to keep audiences informed with the latest issues and current events both locally and nationally, Entravision is committed to providing comprehensive news on the current political landscape in this critical election year. As a leader in Spanish-language media, Entravision is dedicated to meeting the increasing demand for high-quality news coverage through interviews with key political figures to discuss the latest and most relevant issues.

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