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Funding update: Marquee tech founders and investors join Ultrahuman’s Series A

Ultrahuman

Several prolific tech investors and founders have come together to invest in Ultrahuman, a leading metabolic fitness platform that uses glucose biomarkers to help people optimize their lifestyle. Balaji Srinivasan (ex-Coinbase), Nithin Kamath (founder of Zerodha via Rainmatter) and Preethi Kasireddy (ex-a16z) along with several others have invested in Ultrahuman, the world’s most advanced metabolic fitness platform, in an undisclosed funding amount which will be in addition to their recent series A round. Others influential leaders include Groww founders (Harsh Jain, Lalit Keshre, Neeraj Singh and Ishan Bansal), Razorpay founder, Harshil Mathur and RazorpayX GM - Shashank Mehta, Akshay BD (founding team Uber India) and Tanmay Bhat (celebrity content creator and investor) as they support Ultrahuman, a metabolic fitness platform that helps people optimize their metabolism via real-time biomarkers like glucose in combination with HRV, sleep and activity insights. The metabolic health crisis is unarguably one of the largest healthcare crises that exist today. Over a billion people in the world suffer from a metabolic health disorder which contributes to almost 85% of all chronic diseases in the world. By helping people understand how food and exercise affect their metabolic health, people would be able to make informed choices about what they eat and their activity levels. The approach is a geography/diet agnostic way to help people eat and exercise better. Measuring a powerful biomarker like glucose can reveal so much about how a particular food item affects the user’s metabolic health by measuring the glucose response. This response is unique to an individual and it depends on various factors like their gut microbiome, stress levels, time of the day, food ingredient quality, etc. Ultrahuman launched with Ultrahuman M1 - a metabolic health tracking platform that provides intelligent nudges based on glucose biomarkers. This helps people optimize their exercise, sleep and nutrition based on deep insights from the platform. The M1 tracks the wearer’s metabolism as they go about their day using a continuous glucose monitoring device. It triggers timely personalized nudges to the user such as alerts to high glucose variability events leading to oxidative stress and suggestions to optimize it via lifestyle interventions. Nithin Kamath, founder of Zerodha, added: “A big part of living healthier is tracking your diet and eating right, but the problem is doing this accurately is tricky. The approach that Ultrahuman is taking to tackle this problem of improving metabolic fitness by using biomarkers is really interesting. We're excited to join Mohit and Vatsal on their journey.” Ultrahuman has raised over $25M to date. Existing investors include Alpha Wave, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Blume Ventures and Utsav Somani’s iSeed fund, and a range of other angel investors including Tiger Global’s Scott Schleifer. “We’re super excited to welcome some of the world’s foremost founders, investors and biohackers to join our Series A round. The most inspiring aspect of this investment is that most of them are long term users of the platform as well and that strengthens our mission holistically”. said Mohit Kumar, Founder and CEO, Ultrahuman. Ultrahuman was started by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal who were also co-founders at Runnr which later merged with India’s largest food delivery service Zomato. Mohit is an avid cyclist, biohacker and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast. Vatsal is a cross-fit enthusiast and a biohacker. Mohit was training at one of the largest MMA Camps in the world (Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand). During his training, he observed athletes train smartly via the usage of data, recovery tools and protocols. About Ultrahuman Ultrahuman is the world's most advanced metabolic fitness platform. By using glucose and other biomarkers, Ultrahuman is helping people improve their energy levels, lose fat and avoid metabolic disorders. For more information and updates on Ultrahuman, please visit ultrahuman.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Contact Details Ultrahuman Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://ultrahuman.com/

May 12, 2022 06:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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DermTech Helps Detect Skin Cancer Through a Smart Sticker Instead of a Scalpel

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/9SD9aKn3328 Would it surprise you to know that one in five Americans develop skin cancer by the age of 70? In fact, more than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour. It is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer and one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the U.S. Because of the nation-wide closures of dermatology offices during the pandemic, there was a significant delay in routine cancer screening which impaired referrals for preliminary cancer diagnoses. This means there is a potential backlog of undiagnosed skin cancers. Even prior to the pandemic, only 16 percent of Americans ages 18-29 surveyed in a 2018 study stated that they visited a dermatologist’s office in the past 12 months. What if there were an innovative and painless ways to get your moles checked at home via a telehealth appointment and under clinician supervision? DermTech’s reliable and patient-friendly test, the DermTech Melanoma Test, enhances early melanoma detection by accurately ruling out melanoma. It uses a non-invasive Smart Sticker to gently lift skin cells from the surface of the skin, which are tested for the presence of genomic markers associated with melanoma. A negative test result means there is greater than 99% probability that the mole is not melanoma. The Smart Sticker is simply pressed onto the spot, lifted off and then sent to DermTech’s lab. Patients can access the DermTech Melanoma Test at dermatologists’ offices, through certain primary care providers or remotely via telehealth in 44 states. For more information visit: https://dermtech.com/ Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 10, 2022 01:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Hidden Cost of Debt on Your Mental Health

YourUpdateTV

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with 80% of Americans in debt amid inflation and rising interest rates one of the biggest factors impacting our mental health that not enough people are talking about is financial debt. Recently, licensed clinical psychologist and National Debt Relief Financial Wellness Board Member, Dr. Regine Muradian conducted a satellite media tour to discuss why self-care is important during challenging financial times. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/h_cczQ9fKS8 A recent survey by National Debt Relief sought to uncover “The Hidden Cost of Debt” to understand the spiraling impact of debt on mental and physical health. The national survey of two thousand Americans revealed a hunger to have a game plan in place so they feel confident in their ability to tackle debt while living their life mentally, physically and financially well. National Debt Relief has helped over 450,000 clients settle their debt by working with creditors and banks to negotiate down the total amount owed in as little as 24-48 months. What’s more, 95% of clients are in a better financial situation, and they are 4x more likely to reach their financial goals and save after one month of completing National Debt Relief’s program. Some of the survey findings include: 7 in 10 people feel like a black cloud hangs over them when they have to pay a bill or loan People lose 200 hours of sleep per year over their debt & have 3 debt nightmares a week 3 in 5 Americans have considered putting off marriage to avoid inheriting their partner’s debt 54% believe having a partner who is in debt is a major reason to get a divorce 69% of respondents said being in debt has made them withdraw from the things they love Continuing to look at the future, 3 in 4 want to pay off all debt so their children won’t have to suffer Nearly three-quarters of those polled wish there were tools and resources available to help them when they were at their worst in debt ( 73% ). While it is very important to deal with the monetary side of debt, it’s also critical to understand how our finances can have a toll on mental health and relationships with friends, relatives, and spouses. Dr. Muradian shares her tips and insights on the best ways to cope with and overcome the hidden costs and burden of debt: Establishing a plan for getting out of debt and get back in control Prioritizing self-care practices through the journey to support mental health, such as: Reframing thoughts by shifting from “I’m in debt” to “I have a plan to get out of debt”. Doing one activity each day for oneself like exercising or reading Having transparent conversations with loved ones (partner, spouse, family or friends) to avoid feelings of isolation. To get started on the path to financial stability, visit nationaldebtrelief.com or call 800-927-6955 for a free consultation. About Dr. Regine Muradian: Dr. Regine Muradian is a licensed clinical psychologist, children’s author, speaker, consultant and mental health advocate. In her clinical practice, Dr. Muradian works with children, adolescents, and adults who present with a wide range of emotional stressors. She specializes in Anxiety and is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), ADHD, Depression, Eating Disorders/Body Image and Executive Functioning and Leadership Training. Dr. Muradian is also a specialist in Psychological, Personality and Neuropsychological Assessments. Dr. Muradian is fluent in French, Romanian, and incorporates her multicultural background and experiences in her clinical practice and trainings. Her focus is on helping people find their passion through exploring their inner strengths and bring these to the surface. There is no age limit to success as it all starts with an idea. How you generate and create that idea is the path to ultimate success. Dr. Muradian has been featured as a national renowned parent expert in outlets not limited to: Good Day LA, UK Talk Radio, WFLA Channel 8, Architectural Digest, FabFitFun, Huffington Post, MSN, CV Weekly, Thrive Global, and Healthline. About National Debt Relief: National Debt Relief (NDR), a BBB A+ Accredited business that helps consumers get out of debt and is committed to empowering people on their financial journey, bringing them back to living their lives and away from focusing on debt. NDR offers a successful alternative to bankruptcy, credit counseling or taking on new loans. As a top-rated debt relief company in the U.S., NDR is proud to have positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people on their journey to become debt-free. NDR wants to make sure clients succeed and have the best chance to regain control of their finances. Founded in 2009, NDR is values-centric; built on integrity, growth and connection. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 09, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Telos “Mission” NFT Challenge - 175,000 in Crypto Prizes!

Telos Foundation

Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) presents its “Mission NFT Challenge” for digital graphic creators, offering a very attractive prize pool to be shared among contest winners. Telos believes that NFTs are both an art form and a pivoting technology that should be easily and affordably accessible to the masses. As such, Telos strives to facilitate the lowest barrier of entry into the emerging field of NFTs. Utilizing Byt.io, the latest leading NFT marketplace to integrate Telos, end-users will mint and trade their NFTs at unprecedented fast speeds while enjoying industry-low gas fees. The Telos EVM will also offer a congestion-free minting experience that leaves no carbon footprint or any of the front running / MEV that constantly plagues Ethereum users. Furthermore, contract deployment is a fraction of the cost and significantly faster on Telos when compared to virtually every other network, making it a far superior ecosystem to build on. Transactions are instant on Telos! Some Contest Details: The contest opens for registration on Monday May 9th, 12:00 pm EST and participants can submit their projects by Friday, June 24th, 12:00 pm EST. Public Voting on the submissions will take place between Monday May 23rd, 12:00 pm EST to Thursday, June 30th, at 12:00 pm EST. Twenty finalists will be announced on Friday July 1st, 12:00 pm EST and the top five winners will be selected and announced on Tuesday July 5th at 11:00 am EST. Telos encourages all digital artists and aspiring NFT projects to compete in this contest to win one of 5 prizes worth 25,000 TLOS each. Furthermore, an honorable pick by The Big Gooey, Telos’ in-house NFT curator, will award one winner with an additional 50,000 TLOS. The contest and voting will be hosted on the Taikai platform (also built on telos), which recently completed a very successful hackathon for the Telos Ignite contest. The public will vote on all submissions to select the top 20 projects after which a panel of judges will decide on the top five. This maiden NFT contest is inviting artists to bring their NFT projects (ERC 721) and deploy them on the tEVM where they can be minted to be sold on the Byt marketplace or other secondary markets. All additional details and criteria can be found on the Taikai platform through the following link: https://taikai.network/en/telos-foundation/hackathons/nftp-slug/overview About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper, and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running and, more uniquely, offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Even while operating as a Net Zero Blockchain, Telos still sustainably supports hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals (on a first-in-first-out basis, eliminating front running on the network), and securely validates transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. As a result, the Telos blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 landscape better than any other blockchain in existence. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Telos NFT Curator The Big Gooey thebiggooey@telosfoundation.io Byt Co-founder Will Perkins will@byt.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

May 09, 2022 11:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BLUEPEAK TO BRING A FASTER, MORE RELIABLE INTERNET TO ALTUS, OKLAHOMA

Bluepeak

Bluepeak, an innovative internet provider, announced today that it has received franchise approval from the city of Altus, Okla. to build a high-speed fiber network to meet the growing needs of the community, today and in the future. The approximately $9 million network expansion will bring Bluepeak service to more than 9,000 residences and businesses in Altus. “We’re very proud of our partnership with the city of Altus to enhance internet connectivity here,” said Rich Fish, CEO of Bluepeak. “We can’t wait to bring our next-generation, fiber-to-the-home network to the great community of Altus to meet the growing needs for how we all live.” With Bluepeak’s advanced fiber connection, residential customers can get up to 5 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) of symmetrical bandwidth (upload and download speeds) and businesses can get up to 10 Gbps and beyond of symmetrical bandwidth. Bluepeak’s fiber network will provide faster speeds, better connectivity, and the bandwidth to connect more devices for internet, streaming, gaming and more. “We're excited to have Bluepeak investing in our community, and improving broadband access in our city," said Altus Mayor Robert Garrison. "We look forward to building a great relationship with them to make Altus an even better place to live and work.” “I support the efforts of Bluepeak to bring broadband into southwest Oklahoma,” said Okla. Sen. Brent Howard. “The opportunities that will come with quality, high-speed internet will open new work possibilities for the residents of Altus. We live in an age of information and remote capabilities; this will make Altus more connected and accessible for growth.” Bluepeak has coordinated with the city of Altus and will begin construction on the new network this summer. For more information and to receive the latest updates, visit www.mybluepeak.com. About Bluepeak Bluepeak is building a faster, more reliable internet without the things that get in the way of great service - like red tape, hidden fees, and slow response times. Offering up to 5 gigabits of speed for residential customers and 10 gigabits for businesses, Bluepeak is a whole new ballgame - from internet to TV, to connecting every device in a home, to powering a business, Bluepeak not only provides the best fiber connections in the communities it serves, but also meets the growing needs for how its customers live. Contact Details Bluepeak Jesse Granger +1 720-703-4315 mediaqueries@mybluepeak.com Company Website https://www.mybluepeak.com

May 09, 2022 07:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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AmeriLife Celebrates the Nominations of its Women Leaders to Chief

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions, announced today that a slate of its top women leaders have received invitations to Chief. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for the most powerful women executives to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and pave the way to bring others with them. The nominations follow the launch of AmeriLife’s Distribution Women’s Leadership Council (DWLC), part of the company’s ongoing efforts to increase and elevate leadership diversity within AmeriLife and throughout the broader insurance and financial services industry. “Empowering the next generation of women leaders is central not only to AmeriLife’s diversity efforts, but is critical to our future business success,” said Mike Vietri, chief distribution officer of AmeriLife and executive champion of the DWLC. “Like the launch of our Distribution Women’s Leadership Council, today’s announcement marks yet another milestone in the growth and development of our women leaders, and we couldn’t be more excited to take advantage of the tremendous resources that Chief has to offer.” AmeriLife leaders receiving invitations to Chief include: Dana Ballenger, vice president of administration and financial reporting for AmeriLife Benefits Christy Boyd, executive vice president of operations for Senior Market Advisors Angela Palo, chief operating officer and co-owner of AmeriLife affiliate Pinnacle Financial Services Candice Wood, market leader who oversees AmeriLife’s agency offices in Greensboro, Cary and Wilmington, North Carolina, and Roanoke, Virginia “This group of women exemplifies what leadership is all about; we couldn’t have asked for better ambassadors of AmeriLife,” added Kiersten Burstiner, chief human resources officer of AmeriLife. “We’re excited for their journey as members of Chief and are equally as eager to bring their learnings back to AmeriLife to support the continued growth of our women in leadership.” ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

May 05, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

REALTORS® Reveal Buying and Selling Tips for a Competitive Real Estate Market

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/CRjkmgrwWmc Buying or selling a home is among the greatest financial decisions an individual or family will ever make. For both buyers and sellers, there are many factors that must be considered, from interest rates to space for growing families and, of course, location. Given the complex nature of this exciting transaction, many consumers turn to expert advice from real estate agents. The National Association of REALTORS ® reported that 70% of metro areas recorded a double-digit annual increase in the median single-family existing-home sales price. The median sales price of single-family existing homes rose at a faster pace of 15.7% in the first quarter to $368,200 (14.3% in the previous quarter). NAR forecasts homebuying activity to return to more normal levels and for home sales to be down 9% from last year. For buyers who have been frustrated by competing with multiple offers, a less hurried market is on the way. Inflation will start to moderate to 5.5% in the second half of the year, lower than the current 8.2%. NAR noted a decrease in year-over-year contract activity, with a drop in pending home sales from the last five months. This implies that multiple offers will soon dissipate and be replaced by much calmer market conditions. The good news is that home prices should begin to normalize later this year. As the market continues to shift is it important to consult an expert real estate agent. Real estate professionals save home buyers time and help take the stress out of the process. They have knowledge of local, county, and state property taxes, can decipher public property information, and advise on price trends and neighborhoods. An expert real estate agent can also: coordinate with lenders; research mortgage rates and terms; schedule appraisals and inspections; navigate all required state and federal forms; and handle closing documents. If you’re looking for a REALTOR ® in your area, visit REALTOR.com. ® Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 05, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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100 Teachers to Win Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises in Celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week

YourUpdateTV

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 – 6) Norwegian Cruise Line is relaunching its award-winning Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM contest, rewarding 100 teachers across the U.S. with a sailing aboard its newest groundbreaking ship, Norwegian Prima. In addition, the top three grand prize winners will receive a seven-day cruise for two and up to a $25,000 donation for their school. Recently, Senior Vice President of Branding and Communications at Norwegian Cruise Line, Christine Da Silva, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the initiative and why it’s so important to recognize the work of our teachers. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/4ldobDA3veo Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM campaign serves to recognize and celebrate educators for their relentless dedication to inspiring students every day, and unwavering commitment to bringing joy to the classroom. In addition to honoring these often-under-valued teachers, this campaign highlights the intersection of travel and education, two areas that Norwegian Cruise Line is extremely passionate about. Travel is one of the most immersive means of education. It broadens our perspective, encourages us to discover, adapt and accept new cultures and experiences. The month-long campaign is now live and runs through June 3, 2022. Norwegian Cruise Line is encouraging nominations of certified or accredited teachers in the U.S. and Canada who strive to bring joy into their classrooms and inspire their student’s day-in and day-out. The top 100 teachers across North America will win an exclusive invitation to the inaugural sailing of NCL’s newest innovative ship, Norwegian Prima, from Galveston, TX from Oct. 27-31, 2022. The top three winners will also receive a seven-day cruise for two on voyages departing from the U.S. and Canada through Dec. 31, 2023, as well as $25,000, $15,000 or $10,000 respectively for their school. To nominate a beloved teacher, to vote and for the contest terms and conditions, please visit www.nclgivingjoy.com. About Christine Da Silva: Christine Da Silva is the Senior Vice President of Branding and Communications for Norwegian Cruise Line, responsible for the development and execution of the brand’s global branding strategy as well as its external and internal communications and events. Overseeing branding and communication, she leads the development of the brand narrative; is responsible for reputation, crisis and issue management; and has been instrumental in the launch of engagement initiatives including the game-changing Norwegian’s Giving Joy TM and Encore Moments campaigns as well as the debut of the Company’s latest vessels. Da Silva has over 25 years of experience guiding brands and businesses in delivering authentic and impactful messages through integrated communication and marketing strategies that drive growth, sales and awareness. She is based in the Company’s head office in Miami, Florida. About Norwegian Cruise Line: As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 55 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to over 300 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 05, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Post-COVID Travel Boom Visits Rural America

YourUpdateTV

Visit North Carolina has launched Dream Big in Small Town NC, an initiative to boost economic recovery by attracting travelers and potential workforce to small towns in 16 counties facing population loss. Starting with a sweepstakes promotion and a satellite media tour in Haywood County, the campaign showcases natural beauty and small-town charm in places with special challenges resulting from the pandemic. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/xcNldQZAVdk Created by the General Assembly as the Rural Tourism Recovery Pilot Program, Dream Big capitalizes on travelers’ interest in exploring small towns by drawing attention to the people, places and businesses in three distinct regions designated as the Scenic Mountains, the Northeast Lakes & Rivers, and the Inner Banks. As a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Visit NC is coordinating the program with the N.C. Department of Commerce and other private and public entities involved in growing the state’s first-in-talent workforce. “Dream Big is a natural extension of Visit NC’s economic development role as the state’s tourism marketing organization,” said Wit Tuttell, Visit NC’s executive director. “Our efforts center on showcasing local landmarks, memorable experiences, distinctive lodging, dining and shopping with the goal of an economic infusion from visitor spending. Dream Big takes the mission further by calling attention to the allure of living and working in charismatic places whose appeal is rooted in character and authenticity.” Funded with $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the pilot program designates Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties in the Scenic Mountains; Edgecombe, Halifax, Vance and Warren in the Northeast Lakes & Rivers; and Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington in the Inner Banks. Dream Big also has a dedicated presence on VisitNC.com, complete with links for job postings, as well as program partner Airbnb’s website. The Scenic Mountains is the first region to take the spotlight. During the satellite tour in Waynesville, representatives from national, regional and in-state media outlets joined the virtual tour and Q&A session. The launch also features a sweepstakes with a prize package that includes: A $1,000 Airbnb stay voucher to experience Small Town NC life. A $500 VISA gift card to help with travel expenses by plane, train or automobile A choice of gift cards for dining, recreation and shopping in the Scenic Mountain destinations. Similar promotions and satellite media tours are planned for the program’s launch in Northeast Lakes & Rivers this summer and in the Inner Banks in the fall. According to a recent report from Destination Analysts, 28.4 percent of people surveyed plan to visit small towns or rural attractions this travel season. Increased demand is reflected in the doubling of short-term rentals available outside of North Carolina’s urban counties since the pandemic began. For 2021, Airbnb reports a 128 percent increase in nights booked in rural areas compared with 2019. For the same period, nights booked for rural stays of more than four weeks grew 160 percent, which supports Dream Big’s promise to engage visitors for more than a getaway. Tuttell also noted findings from a poll by booking.com that 58 percent of travelers said it’s important for their trip be beneficial to the destination's local community. Twenty-nine percent said they would research how their tourism spending would affect or improve local communities. Beyond exposure from the satellite tour, Dream Big will reach the traveling public through a presence on VisitNC.com and posts on @VisitNC’s social media channels. A media influencer campaign will bring selected tastemakers to the destinations to engage their followers in the local culture and lifestyle appeal for people interested in a change of scenery. Airbnb, which will also promote the campaign on its website and social media channels, will use its inventory of short-term rental properties to host the media visits. About Visit North Carolina: Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Established in 2014, the EDPNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. The mission of Visit North Carolina is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. For more information on North Carolina’s destinations and travel assets, go to VisitNC.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 04, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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