Experience a seamless crypto-powered journey — from flights and visas to local purchases in Bhutan

THIMPHU, Bhutan, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bhutan is pioneering the future of travel by becoming the first nation to implement a national-level crypto payment system for tourism. Bhutan’s innovative mechanism allows travelers with Binance accounts to experience truly cashless journeys. In collaboration with Binance Pay and Bhutan’s fully digital DK Bank, this initiative offers travelers using Binance Pay a seamless, secure, and flexible end-to-end payment experience. More than 100 merchants are now live with DK Bank and Binance Pay. From booking flights to purchasing fresh fruit from roadside vendors, visitors can enjoy the convenience and efficiency of digital transactions throughout their journey.

This innovative model allows Binance Pay users to pay for nearly every part of their Bhutan journey using supported cryptocurrencies. This includes airline tickets to Bhutan, tourist visa and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), hotel bookings, tour guides, monument entry fees, local shopping, and more — all settled quickly and securely through static and dynamic QR code payments.

Known as the “Kingdom of Happiness,” Bhutan prioritizes Gross National Happiness (GNH) over GDP, focusing on sustainability, cultural preservation, and societal well-being. This pioneering collaboration with Binance Pay and DK Bank furthers that vision by harnessing digital innovation to enhance travel experiences, empower local communities, and unite tradition with technology.

Key highlights:

• Seamless Experience: Use crypto for all travel-related expenses, from flight tickets and visas to local purchases.
• Tourism First: A fully integrated system across immigration, travel agents, hotels, guides, and retail.
• Inclusive Reach: Enables small vendors in remote areas to accept QR code payments.
• Powered by DK Bank: Supported by Bhutan’s first fully digital bank.
• Lower Fees: Significantly cheaper than traditional payment methods, with 0 gas fees
• Immediate Transactions: Seamless crypto-powered immediate transactions for tourists
• Comprehensive Support: Accepts more than 100 cryptocurrencies, including BNB, BTC, USDC
• Secure Transactions: Features encrypted transactions, 2FA, and real-time confirmations via the Binance application.

Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, said: “We are excited to partner with Bhutan as we are not only advancing the use of cryptocurrencies in travel but also setting a precedent for how technology can bridge cultures and economies. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to innovation and our belief in a future where digital finance empowers global connectivity and enriches travel experiences.”

“This is more than a payment solution — it’s a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience,” said Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Bhutan. “It enables a seamless experience for travellers and empowers even small vendors in remote villages to participate in the tourism economy.”

The partnership marks the first time a tourism product has accepted cryptocurrency at a national level. It addresses common barriers to digital payments, such as high transaction fees and limited merchant acceptance, by offering a low transaction fee and prompt settlements. Real-time notifications further ensure transparency for both merchants and visitors.

DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank—is powering the local settlement mechanism. Licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, DK Bank brings modern technology and innovation to deliver seamless, secure, and accessible financial services to all strata of society, especially those marginalized and unbanked. https://www.digitalkidu.bt/ 

Binance Pay is a seamless, borderless, and secure cryptocurrency payment feature on the Binance app, allowing users and merchants to pay, send and receive crypto worldwide without incurring gas fees. With support for over 300 cryptocurrencies, it caters to more than 40 million active users and 32,000 merchants. Trusted by over 270 million users across 100+ countries, Binance stands as the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users.

The Department of Tourism of Bhutan is responsible for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism in Bhutan. It works to share the Kingdom’s remarkable places, people and experiences with conscious travellers, guided by the principles of high-value, low-volume tourism. Bhutan.travel

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–  School awarded HK$58,000 grant to advance STEM programming

HONG KONG, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A team of students from Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School has received an honorable mention, securing the third place in the Otis Asia Pacific region in the Otis Made to Move Communities student challenge, a competition in which students apply principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to propose solutions to real-world urban mobility issues.

Over the last several months, the students, with the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, designed solutions leveraging AI technology aimed at enabling more inclusive mobility in their communities, and presented their ideas to Otis judges from the Otis Asia Pacific region. Otis is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

Their solution of using AI to assist visually impaired residents in navigating more easily on a minibus received an honorable mention in the region, and earned the school a HK$58,000 grant to advance STEM programming.

“We are deeply grateful to Otis for providing this invaluable opportunity through the Made to Move Communities program. Our students have had an incredible experience learning from the Otis mentors and applying their STEM knowledge to tackle real-world mobility challenges. The third-place finish in the Asia Pacific regional competition shows their dedication and innovation, as they worked tirelessly to develop an AI-powered solution enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in urban transportation,” said Acting Deputy Principal cum Director of International Division, Ms Jacqui Koo. “This recognition not only validates their hard work but also inspires them to continue exploring STEM fields and making a positive impact in their community. The HK$58,000 grant accompanying this achievement will be instrumental in advancing our STEM programmes, enabling further investment in resources and experiences that nurture the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators. As a school that advocates and encourages students to embrace the spirit of “Strive for Excellence, Dare to Challenge,” we are thrilled to see them engage so passionately and look forward to building on this success in future competitions.”

“I would like to congratulate the Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School on their impressive achievement,” said Michael Lee, SVP of Service, Otis Greater China, and Managing Director of Otis Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan. “This is the fifth year for HMT to join the MTMC challenge. I am always inspired by the creativity, commitment, and skill demonstrated by the student team. We hope that this experience has sparked a passion in them and other students in the program to continue exploring STEM fields. At the same time, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Otis volunteers for their great support of the program.”

About the Made to Move Communities challenge

Launched in 2020, the Made to Move Communities challenge engages young minds to explore real-world urbanization challenges and develop innovative solutions with the potential to create more connected communities and improve mobility for all. This initiative brings together students, educators, and Otis colleagues as mentors with the goals of advancing STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent, ensuring future workforce readiness, and sustaining innovation.

Each year, the program focuses on a different theme that aligns with global priorities, such as sustainability, accessibility or technology. This year’s theme had students incorporate Artificial Intelligence into their proposals. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, applying STEM principles to address mobility-related issues. Through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, participants gain valuable insights and skills that prepare them for future careers while making a positive impact on society. Participating schools also receive grants at the conclusion of the program to support ongoing STEM education.

This year, more than 250 students globally from dozens of schools participated in the challenge. To date, the Made to Move Communities program has reached more than 1,000 student participants, involved more than 950 Otis volunteer mentors, and delivered nearly 90 grants totalling over $1 million to support ongoing STEM education at participating schools. 

To learn more about the Made to Move Communities challenge, visit www.otis.com/mtmc.

SINGAPORE, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kantar has announced the appointment of Andy Gallagher, a seasoned global media and communications leader as the head of its creative and media business for Singapore.

Andy brings a wealth of experience specializing in media strategy, creative effectiveness and analytics. Over the years, he has worked closely with major publishers and advertisers to assess campaign performance and optimize touchpoint strategies to maximise ROI. Prior to this appointment, Andy was heading the ad measurement business for Amazon Ads in London, serving as the Go-To-Market (GTM) lead for measurement in Europe. In this role, he provided strategic advisory services across first- and third-party measurement solutions, delivering insights that showcased the value of the brand to advertisers and agencies.     

This is Andy’s second stint with Kantar having worked in Kantar’s EU & US markets prior to joining Amazon. With leadership experience across both companies, Andy brings a seasoned perspective in media measurement, creative impact, and campaign effectiveness, making him a trusted advisor in the industry. A recognized thought leader and speaker, Andy has also featured at various industry events.

Commenting on the appointment, Jane Ng, General Manager, Insights Division, Kantar Singapore said, “I’m thrilled to have Andy join us at Kantar Singapore. With his deep expertise across media strategy, creative effectiveness and analytics, combined with a strong entrepreneurial mindset- he brings a powerful edge to our team. His leadership will be instrumental in elevating our creative and media offer and enriching our client partnerships. I’m excited about the role he will play in shaping the future of insights- helping brands navigate an increasingly complex media landscape with confidence and clarity”

Andy added, “I am thrilled to have re-joined Kantar as Head of Creative & Media effectiveness. As part of the new role, I’ve relocated to Singapore to lead the team and am excited to return to this best-in-class organization to help lead & drive strategy for the Singapore business. I look forward to collaborating with both regional and global clients to shape the future of their brands and provide guidance on data-driven, strategic business decisions.”

About Kantar   

Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioural data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why and how to shape the marketing strategies that shape their future. www.kantar.com 

BANGALORE, India, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vymo, the Sales Engagement Platform trusted by over 350,000 financial sales people globally, has launched CollectIQ, marking its formal entry into the debt collections space. Designed specifically for banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), the solution brings together AI-driven prioritization, automation, and integrated agent enablement to help institutions drive better recovery outcomes.

The move comes at a time when India’s financial sector is sharpening its focus on curbing non-performing assets (NPAs) and strengthening post-disbursal recovery efforts. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Stability Report, the GNPA ratio for scheduled commercial banks could rise from 2.7% in March 2024 to 3% by March 2026 under baseline scenarios — underscoring the need for proactive, data-led collection strategies.

“Collections teams have traditionally been underserved by technology, even though it plays a critical role in the health of a lender’s portfolio,” said Yamini Bhat, Co-founder and CEO of Vymo. “With CollectIQ, we are bringing automation, intelligence, and customer-centricity into collections — helping financial institutions recover smarter and more efficiently.”

CollectIQ acts as a single pane of glass for collections — bringing together case allocation, agent tracking, customer engagement, and integrated payment workflows into one intelligent system. It allocates accounts based on real-time inputs like agent proximity, performance history, and risk profiles. It provides live visibility into field activities through geo-verification and instant updates, and nudges agents toward the next-best action while enabling on-the-spot digital payments. The platform is fully integrated with lenders’ core systems such as LMS, CRM, and payment gateways, streamlining both operations and reporting.

By embedding intelligence and automation into everyday workflows, Vymo aims to help lenders not only recover more effectively but also do so in a way that enhances customer trust and regulatory compliance.

For more information, visit https://vymo.com/collections

About Vymo

Vymo transforms how financial institutions manage sales and collections operations. Trusted by 350,000+ users across 70+ global enterprises — including AIA, HDFC Bank, Berkshire Hathaway, SMFG, Aditya Birla Capital and more. Vymo delivers AI-powered solutions that drive performance and operational excellence. Its human-centric, enterprise-grade platform ensures high adoption and measurable outcomes. Vymo has raised over $45M from Sequoia Capital, Emergence Capital, and Bertelsmann India Investments and is a winner of CB Insights’ Demo Day and Microsoft’s ‘AI for All’ awards.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Loyalty Juggernaut, Inc. (LJI), an innovation leader in loyalty technology, announced today a strategic partnership to power Riyadh Air’s next-generation digital loyalty program, during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, UAE.

Displaying their commitment to a strategic alliance: James Mulroney, SVP of Client Engagement, Loyalty Juggernaut, and Kim Hardaker, Vice President of Customer Loyalty at Riyadh Air, present their signed agreement.

As Riyadh Air prepares to redefine travel experiences for a new era, the airline is building a loyalty program that is as modern, dynamic, and digitally native as the brand itself. Powered by Loyalty Juggernaut’s cloud-native GRAVTY^® platform, Riyadh Air’s loyalty program will deliver a fully personalized, seamless, and rewarding experience for travelers worldwide.

“At Riyadh Air, we are committed to setting a new standard in customer experience,” said Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air. “Loyalty Juggernaut’s cutting-edge GRAVTY^® platform allows us to create a digital-first loyalty program that matches the ambition, innovation, and scale of Riyadh Air. Together, we are shaping the future of travel loyalty.”

He added, “the program will feature real-time engagement, AI-driven personalization, expanded partnerships, dynamic earn and redemption opportunities, and a seamless mobile-first experience—redefining traditional loyalty for a new generation of travelers.”

Designed for scale and innovation, the GRAVTY^® platform’s modular, API-first architecture ensures rapid deployment, future-proof scalability, and effortless integration with Riyadh Air’s broader digital ecosystem.

 “We are honored to partner with Riyadh Air in this landmark initiative,” said Shyam Shah, CEO of Loyalty Juggernaut. “Our mission is to elevate loyalty into a strategic growth engine. GRAVTY^®‘s nextgen capabilities will enable Riyadh Air to deliver extraordinary value to its guests and partners, setting a bold new benchmark in airline loyalty.”

The new loyalty program is expected to launch ahead of Riyadh Air’s inaugural flights and will be a core pillar of the airline’s broader customer engagement and growth strategy.

This partnership represents a shared vision: to build a loyalty experience that goes beyond points and miles—to create lasting emotional engagement with travelers at every touchpoint.

About Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline, launched to connect the Kingdom to more than 100 destinations worldwide. Headquartered in Riyadh and backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is committed to delivering an exceptional, technology-driven travel experience that reflects the future of aviation.

About Loyalty Juggernaut

Loyalty Juggernaut (LJI) is a leading B2B SaaS provider of next-generation loyalty and customer engagement solutions. LJI’s flagship GRAVTY^® platform powers some of the world’s most innovative loyalty ecosystems, enabling enterprises to elevate loyalty into a measurable, strategic growth engine. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, LJI serves leading brands across industries, including airlines, retail, hospitality, and financial services.

Media Contacts

• Riyadh Air: media@riyadhair.com 
• Loyalty Juggernaut: media@lji.io 

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Planet Environmental Solutions and Imdaad are pleased to announce the signing of strategic teaming agreement aimed at advancing sustainability-led solutions across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The agreement was signed by Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer of Imdaad and Prashant Singh, CEO of Blue Planet. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in both organizations’ growth journeys in the region. 

The partnership combines Blue Planet’s global leadership in sustainable environmental technologies and circular economy platforms with Imdaad’s extensive operational expertise in waste management and environmental services within the UAE. Together, the two companies will focus on delivering impactful, scalable solutions that align with the UAE’s circular economy agenda and environmental sustainability goals.

Under the agreement, the partnership will initially focus on the following core service areas:

• Landfill Mining
• Biogas Production
• Tank Cleaning and Industrial Services
• Disaster Recovery and Remediation
• Complementary Environmental Services

“We are excited to join forces with Imdaad to build a robust platform that delivers innovative circular solutions addressing critical environmental challenges in the UAE,” said Prashant Singh, CEO of Blue Planet. “Through this alliance, we will leverage local expertise to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions aligned with the UAE’s sustainability ambitions.”

Mr. Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer of Imdaad, commented:

“Our partnership with Blue Planet is a significant step in advancing Imdaad’s long-term vision of promoting enhanced environmental services, sustainability and a robust circular economy in the UAE. By combining our operational strengths with Blue Planet’s innovation-driven approach, we aim to create high-impact solutions that not only serve our clients but also contribute meaningfully to Dubai’s and the UAE’s sustainable development goals. “

About Blue Planet

Founded in 2017, Blue Planet is a Singapore-headquartered company pioneering regional sustainability through technology-driven and IP-based end-to-end solutions for waste management and upcycling. The company has successfully built an innovative technology- driven waste management platform, integrating solutions across various stages of the waste life cycle. Blue Planet is committed to advancing circular economy solutions and achieving its vision of zero waste to landfill.

To learn more, visit: www.blueplanet.asia

About Imdaad

Imdaad is a Dubai-based group of companies delivering integrated, sustainable facilities management and environmental services across the UAE and GCC. Renowned for its operational excellence and environmental commitment, Imdaad serves clients across multiple sectors with future-ready solutions.

To learn more, visit: https://www.imdaad.ae/