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Global Football Tournament Drives Travel Surge, with Group Stage Booking Growth Nearly Double Knockout Round’s: Trip.com Data

  • International bookings to 16 North American host cities surge nearly 70% year-on-year
  • Japan’s travel demand explodes +250%, more than double the growth rate of any European nation
  • Mexican hotel bookings for Monterrey up 40X, Guadalajara up 12X, Mexico City up +150%.

MEXICO CITY, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A major football tournament spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico (11 June – 19 July) is set to drive a surge in international travel to North America this summer, with Trip.com booking data revealing year-on-year growth of nearly 70% across the 16 host cities.

As football fans across Asia-Pacific and Europe commit to their summer plans months in advance, the data paints a vivid picture of where travellers are going, how long they are staying, and exactly what sort of trip they are on.


The Football Effect: Demand Nearly Doubles in June Versus July

The scale of football-driven travel demand becomes clear when the two tournament windows are compared directly. During the Group Stage period, total international bookings to host cities are up almost 70% year-on-year. By the Knockout Rounds, that growth rate falls to around 40%, still substantial, but a sharp contrast that reflects the concentrated urgency of fans following their national teams during the opening weeks of competition.

The Group Stage is the must-travel moment. Fans are not waiting to see how their teams perform. They are booking early, decisively, and around the fixtures that matter most to them.

Japan Leads the World

No market tells the 2026 story more dramatically than Japan. Japanese fans are booking flights to host cities at a rate +250% year-on-year for the Group Stage, more than two and a half times the volume of the previous year and more than double the growth rate of any European nation in the same period. Even for the Knockout Rounds, Japan records over +100% growth, the highest of any market analysed.


This is not a general holiday demand dressed up in football colours. It is fixture-following travel at its purest. Japan’s Group Stage matches are scheduled across Dallas and Monterrey, and the booking data mirrors this precisely. Dallas is Japan’s single most-booked host city for flights in the Group Stage, a city that barely registered on the Japanese outbound travel map twelve months ago. By the Knockout Rounds, when fixtures shift, Los Angeles becomes Japan’s top destination.

The Japan story does not stop at flight bookings. Japanese travellers are also the most adventurous when it comes to itinerary planning. Over 30% of Japanese Group Stage travellers book more than one host city, the highest multi-city rate of any market by a significant margin. Close to 10% cross two or more host countries during the Group Stage, a direct consequence of Japan’s fixtures being distributed across North America.

Japan’s top multi-city pairings during the Group Stage tell the story clearly: Dallas + Los Angeles, Dallas + Monterrey and Mexico City + Monterrey. These are not sightseeing routes but carefully planned travel itineraries around match schedules.

The Mexican Cities: The Less Talked About Accommodation Story

While US and Canadian host cities attract predictable attention, the Mexican venues Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are generating some exciting booking results across the tournament.


Monterrey’s hotel bookings are up over 40X year-on-year during the Group Stage. Guadalajara is up over 10X. Mexico City is up over 150%. These are not incremental gains but represent a near-total transformation of international accommodation demand in cities that were barely on the inbound travel radar before.

The driver is fixture scheduling. Japan, South Korea, and Australia’s schedules are drawing fans into a North American travel corridor that extends deep into Mexico.

Dallas tells a complementary story from the US side. Hotel bookings in Dallas are up by more than 1400% during the Group Stage, driven overwhelmingly by Japanese and Korean demand.

The Football Road Trip Is a Myth

Despite the romance of a cross-continental football adventure, the data tells a more pragmatic story. The majority of fans book travel to just one host destination per trip.

Multi-market travel is highest among Japanese fans in the Group Stage and lowest among South Korean fans in the Knockout Rounds.


In every other market and period, single-market trips dominate, with travellers focusing on 1 or more cities within a single North American country.

Lead Times and Loyalty: The Forward Planners vs. The Late Deciders

The gap in booking behaviour between the Group Stage and the Knockout Round is fascinating. Travelling fans booking for July, the later, more uncertain tournament phase, are planning further in advance than those booking for June.


For the Group Stage, flight booking lead times across markets range from 80 to 95 days. For the Knockout Rounds, the same markets are booking 96 to 127 days out.

Germany leads both periods, booking hotels an average of 138 days before travel. That’s nearly five months in advance of a match whose participants are not yet confirmed.

This pattern suggests that Knockout Round travellers represent a highly committed segment, with fans hoping their team will advance. Attractions bookings tend to show the opposite trend, with shorter lead times across all markets, suggesting fans finalise their non-football plans on a wait-and-see basis.

Beyond the Stadiums: What Fans Are Doing When the Final Whistle Blows


The most-booked attraction is Universal Studios Hollywood, which tops the rankings. The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, and the American Museum of Natural History dominate New York bookings, while Japanese travellers show a distinct appetite for Broadway, with Wicked and Aladdin the Musical both featuring in the top ten attractions overall.

Trip Duration: From Short Breaks to Extended Holidays

Average trip lengths vary dramatically by market. Japanese travellers take the shortest trips, averaging just 8 days in the Group Stage and 11 days in the Knockout Rounds, reflecting a fixture-focused, time-efficient approach. Spanish fans take the longest, averaging 24 days in the Group Stage and 17 days in July.


Australian fans average 23 days in the Group Stage before falling to 18 days in July. French fans remain consistent at 18 days across both periods. The relative stability of European trip durations across both windows suggests that these travellers are building fixed-length North American itineraries centred on football.

Hotel Preferences: Budget Dominates, But Premium Emerges in July

Across most markets, 3-star and 4-star hotels account for the vast majority of bookings, with 5-star demand showing single-digit growth. Japan is the most budget-conscious, with over 61% of Group Stage hotel bookings at the 3-star level. South Korea is the most luxury-oriented in the Group Stage.


In the Knockout Rounds, 5-star demand increases across almost every market compared to the Group Stage. France leads the way with the largest increase in 5-star hotel bookings.

New York dominates as the preferred city for 4-star and 5-star bookings across the majority of markets in both periods, cementing its status as the tournament’s prestige destination.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 27 languages across 48 countries and regions in 44 local currencies. Offering an extensive hotel and flight network of more than 1.7 million hotels and flights from over 680 airlines, along with over 350,000 in-destination activities, Trip.com covers 3,500 airports in 220 countries and regions. Trip.com‘s world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service helps to ‘create the best travel experience’ for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit Trip.com.

MegazoneCloud Wins 2026 APJ Snowflake Resale Partner of the Year

Recognized for driving customer success through tailored data cloud adoption and business value creation

SEOUL, South Korea, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MegazoneCloud (CEO: Doug Yeum), a leading AI-native digital transformation company, has been named 2026 Snowflake Resale Partner of the Year for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region.

The award was presented at Snowflake’s annual user conference, Snowflake Summit 26, held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The Reseller Partner of the Year Award recognizes partners that have demonstrated exceptional business performance and contribution to Snowflake’s growth. Only one partner is selected from each major region, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific and Japan.

MegazoneCloud received the award in recognition of its ability to help customers achieve tangible business outcomes with Snowflake through tailored consulting, implementation support, and adoption strategies aligned with each organization’s business environment and data maturity. The company was particularly recognized for ensuring that Snowflake deployments translate into measurable operational and business results.

MegazoneCloud has supported customers across a wide range of industries, including gaming, manufacturing, and commerce, in building data-driven environments powered by Snowflake. The company has expanded customer use cases by applying Snowflake technologies such as Cortex AI, Snowpark, and Snowflake Marketplace to address specific business requirements. Through these initiatives, MegazoneCloud has helped organizations improve data analysis capabilities, enhance operational efficiency, strengthen decision-making processes, and unlock new business value.

In April 2026, MegazoneCloud also achieved Snowflake’s highest partner designation, Elite Partner, for the second consecutive year. The Elite designation is awarded based on comprehensive evaluations of technical certifications, sales capabilities, and customer success achievements. This latest recognition further reinforces MegazoneCloud’s position as a strategic partner within the Snowflake ecosystem and highlights its expertise in delivering enterprise data and AI transformation initiatives.

“Receiving Snowflake’s Reseller Partner of the Year Award, following our achievement of Snowflake’s highest partner designation, Elite Partner, demonstrates that MegazoneCloud is one of the most trusted partners in the market,” said Chris Hwang, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of MegazoneCloud. “For enterprise customers considering Snowflake adoption or seeking to advance their data utilization capabilities, we will continue to provide tailored data cloud strategies and implementation support aligned with their real-world business environments.”

About MegazoneCloud

Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, MegazoneCloud is a leading AI-native cloud company with more than 2,000 cloud and AI experts, serving over 8,000 customers worldwide as a trusted digital transformation partner. Through strategic partnerships with major global and domestic cloud service providers (CSPs), as well as collaboration with over 200 ISV partners and proprietary cloud, AI, and security solutions, MegazoneCloud continues to drive innovation and growth for its customers.

With its vision, “Transform Tomorrow, Together,” MegazoneCloud is committed to building future competitiveness for its customers through technology, data, and people. The company operates in 10 countries, including Korea, North America, Japan, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, growing alongside its global partners and customers.

 

LUMOS Launches S$149 EVOKE Digital Camera

An affordable, compact camera for everyday photography, with 64MP photos, 4K video, built-in filters and a soft, natural image style.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – LUMOS, the award-winning Singapore lifestyle technology brand best known for its home cinema projectors, today announced the launch of the LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera, a compact digital camera designed for everyday users, students, travellers and casual creators.

LUMOS EVOKE is an affordable S$149 digital camera designed for everyday photography, featuring 64MP photos, 4K video and built-in creative filters.
LUMOS EVOKE is an affordable S$149 digital camera designed for everyday photography, featuring 64MP photos, 4K video and built-in creative filters.

Priced at S$149, EVOKE marks LUMOS’ expansion beyond home cinema projectors into everyday photography and broader lifestyle electronics. The camera is designed for consumers who want the feel of a dedicated camera without the cost, complexity or learning curve of professional camera systems.

While smartphone cameras have become increasingly powerful, many users still want an easy-to-use, single-purpose device that allows them to capture memories without notifications, apps, or distractions. EVOKE is designed to sit between smartphones and professional cameras, offering a fun photography experience at an accessible price point.

“Smartphones are convenient, but photography is also about the experience of capturing a moment,” said Zac Tan, Co-Founder of LUMOS. “With EVOKE, we wanted to create a simple, well-built digital camera that helps users feel more present when taking photos, while keeping it accessible for everyday users.”

LUMOS EVOKE at a Glance

  • S$149 price point: An affordable compact digital camera for everyday photography, travel and casual creators.
  • 64MP photos: Captures detailed images for daily memories, family moments, social outings and trips.
  • 4K video at 30fps: Records clear video clips for travel highlights, casual content and everyday moments.
  • 16 built-in filters: Lets users create different photo styles directly in-camera, without relying on editing apps.
  • Flip screen: Makes it easier to frame selfies, group photos and creative angles.
  • 16x zoom: Brings distant subjects closer for travel, events and everyday scenes.
  • Built-in flashlight: Supports shooting in dim indoor settings, parties and low-light moments.
  • Compact design with USB-C charging: Easy to carry daily and convenient to charge through a laptop, power bank or car.


An Affordable Digital Camera

At S$149, EVOKE is designed to offer a digital camera at an accessible price, pairing advanced features with a unique image style that feels different from using a phone.

The camera captures 64MP photos and records 4K video at 30 frames per second, making it suitable for travel memories, family gatherings, social outings, casual content and everyday snapshots.

Its image style is designed to deliver a softer and more natural aesthetic, avoiding the overly sharpened or heavily processed feel often associated with smartphone photography. For users who care about mood, feeling and character, EVOKE offers a more intentional way to capture every moment.

Designed for Ease Of Use

EVOKE comes with 16 built-in filters, including styles such as Retro Fade, Warm Vintage, High Contrast Black and White, and Cinematic Cool. These filters allow users to create different moods directly in-camera, without needing third-party editing apps.

The camera also includes a flip screen for selfies, group shots and flexible angles, while its 16x zoom gives users added reach during travel, events and everyday scenes. A built-in flashlight supports shooting in dim indoor settings, parties and night scenes.

Together with autofocus and anti-shake support, these features are designed to make handheld shooting easier, particularly for casual users and first-time camera buyers.

A Natural Extension of the LUMOS Brand

The launch of EVOKE reflects LUMOS’ broader direction as a lifestyle technology brand. While the company remains strongly associated with home cinema projectors, it is increasingly focused on products that fit how Singaporeans live, work, travel and enjoy – and a camera like EVOKE fits naturally into this.

The company’s direct-to-consumer model also plays a key role in EVOKE’s pricing. By selling directly to customers, LUMOS aims to reduce traditional retail markups and deliver a well-built camera at a more accessible price point.

Rather than a professional camera system, EVOKE is positioned as a practical camera for users who want the joy of a dedicated photography device without the cost or complexity of advanced camera gear.

Pricing and Availability

The LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera is available now through LUMOS’ official online store at S$149 for 32GB and S$199 for 128GB.

For more information, visit the LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera product page.
Hashtag: #LUMOS #LUMOSEVOKE #DigitalCamera #AffordableCamera #Photography




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About LUMOS

is an award-winning Singapore-born lifestyle technology brand focused on creating affordable, well-designed products that fit naturally into everyday lifestyles. Best known for its home cinema projectors, LUMOS was voted Best Mini Projector Brand at the HardwareZone Tech Awards Readers’ Choice in both 2024 and 2025.

The brand has built a strong local following by delivering value-driven technology with reliable customer support, and is now expanding into broader lifestyle technology categories, including digital cameras.

UQPAY Integrates with Circle Payments Network to Advance Its Global Account Infrastructure

SYDNEY, June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UQPAY (AU) has integrated with Circle Payments Network (CPN), a coordination layer operated by Circle Technology Services, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) that enables cross-border stablecoin transactions.

At UQPAY, our Global Account infrastructure supports end-to-end cross-border fund management — from global collection to multi-market payouts and FX execution. Through integration with CPN, UQPAY will enhance how these capabilities are coordinated across markets.

CPN is a coordination layer that connects financial institutions to support the orchestration of cross-border payments using regulated stablecoins such as USDC and EURC. It enables participants to coordinate settlement and payment flows across existing financial infrastructure, including local payment systems and banking rails.

By connecting to CPN, UQPAY supports more efficient routing of cross-border payment flows and improved interoperability between originating and beneficiary financial institutions. The integration also enables greater flexibility in coordinating transactions across multiple currencies and payment systems.

Strengthening a Global Payment Infrastructure

UQPAY’s Global Account enables businesses to:

  • Collect funds across multiple regions and currencies
  • Execute cross-border payouts through established banking and local payment networks
  • Manage FX and treasury flows within a unified account structure

This provides a strong foundation for global payment operations.

Enhancing Cross-Border Payment Coordination with CPN

With this integration, UQPAY enhances how cross-border payouts are coordinated across its existing infrastructure. CPN complements UQPAY’s Global Account by:

  • Improving interoperability between originating financial institutions (OFIs) and beneficiary financial institutions (BFIs)
  • Supporting more efficient routing of cross-border payment flows
  • Enabling coordination across multiple payment systems and currencies
  • Providing greater flexibility in cross-border transaction execution

What This Means for Businesses

For businesses operating across markets, this integration brings:

  • Improved coordination across payment corridors and counterparties
  • Greater flexibility in managing cross-border fund flows
  • More efficient execution of cross-border payments
  • Expanded support for global payment use cases

Bridging Fiat Infrastructure and Digital Settlement

Businesses continue to operate within familiar fiat account structures. Behind the scenes, this integration supports:

  • More efficient coordination across financial institutions
  • Support for stablecoin-enabled settlement flows where applicable
  • More scalable and flexible payment execution models

“UQPAY’s integration with Circle Payments Network supports more efficient coordination of cross-border payment flows across global markets,” said Irfan Ganchi, SVP of Product Management, Payments at Circle.

“This integration with Circle Payments Network allows us to further strengthen our global payout capabilities and enhance how cross-border payments are coordinated across markets,” said Jack Li, Founder and CEO at UQPAY.

About UQPAY

UQPAY Group is a global fintech innovation group headquartered in Singapore, with operations spanning digital payments, Payment Software-as-a-Service, and fintech venture capital. Since its founding in 2016, UQPAY has leveraged payment innovation to build an end-to-end, secure, and compliant full-stack payment infrastructure, empowering businesses to achieve borderless growth in the digital and intelligent economy.

Amid the new economic wave driven by AI and Web3, UQPAY is positioned to deliver next-generation payment infrastructure for the digital economy — building a real-time, scalable, and intelligently orchestrated global payment network that enables new growth models for enterprises, digital-native ecosystems, and future autonomous agents worldwide.

UQPAY holds key payment and financial licenses across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America, and serves as a principal member of Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay International — the world’s three major card networks — deeply embedded in the global payment and clearing ecosystem. We connect not just transactions, but the future of global commerce and value flow.

Contact UQPAY

Website: www.uqpay.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/uqpaytechnology
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/uqpay
Twitter: www.x.com/uqpaysg

UQPAY Group
55 AYER RAJAH CRESCENT, #04-06, SINGAPORE 139949

Strong Indonesian Demand Reinforces Malaysia Healthcare’s Growth at Malaysia Fair 2026

JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with Tourism Malaysia, recorded strong visitor engagement at Malaysia Fair Jakarta 2026, held from 4 to 7 June 2026 at Gandaria City, underscoring sustained interest among Indonesian consumers in Malaysia’s healthcare, wellness and travel offerings. Organised in conjunction with Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026), themed “Healing Meets Hospitality“, the initiative brings together healthcare providers, tourism stakeholders and educational institutions under one roof, offering Indonesian visitors exclusive access to world-class healthcare services, travel experiences and study opportunities.

Launching Malaysia Fair 2026 in Jakarta with MHTC, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, and Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza (brand ambassador of MHTC)
Launching Malaysia Fair 2026 in Jakarta with MHTC, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, and Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza (brand ambassador of MHTC)

A key highlight of the fair was the participation of 20 Malaysian healthcare providers including MHTC’s Flagship Medical Tourism Hospitals namely Island Hospital Penang, Institut Jantung Negara, Mahkota Medical Centre, and Subang Jaya Medical Centre, alongside its member hospitals such as Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Cengild G.I Medical Centre, Damansara Specialist Hospital, Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, GenPrime Everlink Fertility Centre, Hospital Picaso, MSU Medical Centre, Northern Heart Hospital Penang, OasisEye Specialists, Optimax Eye Specialist Centre, Penang Adventist Hospital, Puteri Specialist Hospital, Regency Specialist Hospital, Sunway Medical Centre, and Sunway Medical Centre Penang.

For those looking to book vacations, seven top travel agencies, including Dwidaya Tour, TX Travel, Habibi Tours, Baltic Golf & Travel Specialist, A&L Holidays, AWB Cruise, and Golden Rama Tours & Travel, are on-site, offering curated leisure packages alongside the official airline partner, Malaysia Airlines. Beyond health and travel, renowned higher education institutions such as Taylor’s University, UCSI University, INTI International University, Todak Academy, and MILA University are on hand to consult with prospective students and parents. Visitors are given a range of travel and medical offerings to choose from, spanning specialist healthcare services, wellness experiences, tourism packages and destination showcases, as well as direct engagements with Malaysian healthcare providers.

Malaysia Fair 2026 reflects our continued commitment to strengthening Malaysia Healthcare’s presence in Indonesia, particularly in Jakarta, as one of our most important and high-potential markets. Through this platform, we aim to bring trusted Malaysian healthcare closer to Indonesian communities while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for quality healthcare, compassionate care, and seamless patient experience,” said Mr Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of MHTC.

The fair was officially launched in the presence of MHTC’s brand ambassador, Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza, whose participation underscored Malaysia’s broader efforts to promote the country’s medical tourism industry through a combination of medical excellence, hospitality, and cultural familiarity. As one of Malaysia’s most recognised public figures with a strong following in Indonesia, Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza highlighted the importance of leveraging people-to-people connections to strengthen confidence in Malaysia’s healthcare among regional audiences. “My TTC journey took almost 10 years, and I understand how important it is for patients to receive not only quality treatment but also reassurance, understanding, and hope throughout the process. As a Malaysian, I am proud to help share the strengths of Malaysia Healthcare with our friends in Indonesia and the wider region,” she said.

The initiative comes at a time when Indonesia remains Malaysia Healthcare’s largest and most important source market. In 2025 alone, Indonesia contributed approximately RM2.2 billion in healthcare travel revenue to Malaysia, representing a 23% year-on-year increase in revenue and a 16% increase in healthcare traveller arrivals compared to 2024. Meanwhile, over 970,000 Indonesian healthcare travelers visited Malaysia, indicating ongoing trust in Malaysia’s healthcare system. Major treatment areas for Indonesian patients include health screening, gastroenterology, cancer treatment, endocrinology, cardiology, and orthopaedic surgery, highlighting Malaysia’s capability to provide wide-ranging and specialized care for regional patients. 

The event is also supported by strategic partners including Econolab, JavaMifi, Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel and Batik Air, whose participation further enhances the overall visitor experience and strengthens cross-industry collaboration in support of Malaysia Healthcare’s outreach efforts in Indonesia.

ENDS

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Siti Hamidah Mohd Najib
Senior Executive, PR and Media Unit
Communications
+603 8776 6168
hamidah.m@mhtc.org.my

Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi                                                 
Head, Communications
+603 8776 6168                                                                   
shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my

About Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 82 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy. MHTC’s website: https://www.malaysiahealthcare.org.

 

GIA Acquires 30% Shareholding in Diamond Provenance Blockchain Platform Tracr

Investment by leading industry institute supports Tracr’s evolution to becoming an independent, industry-wide platform for natural diamond provenance


LAS VEGAS, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – De Beers Group and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for GIA to acquire a 30 per cent shareholding in Tracr, the De Beers Group-backed company behind the development of the pioneering diamond provenance blockchain-driven platform.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in Tracr’s evolution towards independence and reflects GIA’s confidence in the platform’s role as an industry-wide infrastructure to advance natural diamond provenance and traceability at scale.

GIA’s investment – which builds on a 2023 initiative to include diamond provenance information registered on Tracr’s platform on eligible GIA diamond grading reports – represents a significant step in this transition, reinforcing Tracr’s long-term credibility across the diamond value chain.

Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said: “Consumers deserve to know where their diamonds come from and they should feel more confident in their understanding of each diamond’s source. At De Beers we have been providing provenance data on diamonds through Tracr for several years and we believe that delivering provenance should become an industry standard. Following our promise to open Tracr up to broad ownership, we are proud to be partnering with GIA as Tracr evolves into an independent, industry-wide platform. We will work alongside GIA to advance provenance transparency for the entire diamond sector.”

Pritesh Patel, President and CEO of GIA, said: “At GIA, our mission has always been rooted in trust, integrity, and consumer confidence. Our collaboration with Tracr over the past several years reinforced our belief that combining source-based blockchain provenance with GIA’s independent grading and identification expertise can help unlock a new level of transparency for the diamond industry. As Tracr continues to scale globally, we see a tremendous opportunity to deliver meaningful, verifiable provenance information from the source to the consumer. We are proud to deepen our commitment through this investment and help shape the next evolution of transparency, traceability, and trust across our industry.”

Jillian Wolk, CEO of Tracr, said: “The start of Tracr’s evolution into an independent platform, as a result of GIA’s investment, creates a strong foundation for the future. I am excited to continue scaling the platform and bringing more producers on board, which will support Tracr in enabling the individual journey of every registered diamond to come to life. Each stone carries its own narrative, defined by its source and the craftsmanship that has shaped it, and as Tracr continues to grow we have a fantastic opportunity to help reveal those unique stories.”

De Beers has been developing Tracr since 2018 and it is now a leading distributed diamond blockchain platform that starts at the source, registering diamonds at the point of recovery. In 2023, De Beers opened the platform to the wider diamond industry, positioning Tracr as an industry-wide, scalable solution for rough-to-polish verification of natural diamond provenance, which starts at a stone’s source.

Today, more than five million rough diamonds have been registered on Tracr at source, representing around two-thirds of De Beers’rough diamond production by value. Since January 2025, single country of origin for De Beers diamonds has been available on Tracr, with all newly sourced De Beers rough diamonds of one carat and above being registered on the platform.

Hashtag: #NaturalDiamonds #Diamonds #DeBeersGroup #GIA #Tracr





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo-American plc group. For further information, visit.

About GIA
An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism.

Smart Design Global 2026 Awards Presentation Ceremony Proudly Unveils 52 Original Award-Winning Designs International Tour Highlights Hong Kong’s Creative Design Power

Set to Appear at Bangkok Mega Show and Paris Maison&Objet


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – The Smart Design Global 2026 (SDG), an annual flagship event of Hong Kong’s design scene (formerly known as the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards) organised by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, announced this year’s winners officially on 5 June 2026. Amongst over a hundred shortlisted entries, 52 original works claimed the top honours.

The awards presentation ceremony was successfully held on the same day at the Charles K. Kao Auditorium in the Hong Kong Science Park, gathering over a hundred representatives from the cultural, design and business scene. Miss Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of CCIDA, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour, joining other esteemed guests to witness the outstanding achievements of local designers.

Bridging Design and Business: A Celebration of Hong Kong Creatives

First launched in 2012, the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards has been officially renamed Smart Design Global this year, setting sail for new horizons. This year’s ceremony was larger in scale than previous years, with the judging panel personally presenting the awards, demonstrating the inheritance and continuation of Hong Kong’s creative design spirit.

During her remarks, Ms. Helena Chiu, Chairman of the HKEA, expressed her gratitude to all supporting organisations and participants, noting, “Smart Design Global provides local designers with a vital platform for creative exchange and showcase, established with the goal to build a holistic design ecosystem and shape creativity as a new economic driver for Hong Kong. Moving forward, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will continue to foster cross-sector collaboration, harnessing design creativity to unlock global business opportunities. By elevating Hong Kong’s influence in the design sector, our efforts are dedicated to ensure more locally created works shine in markets worldwide.”

When the Guest of Honour, Miss Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of CCIDA, delivered her speech, she expressed the hope that after this year’s project upgrade, it will further become an important platform driving Hong Kong design towards the international stage, significantly enhancing the global influence of Hong Kong design.

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency has always adhered to the industry-oriented principle, supporting the industrialisation and development of the creative sector through the “CreateSmart Initiative”. The Government will continue to fully support industry organisations in organising high-quality design projects, promoting cross-sector collaboration, and consolidating Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s creative capital and a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

Spanning Four Major Categories: Corporate and Conceptual Groups Shine Brightly

This year’s Smart Design Global presented a total of 54 awards (52 awarded products) across four major product design categories: LIVE, DINE, GIFT, and PLAY. The accolades included 5 Grand Awards, 9 Gold Awards, 36 Winner Awards, 3 Green Awards and 1 Student Award. The Corporate Group and Conceptual Group secured 44 and 10 awards respectively, with the LIVE and GIFT categories standing out front and centre. All winning works demonstrated outstanding design aesthetics as well as strong commercialisation potential, reflecting Hong Kong’s diverse creativity and market appeal.

Smart Design Global 2026 Awards Details

By Awards Category Corporate Group Conceptual Group
Grand Awards 4 1
Gold Awards 7 2
Winner Awards 31 5
Green Awards 2 1
Student Award Not Applicable 1

By Product Category Corporate Group Conceptual Group
LIVE 13 10
DINE 3
GIFT 18
PLAY 10


Smart Design Global 2026 Awarded Products Introduction (Grand Awards & Student Award)
Group / Category Awarded Product Name Designer(s) Product Description
CORPORATE
– LIVE
(GRAND AWARD)
AIROmini Magic Brewer LUO Peifan * Zec CHAN AIROmini is a portable precision brewer that transforms traditional Kungfu tea and specialty coffee extraction into a compact, travel-ready format. Featuring an Air-lock pressure control mechanism, it simplifies complex brewing techniques into visual intuitive operation while maintaining flavour clarity. The flared rim enhances sealing performance, and the 2.5mm wall thickness balances durability with a lightweight feel. Calibrated for a 150ml optimal brew, AIROmini is designed for your personal ritual.
CORPORATE
– DINE
(GRAND AWARD)
LOCKIT

Chris WONG LOCKIT is a modular storage system designed to adapt to everyday life. Using a proprietary clip mechanism, containers of different sizes securely connect to create customised storage configurations for kitchens, offices, travel, and daily organisation.

The clips form airtight, leak-proof seals while delivering tactile confirmation when locked. Translucent BPA-free containers allow quick content identification, while geometric forms maximise stacking efficiency and space utilisation.

By transforming fixed containers into a flexible modular system, LOCKIT allows users to expand, rearrange, and personalise storage effortlessly. Combining practical innovation with clean minimalist design, LOCKIT redefines storage as a smart, adaptable solution for modern living.

CORPORATE
– GIFT
(GRAND AWARD)
Plants Incense Matches CHENG Tsz-kwan *

LEE Lap-ki

Experience the magic of a wish with the Festive Wish Incense Match Collection. These unique aromatics are molded like handmade cookies into festive shapes: Christmas Trees, Lucky Flowers, and Valentine’s Flora. The breakthrough design integrates a match tip directly onto the incense—just strike to light. No lighter required. As it burns, it serves as a stunning mini-bonsai that perfumes your space. Blending ritual, safety, and style, this collection offers a modern twist on traditional incense, making it the ultimate heartwarming gift for any season.
CORPORATE
– PLAY
(GRAND AWARD)
InstantSnap

Gray LEUNG * TSANG Yuen-tin InstantSnap is a whimsical device that reimagines the instant camera experience by combining fun and nostalgia. Designed to resemble an instant photo frame rather than a traditional camera, it allows users to frame and capture moments without immediate feedback. This encourages thoughtful photography and adds an element of surprise, making each shot a unique experience.
CONCEPTUAL
(GRAND AWARD)
Adaptive & Reusable Milk Powder Vacuum Lid CHEN Binglun * DENG Feiming *

Randolph KWOK

The Adaptive & Reusable Milk Powder Vacuum Lid is an innovative, eco-friendly replacement for disposable milk powder can lids. It creates an airtight vacuum seal to keep milk powder fresher for longer, reducing food waste and oxidation. Made from durable, food-grade materials, its adaptive design fits various can sizes for repeated use across multiple containers. Targeting mothers and families, this product promotes sustainable daily habits by minimising single-use plastic waste and supporting a circular economy. A simple yet impactful solution for greener baby care and household sustainability.
CONCEPTUAL
(GOLD AWARD & STUDENT AWARD)
Lai Yuen: Days of Wonder LEE Hiu-ching More than a calendar—a heartfelt gift for families and nostalgia lovers. Playful illustrations revive cherished Lai Yuen memories, sparking conversations across generations. A magnetic key ring keeps keys tidy and connects loved ones; handwritten notes bring warmth to everyday life. Lai Yuen Years: bringing happiness home, every day.


Going Global: Set to Appear in Two Overseas Exhibitions

Following the awards presentation ceremony, the winning works will embark on an international tour, set to be showcased at two major overseas exhibitions: the Mega Show Bangkok and Maison&Objet Paris. Through these two prominent international platforms, winners will gain direct exposure to global markets, unlocking a wealth of trade and collaboration opportunities that transform bold creativity into profitable global business growth.

Smart Design Global 2026 Roving Exhibition Information
Date Event
15-17 July 2026 Mega Show Bangkok
10-14 September 2026 Maison&Objet Paris

High resolution images can be downloaded at the link here.

For the full list of winning entries of the Smart Design Global 2026, please visit: https://www.sdawards.org.hk/winner/index/2026

For latest news of the Smart Design Global, please visit the official website: https://www.sdawards.org.hk

Hashtag: #SmartDesignGlobal

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Smart Design Global

Where Smart Design Meets Global Markets!

The Smart Design Global (SDG) has evolved from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards (HKSDA) to enhance innovation and collaboration within the design community, benefiting from 14 editions of experience and expertise gained from HKSDA. This extensive history allows us to leverage a network of established professionals in the field, fostering a supportive environment for emerging talent. By incorporating insights from past awardees and industry feedback, we will channel limitless creativity into market potential, redefine Hong Kong’s creative ecosystem, and ensure that SDG not only honors design excellence but also addresses the current and future needs of the global market.

Smart Design Global Website:

About The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association

Founded in 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (The HKEA) is a non-profit making trade association registered under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance as a company limited by guarantee. The HKEA is committed to creating new business opportunities and enhancing market value for Hong Kong exporters, aiming to position Hong Kong as a premier trading hub. The HKEA focuses on serving the industry and taking export trade as its core value, helping members expand their business by closely liaising with the government, initiating different projects, and organising seminars, business gatherings, business delegation trips and exhibitions. The HKEA also disseminate the latest local and international trade information and provides online product display and search services for additional publicity, to further promote Hong Kong’s export trade and enhance market competitiveness.

The HKEA website:

About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

CCIDA’s website:

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

/C O R R E C T I O N — AMPERA/

In the news release, AMPERA Establishes Australian Subsidiary to Secure Thorium Supply and Support U.S. Advanced Nuclear Fuel Production, issued 08-Jun-2026 by AMPERA over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

AMPERA Establishes Australian Subsidiary to Secure Thorium Supply and Support U.S. Advanced Nuclear Fuel Production

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AMPERA today announced its factory-built, scalable, supercritical nuclear energy system will be fueled by thorium procured from Australia and produced in-house by the company.

Monazite crystal is the primary thorium-bearing mineral powering AMPERA’s in-house nuclear fuel production.
Monazite crystal is the primary thorium-bearing mineral powering AMPERA’s in-house nuclear fuel production.

In October 2025, the United States government announced a framework with Australia securing supply for mining and processing of critical, rare-Earth minerals. In February, AMPERA formed Ampera Australia Pty Ltd to expedite the procurement and import of thorium to the U.S.

“Our strategy is to secure thorium directly at the source and vertically integrate the entire fuel value chain, from mineral supply through advanced fuel production,” said AMPERA Founder and CEO Brian Matthews. “Thorium offers a compelling combination of abundance, energy potential, economics, and safety, making it an ideal fuel for AMPERA’s advanced microreactors and a promising resource for the broader nuclear industry.”

AMPERA’s broad fuel platform is built on proprietary processes protected by trade secrets and more than 60 patents for nuclear fuel manufacturing, including proprietary jetting technology used to produce high-quality safe tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel kernels.

Advanced thorium fuel cycles have the potential to achieve significantly higher fuel utilization than conventional uranium fuel cycles. According to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, thorium could potentially offer a long-term solution to humanity’s energy needs.

Thorium, periodic table element 90, is naturally occurring and over three times more abundant in Earth’s crust than uranium. While thorium can provide an energy dense fuel source, it is weakly radioactive, yet fertile, allowing it to be converted into reactor fuel. Additionally, it is far less conducive for weapons proliferation and has the potential to reduce long-lived actinide waste relative to conventional uranium-plutonium fuel cycles.

“Thorium is the future for ultra-safe, clean power production,” Matthews said. “By producing TRISO thorium kernels in the United States, we can ensure ample access to the needed fuel supply as we scale up and also minimize price volatility risk.”

In April, AMPERA held a grand opening for its global headquarters in Florida. The company plans to produce TRISO thorium kernels at another location in the state. AMPERA’s advanced reactors will be factory sealed and are being designed not to require refueling for 30 years.

About AMPERA
AMPERA is an advanced next-generation energy company pioneering subcritical thorium-based microreactor systems for the AI era that are energy dense and do not require refueling. Through its proprietary TRISO fuel platform, neutron-source technology and advanced additive manufacturing, AMPERA delivers scalable, factory-built, rapidly deployable, emission-free power for data centers, defense, industrial and maritime applications. Learn more at www.amperacleanenergy.com.

Correction: The photo and caption have been updated.