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IMG Travel Outlook Survey Predicts Top Destinations and Travel Trends for 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IMG (International Medical Group), an award-winning global insurance benefits and assistance services company, has released the results of its annual Travel Outlook Survey that gathered more than 1,500 responses from IMG customers about their 2025 travel plans.

The survey reveals that 96% of respondents plan to travel internationally in 2025, with 51% of those respondents planning to take 3 or more international trips throughout the year. When asked about domestic U.S. travel plans for 2025, 85% of respondents have at least one domestic trip planned for the year, with 52% planning to travel domestically 3+ times in 2025.

“Each year, we look forward to the results of our Travel Outlook Survey to help us better understand how our customers are planning to travel in the year ahead,” said Steve Paraboschi, IMG President and CEO. “Travel trends are constantly evolving, and this research helps IMG better meet the growing demands of international and domestic travelers.”

Travel Outlook Survey Findings:

Popular trips: urban tourism and family visits

When asked about the types of trips travelers plan to take in 2025, the most popular responses were:

  1. Urban tourism (visiting a major city or country) – 53% of respondents
  2. Visiting family in another country – 51% of respondents
  3. Beach vacation – 42% of respondents
  4. Rural tourism (exploring the countryside, nature-based experiences) – 40% of respondents

Other popular trip types for 2025 include adventure/sport (hiking, skiing, golfing, etc.), resort vacation, special interest/event, and cruises.

“We saw concert tourism grow significantly in 2024 as fans traveled the world to see Taylor Swift, and with other big-name artists planning world tours in 2025, we expect to see these types of special interest and event-focused trips continue,” said Justin Poehler, IMG Chief Commercial Officer. “We’re also excited to see that more than half of our respondents plan to visit family abroad in 2025, and with those international trips, it’s especially important that travelers have the proper travel protection plan in place before leaving home.”

Travel spending on the rise

With the vast majority of respondents planning multiple international and domestic trips, it comes as no surprise that 29% plan to spend more money on travel in 2025 than they did last year.

Trending types of travel: solo, bleisure, and multigenerational

Solo travel is another prevailing trend in 2025, with 48% of respondents planning to take a solo trip throughout the year. According to survey results, the two most popular types of trips for solo travelers include visiting family in another country (57%) and urban tourism (54%).

Business travel is also on the rise. In 2025, 57% of all respondents are planning to travel for business, a 7% increase compared to 2024 survey results. Of those respondents, 59% say they are likely to add personal vacation time before or after at least one of their business trips, often referred to as “bleisure travel.”

Multigenerational travel will also continue to be popular in 2025. Results show that 34% of families have a domestic or international trip planned with multiple generations (children, parents, and grandparents, etc.).

Top travel concerns

Year after year, survey results show that getting sick or having an accident during a trip continues to be the top concern for travelers, followed by concerns about trip cancellation and interruption. Respondents ranked their top concerns for 2025 as follows:

  1. Getting sick or having an accident while at their destination
  2. Needing to cancel their trip before they depart
  3. Issues getting to or from their destination
  4. Needing to interrupt their trip while at their destination

Top destinations

The most popular destinations respondents plan to travel to next in 2025 include Canada, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and France—making the list for the first time since 2022.

About IMG® (International Medical Group®)

IMG® (International Medical Group®), a SiriusPoint company, is an award-winning global insurance benefits and assistance services company that has served millions of members worldwide since its founding in 1990. The preeminent provider of travel and health safety solutions, IMG offers a wide range of insurance programs, including international private medical insurance, travel medical insurance, and travel insurance, as well as enterprise services, including insurance administrative services and 24/7 emergency medical, security, and travel assistance. IMG’s world-class services, combined with an extensive product portfolio, provide Global Peace of Mind® for travelers, students, missionaries, marine crews, and other individuals or groups traveling, working, or living away from home. For more information, please visit www.imglobal.com.

 

NYSE CONTENT ADVISORY: PRE-MARKET UPDATE FOR JANUARY 30th

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is proud to offer a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

 

NYSE CONTENT ADVISORY: PRE-MARKET UPDATE FOR JANUARY 30th

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on January 30th

  • Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged on Wednesday
  • Mixed earnings reports for Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla
  • Apple set to report earnings after close today

Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET 

 

Video – https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2609684/NYSE_Jan_30_2025_Market_Update.mp4

 

Vertiv and Johnson Controls Take the Lead in ABI Research’s Thermal Management Providers for Data Centers Competitive Ranking

LONDON, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Thermal management is a significant overhead cost for data center (DC) operators, as lowering operating costs is a daily challenge. The performance, stability, and equipment life span are dependent on the execution of efficient cooling solutions. The new Competitive Assessment by global technology intelligence firm ABI Research provides an in-depth and unbiased examination of the top nine leading thermal management solution providers for DC operations, which include hardware, software, and allied services provided in-house or through strategic partnerships. The companies evaluated and ranked are:

2024 Logo

“The analysis focused on eleven criteria segmented across innovation and implementation. The innovation criteria evaluated the solution providers based on thermal management solutions offered: hardware, software, and allied services, solution reliability, inbuilt or software tools to optimize DC operations, interoperability with DC operation tools, innovative features, and end-of-life/circular initiatives. The set of criteria under implementation focuses on geographical presence, market share, deployments, operation and maintenance support, partnerships, case studies, and time to value,” explains Rithika Thomas, Sustainable Technologies Senior Analyst at ABI Research.

Vertiv took the overall lead, benefiting from the first mover advantage through the dedicated AI DC portfolio Vertiv360, leveraging its strong ecosystem partnerships with Nvidia and Intel. In addition, its scaled global deployments demonstrated Vertiv’s expertise in thermal management hardware, software for critical infrastructure, and allied services like power, IT equipment, and servicing efficient DCs. Johnson Controls, a fierce competitor of Vertiv, is a leader in the implementation criteria and has been exceeding market expectations. Its comprehensive and dedicated data center portfolio comprising of hardware, software, fire safety, security and building automation combined with its global presence, customer centric approach, and scaled deployments resulted in overall second position, making Johnson Controls a well-placed solution provider in the ecosystem.

Vertiv, Johnson Controls & Schneider Electric are innovation leaders pushing the boundaries on the potential of DC cooling solutions through dedicated product ranges, namely Vertiv 360AI, Johnson Controls’ Global DC Solutions organization’ and Schneider Electric’s approach and portfolio catering from ‘Grid to chip, Chip to Chiller’. Johnson Control, Vertiv & Daikin are the top three implementation leaders due to their strong established ecosystem partnerships built over the years, in-house expertise on data center cooling, global scale deployments, partnerships, and commercialized solutions in the market today.

With the rise of high-density IT racks and AI models, advanced energy efficient cooling solutions like liquid cooling, are creating opportunities for established HVAC players to acquire stake in SMEs providing advanced cooling capabilities to address customer need for a ‘one stop’ solution providers. “To succeed in a competitive marketplace, thermal management solution providers are also catering to related operational & hardware requirements of DC such as energy, fire safety, security, IT servers, Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM), remote monitoring and servicing, as the DC industry is large, yet the customer base is limited. Thus, established HVAC providers are catering to evolving customer needs and expanding portfolio services to capture the customer base, optimize DC operations, and reduce costs and carbon footprints,” Thomas concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Thermal Management Providers for Data Centers competitive ranking. This report is part of the company’s Smart Buildings research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights.  Based on extensive primary interviews, Competitive Ranking reports offer comprehensive analysis of implementation and innovation strategies to offer unparalleled insight into a company’s performance and standing compared to its competitors.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.

ABI Research是一家全球性的技术情报公司,拥有得天独厚的优势,充当终端市场公司和技术解决方案提供商之间的桥梁,通过提供独家研究和专业性指导,推动成功的技术实施和提供经证明可吸引和留住客户的战略,无缝连接这两大主体。

For more information about ABI Research’s services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global
Deborah Petrara
Tel: +1.516.624.2558
pr@abiresearch.com   

 

Naas Technology Inc. Completes China’s First Carbon Emission Reduction Credit Transaction in EV Charging Space, Pioneering Opportunities in Sustainable Mobility

BEIJING, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NaaS Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: NAAS) (“NaaS” or the “Company”), the first U.S.-listed EV charging service company in China, recently announced successful completion of China’s first-ever carbon emission reduction credit transaction in the electric vehicle (EV) charging arena. In partnership with Hubei Zhongtan Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Zhongtan Asset Management”), NaaS facilitated the sale of 1,962 tons of carbon emission reductions generated from EV charging adoption. This milestone transaction establishes a new benchmark in deploying green mobility and advancing carbon neutrality.

Since 2021, NaaS has been at the forefront of integrating carbon reduction into EV charging sector. The Company launched its industry-first EV charging carbon account, enabling EV users to track and redeem carbon points earned from daily charging activities. These carbon credits, including 1,962 tons generated between September 24 and October 29, 2024, were collected via Kuaidian platform, NaaS’s strategic partner. Through the Kuaidian app, mini-programs, and third-party portals, EV users can authorize their accounts to engage in green mobility initiatives. This process allows users to accumulate carbon reduction points that can be redeemed for incentives such as charging fee discounts, generating a positive closed-loop ecosystem of green mobility and carbon reduction transactions to further motivate EV users. As of June 30, 2024, over 800,000 users have selected carbon accounts, showcasing the platform’s leadership in contribution to environmental sustainability.

Ms. Yang Wang, Chief Executive Officer of NaaS, commented: “Our execution of this inaugural transaction proves the viability and the market potential of EV charging carbon credits for our current and potential users. By leveraging our scalable platform and partnerships, we are driving business growth while combating climate changes. Looking ahead, NaaS remains committed to expanding our carbon reduction initiatives and accelerating the adoption of green mobility solutions. With significant growth potential in EV charging carbon credits, we are poised to play a key role in leading transportation decarbonization and advancing China’s carbon neutrality targets for environmental protection.”

About NaaS Technology Inc.

NaaS Technology Inc. is the first U.S. listed EV charging service company in China. The Company is a subsidiary of Newlinks Technology Limited, a leading energy digitalization group in China. The Company provides one-stop solutions to energy asset owners comprising charging services, energy solutions and new initiatives, supporting every stage of energy assets’ lifecycle and facilitating energy transition.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: NaaS’ goals and strategies; its future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; its ability to continuously develop new technology, services and products and keep up with changes in the industries in which it operates; growth of China’s EV charging industry and EV charging service industry and NaaS’ future business development; demand for and market acceptance of NaaS’ products and services; NaaS’ ability to protect and enforce its intellectual property rights; NaaS’ ability to attract and retain qualified executives and personnel; the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of government and other measures that have been or will be taken in connection therewith; U.S.-China trade war and its effect on NaaS’ operation, fluctuations of the RMB exchange rate, and NaaS’ ability to obtain adequate financing for its planned capital expenditure requirements; NaaS’ relationships with end-users, customers, suppliers and other business partners; competition in the industry; relevant government policies and regulations related to the industry; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and globally. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in NaaS’ filings with the SEC.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations
NaaS Technology Inc.
E-mail: ir@enaas.com
Media inquiries:
E-mail: pr@enaas.com 

Sagility acquires BroadPath Healthcare Solutions, a US healthcare focused services company

Sagility aims to accelerate growth in the mid-market payer segment with this acquisition

BENGALURU, India, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sagility, a leading tech-enabled business operations solutions and services provider in the healthcare sector, today announced its acquisition of BroadPath Healthcare Solutions, a US healthcare focused services company, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, US. BroadPath operates a work-from-home delivery model with over 1600 employees located across the US and Philippines. Its service portfolio includes member engagement, member acquisition, claims and appeals administration, provider enrollment and credentialing.

The acquisition of BroadPath aligns with Sagility’s strategy to diversify its client base and add new capabilities to its services portfolio. This acquisition significantly expands Sagility’s market presence, adding more than 30 new clients. It further strengthens Sagility’s position among the top ten largest health plans in the US. In addition, the acquisition gives Sagility the opportunity to cross-sell its broad service offerings to several mid-market clients including payers, third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers and providers. BroadPath’s member acquisition services will be a new capability addition to Sagility’s offerings.

BroadPath has been a pioneer in the work-from-home model even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Their proprietary Bhive platform improves employee engagement and optimizes operating metrics in a work-from-home model ensuring superior experience for employees and clients alike.

“We are very excited to add a sizeable number of clients through the acquisition of BroadPath. Their unrelenting focus on clients and employees aligns well with our beliefs and we are confident of seamlessly integrating BroadPath’s clients and employees into our larger organization. The strong operating leadership team at BroadPath, with deep relationships across health plans, will remain with the business and continue to drive success for clients,” said Ramesh Gopalan, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Sagility.

“Our clients will benefit from the opportunity to utilize the broader set of services and transformational capabilities that Sagility offers. Sagility brings advanced capabilities such as automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence which will enable our clients to further drive efficiencies and improve member engagement,” said Don Hubman, Chief Executive Officer of BroadPath Healthcare Solutions.

About Sagility 

https://sagilityhealth.com/

Timex Group and Aston Martin Forge Partnership to Launch Exclusive Watches and Jewelry Collection

MIDDLEBURY, Conn., Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Timex Group has unveiled an exciting new partnership with the iconic British luxury automotive brand Aston Martin. Announced during the Timex Group’s annual Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, this collaboration marks a significant venture into the worlds of watchmaking and jewelry for both brands.

Under this new licensing agreement, Timex Group will design, manufacture, and distribute watch and jewelry collections under the Aston Martin and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team brands. Designed for fans who share a passion for style and performance and will include iconic features such as the Aston Martin wings, and the marque’s signature Racing Green color will be reflected throughout the collections.

“We could not be more excited to start this new journey with Aston Martin,” said Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, CEO of Timex Group. “Aston Martin has such a rich heritage that allows us to create new icons in both watches and jewelry. Aston Martin’s presence in Formula One® has grown its fan base in a truly cross-sectional way, and we look forward to introducing our collections to this diverse audience.”

Stefano Saporetti, Director of Brand Diversification at Aston Martin, echoed this enthusiasm: “Starting this new license with Timex Group gives us the opportunity to pursue our brand extension strategy with a long-term vision. We sought a partner who could expand our presence in the watch and jewelry space especially for our fans around the world while sharing our core values.”

The first collections of watches and jewelry will debut in Fall 2025 and they will be available through Aston Martin’s online and offline channels, Timex Group’s global distribution network, and select authorized retailers and department stores worldwide.

About Timex Group
Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces around the world. Timex Group is a privately-held company headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with multiple operating units and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As one of the largest watch makers in the world, Timex Group companies produce watches under a number of world class brands, including Timex, adidas, Ferragamo, Furla, Gc, Guess, Nautica, Philipp Plein, Plein Sport, Ted Baker and Versace.  

For more information, please visit http://timexgroup.com

Media Contacts: Patricia Rappaport patricis.rappaport@civic-us.com 

About Aston Martin Lagonda: 
Aston Martin’s vision is to be the world’s most desirable, ultra-luxury British brand, creating the most exquisitely addictive performance cars.

Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. Aston Martin fuses the latest technology, time honoured craftsmanship and beautiful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models including the Vantage, DB12, Vanquish, DBX707 and its first hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Aligned with its Racing. Green. sustainability strategy, Aston Martin is developing alternatives to the Internal Combustion Engine with a blended drivetrain approach between 2025 and 2030, including PHEV and BEV, with a clear plan to have a line-up of electric sports cars and SUVs.

Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates, and exports cars which are sold in more than 50 countries around the world. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon with its luxury DBX SUV range proudly manufactured in St Athan, Wales. The company is on track to deliver net-zero manufacturing facilities by 2030.

Lagonda was founded in 1899 and came together with Aston Martin in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown, and the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.

2020 saw Lawrence Stroll become the company’s Executive Chairman, alongside significant new investment. This coincided with Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team and commenced a new era for the iconic British marque.


 

Image from Left to Right: Stefano Saporetti, Director of Brand Diversification, Aston Martin; Matthew Chapman, Head of Licensing and Merchandise Aston Martin F1 Team; Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, President, CEO Timex Group.
Image from Left to Right: Stefano Saporetti, Director of Brand Diversification, Aston Martin; Matthew Chapman, Head of Licensing and Merchandise Aston Martin F1 Team; Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, President, CEO Timex Group.

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/timex_group_logo_logo.jpg
Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2022_aston_martin_logo_black_timex.jpg
Photo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/am_press_release_image_timex.jpg

 

IMAX Rockets to Best Chinese New Year Opening with $12 Million

Shattering Dual Records for Box Office and Attendance


SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 January 2025 – IMAX China set a record Chinese New Year opening day with a whopping $12 million in box office revenue, eclipsing the previous record set in 2021. Additionally, with 1.2 million admissions nationwide, IMAX achieved its highest day-one attendance in history, paving the way for a robust new year.

IMAX 2025 CNY

IMAX captured 5% of the Chinese New Year box office to date with 1% of the total screens, marking its highest percentage of first-day results ever. Notably, 7 out of the top 10 highest-grossing theaters nationwide were IMAX venues, highlighting the audience’s strong preference gravitating toward the IMAX experience.

This year’s Chinese New Year holiday is widely acclaimed as the strongest in history, with exceptional audiovisual effects recognized as a key factor in drawing audiences to theaters. Five blockbusters landed in IMAX theaters, marking the largest lineup in history, including “Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force,” featuring IMAX’s exclusive aspect ratio; “Operation Hadal,” a Filmed for IMAX title shot entirely with IMAX certified camera; “Nezha 2,” “Detective Chinatown 1900,” and “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.” With their strong IP appeal, diverse genres, and high-quality audiovisual spectacles, this robust lineup caters to a broad audience demographic, creating significant momentum for IMAX’s Chinese New Year holiday window.

Hashtag: #boxoffice #chinafilmmarket #chinafilm #Imax #ImaxChina #HK1970

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

From Factory to Stage: AITO M9 Redefines Technological Artistry at 2025 Spring Festival Gala

CHONGQING, China, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Just as the Super Bowl is the television event of the year for Americans, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala is China’s ultimate national viewing spectacle. It is a cultural “media Super Bowl” that captivates audiences like no other event. This year, the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala showcased an extraordinary performance by AITO M9 at the SERES Super Factory.

A brand-new AITO M9 emerged from the Vehicle Departure Gate of SERES Super Factory, then merged into a vehicle formation of 780 AITO M9s, collectively illuminating this technological and artistic visual feast. Following the musical rhythm, the cars transformed into “dancers,” using their headlights to create dynamic light displays that perfectly blended with stage lighting and artistic gymnastics performances, presenting a shocking visual effect.

Media reports
Media reports

The Seres Super Factory — considered a global benchmark in automotive technology — became a radiant stage, with the words ‘New Era’, ‘New Journey’, ‘China’s Intelligent Manufacturing, ‘New Chongqing’, and ‘Rapid Change’ presented by a grand formation of AITO M9 vehicles. The display highlighted China’s cutting-edge automotive innovation and manufacturing capabilities.

Together with Teens in Times, and China’s National Artistic Gymnastics Team, SERES delivered a stunning performance that blended technology, art, and athletic prowess — much like Super Bowl halftime show. In this groundbreaking performance, the AITO M9 and the national gymnastics team shared the spotlight. Both embodied a spirit of pushing boundaries and breaking through limitations, showcasing the perfect fusion of technological innovation and athletic excellence.

Media reports
Media reports

The 2025 Spring Festival Gala reached a jaw-dropping 16.8 billion global views across all media platforms, with mobile viewership soaring to 372 million, comparable to the most-watched Super Bowl broadcast in history.

As a premium intelligent electric vehicle brand, AITO embodies “Intelligence Redefining Luxury,” leading with the concept of “traditional luxury + technological luxury,” bringing users continuously leading smart travel experiences. The AITO M9 has dominated the Chinese luxury car market for nine consecutive months, consistently topping sales charts for vehicles priced over 500,000 yuan. This achievement breaks the monopoly of foreign brands in China’s high-end automotive market and marks a significant milestone for Chinese car manufacturers in establishing themselves as premium brands.

In 2024, the AITO M9 made its first appearance at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, instantly becoming a nationwide sensation. In 2025, the vehicle returned to the national stage as a representative of intelligent automotive technology.