Technology

LONELY PLANET REVEALS 2025 BEST IN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS AND TRENDS

Published

2 hours ago

October 23, 2024

Expert Predictions for the Upcoming Year Feature 30 Incredible Destinations and 10 Exciting Travel Trends

Best in Travel 2025 Returns With Print Edition, Immersive Video and Photography-Led Digital Experience Presented by Saily

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Lonely Planet, the global travel authority, reveals its top destinations to visit next year with the release of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025. The 15th edition of this best-selling book features 30 must-visit destinations from around the world, and for the first time, the title includes the top 10 travel trend predictions for the year ahead. In addition to the print edition, Lonely Planet also unveils a curated collection of digital and social media content, presented in partnership with new eSIM service, Saily. Travelers can stay connected and secure while traveling with Saily, with mobile data coverage in nearly all locations on Lonely Planet’s winning list.

Lonely Planet’s team of international experts, including editors, writers and other contributors from around the world curated the 30 must-see global destinations across three categories: cities, countries and regions. Each category features 10 destinations, chosen for their topicality, unique attributes and experiences, including food, history, architecture, art, vibrant local culture and natural beauty, along with their ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and diversity.

“Best in Travel 2025 is the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s annual love letter to the world. While mindful of our responsibilities and impact as travelers, we’re proud of the destinations, journeys and experiences featured here, and we are excited to share the local expertise and insight at the heart of these recommendations,” said Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s SVP, Content and Executive Editor. “Wherever you are in the world, we’re confident Best in Travel brings fresh inspiration for the year ahead.”

Known as La Ville Rose, Toulouse is named top city for its ever-expanding art scene, carefree riverside wandering and its many incontournables (unmissable things to see and do). The West African nation Cameroon tops the country list for its pristine beaches, less crowded national parks, and the variety of exciting nightlife found in its major cities. Named as the top region, Low Country and Coastal Georgia, including Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, stood out for its historical and cultural significance, striking a careful balance between acknowledging the past and embracing a better future. For passionate, off-the-beaten-path explorers, Lonely Planet recommends hiking the Jordan Trail and exploring the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Panama’s Chiriqui region.

For the 15th edition, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 provides fresh takes on new experiences in popular destinations, while also shining a light on some underappreciated locales, like Genoa, Lithuania and Switzerland’s Valais region. Pittsburgh keeps getting better, with an astoundingly refreshing food-and-drink scene and a supportive economy that draws creatives from all over, continuing the transformation of this steel town into a bustling hub of innovation and contemporary culture. In Spain, a leader in sustainable tourism practices, picturesque, Mediterranean-facing Palma de Mallorca makes the list for its off-season offerings, like a dynamic culinary scene and a highly-anticipated waterfront promenade.

Exclusive to Best in Travel 2025 is the all-new travel trends list, focused on the passion and enthusiasm driving decision-making right now. For each individual interest – like birdwatching, trains, local markets and underrated outdoor adventures – Lonely Planet names the 10 best destinations where readers can explore and experience those passions.

Available globally for purchase at shop.lonelyplanet.com, the Best in Travel 2025 hardcover book features stunning photography, local advice and insider experiences for each of the destinations on this year’s list. To accompany the print edition, travelers can check out Lonely Planet’s website and follow social media accounts to engage with interactive digital content from each of this year’s selections, including immersive video showcasing the beauty of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Genoa, Vanuatu and Armenia.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 – Complete list

CITY

COUNTRY

REGION

Toulouse, France

Cameroon

Low Country and Coastal Georgia

Pondicherry, India

Lithuania

The Terai, Nepal

Bansko, Bulgaria

Fiji

Chiriqui, Panama

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Laos

Launceston & the Tamar Valley, Australia

Genoa, Italy

Kazakhstan

Valais, Switzerland

Pittsburgh, USA

Paraguay

Giresun & Ordu, Turkiye

Osaka, Japan

Trinidad & Tobago

Bavaria, Germany

Curitiba, Brazil

Vanuatu

East Anglia, England

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Slovakia

Jordan Trail

Edmonton, Canada

Armenia

Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge region, Oregon, USA

Top Travel Trends for 2025

In addition to naming the 30 must-visit destinations for the upcoming year, for the first time, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 is unveiling the top ten travel trends for the year ahead. The list is accompanied by a selection of the best destinations for travelers to experience these trends in real life.

Train Hopping – From cross-continental epic voyages to slow travel branch lines, rail-based adventures are more popular than ever with contemporary travelers.Taking it Easy – Slow travel emphasizes the value of being present in the natural world, to escape from the stress and worry of an always-on digital world.Following the Music – Experience-based travel continues to resonate with music-lovers in search of iconic venues around the world.Extreme Birdwatching – Now more than ever, bird enthusiasts are planning entire vacations around viewing their favorite feathered friends.Marvelous Markets – Interest in local markets continues to soar as travelers seek sensory ways to immerse themselves in local life.What a Drag – The most spectacular drag shows in the world are celebrations of inclusivity and connection, bringing people together through artistic and human expression.Underrated Parks – Intrepid adventures are vying to find the most under-the-radar parks and reserves, reclaiming the outdoors from the masses to experience the natural world without waiting in line.Local Flavors – Eating and travel are inextricably linked, and more and more travelers are seeking out destinations where distinctive and delicious cuisine and local food culture get top-billing.Arboreal Adventures – Places known for their remarkable trees and forests are in high demand as travelers discover novel approaches to connecting with their surroundings.Best Beaches – Offering relaxation, unspoiled beauty and a connection with nature, beach vacations will always be on trend.

For more information on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025, please visit:
lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel

To purchase Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025, please visit: shop.lonelyplanet.com

Images can be downloaded for press use HERE.

ABOUT LONELY PLANET

Lonely Planet has been guiding travel for 50 years with a core belief that travel is for everyone. A trusted voice in travel guidance, Lonely Planet is part of the Red Ventures portfolio, and has been dedicated to providing actionable inspiration for every kind of traveler since 1973, Lonely Planet’s mission is to help more people from more backgrounds experience the joy of going places. Over the past 50 years, Lonely Planet has printed over 150 million guidebooks covering 221 countries as well as countless other titles showcasing the wonders of the world for travelers of all types. Lonely Planet reaches millions of travelers each year online and across social channels helping them unlock amazing experiences. Lonely Planet can be found on lonelyplanet.com, mobile, video, social media, and in 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks and more.

Join Lonely Planet online at lonelyplanet.com/newsletter as well on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

ABOUT SAILY

Saily is an affordable, user-friendly, and sustainable eSIM service that helps people to manage mobile and internet connections from anywhere in the world. Saily is available in 160+ countries and offers 24/7 instant customer support, flexible plans, and global coverage. Saily was created by the experts behind NordVPN — the advanced security and privacy app. For more information: saily.com.

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

Lonely Planet has partnered with Saily as its exclusive eSIM service, supporting travelers with greater utility and education as they plan their next trip. Many travelers still choose to connect to public Wi-Fi, which can be a security issue. Through new connectivity content narratives and Saily integrations across Lonely Planet’s digital experience, travelers will receive destination information, guidance, and an opportunity to purchase their eSIM in one seamless experience.

For media requests, please contact:
PR@lonelyplanet.com

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SOURCE Lonely Planet

Technology

Fortune Reveals Fortune 500 Europe

Published

55 mins ago

October 23, 2024

Volkswagen at No. 1 leads Top Ten dominated by car makers, energy

Germany leads country count; Financials leads all sectors on the 2024 ranking with 100 companies

Fortune 500 Europe list launched in conjunction with Fortune CEO Forum 2024 in London, convening 40 CEOs for invitation-only event

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Fortune unveiled the Fortune 500 Europe, the world’s most authoritative ranking of Europe’s largest companies by revenue. Volkswagen claimed the top spot on the Fortune 500 Europe list, with $348 billion in revenue, up 19%, and taking over from Shell, whose revenues fell 16%. While Germany had the largest total of companies from a single country, the Fortune 500 Europe includes companies from 24 different countries in the region.

More than half of all 500 companies come from just 4 countries: Germany (79), UK (77), France (67) and Switzerland (36). But the Franco-German axis is creaking. The region’s most profitable companies are now in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, and Ireland. In southern Europe, Spain’s and Italy’s companies are marginally more profitable than the region overall.

The Fortune 500 Europe Top 10 List:

Volkswagen (Germany)Shell (UK)TotalEnergies (France)Glencore (Switzerland) BP (UK)Stellantis (Netherlands) BMW Group (Germany)Mercedes-Benz Group (Germany)Electricité de France (France)Banco Santander (Spain)

SEARCH HERE BY COUNTRY, SECTOR, INDUSTRY AND MORE

Grethe Schepers, Lists Director, Europe said, “The 2024 Fortune 500 Europe list highlights the good and the bad, illustrating pressures on innovation and competitiveness. Profits are up 7.6% but when it comes to diversity, women’s leadership is shrinking—female CEOs now lead just 6.2% of companies, down from 7% last year. The technology sector pales in comparison to the US, accounting for just 2% of all list revenue with profits and employment shrinking. Financials, however, staged a remarkable cyclical comeback boosted by higher interest rates.”

Alex Wood Morton, Executive Editor, Europe added, “Europe is at a crossroads. This year’s list has echoes of the Fortune 500 in America 20 years ago, when it was dominated by oil and gas and car makers. The challenge for European companies is innovation at scale–those that can adapt and embrace new technologies will gain the edge in an increasingly competitive global economy.”

This year’s Fortune 500 Europe list is being launched in conjunction with the Fortune CEO Forum 2024 in London (today), which will convene 40 CEOs for an exclusive and invitation-only event to discuss and dissect the business-critical themes at the top of every CEO’s agenda. The day’s session will address mastering AI responsibly, raising European competitiveness, the transition to green energy, and how to thrive in an ever-changing world for consumers and workers.

For the Fortune 500 Europe list, companies are ranked by total revenues for their latest available respective fiscal years. All companies on the list must publish financial data and report part or all of their figures to a government agency. The latest figures in the list are as reported by the companies; any comparisons are with the prior year’s figures as originally reported. Fortune does not restate the prior year’s figures for changes in accounting.

About Fortune:
Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world’s biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World’s Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum and Brainstorm Tech. For more information, visit fortune.com.

Media Contacts:
Patrick Reilly
Fortune
Patrick.Reilly@fortune.com

Aslesha Mehta
Fortune
aslesha.mehta@fortune.com

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Technology

JA Solar Empowers Renewable Energy Talent Development with Practical Training Program at Vietnam Electric Power University

Published

55 mins ago

October 23, 2024

BEIJING, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On October 2, JA Solar, a global leader in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, participated in a practical training course to university students in Vietnam, in a move to advance solar PV education and encourage innovation in renewable energy applications.

The course, titled “Management, Design, Construction, and Operation of Rooftop Solar Power Systems,” was part of a session organized by INPOS, a leading Vietnamese renewable energy technology company. The course was held in Electric Power University, a public university in Hanoi which is renowned in Vietnam for its excellence in electrical engineering and renewable energy studies, and is committed to cultivating a new generation of high-skilled talent equipped with both theoretical and practical expertise.

The course was designed to blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills, offering students from Vietnam’s top universities a unique, immersive experience in PV technology. More than 100 students participated in the program, gaining hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of solar technologies through JA Solar’s expertise.

As a global leader in the PV industry, JA Solar shared an insightful introduction on PV module performance, manufacturing processes, and the latest technological innovations, with highlights on the application of high-efficiency PV modules in various scenarios. In the Q&A part, students actively engaged with JA Solar experts in discussions. This dynamic learning environment not only sparked students’ interest but also provided a strong foundation for their future roles in the renewable energy sector.

JA Solar’s collaboration with INPOS and the Vietnam Electric Power University is a continuation of their strong partnership. Earlier this year, in April, JA Solar, together with INPOS, donated a mobile PV system to the university, supporting its research and education on renewable energy. This training program further solidifies their joint commitment to developing talent in the solar industry and advancing renewable energy technologies.

Aiqing Yang, Executive President of JA Solar, commented, “At JA Solar, we believe that nurturing the next generation of solar professionals is vital to the future of renewable energy. We are committed to talent development through various initiatives, including our investment in institutions like Xingtai Polytechnic Institute of New Energy. By partnering with universities such as Electric Power University, we strive to cultivate the skilled professionals needed for the long-term growth of the industry.”

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SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.

Technology

AI Governance Startup DAIKI GmbH Raises €1.5 Million in Seed Funding

Published

55 mins ago

October 23, 2024

VIENNA, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DAIKI GmbH, an AI governance and compliance solutions provider based in Vienna, has successfully secured €1.5 million in seed funding to support its European roll-out and further product development. The funding marks a significant milestone in Daiki’s mission to help businesses across Europe responsibly deploy AI.

Daiki offers a SaaS solution for AI governance and compliance with the EU AI Act and ISO standards, including ISO 13485 for medical device manufacturers. Built by a multidisciplinary team of experts, it offers an integrated document and quality management system (eQMS), streamlined processes for AI development, and an AI Copliot for successful AI implementation at scale.

Today, AI development involves complex legal, ethical, and technical issues that most organizations find difficult to manage. These challenges often slow down innovation and make it harder for organizations to fully benefit from AI. Daiki tackles these challenges through its SaaS platform that guides companies towards successful AI implementation, saving time and money spent on costly consultants so organizations can focus on achieving real results with AI.

After 18 months of bootstrapping, the company received €1.5 million in seed funding from Humanitas GmbH, an investment vehicle of Tarek Sherif. Tarek is the co-founder of Medidata Solutions, and current Chairman of Dassault Systèmes’ Life Sciences Sector Board. With the newly secured seed funding, Daiki will accelerate its development efforts, including a new AI model registry feature. The funds will also be used to scale the team and strengthen its market presence across Europe.

Daiki currently caters to the MedTech, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, with a particular focus on the DACH region, the UK, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. It also serves companies doing business in the EU, which are obligated to comply with the EU AI Act, across a broad range of industries. Daiki operates on a SaaS subscription model, with discounted rates offered to research institutes, NGOs, and the public sector. With significant market potential, the company also counts the University Hospital Basel and Seco Tools among its customers.

Led by CEO Kevin Michael Gibney, an international sales and marketing executive with extensive experience in high-tech SaaS startups, Daiki additionally benefits from an experienced Advisory Board. Its members represent a diverse range of expertise, featuring leaders in AI governance, philosophy, UX design, and life sciences innovation.

“To succeed in the European market, the effective and ethical development and deployment of AI must go hand in hand. Daiki demonstrates that, with the right technical tooling, it is possible to drive innovation, while at the same time meeting complex regulatory requirements,” commented Daiki Advisory Board member Paula Cipierre.

About Daiki
Daiki is an artificial intelligence startup based in Vienna. Daiki’s SaaS platform combines AI, legal, and ethics expertise, enabling companies to successfully implement AI-based projects while ensuring compliance with industry-specific, local, and international standards.

For more information, visit https://dai.ki

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