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INTRODUCING JOURNEY: A NEW KIND OF LOYALTY PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE MODERN TRAVELER

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Founded by Visionary Entrepreneur, John Sutton and Backed by Brian Kelly (Founder of The Points Guy), Journey is the First Rewards Program Tailored to Private Rental Homes and Boutique Hotels

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Journey, a pioneering travel rewards platform, launches today to redefine travel loyalty. Journey allows travelers to earn points and perks across a curated network of unique, independently operated properties—from boutique hotels in major cities to private rental homes in remote locales—offering the flexibility and personalization guests crave.

Introducing Journey: A New Kind of Loyalty Program Designed for the Modern Traveler

“More than ever, loyalty is important to consumers,” said Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, Senior Advisor and Investor at Journey. “Travelers want to earn and redeem points for life changing experiences. Whether that’s a safari or a private vacation rental, many of the best lodging options don’t exist within the current loyalty landscape. That’s where Journey comes in—a game changing platform that rewards travelers for staying at properties that they traditionally haven’t been able to earn points for. With Journey, travelers will no longer have to sacrifice loyalty when seeking bespoke and boutique travel experiences.”

Unlock More With Every Stay
Journey connects travelers to hidden gems—boutique hotels, luxury resorts, and private rental homes—that they may not have discovered otherwise. Travelers earn points on every eligible stay, building rewards redeemable for future getaways and perks. For guests, Journey showcases a world of accommodation options beyond the large hospitality groups, giving travelers access to unique, independently owned properties, all while earning valuable loyalty rewards.

“Travelers today face an overwhelming amount of choice,” said John Sutton, Founder and CEO of Journey. “Our curated collection of exceptional, independent stays showcases a handpicked selection of the best accommodations across the globe. By designing a platform from the ground up, we introduce travelers to inspiring, off-the-radar properties while rewarding them for supporting independent operators.”

Transforming Stays, One Reward at a Time
Journey is building an exclusive alliance of independently operated hotels and private rentals, representing a handpicked selection of top properties across the globe. Unlike many rewards programs designed to maximize profits for the loyalty scheme, Journey prioritizes operators and encourages guests to book directly for the best experience and value. Journey Rewards members (travelers) earn at least five points per dollar on eligible stays booked directly with the property versus at least one point per dollar when booking via online travel agencies. Journey also provides operators with next-generation AI marketing tools to personalize guest experiences, optimize off-seasons, attract repeat guests, and compete globally with big chains.

“Journey is about creating an ecosystem where independent operators can thrive without compromising their identity or profits,” Sutton continued. “For far too long, loyalty programs have made money for the loyalty program and not for the hotel or vacation rental. We don’t think it should be that way.”

A World-Class Team of Visionaries
Journey’s leadership team and investors bring together travel industry icons and entrepreneurial powerhouses, united by a passion for redefining loyalty:

John Sutton, Founder and CEO: John is a visionary entrepreneur who sold his digital marketing company in 2009 to join Red Ventures. He held various roles within the organization, including Chief Digital Officer for more than six years, until he left in 2021 to pursue his dream of playing professional beach volleyball. Today, as Journey’s CEO, he is responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision while hiring and overseeing the company’s roster of top industry talent.Brian Kelly, Senior Advisor and Investor: Brian founded The Points Guy in 2010 and built it into one of the top travel media empires in the world. His influential work has led him to be recognized on AdWeek’s Young Influentials list, labeled Forbes’ No. 1 travel influencer and included in Travel + Leisure’s Most Notable People in Travel and Out100’s lists. In 2017, The Points Guy was acquired by Red Ventures, where Brian first connected with John.James McBride, Alliance Ambassador & Senior Advisor: Recognized as “One to Watch” by Bloomberg Businessweek’s Bloomberg 50 and awarded Independent Hotelier of the World by Hotels magazine, James has led iconic properties from Ritz-Carlton to The Carlyle to Grosvenor House. At Journey, James draws on decades of leadership to support independent travel, helping operators thrive in a competitive marketplace while maintaining their unique identity.Eric Wu, Senior Advisor and Investor: Eric was the CEO and Co-Founder of Opendoor, the leading e-commerce platform for residential real estate. His experience building innovative, scalable businesses is a key asset to Journey’s future growth.Chris Burch, Senior Advisor and Investor: As the Co-Founder of Tory Burch and the Owner of Nihi Sumba Resorts, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge in luxury, travel and hospitality, providing valuable insight into crafting world-class guest experiences.

Join the Journey
Journey is currently accepting applications from hospitality operators who wish to become Alliance members. Visit JoinJourney.com/Alliance to learn more. For travelers who are interested in joining Journey Rewards, please visit JoinJourney.com/Waitlist. Travelers will be able to earn and redeem Journey rewards points starting Spring 2025. For more information, visit JoinJourney.com or follow along on social @JourneyRewards.

ABOUT JOURNEY
Journey is a revolutionary loyalty program designed for the modern traveler, connecting guests with unique, independently operated properties. As the first rewards program tailored specifically to private rentals and boutique hotels, Journey enhances both guest experience and operator success by boosting direct bookings and guest personalization through AI enabled tools. For more information, visit JoinJourney.com or join the conversation @JourneyRewards on Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

MEDIA CONTACT:
press@joinjourney.com

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SOURCE Journey

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AutoShop Answers and Rilla Launch Groundbreaking AI Initiative — Changing the Automotive Industry Forever

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HOUSTON, April 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AutoShop Answers, a leader in automotive service training and innovation, has officially partnered with Rilla, the premier AI-powered speech analytics company, to launch a groundbreaking initiative that is set to redefine the future of the auto repair industry.

This historic collaboration integrates Rilla’s advanced AI virtual ride-along and conversation analytics technology into the AutoShop Answers coaching platform, delivering a game-changing experience in customer engagement, service advisor training, and operational excellence.

Sebastian Jimenez, CEO of Rilla and NYU Stern graduate, brings a unique background — combining business acumen with a fresh approach to coaching drawn from his early stand-up comedy experience — to revolutionize how businesses train, coach, and grow. Rilla’s AI captures and analyzes real-time customer interactions, delivering actionable coaching insights hands-free.

Todd Hayes, founder of AutoShop Answers and a 30-year veteran of the auto repair industry, emphasized the significance of the launch:

“With Rilla’s AI, we’re not just training — we’re transforming. This technology allows us to coach sales calls, audit scripts, and elevate customer service like never before.”

The partnership officially debuted at AutoShop Answers’ sold-out Key to Key to Callbacks Weekend in Houston, Texas — a record-breaking, standing-room-only event filled with innovation, coaching breakthroughs, and more than 80 bursts of applause from an energized national audience.

The weekend began with a national online Strategy Saturday, hosted live by AutoShop Answers’ Glenn Piccolo. Todd Hayes then took the stage to share defining moments from his career, culminating in the official launch of AutoShop Answers AIX, powered by Rilla. Sebastian Jimenez joined the stage to introduce Rilla’s revolutionary capabilities to the automotive sector — ushering in a new high watermark for AI-powered live coaching and customer journey analysis.

The excitement continued with a special visit from Sunil Patel, CEO of Tekmetric, celebrating Tekmetric’s incredible milestone of reaching 10,000 auto shops nationwide. Congratulations were extended to both Tekmetric and ShopGenie, two of AutoShop Answers’ valued program sponsors.

The event also celebrated individual achievements, with Lynn Massengill receiving special recognition for surpassing both the $300,000 and $400,000 monthly revenue marks through AutoShop Answers coaching — truly a testament to the impact of training, innovation, and commitment.

Today, AutoShop Answers continues its momentum with the unveiling of the SPARR system, an AI-automated presentation platform that further advances their mission to empower service advisors and drive world-class customer service.

Next AutoShop Answers Key to Key to Callbacks Program: May 17–18!

Seats are already filling fast.

Learn more and register at: www.autoshopanswers.com

For more information, visit:
rilla.com
autoshopanswers.com

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SOURCE Autoshop Answers

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Appotronics Debuts Full-Vehicle Optical System at Shanghai Auto Show

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SHANGHAI, April 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At Auto Shanghai 2025, Appotronics (688007.SH), the inventor of ALPD® laser display technology, unveiled its groundbreaking Lingjing Intelligent Automotive Optical System – a comprehensive solution enabling dynamic projections on any vehicle surface, both interior and exterior, including windshields, dashboards, seats, and windows. The system delivers high-luminance lighting and interactive displays, transforming vehicles into responsive ‘digital emotional spaces’ that adapt to occupants’ needs in real time.

The system spans seven key application scenarios, redefining in-vehicle functionality and user experience:

Artistic ambient lighting,Rear-seat entertainment with privacy-preserving large-screen projection,Dynamic pathway lighting that conveys mood and context,Boundary-free interactive displays on smart surfaces,Side window interfaces for human-vehicle interaction,ALL-in-ONE laser smart headlights combining illumination and display capabilities.

Yu Xin, Vice President of Appotronics, highlighted the company’s evolution in automotive innovation: “We’re moving beyond just supplying hardware to co-creating smart mobility experiences. By sharing our core technology platform, we’re collaborating with carmakers and developers to unlock new ways AI and optical tech can work together. Our goal is to turn cars from simple transport into ‘digital emotional spaces’—where every journey is tailored to its occupants, powered by AI and advanced laser tech.” This vision is already taking shape, with 13 active development orders underscoring Appotronics’ momentum in next-gen automotive optics.

Visitors can experience the technology firsthand at Hall 2.2H | Booth 2BA032 (National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai) through May 2.

About Appotronics

Appotronics is the inventor of ALPD® laser display technology and one of the first companies to list on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market. From optics for cinemas, vehicles, and homes to AR glasses, Appotronics’ cutting-edge products are designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses worldwide.

Learn more at https://www.appotronics.com/

Media Contact 
Ma Chunli
machunli@appotronics.com

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SOURCE Appotronics Corporation Ltd.

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TCL Electronics (01070.HK) Global TV Shipment and Sales Revenue Maintain High Growth in 2025Q1

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Continued Product Mix Optimisation Yields Over 230% YoY Expansion in Global Shipment of Mini LED TV

HONG KONG, April 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TCL Electronics Holdings Limited (“TCL Electronics” or the “Company”, 01070.HK) today announced its global TV shipment data for the first quarter of 2025. Driven by the dual-brand strategy of “TCL + Falcon” and the intensified execution of its “mid-to-high-end and large-screen” positioning, alongside sustained advances in product competitiveness complemented by Mini LED, QLED, AI and other cutting-edge technologies, the Company achieved a solid start to the year. The global shipment of TCL TV reached 6.51 million sets, representing a year-on-year (“YoY”) increase of 11.4%. Benefitting from the increase in the shipment proportion of large-screen and high-end products, the sales revenue of TCL TV increased by 22.3% YoY in the first quarter.

Technological Advancements Elevate Competitive Positioning, Large-Screen and Mid-to-High-End TVs Gain Further Global Popularity

Capitalising on the global shift towards large-screen and high-end products, TCL Electronics has driven significant growth in the shipment of large-screen and high-end product series. In the first quarter of 2025, the global shipment of 65-inch and above TCL TV grew by 33.0% YoY, with its shipment proportion rising by 4.5 percentage points to 27.7%. The global shipment of 75-inch and above TCL TV exhibited even more pronounced acceleration, surging by 41.6% YoY, with the corresponding shipment proportion up by 2.9 percentage points to 13.7%. The average screen size of global shipment of TCL TV increased by 1.9 inches YoY to 53.4 inches.

The Company also continued to deepen its technological infrastructure in high-end display products. Its flagship Mini LED TV is equipped with next-generation features such as the CrystGlow WHVA Panel and All-domain Halo Control Technology, delivering enhanced contrast, minimised reflection, wider viewing angles and seamless screen borders. These innovations significantly enriched picture quality and colour accuracy, greatly enhancing the users’ visual experience. The exceptional consumer response to these innovations has been demonstrated trough robust global market acceptance. In the first quarter of 2025, global shipment of TCL QLED TV rose by 74.9% YoY to 1.33 million sets, while the global shipment of TCL Mini LED TV surged by 232.9% YoY to approximately 0.55 million sets.

Domestic and Overseas Markets Both Record Double-Digit Growth in Shipment While Global Market Share in Multiple Regions Takes the Lead in the Industry

In the PRC market, driven by sustained brand development and technology-led product innovation, TCL TV shipment in the PRC market expanded by 10.8% YoY in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the strategy of focusing on large-screen and mid-to-high-end products has yielded remarkable results, with continuous improvement in the product structure. Notably, the shipment of 65-inche and above TCL TV grew by 18.3%, rising by 3.5 percentage points to 54.7% of total domestic shipment, while the shipment of 75-inch and above TCL TV rose by 21.0% YoY, with the proportion of shipment increasing by 3.0 percentage points to 34.9%. The shipment of TCL Mini LED TV has surged by 341.1% YoY, with its shipment proportion substantially increasing by 13.2 percentage points to 17.6%. In the first quarter of 2025, the market share in terms of retail sales revenue and retail sales volume of TCL TV in the PRC market rose to 23.1% and 22.1%, respectively, both ranking among the top two in the PRC market[1]. Continuous improvement of the product mix has driven the further increase in sales revenue.  In the first quarter, the sales revenue of TCL TV in the PRC market increased by 35.4% YoY, and the average selling price rose by 22.2% YoY.

In terms of the international market, TCL officially announced that it had become a Worldwide Olympic Partner in February 2025, marking a significant milestone in enhancing its global brand awareness and influence. TCL will deliver comprehensive technological infrastructure, advanced product solutions and specialised professional services to support Olympic Games operations across multiple smart device categories such as TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. This strategic partnership, coupled with precise sports marketing deployment, strategic event sponsorship and a systematic construction of its global customer management system, further strengthened global marketing effectiveness. In the first quarter of 2025, TCL TV shipment in international market grew by 11.6% YoY. The shipment of large-screen TV showed particularly strong YoY momentum, with 65-inch and above TCL TV increasing by 48.5% YoY and 75-inch and above TCL TV surging by 86.8%. The significant rise of the shipment of large-screen TCL TV stimulated the sales revenue of TCL TV in the international market increasing by 17.2% YoY.

By region, the European market has achieved rapid breakthrough by precisely laying out regional channel networks through a “one-country-one-policy” approach. The shipment of TCL-branded TV in the European market increased by 15.8% YoY, with the shipment of 75-inch and above TCL TV surging by 74.4%. TCL TV ranked among the top two in retail sales volume in France, Poland and Sweden[2], while ranked third in Spain, Romania, Greece, and the Czech Republic[2]. In emerging markets, encompassing Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa, further optimisation of the sports marketing matrix and continued upgrades to sales and retail channels led to a 18.8% YoY rise in the shipment of TCL TV, with the shipment of 75-inch and above TCL TV surging by 100.5%. TCL TV secured the No.1 position in retail sales volume in Australia and the Philippines, and ranked among the top two in Brazil, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Myanmar, while ranked third in Argentina, Vietnam, and South Korea[2]. In North America, the Company has strategically pivoted to focus on mid-to-high-end distribution channel penetration. While this recalibration resulted in a modest 3.8% YoY decline in TV shipment, the implementation of mid-to-high-end strategy has yielded significant results in the large-screen segments. The shipment of 75-inch and above TCL TV increased by 79.3% YoY, with its shipment proportion rising by 5.8 percentage points to 12.5%. TCL TV maintained a top-two retail market share in the United States[3].

Harnessing enduring winds with steadfast resolve, and soaring ever higher with bold ambition. TCL Electronics will continue to pursue its strategy of “Lead with Brand Value, Excel in Global Efficiency, Drive with Technology, Thrive on Global Vitality”. The Company remains strategically aligned with its consumer-centric value creation imperative, adhering to its mid-to-high-end development roadmap through continuous refinement of its product portfolio, accelerated research and development investment, precision-calibrated regional strategies and enhanced global localisation, as it advances resolutely towards becoming a truly global leading enterprise.

TV Shipment Data for the First Quarter of 2025 (unaudited)

Unit: Set

2025 Q1

2024 Q1

Large-sized display – Global Shipment of TCL TV

6,507,078

5,840,635

– Proportion of 65 inches and above TCL TV by global shipment

27.7 %

23.2 %

       – Proportion of 65 inches and above TCL TV by shipment in the PRC market

54.7 %

51.2 %

       – Proportion of 65 inches and above TCL TV by shipment in the international market

19.6 %

14.7 %

– Proportion of 75 inches and above TCL TV by global shipment

13.7 %

10.8 %

       – Proportion of 75 inches and above TCL TV by shipment in the PRC market

34.9 %

31.9 %

       – Proportion of 75 inches and above TCL TV by shipment in the international market

7.3 %

4.4 %

– Proportion of TCL Mini LED TV by global shipment

8.8 %

3.0 %

       – Proportion of TCL Mini LED TV by shipment in the PRC market

17.6 %

4.4 %

       – Proportion of TCL Mini LED TV by shipment in the international market

6.0 %

2.5 %

About TCL Electronics

TCL Electronics Holdings Limited (01070.HK, incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability) was listed on the mainboard of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 1999. It is engaged in display business, innovative business and internet business. TCL Electronics actively transforms and innovates under the strategy of “Lead with Brand Value, Excel in Global Efficiency, Drive with Technology, Thrive on Global Vitality”. Focusing on the mid-to-high-end markets around the world, the Company strives to consolidate the “Intelligent IoT Ecosystem” strategy and is committed to providing users with an all-scenario smart and healthy life while developing into a world-leading smart technology company. TCL Electronics is part of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program and is included in the Hang Seng Stock Connect Hong Kong Index, the Hang Seng Composite MidCap & SmallCap Index and the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index. Besides, it has received Hang Seng Index’s ESG rating of A for consecutive years since 2018.

For more information, please visit the investor relations web page of TCL Electronics at   http://electronics.tcl.com or follow the Official Account of TCL Electronics investor relations.

[1] Data Source: Retail sales revenue and retail sales volume of TV brand of the first quarter of 2025 in the PRC market from CMM’s omni-channel data.

[2] Data Source: Retail sales volume in January 2025 to February 2025 from GfK.

[3] Data Source: Retail sales volume in January 2025 to February 2025 from Circana.

 

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SOURCE TCL Electronics Holdings Limited

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