For the fifth consecutive year, The Walt Disney Company has earned a top score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool to measure disability workplace inclusion. As a top scorer, the company was recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

“At The Walt Disney Company, we are committed to ensuring that the stories we tell, the immersive experiences we create, and the products and services we offer celebrate the unique abilities of everyone,” said Latondra Newton, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “Being recognized as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ is an incredible honor, earned in large part by our employees around the world who are focused on creating a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We are proud to support forward-thinking organizations like Disability:IN, and our long-term relationship enables us to advance the work of disability inclusion.”

Launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. The 2022 DEI measured Disney and other top-ranked companies on culture and leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, accommodations); community engagement; supplier diversity; and non-U.S. operations.

Globally, over 1 billion people live with disabilities, crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. Disney continues to evolve its ongoing commitment to people living with disabilities through inclusive workplace programs and policies as well as more accessible content, products, and experiences for consumers and guests. From adopting modernized best practices and creating inclusive content such as Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye to building more accessible spaces and accommodations across our theme parks and resorts, Disney continues to excel in disability inclusion and creating a place where everyone belongs.

Learn more about The Walt Disney Company’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Celebrate summer with an array of exciting dining offers at the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Discover the hotel’s fabulous restaurants and enjoy a feast of flavours as its highly skilled team of chefs sets out to please your palate with a variety of enticing promotions. Blending the most imaginative culinary craft with gracious and indulgent hospitality, the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai promises to take you on an enchanting epicurean journey this season. Here’s what is on offer:

Family Brunch Buffet

There’s no better way to spend a lazy Saturday than relaxing with your loved ones. Round up your friends and family and feast your way through a sumptuous international brunch buffet with an elaborate and dedicated kids’ corner. Indulge in a variety of delicious salads, soups, main courses, live cooking stations and desserts. As you enjoy some quality time with your friends, let the little ones have fun in a supervised play area with exciting games, competitions, and entertaining Disney characters.

§  Every Saturday

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  From: 12noon to 4 PM

§  AED 149 per person including a welcome drink

§  FREE Pool Access

§  Children below 5 years dine Free and those from 5 to 12 years enjoy 50% discount

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Sundowners High Tea

Treat yourself to an unforgettable Afternoon Tea experience featuring a wide selection of sweet and savoury specialties – the perfect treat for any occasion. Choose from two delightful options of traditional English High Tea (classic finger sandwiches, assortment of delicious pastries and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and selection of teas) or Arabic inspired Oriental High Tea (delicious mini-Arabic sandwiches, decadent Oriental pastries, and Moroccan tea). Slow down and enjoy this welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

§  4pm – 6.30pm Daily

§  Cabana and Grill overlooking the pool or Panorama Restaurant

§  AED 169 for 2 Persons

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Business Bonus Summer Lunch

Get down to business and seal that deal over a scrumptious business lunch buffet featuring flavourful salads, soups, main courses, and desserts with live cooking.

§  Monday to Friday

§  12Noon to 3.30pm

§  Sicily Café

§  AED 89 per person

§  Dine 5 Pay 4

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Early Bird Healthy Dinner

Take advantage of a truly healthy early bird dinner without feeing guilty over those calories. Enjoy a four-course set menu featuring irresistible summer delights created using organic and nutritionally balanced ingredients. Included in the menu is a special healthy welcome aperitif.

§  Daily

§  6.30pm to 10.30pm

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  AED 99 per person

§  Dine 4 Pay 3

§  Children below 5 years dine Free and those from 5 to 12 years enjoy 50% discount

§  All prices are inclusive of service charge and municipality fees

§  Terms and conditions apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Breakfast Buffet

Begin the day with our sumptuous Breakfast Buffet at the Panorama Restaurant and enjoy FREE access to the pool. Indulge in a lavish spread of delicious and healthy international and regional breakfast favourites.

§  Daily

§  7.00am to 10.30am

§  AED 99 per person with pool access

§  Panorama Restaurant

§  Terms & Conditions Apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

Ice-Cream Festival

Feast on our special sundaes and frozen treats to beat the heat this summer. Satisfy your sweet cravings as you indulge in our creamy ice-creams, rich and refreshing sorbets, velvety gelatos and decadent sundaes topped with all the flavours of summer, brownies, sauces, fresh fruits, and whipped cream. Our promise is to serve happiness every day of the week with an awesome range of ice-cream choices on our menu to make you smile.

§  Daily

§  11am to 11pm

§  Cabana and Grill, Panorama Restaurant and Room Service

§  Terms & Conditions Apply

For more information and reservations call +971 4 215 0222 or info@residenceinnszr.com

About Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, member of Marriott Bonvoy, enjoys a prime location on Sheikh Zayed Road near the city’s key business and leisure attraction such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, Museum of the Future, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Emirates Towers, and World Trade Centre. It is the world’s largest and tallest hotel to join the Residence Inn by Marriott brand.

Featuring 430 modern residential rooms and suites, many of which boast impressive views of the Sheikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah coastline, Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road offers travellers a ‘home-away-from-home’ experience with personalised service and amenities. The spacious rooms and one and two-bedroom suites, all have fully equipped kitchens, including refrigerator, microwave, hob, cookware, washing machine and dryer.

Giving guests and residents the chance to create meaningful connections over memorable dining experiences, the Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, boasts diverse culinary options with multiple onsite restaurants. Guests can dine in, eat out, grab and go, or cook in their suite. The possibilities are endless so no matter what mood you are in, you can always find just what you are craving.

Ensuring guests thrive during their stay, Residence Inn by Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, offers an array of amenities and conveniences including complimentary grocery delivery service, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, a well-equipped gym open 24 hours a day, sauna, and steam room, rooftop swimming pool and jacuzzi with expansive views of Dubai’s famous skyline, spa, tennis court, beauty and hair salons for ladies and gents, and multiple meeting rooms with flexible conference and event spaces. Both the gym and the spa are the largest in size when compared to other hotels in the area. 

For more information, please visit marriott.com/DXBSZ

Swiss-Belhotel International has announced its return to Thailand with The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel. Situated 5 minutes away from the picturesque Ao Nang Beach, a tropical wonderland with the majestic backdrop of Ao Nang Cliff, in Krabi, the beautiful boutique hotel is surrounded by lush rainforests and majestic hills. Set amidst an area of 4800 sqm, the tranquil one-of-a-kind sanctuary boasts 24 one- and two-bedroom villas with captivating views complemented by a wide array of thoughtful facilities and services including the biggest swimming pool in Ao Nang.

Mr. Kanchanawarodom, the Owner of The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel, said, “We are glad to partner with a renowned and trusted hospitality company such as the Swiss-Belhotel International. With an unmatched location, unique design, and world-class facilities, supported by Swiss-Belhotel International’s management, we are certain The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel will be a great success, and encourage many more travellers to visit this wonderful destination.”

Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are very excited to return to Thailand with The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel and extremely grateful to the owner Mr.  Kanchanawarodom for giving us the opportunity to manage the property. It is a fantastic addition to our expanding footprint in Southeast Asia which is one of our largest growth markets. We look forward to offering guests an unrivalled hospitality experience in this haven of serenity located in one of Thailand’s most sought-after destinations. It is a place where travellers can connect with nature while enjoying excellent facilities making it the perfect choice for all types of guests”.

Elaborating on Swiss-Belhotel International’s continued expansion in the region, Mr. Faull stated, “Part of our expansion in Central Asia is focused on Thailand where we opened a regional office in Bangkok last year. With several properties under negotiation in Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia our development plans in the area look exciting. We are making great progress in the region and expect to have up to 20 properties under management within the next 18 months”.

Mr. Lee Richards, SVP, Operations and Development, Central Asia, stressed, “The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel offers everything guests need for a dream getaway. Conveniently located merely 15 minutes’ drive from Krabi International Airport the resort has been designed to provide travellers fulfilling stays with all modern facilities in an extraordinary location. Enhancing the guest experience is the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings with convenient access to the city center, local shops, eateries, and the famed Aonang Mosque which lies only 2297 feet away.”

Mr. Richards further added, “Here guests can unravel the history of local fishermen while experiencing the unique traditions of the Krabi way of life. The hotel’s distinctive architecture combines folk art with stylish touches. The combination of the decorative heritage embellishments and the canopy that shelters every villa makes the property unique and culturally gorgeous.”

The Scene Cliff View Villas – by Swiss-Belhotel is equipped with superb amenities including free Wi-Fi, LCD TV, kitchenette, microwave, coffee/tea maker, mini bar, safe box, and ironing board. Enriching the guest experience are the resort’s extensive facilities ranging from a 24-hour fitness centre to a swimming pool, kids pool, Vibe Café, a pool-side bar, BBQ facilities, beach club, kids’ club, a garden, business center, meeting facilities, shops, car rental, library, free parking, and laundry and dry-cleaning services. Recreation options range from bicycle rental to fishing, hot spring bath, diving, and varied water sports.

Visit The Scene Cliff View Villas by Swiss-Belhotel click here

At Nourish + Bloom, Jilea and Jamie Hemmings — with the help of Intel and its partners — shape the future of shopping.

Download the Nourish + Bloom app, scan your way into the store, load your groceries and walk out.

No checkout lines, no cashiers, no waiting. The moment you walk out the door, your credit card is charged for your purchases.

It’s convenient shopping with a taste of tech.

Jilea and Jamie Hemmings opened their Nourish + Bloom grocery in Fayetteville, Georgia, in February, delivering a “frictionless” shopping experience with a contactless checkout system powered by computer vision.

Thirty ceiling cameras and shelves with scales track what customers pick up. Intel® Core™ processors, visual processing units and RealSense™ cameras offer computer vision, on-site analytics, advanced freezer/chiller temperature tracking and a self-checkout option for those who prefer it.

Other technology partners include Microsoft and UST.

“We came up with this project during the pandemic,” says Jamie, who like his wife, Jilea, has a background in the tech and food industries. “During that time, no one was coming outside, no one wanted to touch anything. So we wanted to come up with something that was innovative and something that would hold up for the pandemic.”

In this post-pandemic world, Jamie says, 87% of consumers prefer to shop in stores with touchless or self-checkout options.

It’s a glimpse of the future, says Chris O’Malley, director of marketing in Intel’s Internet of Things Group. Customer journeys are faster and more convenient, and store owners like Jilea and Jamie get out of scanning, bagging and taking money, and concentrate more on talking to customers and replenishing shelves according to data collected on each customer visit. It’s much like what the ATM did for banking, O’Malley adds. You no longer go into the bank to get $20, but when you need to speak to someone, they can spend more quality time helping you with finance and loans.

Alec Gefrides, vice president in Intel’s Network and Edge Group, says technology allows businesses – even your neighborhood grocery — to do innovative things.

Nick McKeown, senior vice president and general manager of the Network and Edge Group, says more Intel customers are looking to introduce edge computing — computing on the premises — to improve their businesses, whether by using artificial intelligence to track customer habits, inventory and supply chains or by using touchless and fully automated purchasing like Nourish + Bloom.

Such deployments, McKeown says, number 45,000 in more than 160 countries.

“I’m a mom,” says Jilea. “I’m the one who’s at 5 a.m. like, ‘Oh my gosh, I forgot to get things for my kids for lunch.’ It’s great that we have markets like this where I can come in and within five minutes be back at home to my family. I definitely see this model as being the future for sure.”

On YouTube: Groceries with a Taste of Tech

Tags

Internet of Things, New Technologies

• Launch of Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Kittilä (Finland) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Tromsø (Norway) as from 10 December 2022,
• Increased frequencies to Rovaniemi (Finland) with up to one daily flight during the Christmas and New Year period,
• Renewal of the Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) – Montreal (Canada) route, launched in winter 2021
   

Air France has revealed the first destinations of its winter schedule (October 2022 – March 2023). After launching a Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Rovaniemi (Finland) route in 2021, the airline is continuing to expand its medium-haul services to Lapland (Finland and Norway).

On 10 December 2022, Air France will launch a new route to Kittilä, also in Finland. The route will be operated every Thursday by Airbus A320.

Flight schedule (in local time):

AF1322: leaves Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 10:05, arrives in Kittilä at 14:50
AF1323: leaves Kittilä at 15:35, arrives at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 18:30

On the same day, Air France will launch a new service from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Tromsø International Airport in Norway, with one weekly flight every Thursday by Airbus A319. Tromsø will be the northernmost destination on the entire Air France-KLM network.

Flight schedule (in local time):

AF1220: leaves Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 08:20, arrives in Tromsø at 11:50
AF1221: leaves Tromsø at 12:35, arrives at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 16:25

Finally, following its success in 2021, the Paris-Charles de Gaulle-Rovaniemi (Finland) route will be strengthened with up to one daily flight during the Christmas and New Year period. Flights to this destination will resume on 27 November 2022.

Flight schedule (in local time):

AF1524: leaves Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 10:00, arrives in Rovaniemi at 14:30
AF1525: leaves Rovaniemi at 15:25, arrives at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle at 18:00

Kittilä, Tromsø and Rovaniemi, the wonder of unspoilt natural surroundings

Kittilä, Tromsø and Rovaniemi are located above the Arctic Circle in Lapland, the home of Santa. In this region of lakes, forests and mountains, you can enjoy ice fishing, sleigh rides, saunas and also admire the Northern Lights. Kittilä is also known as the birthplace of the famous Finnish writer Arto Paasilinna.

As well as Kittilä, Tromsø and Rovaniemi in the Nordics, Air France also flies to Helskinki (Finland, which was launched in summer 2021), Copenhagen and Billund (Denmark), Olso and Bergen (Norway), Stockholm and Gothenburg (Sweden).

Resumption of flights between Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Montreal (Canada)

Starting 22 October 2022, Air France will operate a route between Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Montreal (Canada) for the second consecutive winter season, with two weekly flights operated by Airbus A320.

Flight schedule (in local time):

AF624: leaves Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 16:20, arrives at Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau (YUL) at 20:50
AF625: leaves Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau (YUL) on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10:00, arrives at Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) at 15:50

Details of the flight schedule and fares are available at airfrance.com.
This flight schedule is subject to change and remains subject to obtaining the necessary government authorisations. It will be implemented taking into account the current health measures in the various countries or destinations served.
Before travelling, Air France invites its customers to check the travel restrictions and the documents required on arrival at their destination. More detailed information is available at airfrance.traveldoc.aero.

LG Electronics (LG) has been named to the Board of Directors of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (the Alliance), the leading global organization focused on developing, evolving and promoting universal open standards for the Internet of Things (IoT).

As the global home appliance market leader and a Promoter Member of the Alliance Board of Directors, LG brings a wealth of expertise and experience in smart home and communications technologies to the global organization. The newly appointed Board of Directors members are Don Williams of LG’s Chief Strategy Office and Dr. Sang Kim of LG’s Chief Technology Office.

With its elevated role within the Alliance, LG plans to actively participate in the development and standardization of Matter – the Alliance’s open-source IoT protocol for connecting smart home devices – and lead the expansion of the smart home ecosystem.

“Through our role on the Alliance board, we are demonstrating our full commitment to creating a more connected and convenient future,” said Dr. Kim Byoung-hoon, CTO and executive vice president of LG Electronics. “With the adoption and support of Matter, our growing lineup of smart products, including TVs, home appliances and IoT devices and sensors, will be able to connect to each other – and all compatible solutions – more securely and easily. We will continue to deliver innovative customer experiences and help drive the evolution of the smart home forward.”

Matter, an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications standard for smart home technologies, is helping to create an open smart home environment where products from diverse manufacturers can communicate and share data, making compatibility issues a thing of the past.

LG aims to provide support for Matter across its convenience-enhancing smart platforms, including the LG ThinQ smart home platform and app and the award-winning webOS smart TV platform. The adoption of Matter will not only benefit LG customers but also strengthen the overall competitiveness of the company’s innovative home appliances and TV lineups.

“Like the Alliance, at LG, we are committed to evolving and improving the world in which we live,” said LG Senior Vice President of Innovation Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, and head of LG’s North American Innovation Center, LG NOVA. “For us, this means innovative product development focused on delivering a better user experience and improving how we provide service and value in the home and beyond. We look forward to this collaboration and all the opportunities to come.”

“LG brings great energy and market reach to the Alliance, with its wide-range of products to their engineering expertise and connectivity solutions, but what makes the Alliance stronger with LG is its dedication to innovation,” said Tobin Richardson, President, and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance. “We are excited to have LG join our Board to help spur even greater innovation in what’s next with Matter, expanding the value of the Internet of Things to consumer everywhere.”

Composed of more than 500 companies, the Alliance’s global membership collaborates to create open standards for the IoT, transforming the way we live, work and play. With its members’ deep and diverse expertise, robust certification programs and a full suite of open IoT solutions, the Alliance is leading the movement toward a more intuitive, imaginative and useful world.