Central Hotels to Unveil its Upcoming Properties During ATM 2018

Central Hotels has a number of strategic announcements lined up for the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) taking place in Dubai from 22 to 25 April 2018.

Confirming the group’s presence at the show, Mr Ammar Kanaan, General Manager of Central Hotels, stated, “ATM 2018 will be the perfect platform for us to showcase the widening reach and expansion of Central Hotels by securing new business partners to operate, collaborate and manage existing and upcoming projects. In addition to promoting our current and future properties we are keen to consolidate and strengthen our relationship with travel agents, OTAs, tour operators, DMCs, wholesalers, and other regional and international travel trade professionals. We are also eager to see the latest innovations and trends transforming the whole travel chain – be it the growth of digital technology, mobile media consumption, social media usage or Artificial Intelligence”.

Elaborating on the USPs of Central Hotels, Mr. Abdulla Al Abdulla, Vice President of Central Hotels, said, “Our aim with Central Hotels has been to provide local know-how with modern comforts, creating value for our guests and associates. Though we have just begun our foray into hospitality we have seen an excellent response from both our guests as well as developers. With remarkable new hotels coming up we are strongly positioned in the UAE and well-placed to contribute to the growth of the local hospitality and tourism industry.”

 Visit Central Hotels stand #HC0810 at Arabian Travel Market in Sheikh Saeed Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre from 22 – 25 April 2018.

H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum’s Carpet Woven by Afghan Women Displayed in Abu Dhabi on International Women’s Day

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To celebrate International Women’s Day, the beautiful carpet designed by H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, and woven by Afghan women, for Artists for Change programme by Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) was recently displayed at the residence in Abu Dhabi supported by Embassy of Canada. The event was attended by top dignitaries and bureaucrats and included many exciting activities such as live weaving.

Artists for Change is a collaboration between well-known UAE artists and artisans in Afghanistan. It is aimed to empower underprivileged women by showcasing their talent as well as raise awareness about their cause. As part of the initiative H.E. Sheikha Wafa had taken part in an exclusive exhibition at Dubai Festival City last summer alongside three other prominent Emirati artists.

The theme for International Women’s day this year was ‘Time is now: rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives. H.E. Sheikha Wafa said, “International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements. I am honoured and delighted to see my carpet take centerstage on the occasion. It was created as part of the FBMI project (Artists for Change) to raise awareness about women empowerment in Afghanistan and is very symbolic being handwoven by Afghan women. The circle has always been an interesting shape for me. It represents the notions of wholeness, perfection, eternity, timelessness and infinity. I had chosen my geometric Camel motif for this project, working with FBMI and developing a design for the carpet. The symbol itself has been deconstructed within the mandala shape and re-constructed anew in the final work.”

#iwd2018 #timeisnow #pressforprogress #artistforchange #uae #mydubai #dubai #wafahmart #wafahasheralmaktoum

SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL ARRIVES IN ITALY

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Scheduled to welcome its first guests within 24 months, Swiss-Belresort Evergreen Garden Village will be an exclusive adults-only resort located in Vedelago, in the northwest Italian region of Lombardy. This puts guests in a perfect position, just one hour drive from Verona, which was the setting for several Shakespeare plays including “Romeo and Juliet”, and only 50 minutes from the world-famous water-based wonders of Venice.

Swiss-Belresort Evergreen Garden Village will feature 156 spacious rooms and suites, plus a complete range of facilities including two restaurants, two bars, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, tennis court and wellness centre.

From this expansive upscale resort, guests will be able to discover some of northern Italy’s most exquisite heritage, including artistic fairs, operas, botanical gardens and ancient architecture, including the enchanting Villa Emo, which dates from the 16th Century and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

“We are delighted to be making our debut in Italy, one of the world’s most treasured tourist destinations,” said Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International. “Swiss-Belresort Evergreen Garden Village is a truly beautiful property; nestled among the ancient landscapes of Veneto, it is an idyllic sanctuary where guests can unwind in style and enjoy the extensive facilities.

“Alternatively, curious visitors can use the resort as a luxurious base from which to explore the surrounding region, including the captivating city of Verona, which inspired three Shakespeare plays; the cosmopolitan city of Vicenza, with its UNESCO-listed collection of Palladian Villas; and of course Venice, the breath-taking ancient city of canals and bridges,” Mr Faull added.

Swiss-Belresort Evergreen Garden Village will become Swiss-Belhotel International’s first property not only in Italy, but also in Western Europe. This reflects the Asian hotel group’s continued global expansion strategy.

Apart from this property, GEI Spa Company CEO Dr Luigi Peressotti have agreed to have four other resort projects including a 180-room hotel in Bosa, along the north-western coast of Sardinia, 130-room hotel in Treviso, only 15km from Venice, a 588-rooms & suites in South of Milan Marzano, a small town 15km away from the southern gates of Milan and finally 120-room hotel in in Port-Valais, Switzerland, overlooking lake Genève opposite the city of Montreux be managed by Swiss-Belhotel International.

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For further information and high-resolution photography, please contact:

Brayna Tolledo

Group Manager – Communication and Loyalty Programme

Swiss-Belhotel International, Group Sales and Marketing Office

Tel: (62 21) 2952 7277, 2952 7278

Fax: (62 21) 2952 7275, 2952 7276

Email: braynatolledo@swiss-belhotel.com

www.swiss-belhotel.com

Charles Darwin’s Book Inspires ‘FLOW’ A New Exhibition at FN Designs by an Emirati Artist

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Curated by H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, FLOW – a solo exhibition of portraits by Rashid Al Mulla will open at FN Designs on March 19. Inspired by Charles Darwin’s book, ‘The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals’, the month-long exhibition brings together a striking mix of portraits.

H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, said, “We are really excited to present FLOW. As an artist Rashid Al Mulla is a paragon of aesthetic rigor, poetic sapience and absolute realism. There is something profound and powerful about his works that invite sustained, closeup attention. His latest exhibition adds a new dimension to his signature realist imagery. Each painting by the artist dives into different chapters of the iconic book by Charles Darwin illustrating the different physical expressions. The artist then gives each emotion a face, a colour and a story to be anticipated and felt. Intense in detail, the paintings haunt one’s imagination beyond a few moments and compel you to think.”

Rashid Al Mulla is an Emirati Artist born and raised in Sharjah and is now based in Dubai. Elaborating on how the idea of FLOW came about, Rashid revealed, “I was inspired by Charles Darwin’s book, and lived in its world for a moment. Through the artistic style of lines and colors, I wanted to recreate this world, and let the viewer live in it too for a moment. That’s what led to the collection in FLOW.”

Rashid is primarily a portrait and environmental artist. His portraits are focused on delivering the human emotions while his environmental art pieces shed light on issues like water scarcity, deforestation and animal cruelty. Rashid’s work has been exhibited in a number of galleries and events as well as featured in many private and public collections around the UAE. These include Sikka Art Fair, the Annual exhibition in Sharjah, and Faike exhibitions at FN design in Dubai. Rashid was also commissioned along with 9 other artists by FN Designs and The Cultural Office of H. E. Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammad Al Maktoum to create a 140m long mural. Some of his live art shows were held at Sikka Art 2016 and 2017, Arabian Travel Market, and Mirdif City Center for the Ministry of Culture.

Exhibition: FLOW by Rashid Al Mulla

Date: 19th March to 26th April 2018

Venue: FN DesignsAlserkal Avenue, Unit #26, Al Quoz 1, Street 8, Dubai, UAE

Gallery Timings: 10 am to 6pm from Sunday to Thursday

About H. E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum

Dubai based FN Designs takes pride in promoting art in the Middle East and making it accessible to all by creating a more design-centric social community within the emirates through innovative and collaborative events. Home to a bevy of young artists, FN Designs was conceived in 2008 by H.H. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, who is founder and director of the multi-disciplined art and design studio, and is recipient of many prestigious awards including ‘Patrons of the Arts Award’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Conceptual and visual design, illustrations, photography, publication and clothing are among the many pragmatic and creative solutions offered at the studio.

SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL PREPARES FOR A STRONG SHOW AT THE 25TH EDITION OF ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET Inbox x

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Swiss-Belhotel International has a number of strategic global and regional announcements lined up for the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), taking place in Dubai from 22 to 25 April 2018. Attending the event will be the top team from the group led by Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International.

Confirming the group’s presence at ATM, Mr. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “This year, marks the 25th anniversary of ATM which is the leading travel and tourism trade exhibition in the Middle East and we feel privileged to be part of it. With 6 new hotels opening in quick succession across the GCC over the next few months, it is also a very significant year for us at Swiss-Belhotel International. In addition, we are in advanced negotiation of some fabulous new projects in various other parts of the region that will be announced during ATM. Joining us on the occasion will be our key associates, owners and partners.”

With 16 new hotels, featuring more than 2,600 rooms in 12 cities, Swiss-Belhotel International currently has an extremely strong development pipeline in the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Voivenel stressed, “We are delighted to expand our footprint in the region adding exciting new destinations as we continue to deliver consistent growth and brand excellence for our hotel owners and guests. We are well positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for quality hotels in the region and are eager to capitalize on the various opportunities.”

Visitors to ATM can find Swiss-Belhotel International on stand ‘HC1130’ located in Sheikh Saeed Hall in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Gigamon Names Twenty Year Industry Veteran to lead Global Partner Sales

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SANTA CLARA, Calif.April 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Gigamon, Inc. (“Gigamon”), the company leading the convergence of networking and security operations to help organizations improve their security stance, today announced that Michelle Hodges has joined the company as Vice President of Worldwide Partner Sales.  In this role, Hodges will be responsible for evolving the Gigamon Partner Program by deepening relationships with existing value-added resellers and distributors, building the security capabilities of its channel and adding new partner segments to support the company’s next phase of growth.  In this role, Hodges will report directly to Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Burney Barker.
“We are thrilled to have Michelle join Gigamon to lead the next phase of our partner sales efforts.  Her background helping leading technology vendors design, build and manage Partner and Alliances sales teams and programs around the world makes her an ideal fit for Gigamon,” said Burney Barker, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Gigamon. “As we work to bring together the historically separate worlds of networking and security operations, having partners who can bridge that divide is imperative.  Under her leadership, we have an opportunity to grow our relationships with world-class partners to help customers increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their security stack, whether in cloud, virtual or on-premises environments.” Hodges joins Gigamon most recently from Riverbed Technologies where she led global channel strategy, programs, communications and enablement, leading to substantial bookings growth through focused partners.  Prior to Riverbed, she led global channels and alliances at Apptio, a provider of business management systems for hybrid IT, where her work had significant impact on net new ACV and renewals.  Throughout her career, Hodges has held senior channel positions at leading technology companies including time with Microsoft in EMEA and India; transforming the APJ partner ecosystem as VP Channels and Alliances with Business Objects and SAP, and leading SI teams at VMware. A change agent, driven by impact and growth, Hodges has been recognized by CRN as a Global Channel Chief.  She is a member of the Associated Strategic Alliances Professionals, Women in Channels and Cloud Girls organizations, as well as a Board Member of Baptie’s Women in Channel Leadership Forum. She holds a B.A. from Whittier College, an M.A. in International Policy Studies and an M.B.A. in International Management, both from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. About Gigamon Gigamon is the company leading the convergence of networking and security operations to help organizations reduce complexity and increase efficiency of their security stack.  The company’s GigaSECURE® Security Delivery Platform is a next generation network packet broker that helps customers makes threats more visible – across cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments, deploy resources faster and maximize the performance of their security tools.  Global 2000 companies and government agencies rely on Gigamon solutions to stop tool sprawl and save costs.  Learn how you can make your infrastructure more resilient, more agile and more secure at www.gigamon.com, on our blog and Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Henry Schein and Internet Brands Form Joint Venture To Deliver Integrated Technology To Enhance Dental Practice Management

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MELVILLE, N.Y.April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners, and Internet Brands, a leading provider of web presence and online marketing software, announced today the creation of a joint venture designed to deliver integrated dental technology to help the profession improve practice management and marketing as well as patient communication.
Henry Schein Practice Solutions is the leading dental practice management software company and will bring to the venture its market-leading suite of practice management systems. Internet Brands is the market leader in web-based software applications used by dental offices to attract and retain patients and manage online reputation. The joint venture, to be named Henry Schein One, will include the Henry Schein Practice Solutions products and services, such as Dentrix, Dentrix Ascend, Easy Dental, and TechCentral, as well as Henry Schein’s international dental practice management systems, including Software of Excellence, Logiciel Julie, InfoMed, Exan, and LabNet, among others. Henry Schein One also will include the dental businesses of Internet Brands, including web-based solutions such as Demandforce, Sesame Communications, Officite, and DentalPlans.com. The teams dedicated to all these businesses will become part of the joint venture, which will initially employ approximately 1,500 team members and be headquartered in American Fork, Utah. Henry Schein will have majority ownership of the joint venture and Internet Brands will own a minority interest, with senior management from Henry Schein and Internet Brands serving on the board of Henry Schein One. The combined entity, which will serve markets globally, had pro-forma 2017 sales of approximately $400 million. Henry Schein expects the transaction to be neutral to the balance of its 2018 earnings per share, excluding the impact of one-time transfer taxes of approximately $4.5 million, or $0.03 per share, related to completing the transaction, and to be accretive thereafter. The joint venture expects to realize between $20 million and $30 million in annual synergies by the end of year three. The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2018, subject to certain pre-closing conditions. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “We are very pleased to create this joint venture with Internet Brands because we share the goal of being the best partner to help our dental customers operate successful practices for the ultimate benefit of their patients,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Henry Schein, Inc. “With this agreement, we combine two dental technology leaders who together will create a powerful new engine to accelerate our customers’ growth. We believe our customers will have the most extensive suite of integrated programs and services, operating on leading practice management systems, to enable dental professionals to be more efficient and to increase their ability to deliver high-quality care to patients.” Henry Schein One will deliver advanced, cutting-edge technology to address the challenges created by the current lack of technology integration in dental practices. Dental teams today use disparate technology systems that often don’t connect with each another, thereby wasting time for the team and their patients. The mission of Henry Schein One is to raise the level of innovation and deliver a new platform of enhanced dental software and services that work together seamlessly to share data and streamline the digital workflow for each member of the dental team. Having end-to-end management and marketing systems will enable dental teams to be better business managers, clinicians to be more efficient, and patients more loyal to the practice. By helping each member of the dental team work smarter and faster to improve the practice and the entire patient experience, Henry Schein One will position dentists to focus more on delivering quality patient care. Integrating Henry Schein’s practice management software with Internet Brands’ web-based and mobile digital marketing and communications tools will give dental teams new tools connected to their practice management systems to better communicate with current and prospective patients, minimize appointment cancellations, improve adherence to treatment plans, and develop new sources of revenue. “By combining Henry Schein’s strength in practice management software with our leading digital marketing applications in this new joint venture, we intend to leverage the considerable resources of both companies to provide our customers and their patients with a better experience,” said Bob Brisco, CEO of Internet Brands. “We are only scratching the surface of what we can do together to improve how dental practices interact with patients in an age of digital communications. This joint venture will harness the power of the leading brands in this market for the benefit of everyone interested in delivering and experiencing better health care. We’re very excited to work with Henry Schein to create a powerful new offering that is unmatched in the industry.” The leadership of Henry Schein One brings deep knowledge and experience to the task of using modern marketing and communications technologies to enhance the customer experience. The company’s Chief Executive Officer will be James A. Harding, currently the Senior Vice President and CEO of Henry Schein’s Global Practice Solutions Group. Mr. Harding has also served as the Chief Technology Officer of Henry Schein, which he joined in 2000. The remainder of Henry Schein One’s management team will be announced at a later date. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information In accordance with the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we provide the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors that, among others, could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein.  These statements are identified by the use of such terms as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms.  Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the joint venture transaction, including future financial and operating results, the joint venture’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions.  All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to anticipated synergies and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction — are forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements made by us are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance.  These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the transaction and the timing of the closing of the transaction; the ability to obtain requisite approvals; the ability to successfully integrate operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement of the transaction or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with employees, customers and competitors; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to achieve performance targets; changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by Henry Scheinfrom time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in its most recently filed report on Form 10-K.  We undertake no duty and have no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein. Also included within this press release is guidance regarding the neutral impact of the joint venture transaction on our adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”). This guidance is a non-GAAP financial measure because it excludes the impact of transfer taxes that will be paid in accordance with the joint venture. The reconciliation to the impact of the joint venture on our expected GAAP EPS is provided above. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides investors with useful supplemental information about the expected impact of the joint venture transaction because it excludes one-time payments that are not indicative of the expected impact of the joint venture on our EPS in future periods. This non-GAAP financial measures is presented solely for informational purposes and should not be regarded as a replacement for corresponding GAAP measures. About Henry Schein, Inc. Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a health solutions network powered by people and technology. With more than 22,000 Team Schein Members serving more than 1 million customers globally, the Company is the world’s largest provider of Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions to enhance the efficiency of office-based dentalanimal health, and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratoriesgovernment and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the S&P 500® and the Nasdaq 100® indexes, Henry Schein’s network of trusted advisors provides health care professionals with the valued solutions they need to improve operational success and clinical outcomes. The Company offers customers exclusive, innovative products and solutions, including practice management software, e-commerce solutions, specialty and surgical products, as well as a broad range of financial servicesHenry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 34 countries. The company’s sales reached a record $12.5 billion in 2017, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 15 percent since Henry Scheinbecame a public company in 1995. For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.comFacebook.com/HenrySchein,and @HenrySchein on Twitter. About Internet Brands Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Internet Brands® is a fully integrated online media and software services organization focused on four high-value vertical categories: Health, Automotive, Legal and Home/Travel. The company’s award-winning consumer websites lead their categories and serve more than 250 million monthly visitors, while a full range of web presence offerings has established deep, long-term relationships with SMB and enterprise clients. Internet Brands’ powerful, proprietary operating platform provides the flexibility and scalability to fuel the company’s continued growth. Internet Brands is a portfolio company of KKR and Temasek. For more information, please visit www.internetbrands.com.

“New York Auto Show Week” Returns to Live with Kelly and Ryan

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The New York International Auto Show is making its annual pit stop at top morning talk show “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”  This week, a wide variety of top-of-the-line vehicles from the 2018 exhibition are featured on “Live” as “New York Auto Show Week” returns to the program. Kicking off the week with sports cars, followed by crossovers and SUVs, and the hottest new green cars, “Live” will continue the week on Thursday, April 5 with a look at “rugged yet refined” vehicles, including the world debut of the Range Rover SV Coupe.  And the week will wrap up on Friday, April 6 with a spotlight on the most exciting new sedans, including the highly-anticipated 2019 Nissan Altima. About Live with Kelly and Ryan “Live with Kelly and Ryan” is distributed in national syndication by Disney | ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution. The show is produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael GelmanKelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Visit “Live” on the web (KellyandRyan.com), Facebook and Instagram (@LiveKellyandRyan), and Twitter and SnapChat (@LiveKellyRyan). About the New York Auto Show The New York International Automobile Show is an awesome combination of new ideas, technological innovation, exceptional concept cars and nearly 1,000 of the latest new cars and trucks.  Over one million visitors are expected to visit the Show this year to see what is truly possible from the automotive industry.  The New York International Auto Show is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and has an economic impact on New York City of some $300 million.