KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) — Yanggu County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province is a millennial ancient city, where the Yellow River culture, canal culture, Water Margin culture, and Dongyi culture are blended, providing a cultural soil for folk art and traditional crafts.
In addition to this is the deposits of various traditional folk arts, among which Yanggu wood carving has a history of more than 200 years. Wood carving is an important part of the traditional Chinese carving art.
Wang Chuancheng, 68, is the representative inheritor of Yanggu wood carving in Shandong Province where his representative works include Confucius, the Founder of the Thought of Great Harmony, and Nine Phoenix Screen.
In his exhibition hall, the wood carving works embody smooth and simple cutting techniques, lively characters, and vivid natural shapes.
In 2013, Yanggu wood carving was selected as an intangible cultural heritage of Shandong Province, according to a statement by the Information Office of YangGu District People’s Government.
The local wood carving works mostly originate from the story of Water Margin and local folk customs, with extremely complex production processes from design, material selection, cutting, and woodworking, to carving, assembly, polishing and waxing.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) — The fifth edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), held in Shanghai earlier this month, has recorded tentative deals valued at US$73.52 billion (US$1=RM4.59), up 3.9 per cent from the previous year.
In a statement, the CIIE Bureau said this year’s expo, like previous editions, comprised a business exhibition, the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, a country exhibition, as well as a slew of supporting activities and people-to-people and cultural exchange programmes.
The six-day expo attracted participants from 145 countries, regions and international organisations. Over 2,800 enterprises, including 284 of the world’s top 500 enterprises and industry giants, showcased their products and services at the business exhibition.
The fifth CIIE also welcomed 39 trade missions and nearly 600 sub-trade missions with more than 600 intended deals were reached at 82 project signing ceremonies.
In addition, a total of 293 cooperation intention agreements involving US$5.9 billion worth of products and services were signed at trade and investment matchmaking conferences during the expo.
This year’s online country exhibition enabled 69 countries and international organisations to display their scientific and technological achievements, culture and art. The online exhibition saw 59 million visits, more than the previous edition.
“About 100,000 square metres of exhibition space for next year’s CIIE has already been booked,” the statement said.
Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Resort (Photo: Business Wire)
2023 trends report reveals focus on frictionless travel, more engaging experiences, a sense of caring and enhanced wellness offerings
SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — If 2022 was the year of the changed traveler, 2023 is the year of the evolved traveler. Today, Hilton released its 2023 trends report, The 2023 Traveler: Emerging Trends that are Innovating the Travel Experience, A Report from Hilton, which reveals the latest consumer expectations following a year when travelers showed up in record numbers. Based on a global survey and analysis of current travel trends, today’s travelers are looking for a balance of technological and human innovations, deeper connections and care, embedded wellness experiences and more.
“In 2022, motivated travelers sought out new experiences around the world and reconnected with the people and places they love,” said Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton. “The 2023 Trends Report showcases travelers’ evolving preferences and how eager and optimistic they are about their future adventures. Our Hilton team members are ready to welcome them and create a great stay experience at our more than 7,000 properties worldwide.”
The new report is the result of evaluating both quantitative and qualitative data research paired with insights collected by more than 7,000 travelers across the world in a survey commissioned by Hilton and conducted by Material, a global strategy, insights, design, and technology partner. According to the study, 84% of global consumers hope to travel just as much — or more — in 2023. The research also uncovered four consistent themes for 2023 travel, driven by traveler experiences over the last three years.
People will turn to travel for deeper, more engaging, human experiences and connections Travel is a gateway to discovering different perspectives and rich traditions. In 2023, travelers will focus on travel to create deeper connections with family, friends, colleagues, customers, cultures and the planet. Nearly half (49%) of survey respondents want to be immersed in local culture and products while traveling — this applies to travelers from China (65%) and Australia (54%) in particular, and Japan (23%) to a lesser degree. Meanwhile, 40% of consumers globally want personalized access to unique experiences or activities, such as performances, events, spa treatments, or classes. That proportion is higher in China (74%), Australia (46%), and just slightly lower in Japan (30%).
From destination-focused culinary travel packages to impactful programs like Hilton’s Travel with Purpose, which helps guests positively impact the communities they visit, travelers are looking to create meaningful change through more immersive travel experiences. In fact, Hilton is witnessing signs of this growth through its reimagined Hilton Honors Experiences, which saw a 77% year-over-year increase in Hilton Honors Point redemption during the first nine months of 2022, allowing members to connect with their passions through new, exclusive experiences.
People will recognize travel as an essential part of their wellness routine Overall wellness remains a priority for travelers as half (50%) of respondents seek travel experiences in 2023 that align with their holistic wellness goals and priorities.
“Travelers in Asia Pacific now desire experiences that truly ingrain themselves into the culture of the destination in every shape and form — including mind, body, and spirit, to rejuvenate the senses,” said Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, Brand Management, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “Experiences need to be authentic and immersive; allowing travelers to disconnect from the daily grind and develop a deeper cultural understanding of the destinations they visit.”
For about 1 in 2 (47%) travelers, physical wellness and accessibility to fitness amenities like centers or activities will be top of mind when it comes to traveling in 2023. For instance, healthier food and beverage options are top of mind for 66% of travelers from China. Guests will also seek moments of connection with their communities, as well as insights and solutions that improve their mental and emotional health. Addressing mental health on the road will be prioritized by 35% of global survey respondents. Meanwhile, another 49% of those employed will be looking to travel to disconnect from work.
Travelers will want to be taken care of more than ever Personalization will continue to be a significant priority for travellers, with 86% of survey respondents indicating they want recognition and personalization while on the road. The trend is significantly more pronounced in Asia Pacific, with nearly all respondents in China (99%) wanting personalization, and 84% in Australia and 70% in Japan. Nearly half in China (46%) even look to travel and hospitality companies to accommodate their personal needs. This also corresponds with their interest in finding personalized food and beverage options — with respondents in China (69%), Australia (50%), and Japan (38%) specifying so.
Travelers know the importance of wanting to feel valued for their loyalty — both in their wallet and as an individual. In fact, 42% of survey respondents indicate that loyalty perks — such as earning/redeeming points and loyalty benefits — will matter to them when traveling in 2023. Among these respondents, travelers from China value rewards the most, topping the list at 52%.
Whether providing exceptional guest service for value-driven travelers at a Hilton Garden Inn property or accommodating large families looking to reconnect and spend more time together, Hilton understands the importance of delivering reliable and friendly service to every guest, every time. In fact, Hilton offers enhanced booking options like Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton, which allows families and friends to reserve adjoining rooms when booking online.
“In Asia Pacific, the pent-up desire to reconnect with loved ones as travel takes on a deeper meaning is resulting in today’s leisure traveler emphasizing quality time with family,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “Exceptional hospitality and innovative guest experiences that anticipate this need go a long way in giving families the peace of mind knowing that they will be taken care of on every level, including helping them to create more shared moments and memories together.”
Travelers want frictionless travel innovations that are both technology- and human-led 2022 uncovered unexpected friction points in travel. Hilton’s global research found that more than half (56%) of all travelers surveyed will prioritize adopting solutions that make travel easier in 2023 and among them, respondents from China (59%) prefer to have friction points reduced the most. Overall, 26% of respondents also anticipate hotel technologies will be important to them for a seamless stay.
To reduce travel’s strongest tension points, guests will seek out the most logical and purposeful solutions. They will look for the hospitality and service that they expected pre-pandemic, whether that’s personalized dining recommendations or reservation adjustments. Within the technological innovations, they will continue to embrace efficiencies like Digital Key in the Hilton Honors app, which allows travelers to bypass the front desk and go straight to their rooms.
Methodology Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to determine the emerging trends detailed in this report. Hilton conducted stakeholder interviews across the organization to gain perspectives on what travel looks like today and determine what is top of mind going into 2023. Business Divisions included: Business Travel/Events, Food & Beverage, Wellness, Sustainability, Design, Digital Innovation, Workplace Culture. In addition, Hilton commissioned an online omnibus survey with Material, fielded August 2022 among general population consumers 18+ years of age in several markets with questions targeting behavior related to travel. Specifically, the survey was fielded to: n=1,002 in Australia, n=1,002 in China, n=1,002 in Germany, n=1,002 in Japan, n=1,002 in Mexico, n=1,002 in the U.K. and n=1,018 in the U.S. Additionally, a Hilton Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 U.S. Adult Travelers, between August 23rd and August 30th, 2022, using an email invitation and an online survey. This data has been weighted to ensure accurate representation of U.S. travelers. “Travelers” are defined as those who took a trip in the past 24 months that required an overnight stay.
About Hilton Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 7,000 properties and more than 1.1 million rooms, in 123 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. Hilton has introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the nearly 146 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Proceeds to fund global Phase 3 registration program for the company’s lead product candidate, Obexelimab, and support the clinical development of other pipeline programs
Series B equity financing led by Enavate Sciences, a portfolio company of Patient Square Capital, also included new investors Longitude Capital and Vivo Capital
WALTHAM, Mass., Nov 10 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zenas BioPharma, a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of immune-based therapies, today announced proceeds of $118 million in connection with the issuance of Series B preferred shares. In addition to Enavate Sciences, which led the Series B equity financing, new Zenas shareholders include Longitude Capital, Vivo Capital, Rock Springs Capital, Perceptive Advisors, Agent Capital, Pivotal bioVenture Partners and Superstring Capital. Existing investors Fairmount, Wellington Management, Tellus BioVentures, Quan Venture Fund, and Xencor, Inc. also participated in the financing, which included the infusion of new capital as well as the conversion of convertible notes issued to certain of the investors in advance of the closing of the Series B financing.
Proceeds from the financing will support the clinical advancement of the company’s lead product candidate Obexelimab, including a global Phase 3 registration trial in patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which will be initiated in late 2022. In addition, the new funding will progress the company’s other global autoimmune disease programs into clinical development in 2023.
“We are thrilled to support Zenas as an innovative leader in biotechnology as the team executes the clinical development plans for IgG4-RD and the robust pipeline of immune-based therapies so adeptly acquired through strategic business development. We believe Zenas will successfully commercialize innovative therapies to improve the lives of those facing autoimmune and rare diseases,” said James Boylan, Chief Executive Officer of Enavate Sciences.
“We are thrilled to have the support of Enavate and this top-tier group of global investors as we continue to advance our deep and balanced pipeline of clinical stage autoimmune therapeutics and execute our successful business development strategy,” said Lonnie Moulder, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zenas BioPharma.
In connection with the Series B financing, Enavate Sciences CEO Jim Boylan, Longitude Capital Co-founder and Managing Director Patrick Enright, and Vivo Capital Managing Partner Hongbo Lu have joined the Zenas Board of Directors.
About Zenas BioPharma
Zenas BioPharma is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of immune-based therapies for patients around the world. With clinical development and operations globally, Zenas is advancing a deep and balanced global portfolio of potential first- and best-in-class autoimmune therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need while meeting the value requirements of the dynamic global healthcare environment. The company’s pipeline continues to grow through our successful business development strategy. Our experienced leadership team and network of business partners drive operational excellence to deliver potentially transformative therapies to improve the lives of those facing autoimmune and rare diseases. For more information about Zenas BioPharma, please visit www.zenasbio.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZenasBioPharma and LinkedIn.
About Obexelimab
Obexelimab (ZB012), is an investigational phase III-stage, novel bifunctional antibody with first-in-class potential that inhibits B-cell lineages that express CD19. Simultaneous binding to CD19 and FcƳRIIB by obexelimab mimics a natural antigen-antibody complex and down-regulates B-cell activity. In early-stage clinical studies, obexelimab effectively demonstrated inhibition of B-cell function without depleting the cells and generated an encouraging treatment effect in patients with multiple autoimmune diseases. Zenas acquired exclusive worldwide rights to obexelimab from Xencor, Inc.
About IgG4-RD
IgG4-RD is a chronic and serious, fibroinflammatory disease typically affecting multiple organs and sites (e.g., pancreas, liver, kidney, bile duct, salivary and lacrimal glands). ~20K people are diagnosed with IgG4-RD in the US, with similar prevalence rates across geographies. Many patients have some degree of irreversible organ damage at the time of diagnosis. Although nearly all patients initially respond to first line glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, chronic GC therapy is associated with toxicity and relapse is common as patients are tapered off or tapered to low doses.
About Enavate Sciences
Enavate Sciences is a platform created by Patient Square Capital dedicated to supporting therapeutic companies advancing medicines and enabling technologies with transformative potential to address patient need. Through the application of capital support and operational experience, Enavate strives to enable and empower a diverse portfolio of therapeutics companies to accelerate innovation. To learn more about Enavate, please visit www.enavatesciences.com.
About Longitude Capital
Longitude Capital is a leading healthcare venture capital firm that invests in transformative biotechnology, medical technology, and health solutions companies seeking to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life, and drive efficiency of healthcare delivery. Founded in 2006, Longitude Capital invests in both privately held and publicly traded companies through a variety of investment approaches. Longitude Capital has offices in Menlo Park, CA, Boston, MA, and Greenwich, CT. For more information, please visit www.longitudecapital.com or LinkedIn.
About Vivo Capital
Founded in 1996, Vivo Capital is a leading global healthcare investment firm with a diverse, multi-fund investment platform in venture capital, growth equity, buyout, and public equities. Vivo has approximately $6.4 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 300 public and private companies worldwide. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in Asia, the Vivo team consists of more than 50 multi-disciplinary professionals. Vivo invests broadly in healthcare across all fund strategies, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services, with a focus on the largest healthcare markets globally.
The Nature Conservancy and Mary Kay Inc. announced their partnership in 1990. Mary Kay has continued to generously support TNC’s work with an expanded focus on oceans work around the globe. (Credit: The Nature Conservancy)
DALLAS, Nov 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Throughout 2022, Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for corporate sustainability and stewardship, has worked to elevate ocean awareness in climate work and as an approach to address the climate crisis.
This month, Mary Kay was recognized in The Nature Conservancy’s 2022 Global Reefs Impact Report. The Nature Conservancy’s report highlights their recent achievements and how the organization has partnered with the private sector to successfully implement innovative marine conservation programs that protect and preserve life in our oceans.
The report showcased a newly launched project focused on “Super Reefs.” Super Reefs are highly resilient and can survive in a warming ocean. The mission of the Super Reefs project is to identify, protect, and grow a global network of Super Reefs to secure the future of coral reefs. The Super Reefs team brings together experts in ocean science, conservation, and management from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Stanford University, and The Nature Conservancy, along with private sector support from Mary Kay, to support governments and communities at this critical moment in the history of coral reefs.
“I’ve seen reefs that have been destroyed, and I’ve seen reefs that have bounced back in my lifetime,” says Elizabeth McLeod, Global Reefs Systems Lead at The Nature Conservancy. “We have an imperative to get out in the water, to identify coral reefs that can survive climate change and ensure that they are protected from other impacts.”
“Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy stretches back more than 32 years—but we’re just getting started,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operation Officer for Mary Kay Inc. “Throughout 2022, we’ve doubled down on our sustainability efforts, including a focus on ocean health. The health of our oceans is the health of our planet, and it’s essential we do our part to protect them.”
In 2022, Mary Kay supported 11 projects related to global ocean protection initiatives to improve ocean health for nature and people through the protection and restoration of critical habitats such as coral reefs, oyster reefs, and coastal wetlands. These important projects included:
Restoring Asia Pacific shellfish reefs in Australia, Hong Kong, China, and the Coral Triangle;
Ensuring that coral protection and restoration efforts in the Coral Triangle countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands – are supported through conservation efforts and initiatives that positively impact the whole region;
Supporting women environmental leaders in the Pacific in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands;
Coastal conservation and restoration in the Gulf Coast and assessing the feasibility of blue carbon markets to support long-term wetland management; and
Improving fisheries in Mexico to empower communities and women in the fishing industry.
To read more about Mary Kay’s commitment to sustainability, visit marykayglobal.com/sustainability and download Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy: Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.
About The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably, and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 79 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
About Mary Kay Inc.
One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.
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