NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, today celebrated its 30th anniversary by ringing the Nasdaq Stock Market Opening Bell in New York City's Times Square.

PRA Group President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Sjolund rang the bell alongside co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Board Steve Fredrickson, the company's senior leadership team and employees representing PRA Group's global workforce.

"Celebrating 30 years of business is especially meaningful because this milestone belongs to the people who have helped make PRA Group what it is today," said Sjolund. "Our people are the reason we've grown from a startup in Virginia into a global company, and they are the reason we're excited about our next chapter."

Founded in Norfolk, Va., in 1996, PRA Group has grown into one of the most globally diversified companies in the nonperforming loan industry, with portfolio operations in 18 countries. The company has been publicly traded since 2002 and continues to play an important role in the financial ecosystem by returning capital to banks and other creditors while working directly with customers to help them resolve their debt.

"As proud as we are of our first 30 years, we're even more excited about what comes next," Sjolund said. "Together, we're advancing our new PRA 3.0 strategy introduced earlier this year, which is focused on helping us become a high-performing, technology-enabled global allocator of capital. I am proud of what our team has accomplished, and we look forward to continuing to deliver value to our customers, employees, partners and shareholders."

About PRA Group

As a global industry leader with more than 30 years of experience, PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA) specializes in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans. PRA Group purchases portfolios from banks and other creditors and, through its subsidiaries, collaborates with customers to help them resolve their debt. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, PRA Group has operations in the U.S., Europe and other markets. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.

Media Contact:

Allison Herman

Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communication

(757) 381-5205

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Najim Mostamand, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations

(757) 431-7913

[email protected]

SOURCE PRA Group, Inc.

Share this article

Wealthtech entrepreneur and former advisor-operations leader joins the #1 CRM for financial advisors to work on AI and enterprise features as the company grows up-market.

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealthbox, the #1 CRM software platform for financial advisors, today announced that Anand Sheth, founder and former CEO of Pulse360, has joined the company's product team. Anand will work on AI and enterprise features for the large RIAs, broker-dealers, and advisor networks that make up a fast-growing share of Wealthbox's customer base.

Anand Sheth brings more than two decades of experience in the advisor world, first as an operator and then as a founder. He spent nearly 20 years at Ameriprise Financial in practice management, client service, and compliance roles, and later served as Chief Operations Officer of Confluence Wealth Management Group. In 2019, he founded Pulse360 to automate meeting prep, notes, follow-ups, and compliance records for advisors. The company was a 2021 WealthManagement.com Industry Awards finalist, launched AI-powered note-taking in 2023, and integrated deeply with the leading advisor CRMs, including Wealthbox.

"Anand has lived the problem we solve," said John Rourke, CEO and co-founder of Wealthbox. "He ran advisor operations for years, then built a company to fix what he saw. He understands how a wealth management firm actually works, from the home office down to the client meeting, and how AI should fit into that workflow instead of being bolted on. That is exactly the perspective we want as more enterprise firms standardize on Wealthbox."

The hire comes as Wealthbox continues to expand up-market. Long the top-rated and most widely adopted CRM among independent advisors, Wealthbox has in recent years won a growing share of large RIAs, multi-office advisory networks, and enterprise broker-dealer platforms that have moved off legacy CRM systems in favor of a platform purpose-built for financial advisors. The company's AI lineup, including the Wealthbox AI Assistant, AI Notetaker, and AI Agents, has become a central reason enterprise firms choose Wealthbox over bloated, general-purpose alternatives.

"Wealthbox is already the CRM advisors want to use, and enterprise firms have figured that out," said Anand. "The next step is turning the CRM from the place where client data lives into the place where work gets done. I spent 20 years running advisory practices, and I know firsthand that the real bottlenecks aren't in any single task. They're in how work moves across a firm, between advisors, operations, service, and compliance. Wealthbox has the adoption, the data, and the AI foundation to take on that heavy lifting for advisory and enterprise firms at scale, and I'm excited to help build it."

Anand leads product initiatives end to end, from discovery through launch, reporting to Steve Carroll, Head of Product. His focus is building Wealthbox's AI-driven CRM capabilities into client-service and practice-management workflows for growing and enterprise firms, many of which need stronger automation and tooling for firm-wide compliance and oversight.

"Most product people learn the advisor workflow from the outside. Anand learned it by running it, and then by building software that advisors paid for to fix it," said Carroll. "He knows where the friction is between the home office and the advisor's desk, and he has strong opinions about what AI should automate and what it should leave alone. That judgment is hard to find, and it's going to show up in what we ship for larger firms."

About Wealthbox

Wealthbox® is an AI-powered CRM platform helping financial advisors, enterprise RIA firms, and broker-dealers manage client relationships, streamline operations, and turn practice data into intelligent action through intuitive technology and integrations with leading wealthtech partners. Learn more at wealthbox.com.

SOURCE Wealthbox

Share this article

ATLANTA, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of each of the Invesco closed-end funds listed below declared dividends.

Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year will report distributions for federal income tax purposes. Each fund's annual report to shareholders will include information regarding the tax character of a fund's distributions for the fiscal year.

The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions in 2026 will be made after the end of the year.

In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each fund will provide its shareholders of record on the record date with a Section 19 Notice disclosing the sources of its dividend payment when a distribution includes anything other than net investment income. The Section 19 Notice is not provided for tax reporting purposes but for informational purposes only. If applicable, this Section 19 Notice information can be found on a fund's website at www.invesco.com.

The amount of dividends paid by each fund may vary from time to time. Past amounts of dividends are no guarantee of future dividend payment amounts.

Investing involves risk and it is possible to lose money on any investment in the funds.

For additional information, shareholders of the closed end fund may call Invesco at 800-341-2929.

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. is one of the world's leading asset management firms with 8,300 employees helping clients in more than 120 countries. With $2.5 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2026, we deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive and alternative investment capabilities. Our collaborative mindset, breadth of solutions and global scale mean we're well positioned to help retail and institutional investors rethink challenges and find new possibilities for success. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.  

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the U.S. distributor for Invesco Ltd.'s retail products. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is an investment adviser; it provides investment advisory services to individual and institutional clients and does not sell securities. Each entity is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Common shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply.

NOT A DEPOSIT l NOT FDIC INSURED l NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Contact: Closed-End Funds 800-341-2929

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.

Share this article

OCEAN ALLURE EXPANDS INTO JAMAICA WITH THE DEBUT OF OCEAN ALLURE EDEN BAY, REDEFINING CARIBBEAN LUXURY

The 444-Suite Adults-Only Flagship Introduces Universal 24/7 Concierge Care, the Signature Unlimited Culinary Experience, and Contemporary Elegance to the Caribbean Coast

CORAL SPRING, Jamaica, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Signature Resorts proudly announces the official opening of Ocean Allure Eden Bay, marking the transformation of the former Ocean Eden Bay into the brand's pinnacle of luxury. The property joins the Ocean Allure Signature Adults Only Resorts collectionâan upscale, all-inclusive Caribbean offering thoughtfully tailored for discerning couples, corporate incentive retreats, and social gatherings.

Harmoniously integrated along the coastline in Trelawnyâjust 40 minutes from MBJ Airport and moments from historic FalmouthâOcean Allure Eden Bay delivers a serene escape defined by architectural elegance, seamless indoor-outdoor living, and a philosophy of 24/7 attentive care.

"Ocean Eden Bay always possessed exceptional natural beauty, and its evolution into Ocean Allure elevates that foundation," said Tanesha Clarke, Sales and Marketing Director for Ocean Allure Eden Bay and Ocean Coral Spring. "We have paired contemporary architectural harmony with bespoke 24/7 attention to detail and authentic Jamaican culture, establishing an uncompromising standard for adult leisure in the region."

Beyond Memories: Comprehensive Concierge Service

Ocean Allure Eden Bay fundamentally redefines the Caribbean all-inclusive model by introducing Comprehensive Concierge Service across all 444 suites:

- Universal Personalized Concierge: Every guest, regardless of room category, is paired with dedicated concierge assistance to coordinate bespoke itineraries, private dining, spa therapies, and leisure pursuits.

- Uninterrupted 24/7 Hospitality: Round-the-clock attention to detail ensures every request is addressed seamlessly, complemented by 24-hour in-suite dining and valet parking.

- Refined Arrival: Guests are welcomed with a chilled flute of house champagne, setting an elevated tone from the moment of check-in.

Beyond Culinary Experience: Unlimited Flavors, Day and Night

The resort elevates all-inclusive dining through its signature Unlimited Culinary Experience, offering an uninterrupted gastronomic journey paired with craft mixology:

- Global à La Carte Dining: An expansive selection of specialty restaurants features Japanese teppanyaki and sushi, classic Italian, vibrant Mexican, French culinary traditions, local Jamaican specialties, prime cuts at The Steak House, and fresh coastal seafood.

- Curated Social Venues: Sophisticated bars and loungesâincluding the Lobby Bar, the Beach Bar, and the Adults Pool & Wet Barâpour premium spirits and hand-crafted cocktails tailored for relaxed social connection.

- Continuous Beverage & Late-Night Fare: Night-owl menus and curated bar services ensure elevated refreshments and culinary options are readily available at any hour.

Beyond Endless Fun: Nightlife, Entertainment & Recreation

At the heart of the Ocean Allure Eden Bay lies Ocean Boulevard, the resort's iconic pedestrian avenue serving as the epicenter of dining, nightlife, and entertainment. Here, guests immerse themselves in a vibrant social atmosphere designed for evening strolls, craft mixology, live performances, and energetic social gathering.

Guests pair secluded adults-only tranquility with access to the adjacent Ocean Coral Spring, unlocking an expansive entertainment complex featuring a bowling alley, water park, and a scenic lazy river.

Beyond Well-being: Culture Meets Active Wellness

Ocean Allure Eden Bay introduces signature programs designed to stimulate the senses and restore balance:

- Senses Dinner Show: Soul of Jamaica: An exclusive signature event fusing culinary artistry with a captivating live theatrical production. This multi-sensory journey honors the rhythmic spirit and enduring musical legacy of Bob Marley against an elegant dinner setting.

- Wellness & Active Lifestyle: A balanced regimen catering to health and vitality, featuring a 24-hour fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, beach volleyball, multisport facilities, and daily training. Menus across all restaurants integrate wholesome options, superfoods, and creative plant-based cuisine.

- Despacio Spa Centre by Etra: A tranquil haven featuring hydrotherapy circuits, steam rooms, Finnish saunas, outdoor whirlpools, and bespoke massage and holistic beauty treatments.

Beyond Elegance: Sophisticated Suites & Luxury Touches

Every suite at Ocean Allure Eden Bay is designed to echo the serene natural palette of the Caribbean, seamlessly integrating intuitive in-suite technology and elevated comforts:

- In-Suite Amenities & VIP Touches: Guest Casting (direct smartphone-to-Smart TV streaming), international HD programming, Bluetooth alarm clock, garment steamer, digital laptop safe, plush robes and slippers, and curated luxury bath amenities.

- Suite Categories: Ranging from sun-drenched Junior Suites with panoramic ocean or pool vistas to Swim-Up Suites with direct aquatic access, spacious Master Suites with separate living rooms, and bi-level Rooftop Suites boasting private outdoor jacuzzis and oceanfront lounge decks.

Privilege: Exclusive Rooms & Services

For travelers demanding the pinnacle of Caribbean luxury, the resort's Privilege tier delivers an elevated echelon of tailored indulgence:

- Arrival Touch: A bespoke welcome gift upon arrival, accompanied by a curated bottle of fine wine or a signature artisanal amenity crafted by the executive chef.

- In-Room Comfort & Refinements: Custom beds dressed in premium high-thread-count linens with luxury duvets, an espresso machine, a personalized pillow menu, nightly turndown service, and spa-grade Privilege Deluxe bathroom amenities including a digital scale and professional styling tools.

- Privileged Dining & Bar Service: Priority reservations at all à la carte venues, exclusive access to the oceanfront Privilege Restaurant, a private Privilege Lounge, dedicated beach and pool enclaves with personalized butler and concierge service, and a daily-restocked minibar with premium spirits, craft beers, fine wines, and gourmet confectioneries.

Beyond Business & Celebrations: Events, Weddings & MICE

Ocean Allure Eden Bay provides an idyllic, versatile backdrop for high-end celebrations and executive gatherings:

- Adaptable Spaces: Up to 800 attendees can be accommodated across state-of-the-art convention facilities, ocean-view ballrooms, and oceanfront terraces.

- Tailored MICE & Incentive Solutions: Dedicated event planners deliver turnkey executive retreats, product launches, and corporate incentive trips with custom gala dining.

- Bespoke Destination Weddings: Picturesque coastal settings and personalized wedding planners curate unforgettable, intimate ceremonies and grand receptions.

Sustainable Coastal Hospitality

Operating under H10 Hotels' Stay Green initiative, Ocean Allure Eden Bay champions responsible luxury. From energy efficiency and single-use plastic elimination to local community engagement and marine ecosystem preservation, every operational detail aligns refined luxury with environmental stewardship.

About Ocean Allure Eden Bay

Ocean Allure Eden Bay is a five-star, adults-only (18+), all-inclusive beachfront resort located in Coral Spring, Jamaica. The 444-suite retreat delivers a sophisticated Jamaican getaway where contemporary ocean-view accommodations, island culture, and refined comfort come together seamlessly. Guests enjoy six specialty restaurants, four bars, the full-service Despacio Spa Centre, a PADI dive center, a 24-hour fitness center, and versatile convention facilities for up to 800 guests, complemented by full access to the extensive amenities of adjacent Ocean Coral Spring, including a bowling alley, water park, lazy river, and additional dining. Ocean Allure Eden Bay is part of the Ocean Signature Resorts collection and operates under the group's Stay Green sustainability initiative. To learn more or make reservations, visit www.oceanhotels.com.

About Ocean Signature Resorts

Ocean Signature Resorts is a collection of premium all-inclusive hotels with properties strategically located across iconic Caribbean destinations, including Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. As part of the H10 Hotels familyâa pioneer in global hospitality with more than 40 years of experienceâOcean Signature Resorts fuses Mediterranean design elegance with tropical warmth. As the ultimate expression of sophisticated travel within the portfolio, the adults-only Ocean Allure brand represents the company's flagship concept for couples, social groups, and incentive gatherings. Across all its properties, the collection elevates hospitality standards through personalized concierge service, expansive wellness programs, the signature Unlimited Culinary Experience, and an active commitment to environmental stewardship through the "Stay Green" initiative. For more information, visit www.oceanhotels.com. Beyond Everything.

SOURCE OCEAN SIGNATURE RESORTS

Share this article

DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society of Automation (ISA) â the leading professional society for automation â announced that Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) Ltd. has officially joined ISASecure®, the globally recognized certification program that validates conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards for industrial automation and control systems (IACS) cybersecurity.

ARC offers consultancy services across the UK and Australia including risk management; safety engineering, assurance and verification; independent safety assessment; training; functional safety; cybersecurity; and more. ARC focuses on supporting clients with the design, operation, and decommissioning of facilities, plants, and assets in high-risk industries including oil and gas, nuclear, defense, rail, mining, and clean energy.

This new partnership with ISASecure reflects ARC's ongoing mission to strengthen their knowledge and assistance in providing additional operational technology (OT) cybersecurity consulting and assessments â including ISASecure's Security Development Lifecycle Assurance (SDLA), Component Security Assurance (CSA), System Security Assurance (SSA), and Automation Control System Security Assurance (ACSSA) â for their clients.

"It is an honor to welcome ARC Ltd. into the ISASecure program, and we look forward to engaging with them as students in the next IC49 ACSSA for Evaluators training course," said Mark DeAngelo, ISASecure program manager. "Today's critical infrastructure demands comprehensive, rigorously validated cybersecurity. We look forward to collaborating with ARC Ltd. as we advance our mission of partnership, certification, and standards-based product development to help achieve a more secure world."

Tom Abbott, who leads ARC's Cyber Security team, said: "Control system security standards are a fundamental part of the architecture of resilient systems. By joining ISASecure, we're fully committed to upholding these standards now and influencing their development in the future."

About ISASecure®

Founded in 2007 by the International Society of Automation (ISA), ISASecure® is a globally recognized certification program that provides assurance for the cybersecurity of industrial automation control systems (IACS). Through rigorous conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards, ISASecure certifications validate that products and supplier practices meet internationally recognized benchmarks for OT security. ISASecure is a wholly owned subsidiary of ISA.

ISASecure's global ecosystem includes leaders such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, GSK, Saudi Aramco, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, Trane Technologies, and Yokogawa, among others.

For more information, visit isasecure.org.

About Abbott Risk Consulting Ltd.

Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) is a dynamic safety engineering consultancy with a world-wide reputation for delivering quality solutions to their clients. It is an independent, employee-owned company. ARC is consistently recognized as one of the best places to work in the UK by the Sunday Times and in Australia, by The Australian.

From offices throughout the UK and Australia, with headquarters in Edinburgh, ARC supports clients and projects globally. ARC's flexible and innovative approach allows the company to deliver the highest quality services to major international corporations, government bodies, and small- to medium-sized enterprises alike.

Their specialties include safety engineering and risk management, hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), quantitative risk assessments (QRA), safety case, CFD, fire and explosion analysis, facilitation, safety integrity level (SIL) assessments, hazard identification (HAZID), management consultancy, clean energy, sustainability, green hydrogen, renewables, human factors, change management, defense, nuclear, transportation, and hydrogen.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA's mission is to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing. ISA develops widely used global standards and conformity assessment programs, certifies professionals, provides education and training, publishes books and technical articles, hosts conferences and exhibits, and provides networking and career development programs for its members and customers around the world. Learn more at www.isa.org.

SOURCE The International Society of Automation

Share this article

PharmaForceIQ Launches Share of Answer Module to Evaluate and Act on AI Visibility

Connects AI visibility audits with prioritized actions to help biopharma teams improve how brands and disease education content are represented in AI-generated answers

MIAMI, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaForceIQ today introduced Share of Answer, the newest capability in its Optichannel 360 platform, to bridge the gap between AI visibility audits and real-world execution. The module helps biopharma companies evaluate how their therapies are represented in AI-generated answers to clinical and disease-related questions and identify opportunities to improve accuracy and visibility.

In recent PharmaForceIQ analyses, brand and condition websites accounted for just 17% of AI-answer citations on average. The audits also identified hundreds of retired webpages and instances of superseded FDA-approved labeling appearing in AI-generated responses. The findings highlight the challenges pharma faces: ensuring that AI-generated health information from large language models (LLMs) reflects current, reliable clinical evidence.

Share of Answer (SOA) is the proportion of relevant AI responses in which a therapy or brand is present and represented accurately. As healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients increasingly use AI tools, any inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete answers can affect how they understand diseases and treatment options.

Unlike tools that monitor surface-level mentions, this product audits each answer claim by claim and turns the findings into prioritized fixes. The system diagnoses AI positioning, establishes an MLR-governed source of truth, and publishes approved claims on relevant digital channels where AI engines can read and cite them, with each statement traced back to a clear source. The module has supported analyses of more than 10,000 AI-generated responses across branded and disease-state programs at biopharma companies of different sizes. Across disease education and brands, its evaluation framework examines four dimensions:

- Present: Is the brand, molecule or therapy surfaced in relevant clinical and disease-state queries?

- Accurate: Is the answer faithful to current approved evidence, without unsupported claims, outdated dosing, or withdrawn data?

- Preferred: How is the therapy presented relative to alternatives? Does the response convey meaningful clinical differentiation?

- Cited: Does the response reference authoritative sources, such as peer-reviewed clinical trials and treatment guidelines?

PharmaForceIQ's Chief Executive and Strategy Officer Hemal Somaiya said: "We've seen a massive shift in how HCPs discover scientific information. When a clinician asks AI about a therapy, the answer should reflect accurate evidence that the brand stands behind instead of outdated information or unsupported claims. Share of Answer gives pharma teams a way to understand how their therapies are represented and where additional evidence or content can make a difference."

Data from recent visibility audits shows significant gaps and substantial variation across AI engines:

- Approved content was rarely cited: Official brand and condition websites accounted for 17% of citations on average across the analyses.

- Outdated sources remained visible: The audits identified citations to hundreds of retired webpages. In one analysis, AI-generated responses quoted superseded FDA-approved labeling in nearly 250 answers.

- Disease abbreviations led to identification errors: In an analysis of a rare disease, AI engines correctly identified the condition when prompted with its full name, but more than half of the answers failed to identify it when an abbreviation was used.

By helping teams publish approved contentâaccounting for how HCPs search for information and how answer engines find itâthis tool empowers pharma teams to move beyond identifying gaps to solving for them. In one controlled test of a subset of questions, answer accuracy rose to 94â100% (and one engine went from 40% to 95%).

This Share of Answer module is part of Optichannel 360, the company's AI-native commercial execution platform connecting field and digital marketing. Learn more at pharmaforceiq.com.

About PharmaForceIQ

PharmaForceIQ is a leader in precision customer engagement solutions in the life sciences. The company provides end-to-end SaaS products and strategic services that empower pharmaceutical leaders across the product lifecycle with a faster, more effective, and ROI-centered platform to pinpoint and engage healthcare professional and patient audiences.

SOURCE PharmaForceIQ

Share this article

Quick summary: 63% of CS leaders can’t measure AI performance, which leads to more teams still requiring human approval for every recommendation. CS leaders can remove these bottlenecks by reporting on success metrics, starting AI out on low-risk tasks, and performing small experiments to build trust.

Most CS teams don’t trust AI to make strategic decisions, and the reason might be that they aren’t measuring its performance. Teams that can’t measure AI are four times more likely to require human approval for every AI recommendation.

That’s according to ChurnZero’s 2026 Customer Success Leadership Study, which asked nearly 600 revenue leaders about AI usage and impact. The study found that most CS teams stop AI from making decisions, but teams that can quantify AI performance are more inclined to grant it greater autonomy.

You don’t need to hand AI all your big decisions, but requiring human sign-off at every step could be creating unnecessary bottlenecks. To build AI trust and offload some of your strategic decisions, you need to start measuring AI impact.

Why lack of measurement may undermine AI authority

The study identified a correlation between lack of AI measurement and requiring human intervention at every step:

- Four out of five customer growth teams stop AI from making strategic decisions.

- 63% of CS leaders have no consistent method to measure AI performance.

- Customer growth teams that can’t measure AI are four times more likely to require human approval of every recommendation.

This suggests CS teams that don’t measure AI are much less likely to trust its recommendations because they have no way to tell if AI is reliable. They require human interventions at a much higher rate, which means they may not run as efficiently as teams that offload some decision-making to AI.

Why does AI measurement and decision-making matter?

Measuring AI performance and handing off some strategic decisions can make a difference for your team in a few ways:

- Developing AI maturity: When you measure AI impact, you gain insight into how it’s working and where it can go next to make the biggest difference for your team. The more mature your AI is, the fewer manual approvals your CSMs have to do.

- Removing bottlenecks: Work slows down when your team has to approve every single AI decision. Mandatory reviews pile up and your CSMs end up working through a long checklist, which is the type of tedious work that AI was supposed to remove.

- Focusing on high-value work: AI can take on simple, time-consuming tasks like creating presentations, summarizing meetings and emails, and providing recommendations for next steps based on account activity. When you trust AI to handle this work, your CSMs can spend more time deepening the customer relationship.

“If you can’t connect AI to a measurable change in the business, it becomes very difficult to know where to invest more, where to pull back, or where to give AI greater autonomy.” – Cat Lang, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Success and Professional Services, Outreach

How to measure impact and build trust in AI decisions

Start measuring your AI’s performance and roll out decision-making strategically to reduce manual work for your team:

Report on the right metrics

Measuring AI success doesn’t have to be complicated from the start. Use these strategies to start reporting on the results that matter:

- Measure AI results one workflow at a time: Look at the workflows you’re currently automating, or the ones you’re about to deploy. Define the metric that equals success – such as time saved or expansion conversations booked – and start measuring the results. Over time, compare the numbers with AI vs. the numbers without.

Define the parameters AI must follow: “If you want your AI to do more, the work isn’t buying a better model. It’s writing down what ‘at risk’ means at your company, what finishes onboarding, what counts as adoption — and then holding the system to those definitions. Nobody can grade an answer they never wrote a rubric for.” – John Gleeson, Founder, General Partner, Success Venture Partners

- Put AI in your budget: Track how much you’re spending on AI, and make it a line item in your budget. When you have to justify the money you’re spending on AI, you have a compelling motive to show results.

Give AI low-risk, reversible tasks to start

Building trust takes time, and AI can gradually earn your trust when it successfully completes lower-risk tasks. Start by giving AI simple work, like summarizing meeting notes or performing basic account research — and make sure that, at least initially, humans have the ability to reverse a mistake. As you build trust with AI automations that work, you can start developing more complex workflows and strategic decision-making.

“A low-risk, easily reversible task like answering FAQs or engagement nudges, can get automated even inside an Enterprise account. A high-risk, hard-to-reverse moment gets a human even inside SMB.” – Ejieme Eromosele, VP of Customer Growth, Quiq; and Founder, Success In Black

Experiment with small customer segments

Experiment with what your AI tools can do in a controlled setting without any customer-facing actions. Once you’re comfortable with the testing you’ve done, you can start rolling out tests for small batches of customers. Don’t expand to a wider customer base or add in more workflows until the existing automations have proven that they work.

Measure AI results to develop trust and autonomy

CS leaders will find it difficult to trust AI if they can’t accurately say how it’s working for them. When 63% of CS teams can’t measure AI results, it follows that most teams still require human approval for every recommendation. These bottlenecks tie up CSMs with manual reviews, restricting team performance.

To unlock the potential of your AI and your human team members, start measuring AI one workflow at a time, with meaningful metrics that represent your team’s goals. Start with low-risk tasks and experiment with small groups before expanding. As AI proves what it’s capable of, you can start handing off more strategic work so your team can focus on customer relationships.

Nicht neutral - Politische Bildung unter Druck Jubiläumsveranstaltung "50 Jahre Beutelsbacher Konsens"

11.11.2026 | 18.00-21.30 Uhr | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung | Hiroshimastraße 17 | 10785 Berlin

Berlin (ots)

Vor 50 Jahren wurde mit dem Beutelsbacher Konsens ein Standard für die politische Bildung geschaffen. Das Ziel: politischen Pluralismus und geteilte demokratische Grundüberzeugungen gleichermaßen vermitteln, um die Lernenden auf diese Weise darin zu bestärken, ihr eigenes Urteil zu fällen. Hinter all dem steckt die Überzeugung, dass politische Bildung unverzichtbar für eine lebendige Demokratie ist.

Aber die politische Bildung steht heute unter Druck wie lange nicht. Neben den Herausforderungen von Zeitenwende, Digitalisierung und gesellschaftlicher Transformation, greifen antidemokratische Kräfte die demokratische politische Bildung immer häufiger und aggressiver an.

Auf Einladung der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung treffen sich die demokratischen politischen Stiftungen, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung und Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit, zu einer Abendveranstaltung, um das Jubiläum zum Beutelsbacher Konsens zu begehen.

Mit einer Keynote von

Prof. Alena Buyx, TU München, ehem. Vorsitzende des Deutschen Ethikrats.

Mit auf dem Podium:

Dr. Volker Ullrich, Vizepräsident der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung

Marina Weisband, Publizistin

Konstantin Gerbrich, Referent "Demokratiegestalter-Tour" der KAS

Für die Teilnahme vor Ort können Sie sich hier anmelden.

Den Video-Livestream finden sie hier.

Die gemeinsame Erklärung Politische Bildungsarbeit der politischen Stiftungen in Zeiten gesellschaftlicher Veränderung finden Sie hier.

Ihr Ansprechpartner: Johannes Damian, Mobil +49 (0)1522 1570 426, presse@fes.de

Pressekontakt:

Jannine Elaine Hamilton

Mobil +49-173-6096103

jannine.hamilton@rosalux.org

Original-Content von: Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, übermittelt durch news aktuell

LE SERENO UNVEILS ITS NEXT CHAPTER IN ST BARTH

Reopening 16 November 2026 following a three-year project led by Luis and Angelica Contreras, with new tropical gardens, refreshed suites, reimagined pool spaces with Patricia Urquiola, and the introduction of BOKAO.

- Le Sereno reopens on 16 November 2026, following a three-year transformation led by Luis and Angelica Contreras.

- New tropical gardens introduce a coconut-palm entrance, rare botanical specimens and private gardens for the suites.

- Patricia Urquiola's designs include a reimagined pool terrace, waterfront suite canopies and furniture for the signature suite.

- The new 230-square-metre Suite des Pêcheurs features a private pool and direct beach access.

- New beach club BOKAO complements Le Sereno Al Mare with relaxed waterfront dining.

GRAND CUL-DE-SAC , St Barthélemy, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Le Sereno will reopen for the season on 16 November 2026, revealing the most significant evolution in its history. Personally led by owners Luis and Angelica Contreras, the three-year project brings the tropical landscape into the heart of the hotel, while preserving the intimacy, waterfront setting and personal service that have defined Le Sereno for nearly two decades.

The husband-and-wife team, whose collaboration with Christian Liaigre shaped Le Sereno's original design and who later created Il Sereno on Lake Como, have brought together artisans, gardeners, botanists and designers to develop this next expression of their vision. The emphasis throughout is on enriching the experience guests already know, with greater privacy, more generous outdoor living and a closer connection to Grand Cul-de-Sac. "Over time, we felt that both Le Sereno and our vision for it had reached a new level of maturity," says Luis Contreras. "This transformation was never about changing its identity. It was about expressing that maturity more completely through nature, design and hospitality, while remaining true to the understated spirit that has always defined both Le Sereno and St. Barth."

Hotel reimagined through nature

At the heart of the new Le Sereno is an extraordinary landscape project that transforms the relationship between the hotel, its architecture and the tropical environment surrounding it. Rather than creating a single garden, the Contreras family, with the creative direction of Denys Ridrimont, conceived a collection of gardens, each with its own atmosphere and identity.

Guests arrive beneath a living tunnel formed by the most iconic of tropical palms: the coconut tree. Beyond it, a remarkable collection of palms, tropical plants, and rare trees unfolds throughout the property. Among many highlights, a Copernicia fallaensis, a monumental palm exceeding ten meters in span believed to be the only specimen of its kind on the island, greets guests next to the new arrival area decked with tropical green walls.

Planting gives each suite its own garden setting, provides shade and natural cooling, and creates secluded places to sit. Greenery becomes part of the architecture, softening façades and bringing the landscape into everyday life at the hotel. "We wanted each space to become a true place, with its own personality," says Contreras. "Each suite has its own garden, so that memories can be born there."

A closer connection to Grand Cul de Sac

Le Sereno has worked alongside the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy and the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Barthélemy to support the restoration and enhancement of the beachfront. Beneath the coconut palms, the sand meets the protected lagoon, where sea turtles can be observed in their natural habitat. The equivalent of thousands of truckloads of sand was carefully dredged from the lagoon and placed on the Beach in front of the hotel, which is larger and better than ever. Complimentary transparent-bottom kayaks and custom stand-up paddleboards offer guests further ways to explore the waters directly from the hotel.

The pool reimagined with Patricia Urquiola

How do you improve what critics (and Instagram) consider the best pool in St. Barths?

The stone that mimics the turquoise waters of the beach and the largest pool deck in St. Barth remain, while the space has been completely reconsidered. Working with Patricia Urquiola, the hotel created a new conversation pit at the head of the pool and transformed the surrounding deck into a social and relaxed environment. Outdoor lounges, seafront cabanas, new pool bar, and designer pool loungers.

Waterfront suites and outdoor living

Every accommodation has been redone, building on the generous proportions that distinguish Le Sereno's all-suite experience. Waterfront views, spacious living areas, oversized beds and private outdoor spaces remain central to each stay. New landscaping brings additional privacy, while Patricia Urquiola-designed canopies create shaded places to enjoy the sea from the waterfront suites.

The most significant addition, the new signature Suite des Pêcheurs brings these elements together in a 230-square-metre waterfront retreat. With one bedroom, two bathrooms and generous indoor and outdoor living areas, it offers a private pool and a private gate opening directly onto the beach. Patricia Urquiola furnishings, a pool deck shaded by a coconut palm and an open-plan bathroom with a sculptural Cenote bathtub give the suite the feel of a private beachfront residence.

Personal service at the heart of every stay

Alongside the physical transformation, the team remains central to the owners' vision. The warmth and discretion of Le Sereno's hospitality continue to shape the experience, from the first welcome to the thoughtful details that bring guests back year after year. "We are fortunate to work alongside an extraordinary group of hospitality professionals who genuinely care about creating memorable experiences for our guests," says Luis Contreras. "They are there when you need them and almost invisible when you don't. Always attentive, always authentic, and always with a smile. That spirit has always been at the heart of Le Sereno, and it remains unchanged."

Italian dining beside the lagoon

Le Sereno Al Mare remains a central part of life at the hotel, bringing contemporary Italian cooking to an open-air setting overlooking Grand Cul-de-Sac. Fresh, local ingredients inform a menu that includes lobster spaghetti alongside Italian favorites in a newly designed beachfront space, with the lagoon in view from every angle. Its combination of attentive service, beachfront dining and Italian culinary character continues the connection between the family's Caribbean and Lake Como addresses.

Wellbeing with Valmont

At Spa Le Sereno, treatments using Valmont products and techniques complement the restorative setting. Facials, body treatments and massages are offered in intimate treatment rooms, including a beachfront pavilion overlooking the lagoon, or in the privacy of guests' suites. Saint Barth's only waterfront SPA pavilion was redone and paved with Orosei stone to provide another way to enjoy the quiet, personal approach to hospitality that runs throughout the hotel.

Introducing BOKAO

Following the acquisition of the beachfront property adjoining the hotel, Le Sereno introduces BOKAO, a new beach club conceived as a complement to the hotel's acclaimed Al Mare restaurant.

BOKAO proposes a different expression of the St. Barth beach club: intimate, natural and deeply connected to its setting. Exceptional food meets the simplicity of barefoot living. Long lunches stretch into the afternoon, and the atmosphere is designed around conviviality rather than spectacle.

A new spirit. A more natural experience. The unmistakable soul of St. Barth.

Le Sereno St. Barth welcomes guests with rates starting from 1,550 up to 18,600 EUR.

Le Sereno opens for the season on 16 November 2026.

Reservations and enquiries: [email protected] | www.lesereno.com 

About Le Sereno

Owned and operated by Luis and Angelica Contreras, Le Sereno is an intimate all-suite waterfront hotel on Grand Cul-de-Sac, St Barthélemy. For nearly two decades, it has combined generous accommodation, timeless design and highly personal service with the natural beauty of its protected lagoon setting. Its latest evolution builds on this heritage through new gardens, reimagined outdoor spaces and a continued commitment to understated hospitality.

SOURCE Sereno Hotels

Share this article

ACTRA Opens Early Bird Access in the U.S., Bringing Personal AI Beyond the Smartphone

- First 2,000 Units Available at $199.9 Early Bird Pricing, with Reservation Access Starting at $19.9

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ACTRA, a consumer brand of AIânative startup Stavecho, today unveiled its first product, the ACTRA Mag 4G AI Pendant, as the brand's official website goes live. Alongside the launch, the company has opened an Early Bird program. The first 2,000 ACTRA Mag 4G units are available at the Early Bird price of $199.9, securing first-batch access, exclusive Early Bird benefits and a complimentary wristband. A $19.9 reservation option is also available, allowing customers to lock in Early Bird privileges and receive shipment priority based on order sequence.

ACTRA aims to redefine how people interact with AI and bring it into everyday life. "While most AI interactions today still depend on smartphones, earbuds, smartwatches, or smart glasses, ACTRA adopts a magnetic pendant form factor worn at the chest, on a necklace, or on a wristband. Its lightweight, screen-free design is intended to reduce disruption to existing daily habits, positioning AI as something available whenever it is needed rather than confined to an app on a phone," said Haitian YIN, Founder and CEO of Stavecho.

Building A Personal AI That Stays Present

As the first entry point into Stavecho's personal AI ecosystem, ACTRA is designed around a continuous, always-available assistant rather than a single-purpose device. Four capabilities define the experience.

- Always Connected over 4G. An embedded 4G eSIM allows the pendant to connect to networks independently, without relying on a phone hotspot or Wi-Fi. Users can interact with AI through natural voice across commuting, office, driving, and outdoor scenarios, lowering the operational cost of accessing AI services.

- Long-Term Memory. By combining on-body voice sensing with connections to third-party applications, ACTRA integrates information from meetings, email, calendars, and everyday conversations. It builds a long-term memory system organized around people, projects, events, and to-dos, helping users avoid repeatedly recording notes or re-supplying context.

- Proactive Insights. Drawing on accumulated information and contextual analysis, ACTRA identifies potential risks, conflicting information, and overlooked opportunities. It surfaces connections that span time and scenarios, offering new understanding and reference points for decisions rather than simply retrieving information.

- Turning Intent into Action. Using AI agent capabilities that connect tools such as email, calendars, Slack, and Notion, ACTRA helps organize meeting content, extract action items, and advance follow-up tasks. It also provides proactive support for meeting preparation, task tracking, and schedule reviews, turning information into action and keeping important matters moving.

Natural Interaction in a Lightweight Design

The hardware has been designed to support frequent, low-friction interaction. Weighing approximately 22 grams, ACTRA features three primary interaction methods: Double Tap, Press & Hold, and the voice wake phrase "Hey Stavia."

Enabled by its magnetic attachment design, ACTRA can be worn in multiple ways, including as a pendant, clipped discreetly to clothing, or used with a wristband. Combined with its always-accessible interaction model, these options are designed to make AI assistance available throughout the day without disrupting existing routines.

Early Bird Reservation Program

The Early Bird program offers permanent free access to AI Basic. The first 2000 gets free wristband. Two options are available:

- Early Bird Full Payment ($199.9): a full purchase of ACTRA, including a six-month AI Plus and 4G data package.

- Early Bird Reservation ($19.9): a deposit locks in the ACTRA Early Bird price of $199, including one month of AI Plus and 4G service.

Reservations and purchases are available through actra.ai.

About ACTRA

ACTRA is a personal AI brand from Stavecho focused on making AI a more natural part of everyday life. Combining independent connectivity, contextual understanding, long-term memory, and AI-powered action, ACTRA seeks to move AI beyond screens and applications toward a more personal, continuously available companion. The brand's vision is a future where everyone has an AI that is truly their own.

For more information, please visit https://actra.ai/.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Stavecho Intelligence

Share this article