Latest news with #Battle
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nashville mayor proposes 13% bump for schools budget. Here's what it would do
Mayor Freddie O'Connell has proposed a 13% budget increase for Metro Nashville Public Schools for the upcoming fiscal year. District leaders gathered to talk through the proposal before the Metro Nashville Council budget committee on May 22. Tensions ran high at times during the two-hour hearing. The conversation revolved around staff raises and continuing programs initially funded by federal pandemic relief money, among other things. MNPS Director Adrienne Battle, Chief Financial Officer Jorge Robles and Board of Education Chair Freda Player were on hand to discuss the proposed $1.3 billion operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Several members of the MNPS board and representatives from Metropolitan Nashville Education Association were also present, looking on from the public gallery in the council chambers. Here are five key takeaways from the discussion. The mayor's proposed budget includes plans for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, also known as COLA, to employee salaries. That totals out to around $18.6 million. The budget also designates $9.2 million for step increases to salaries. If the budget is approved, Robles said, both teachers and non-teachers would see around a 5% raise between the COLA and step increases. During the pandemic, public school districts nationwide received a large influx of federal funding known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER. A total of $425 million flowed into MNPS through the relief fund. Some of that was used for one-time expenses as pandemic disruptions shuttered schools and forced them to switch to virtual learning. However, MNPS also used the money to place nurses in every school — something district and city leaders seek to continue as the final federal dollars are spent. Around $15 million is earmarked in the Metro Public Health Department budget to continue staffing nurses in schools. The proposed MNPS budget also includes $65.5 million to sustain other items initially funded by ESSER, representing the largest total cost outlined in the proposal. The funding includes added mental health resources for students, college and career readiness programs, summer school options, tutoring and more. Here's a look at other larger costs in the proposed budget: $44.8 million total for employee compensation (includes step raises, COLA and other costs) $20.4 million for school-based supports for children with special needs, English learners and others $14.6 million for textbooks Battle also highlighted the district's ongoing push to use employees known as classroom associates as substitute teachers. The classroom associates are full- and part-time employees assigned to specific schools who are also fully trained on safety protocols and have access to professional development training. Battle said the model has been "highly successful" and has provided stability for teachers and students alike. "The number one piece of feedback that we received from our schools is: 'This is great. We love it. It's effective,'" Battle said. MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted said the district now has more than 500 classroom associates. The district also has a pool of traditional substitutes who can be assigned on a day-to-day basis. Braisted said traditional substitutes who worked more than 50% of the 2024-25 school year will be offered automatic renewals. Those who fell short of that requirement will be asked to reapply to substitute in the upcoming school year. Councilmember Courtney Johnston kicked off a lengthy exchange with MNPS leaders by leveling criticism at the district for not submitting a line-by-line budget ahead of the hearing. "This is, by percentage, the largest amount of money that we allocate every year," Johnston said. "This is not a budget, so it's really hard to come with educated questions around specific things." Battle said the district submitted documentation as requested and that it also publishes a budget book each year for the public to see. She explained that MNPS operates differently than other city departments because it's governed by an elected school board that has to approve the district's budget before it can be released. She said that cycle repeats each year. Player also chimed in to explain that the district often waits for state approval for certain allocations, and that district leaders were working up until last week to add those items to the proposed budget. "This is not new," Battle said. Johnston also blasted the district for using pandemic relief funds to create programs that now must be accounted for in the operating budget, saying it left taxpayers to "pick up the tab." Battle said the programs reflect heightened needs for students driven by the pandemic. "It costs more when you're providing those unique services," Battle said. "They deserve it. They deserve to have their needs met in that way. So that is what you're seeing in some of the trade-off there." Johnston also said the MNPS budget has increased "exponentially" since 2019. Councilmember Burkley Allen later commented that the overall budget for Nashville has increased by 70% since 2019, while the MNPS budget has increased by around 60% in that same period. Councilmembers will conduct several more budget and finance hearings and work sessions in the weeks to come before finalizing the city budget. The full council will vote on the budget within the month of June. The school board will then vote on the finalized budget ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@ You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Inside the mayor's 13% budget increase proposal
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Transit strike continues as negotiations may resume this weekend
The traveling calculus for New Jersey's straphangers has made difficult commuting on a normal day even more challenging without the option of NJ Transit train service, which came to a halt in the wee morning hours of Friday, May 16 as locomotive engineers walked off the job to protest stalled negotiations over a five-year-old expired contract. Tom Haas, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said agency officials 'chose to walk away' from the negotiating table in the hours before the strike deadline, while Gov. Phil Murphy and NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri have said that a deal is 'imminently achievable.' Yet both sides spent much of the first day of the strike cheerleading their positions with press conferences and picket lines. Negotiations to end the strike appeared to be set to occur over the weekend. 'It's a mess of their own making," Murphy said, referring to the locomotive engineers, from the Aberdeen-Matawan train station May 16. "It's a slap in the face of every commuter and worker who relies on transit." Mark Wallace, the national president for the BLET who authorized the strike for his members, said, 'our members remain united and solidified,' and they are awaiting a call from NJ Transit to return to the negotiating table. 'We exercised our right under the Railway Labor Act to self-help and we're out there on the picket line essentially voicing the message that we're underpaid and NJ Transit to pay us a fair wage, but they refuse,' Wallace said. NJ Transit has about 172,000 daily weekday rail commuters, but the effects of the strike will be felt by the roughly 350,000 NJ Transit riders across the system as buses are squeezed with more commuters, light rail trains get packed, and as people seek alternatives on private buses, ferries, PATH or Amtrak. This is the second rail strike in the 42 years that NJ Transit has provided rail service. The first one came in 1983, the year the agency took over a variety of once-bankrupt railroads, and lasted 34 days. NJ Transit's contingency plan to address the strike goes into effect Monday, May 19, and includes beefing up existing bus routes along rail routes and adding four new park-and-ride bus service at Hamilton Train Station, Secaucus Junction, PNC Bank Arts Center and Woodbridge Center — but only on weekdays. Newark Light Rail service will also be expanded. LIVE: Complete coverage as New Jersey commuters sound off on start of NJ Transit strike Straphangers had to weigh a variety of factors — like increased costs, transfers and the extra time traveling — as they figured out how to navigate a new commute sans rail. Cynthia Battle gazed at the screen of schedules at Newark Penn Station as she considered travel adjustments. "This is the first day so I'm trying to figure it out," Battle said. "I travel to Plainfield and the city a lot," Battle continued. "I'm having to call a Lyft which is costing me $50, whereas the train would cost $10. As for the New York trip, I have to cancel that.' Daniel, who did not provide his last name, was frazzled by the options he had at Newark Penn — none of them great. 'I don't know what's going on, it's crazy," he said. "I have to change multiple buses and it's an hour extra. I'm late for work.' Laura Kounev of Summit usually took NJ Transit to work in the city but switched to PATH. It typically takes her an hour and 15 minutes door-to-door but May 16 will be over two hours as her husband got stuck in traffic on the way to pick her up, she said. Live Schmidt, who works at Google and typically takes the train from Montclair to New York City, had to go into the office May 16 for an event but ended up missing it. Schmidt intended to take an Uber but several drivers canceled on him causing him to miss the event and decided to just head back home. Still, he said he can adapt to the lack of trains. "It's gonna be OK for the foreseeable future for me," Schmidt said. "But I can imagine others probably are feeling this stress a lot more." NJ Transit and the engineers appear to be waiting for Sunday, May 18 to get back to the negotiating table. Bargaining effectively ended about two hours before the strike began, which Kolluri said was a mutual decision after they reached an impasse despite some progress made in the 11-hour negotiating session Thursday, May 15. The BLET 'put forward a proposal that seems fair to (them) but it doesn't solve our fundamental issue of fiscal responsiveness,' Kolluri said. 'I said, 'Why don't we do this, you take time to think about it, we'll take time to think about it, and then we'll continue talking to meet a solution.'' He added: 'We are making progress and we'll get there.' The National Mediation Board — an independent Washington D.C.-based agency that handles labor negotiations in the railroad and airline industries — has been involved in recent bargaining sessions with NJ Transit and the BLET since the two sides were summoned by the board for a status meeting May 12. A member of the NMB suggested gathering Sunday. The NMB, Congress or the president could intervene at any time with a wide range of tools to bring the parties together, impose a contract or force the engineers back to work, but so far those options haven't been tapped. Bill Dwyer, a former head of labor relations at PSE&G and professor at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, said 'it's going to take a lot of creativity' to get to a deal. 'Mediators can do some pretty great things, given a chance. On the other hand, they've been involved with the mediation board now for a long time and they've not made a deal yet,' Dwyer said. Editorial: NJ Transit officials and BLET must resume negotiations to end the strike — now Need to get to the city?: A strike halts NJ Transit trains. Here are other ways to get to NYC The main dispute in negotiations between NJ Transit and BLET has been over wages. NJ Transit offered the engineers wage increases consistent with what it has offered the 14 other unions the agency bargains with, a concept known as pattern bargaining. But the engineers say they should make more to make them competitive with locomotive engineers at other nearby railroads, or else some will leave for those outfits, as they already have this year. Kolluri said if the agency met the union's latest wage demands, it would have to offer more pay to its other unions because of 'me too' clauses, which could force drastic fare hikes, the need for a significant increase in the corporate transit fee or draconian levels of cuts in service to cover the costs. Haas said the union offered changes to healthcare plans or work rules to lower costs in their proposal and work around those clauses, but NJ Transit "chose to ignore that opportunity.' NJ Transit engineers are currently paid a starting base hourly rate of $39.78. Here is how other nearby railroads are compensated: Amtrak: $55.44 per hour. Long Island Rail Road: $49.92 per hour. Metro-North: $57.20 per hour. SEPTA: $42.17 per hour. PATH: $50.01 per hour. A tentative agreement from March, which was voted down by 87% of the union's voting members, would have brought the starting base pay rate to $40.58 per hour, and here's how it would have increased in the contract when accounting for additional pay in the contract. The agreement included two contract periods (July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, and July 1, 2024, through July 1, 2027): July 1, 2020: a 2% increase to $40.58 per hour. July 1, 2021: a 2.25% increase to $42.31 per hour. Jan. 1, 2022: a 2.25% increase to $43.26 per hour. July 1, 2022: a 2.50% increase to $44.34 per hour. July 1, 2023: a 3% increase to $45.67 per hour. July 1, 2024: a 3% increase to $47.03 per hour. July 1, 2025: a 3% increase to $49.82 per hour. July 1, 2026: a 3% increase to $51.32 per hour. July 1, 2027: a 4% increase to $54.86 per hour. These negotiations are 'not only historic, but it's also very unusual,' Dwyer said, because 'it's almost unheard of' to sign a tentative contract only to have it overwhelmingly rejected. 'That tells me something is really amiss here in terms of the union leadership and the membership,' Dwyer said. Asked about this, Haas emphasized their union is a democratic organization that allows members to make their voices head via voting. 'We felt it was a deal worth putting to the membership,' Haas said, but 'that agreement simply did not meet the needs of engineers.' Many state elected officials called on both sides to get back to the table and reach an agreement as soon as possible. 'So many residents are scrambling to find ways to get to work and back home to pick up their kids. This is a mess,' U.S. Sen. Andy Kim said. 'I have made clear to NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen that they need urgent negotiations to continue immediately.' State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz is "severely concerned about the consequences of this strike on our residents and our businesses." "Workers, students and seniors who cannot afford a ride-share or taxi will bear the brunt of this system breakdown and miss a day's pay, a medical appointment, or valuable time in the classroom," she said. "The longer this strike continues, the more it will harm our economy and deepen the very inequities public transit is meant to address." Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, a Republican from Summit, blamed the governor for what she called a 'full-blown train wreck' that is punishing riders for policy decisions of his administration. That includes a 15% fare hike last year, annual 3% fare increases starting this July, and the controversial decision to move the agency's headquarters to an expensive new space despite cheaper options, including renovating a building the agency owns. 'Time and again, when NJ Transit fails, it's the riders who pay the price,' Munoz said. 'This contract dispute should have been taken care of his first term. Once again it's the commuters who are suffering.' This article originally appeared on NJ Transit strike continues as negotiations may resume this weekend
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is ICE targeting Nashville schools? Here's what to know
A wave of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Nashville has left the community shaken and uncertain. Rumors have cropped up around the whereabouts of ICE officials, who teamed up with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for a joint operation. Officials said the operation led to hundreds of traffic stops and nearly 200 arrests as of May 13. ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said the operation ran from May 5-10. As the operation unfolded, rumors about ICE showing up at schools and even school bus stops have circulated. Here's what to know about what's happening, what's legal and what students and leaders are saying. Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted said that all law enforcement activity, including immigration enforcement, must have explicit legal authorization unless there is an emergency. Law enforcement must also have authorization to access student records and speak to students on school property. According to Lora Fox, the associate director of law for the city of Nashville, that authorization hinges on what and who is asking for something. Depending on the circumstance, it could mean a subpoena, warrant or other legal document. "We understand the fear and concern in the community, however, there have been no credible or verified reports of ICE activity at our schools," Braisted said in a May 13 email to The Tennessean. "We remain committed to prioritizing the safety, privacy and well-being of all our students." Advocates and community members have posted on social media about possible ICE agents waiting at neighborhood school bus stops. An ICE spokesperson did not answer a question about whether those rumors were true. Around 80 students signed a letter addressed to Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell and MNPS Director Adrienne Battle. Some signed with only their first name or initials, while others signed anonymously. The letter, sent May 7, described "a deep place of fear" over the arrests and their ripple effects into the classroom and communities around students. "The streets were silent. Some of our classmates never showed up out of fear. Mothers and fathers never came home," part of the letter read. "And today, no one is talking about homework — we're just asking who's next." The students urged O'Connell and Battle to stand up against a recently passed state law that established a new immigration enforcement office in Tennessee. The legislation exempts the office from public records law. It also criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. "HB6001 is trying to stop you from standing up for us," the letter stated. "It tells you to stay quiet. But we're asking you — please don't. That law is wrong. It's unconstitutional. It's cruel. And we believe you can still say what matters: Nashville protects all its people." While Battle and O'Connell have not directly responded to the letter from students, both have spoken to the arrests and their effects. Spokespeople for both leaders praised the students for speaking out. O'Connell decried the ICE presence in Nashville as "unwelcome visitors from Washington, D.C." He has also repeatedly called for law enforcement to provide the names of those detained. "The trauma inflicted on families is long-lasting, and I'm doing everything in my power consistent with applicable law to protect anyone who calls Nashville home," O'Connell said during a May 5 news conference. "What's clear today is that people who do not share our values of safety and community have the authority to cause deep community harm." Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell: Recent ICE arrests caused 'deep community harm' Battle sent out a letter to MNPS families on May 8. "Please know that your child's safety and well-being are our top priorities," Battle wrote. "Supporting the whole child means acknowledging and addressing the challenges students may face both inside and outside the classroom. If your child is affected by these enforcement activities, I encourage you to reach out to your school's principal or counselor so we can connect you with available wraparound supports." Battle also pointed to The Belonging Fund, established by the city of Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to offer financial assistance and support for families affected by immigration enforcement. More than $200,000 had been raised as of May 9, according to a Facebook post by the foundation. More information on student safety and privacy policies for MNPS, along with additional resources for students and families, can be found at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE arrests Nashville: Can agents enter schools? Here's what to know
The Independent
07-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
National Lottery millionaires help build VE80 pathway for veterans' charity
A team of National Lottery millionaires with a combined wealth of £115 million have helped build a commemorative pathway to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day at a support centre for veterans. The garden has been created at the Veterans' Growth centre near Battle, East Sussex, which supports veterans from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF who suffer from mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A total of 18 National Lottery winners including a number of veterans and serving police officers have taken part in the project. Veterans' Growth, which has previously received £96,000 of National Lottery funding, aims to reduce veterans' stress levels, anxiety, depression and isolation, through learning the skills of horticulture to provide a future hobby or career. A spokeswoman for the National Lottery operator Allwyn said: 'The VE80 commemorative pathway is designed to provide a place of peace and reflection, as well as greater accessibility to the grounds for the Veterans' Growth service users. 'A key feature of the garden and pathway is the planting scheme. Designed by veterans, it incorporates plants that have a relevance to Veterans' Growth service users as well as flowers that are symbolic of peace and remembrance, including remembrance roses and forget-me-nots.' RAF veteran Ruth Doyle said: 'It's very moving to be here celebrating 80 years of peace since the end of World War Two in Europe while remembering the many millions who paid the ultimate sacrifice. 'In my nine wonderful years in the RAF, I learned very quickly that when people come together and unite, great things can be achieved. 'On a small scale, that's what has happened today. We're all here thanks to an amazing stroke of Lottery luck, but our shared goal here was to do something that will benefit this incredible project, remember those who are no longer with us and celebrate our shared peace.' Jason Stevens, founder of Veterans' Growth and a veteran of 16 years in the Army, said: 'When I was medically discharged from the Army, horticulture was my saviour. So much of what we do is making sure that the recipients of our services know someone cares, that they don't feel isolated, that they can gain confidence, knowledge and experience in a supportive environment. 'It's clear to us that winning The National Lottery is so much more than money in the bank, nice as that is. 'Everyone here has said that this is the thing they most enjoy about life since winning, the chance to give back. And boy have they done that, everyone has worked so hard, doing their bit and pulling together to get the job done. 'It has truly been a fitting celebration of VE80 and I hope that the pathway and garden will bring many moments of peace to our veteran men and women who so desperately need to find it in their daily lives.'
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Club escapade the 2025 winner of the ATM start-up Pitch Battle
The live competition took place today on ATM's Future Stage, where Club Escapade outlined its exclusive membership model and weekly drop system which creates demand-driven bookings, offering private, time-limited rates on unoccupied rooms Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Club Escapade has won the 2025 edition of the ATM Start-up Pitch Battle, which was held in association with Intelak, overcoming stiff competition from some of the region's leading travel innovators and disruptors. This year's competition received entries from 40 travel start-ups, including finalists ChatDMC, Penguinpass, SparkleHaze (Woohoo), TravStack, and WROXAI. During the Pitch Battle, Soufiane Alimi, Founder and CEO, outlined how Club Escapade helps hoteliers optimise occupancy during quieter periods while preserving their prestige and brand image. The company offers private, time-limited rates on unoccupied rooms to its Club Members, helping to boost hotel revenues while delivering the ultimate luxury on-demand vacation experience. Alimi said: 'Club Escapade targets luxury hotels looking to optimise occupancy without compromising their brand prestige, as well as UAE residents and locals who crave premium, on-demand staycations but lack the time to travel. We leverage an exclusive membership model and a weekly drop system, creating excitement around luxury staycations. By curating themed experiences and offering private, time-limited rates, we drive consistent, high-value bookings for hoteliers. Our commission-based model and last-minute filling of the empty rooms ensures hotels generate revenue with zero upfront costs.' The competition forms an integral part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, by inviting start-ups with innovative products, services, and technologies. The competition was open to pre-seed and seed series start-ups. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market said: 'Congratulations to Club Escapade, this year's Start-Up Pitch Battle winner. Their success reflects the dynamic shift we're witnessing across the travel and tourism sector, where fresh thinking and agile innovation are increasingly driving industry transformation. The Pitch Battle is more than just a competition – it's a launchpad for ideas that can reshape the future of travel. The calibre of entries this year has been outstanding, and we're excited to see what the next generation of travel pioneers brings to the stage.' As part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, the competition, presented by Sabre, hosted start-ups with innovative products, services, and technologies. The competition was open to pre-seed or seed series start-ups, enabling them to access the resources to take their businesses to the next level. Entries were reviewed by Intelak, a Dubai-based technology and innovation hub dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the travel, tourism and aviation industries, and fellow judges Ismail Issa, Head of AI & Web3, Emirates, and Hassan Qannati, Head of Business Development, Sabre. To further support entrepreneurial growth in travel, all shortlisted start-ups received complimentary pod space in the new Start-Up and Innovation Zone at ATM 2025, enabling them to showcase their solutions and network with industry leaders. The largest edition of ATM to date will close today following four days of impactful industry discussions and unrivalled networking opportunities across the business events, leisure, luxury and corporate travel sectors. Th Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. With over 48,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors, including over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries during last year's show, ATM remains a pivotal gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East's travel and tourism sector, it includes the all-New Business Events @ATM focusing on MICE, Start-Up Competition, influencers' events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. It also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums. About RX RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. About RELX RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are: WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes. Next event: 5 to 7 November 2024 at ExCel London. WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. Next event: 14 to 16 April 2025 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil. WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019. Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
