Latest news with #DavidPerez
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Travel expert reveals how to turn a layover into a mini holiday
Stopovers are a necessary evil that will get you where you want to often only with a chunk of wasted time in transit. However, airlines are increasingly offering layover programmes that enable travellers to check out their connection cities a little more - and they'll often even offer a free room, transport and temporary visas to persuade you to step out of the airport. According to travel savvy expert David Perez, co-founder of iVisa, many airlines collaborate with their home airport to offer money-off deals on hotels and transfers to convince tourists to discover the destination beyond it. There's usually a minimum stay time required - usually between around eight and 24 hours, but those who qualify can find themselves enjoying a brand new city without any major impact on holiday spends. For example, the Stopover in Istanbul programme run by Turkish Airlines lets visitors check in for free at partner hotels in Istanbul, an enduringly popular city break destination. Travellers in economy can access a one-night stay in a four-star hotel, while those lucky enough to be in business can stay two nights in a five-star or boutique hotel for zero money. Qatar Airways will sort out a complimentary transit from Hamad International Airport, accommodation and even a short-term visa if you have a layover of between eight and 24 hours. Those keen on discovering Doha simply need to put in an online request at least 72 hours before departure. Qatar Airlines is one of several carriers that offer an incentive programme for travellers with a layover in their hub airport; visitors can spend a night in Doha, often at a heavily discounted price, if they're spending between eight and 24 hours in the city's airport Other carriers running similar stopover schemes include Iberia, TAP Portugal and Ethiad. Visas? Often you'll sidestep official regulations because you're not in the country long enough. Says Perez: 'In some countries, you're also covered by special visa-free transit rules, which means you can enter the city without applying for a standard visa. 'All you need to do is check your airline's stopover program before booking, plan your connection time to fit their criteria, and claim the offer directly through the airline. It's a simple process that can add a bonus destination to your trip at almost no extra cost.' Icelandair offer those heading to the US a seven-night stay in the country at no extra cost, although travellers will have to pay for accommodation while on the ground. One tourist who's tested the layover trick is Michael Zervos, who, with support from iVisa, recently broke the world record for being the fastest man to travel the world. Sharing his own experiences he said: 'The layovers became some of my most memorable experiences. 'I got to explore new places affordably without the hassle of applying for a full visa, while keeping on track for the world record.' Earlier this year, a travel expert offered another tip on how to potentially save money on long haul flights - by making a connection city your final destination. Known as 'skiplagging', the technique can come with a few catches. Chelsea Dickenson, the Cheap Holiday Expert, explained how it works on her podcast, @passportspleasepod. She said: 'Skiplagging is when a passenger books a flight with a layover but intentionally gets off at the layover city instead of continuing to the final destination. 'And that is because the layover city is usually cheaper to fly to as part of a longer route.' As an example, Chelsea explains that a passenger could fly from London to New York. Instead of opting for a 'super expensive' direct route, travellers could find a flight that's London to Chicago with a change in New York. Chelsea says that the passenger would then get off in New York and exit the airport, instead of waiting for the flight to Chicago. But while the hack could be a way to score a cheaper flight, Chelsea warns that it's not always better value than booking a direct route. And there's another downside. She adds: 'The main con is that airlines absolutely hate it cause you're wasting a seat on one of their flights.' Airline staff may also be looking for the missing passenger when they don't board the second flight. Chelsea says: 'It's admin to them. They hate it. And you can get blacklisted by doing it. Some people have been totally told they cannot book with airlines if they've done it repeatedly.' Although Chelsea's tip picked up more than 265,000 likes on TikTok, a commenter issued another warning for travellers that are keen to try skiplagging. 'Nayla Kana' says: 'My first thought is, this would only work for passengers with hand luggage only. Because your luggage will be in Chicago now!' Another commenter said the tip would surely be unlikely to work for a return journey, and Chelsea agreed, saying: 'It wouldn't [work]! If you did it on the flight out, they'd probably cancel your return flight.'
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
ComEd Restores Power to 80 Percent of Customers Impacted by Pair of Weekend Storms
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2025-- Following two rounds of storms that both included high winds of up to 70 mph across all of northern Illinois Saturday and Sunday, ComEd crews have restored power to more than 80 percent of impacted customers. Some of the hardest hit areas from this afternoon's storms included Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Joliet, Mount Prospect, Rockford, and Skokie. Approximately 40,000 customers remain without power as of 10 a.m. Sunday. Over 500 ComEd crews are deployed throughout the region and will soon be joined by 33 additional crews Sunday afternoon. All crews will continue to work around the clock to restore service to all remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible. Based on storms of similar magnitude, ComEd expects power to be restored to nearly all of these customers by 2 p.m. Monday. When responding to power outages caused by storms, ComEd's priority is to restore critical facilities such as police and fire stations, nursing homes and hospitals first, followed by repairs that will restore power to the greatest number of customers. 'Safely restoring power to all our customers impacted by this weekend's storms remains our number one priority, and our dedicated crews are working around the clock to bring all affected customers back,' said David Perez, executive vice president and COO of ComEd. 'We recognize that losing power at any time can be frustrating, and we appreciate our customers' patience as we continue to assess damage throughout the region and restore power.' Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of severe weather. ComEd has been investing in power grid upgrades and tree trimming to minimize the impact of storms. Since smart grid upgrades began in 2011, ComEd has avoided more than 24.7 million power outages and improved overall reliability by more than 57 percent. In 2024, ComEd was named most reliable utility in the Midwest. Public safety is paramount, and ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions: ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Customers can also call 800 EDISON1 (800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at Spanish-speaking customers should call 800-95-LUCES (800-955-8237). With ComEd's new Outage Tracker, customers can report outages, check estimated time of restoration, view crew status updates, and explore our outage map. Visit ComEd's mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at source version on CONTACT: ComEd Media Relations 312-394-3500 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: UTILITIES ENERGY SOURCE: ComEd Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 08/17/2025 04:13 PM/DISC: 08/17/2025 04:13 PM
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Climate
- Business Wire
ComEd Restores Power to 80 Percent of Customers Impacted by Pair of Weekend Storms
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following two rounds of storms that both included high winds of up to 70 mph across all of northern Illinois Saturday and Sunday, ComEd crews have restored power to more than 80 percent of impacted customers. Some of the hardest hit areas from this afternoon's storms included Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Joliet, Mount Prospect, Rockford, and Skokie. Approximately 40,000 customers remain without power as of 10 a.m. Sunday. Over 500 ComEd crews are deployed throughout the region and will soon be joined by 33 additional crews Sunday afternoon. All crews will continue to work around the clock to restore service to all remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible. Based on storms of similar magnitude, ComEd expects power to be restored to nearly all of these customers by 2 p.m. Monday. When responding to power outages caused by storms, ComEd's priority is to restore critical facilities such as police and fire stations, nursing homes and hospitals first, followed by repairs that will restore power to the greatest number of customers. 'Safely restoring power to all our customers impacted by this weekend's storms remains our number one priority, and our dedicated crews are working around the clock to bring all affected customers back,' said David Perez, executive vice president and COO of ComEd. 'We recognize that losing power at any time can be frustrating, and we appreciate our customers' patience as we continue to assess damage throughout the region and restore power.' Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of severe weather. ComEd has been investing in power grid upgrades and tree trimming to minimize the impact of storms. Since smart grid upgrades began in 2011, ComEd has avoided more than 24.7 million power outages and improved overall reliability by more than 57 percent. In 2024, ComEd was named most reliable utility in the Midwest. Public safety is paramount, and ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions: If a downed power line is spotted, immediately call ComEd at 800-EDISON1 (800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 800-95-LUCES (800-955-8237). Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is extremely dangerous and energized. In the event of an outage, do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous. ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Customers can also call 800 EDISON1 (800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at Spanish-speaking customers should call 800-95-LUCES (800-955-8237). With ComEd's new Outage Tracker, customers can report outages, check estimated time of restoration, view crew status updates, and explore our outage map. Visit ComEd's mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at
Business Wire
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ComEd Announces $130,000 in Scholarships to City Colleges Line Worker Training Program
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, ComEd joined the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and community leaders to celebrate the latest class of graduates of the Dawson Technical Institute (DTI) Overhead Electrical Line Worker (OELW) program and to announce an investment of up to $130,000 in scholarships available for the program. ComEd and CCC launched the OELW training program at DTI in 2006 to help expand access to specialized training needed to support job seekers pursuing roles in the electrical and utility trades. For 19 years, the OELW program has prepared more area residents for good-paying jobs, graduating more than 550 students, with more than half of those hired into full-time jobs with ComEd. To meet growing demand for skilled line workers, ComEd is increasing its investments in a scholarship fund, providing up to $6,500 per student to help reduce tuition and related expenses, in an effort to help more area residents pursue accelerated training at DTI OELW, Chicago's only certified line worker training program. The scholarship is offered to graduates of ComEd workforce development training programs to advance their knowledge and skills. 'ComEd is proud to continue building on our longstanding partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago to make training for rewarding careers in our industry even more accessible than before,' said David Perez, Executive Vice President and COO at ComEd. 'With jobs in the utility and construction space in high demand, ComEd is committed to working with the City College and other partners in the region to invest in critical training programs to prepare our very own diverse, local talent for these jobs of the future.' The OELW advanced certificate program at DTI delivers industry-aligned training for those pursuing roles as overhead electricians or electrical line workers. ComEd created an OELW scholarship fund in 2021 to help remove financial barriers to enrolling in the program, steadily increasing its investment in the program since then. Eligible candidates stand to earn scholarships of $5,500 for the cost of tuition and $1,000 to cover other education expenses. 'Today's Dawson Tech OELW graduation celebrates the major accomplishments of our students and our incredible partnership with ComEd that continues to create access for more local residents to pursue training for in-demand roles at our state-of-the-art training facility,' said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. 'With more ComEd scholarships now available, together, we're expanding opportunity and building a stronger, more inclusive pipeline to careers that offer family-sustaining wages and job growth.' Since its inception, the OELW class has helped recruit and train local workers for critical roles in the energy sector. More than 70 percent of all past participants are diverse. This year's class is one of the most diverse so far, with 95 percent being people of color. OELW will continue to play a key role in cultivating a talent pipeline needed to support the fast-growing clean energy sector, which is expected to create as many as 150,000 new jobs in Illinois alone by 2050. Participation in the OELW program can provide job seekers a competitive edge in applying for employment at ComEd, including the role of a line worker, which offers starting hourly wages of nearly $29, as well as employee benefits such as 401k and family wellness programs. Recognized for providing top-quality job training, DTI prepares students through relevant competency-based instruction and a state-of-the-art training facility. A utility pole yard is used to practice safely climbing poles, one of the most challenging requisites to become a line worker, and a fitness center helps students to improve their strength and stamina for the physical demands of electrical trades roles. Students also have access to a wide range of student resources, including tutoring, mental health support, one-on-one advising, and more. Joel Garcia is a 2024 DTI OELW graduate who completed the program with the help of the ComEd OELW scholarship and is now employed full-time with the company. 'Participating in ComEd's CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy training program prepared me with essential trades skills and earned me the DTI OELW scholarship, which helped me relieve the financial stress of pursuing an advanced certificate,' said Joel. 'My advanced certificate helped me land my current role as an Overhead Helper at ComEd, a direct pathway to becoming a line worker, my dream job.' The OELW program will soon begin recruitment for the 20 th year of the program, beginning January 2026, and residents from across the region can learn more about how to apply at To learn more about the ComEd OELW scholarship program and other workforce training programs visit About City Colleges of Chicago City Colleges of Chicago is the city's most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility, empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city. Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago at or click here.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about Workrise co-founder's plan to bring AI to insurance with new startup
Mike Witte has always loved relationship-based business. He built his career in the startup space by co-founding RigUp, a workforce management platform aimed at supporting smaller oil and gas companies. The company has since rebranded to Workrise and achieved unicorn status with a valuation of nearly $3 billion. Witte told the American-Statesman the crux of the business is services and relationships, which he says is the same for his new startup. That startup, Equal Parts, launched last month with $10 million in acquisition capital led by Equal Ventures and Max Ventures, and it plans to bring artificial intelligence to insurance. Witte said the insurance industry has a "technology ecosystem problem," with independent insurance agency owners being consumed by office tasks and using outdated technology systems. That's where Equal Parts comes in, with Witte wanting to improve speed and make the industry more innovative by using AI. "We believe that the future of insurance is equal parts innovation and relationships. It's equal parts technology and tradition," Witte told the American-Statesman. "Those things have to be bridged together, and we want to be that bridge." To do this, Witte's new startup plans to acquire smaller insurance agencies and supercharge them with AI, not to replace human agents, but to enhance the backend technologies and improve connection. On Wednesday, Equal Parts announced its first acquisition, Austin-based Lumen Insurance Technologies LLC. Lumen Insurance, which was founded by David Perez in 2016, is a commercial insurance agency focused on serving Austin's tech startup community. "Lumen is the epitome of what we were looking for," Witte said. "It was strong client relationships, very specialized. ... It's a great starting point for us. We get a phenomenal human being in David Perez, but we also back to the thesis. We've got a client base that he serves that's very tech forward, combined with a bunch of Austin businesses, and it just checked all the boxes for what we're looking to do in the Austin community." Witte emphasized that addressing the technology and connectivity issues in the insurance industry is crucial for its future. He described the current technological challenges as a "death by a thousand cuts." According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about half of the current insurance workforce is expected to retire over the next 15 years, leaving more than 400,000 positions unfulfilled. The industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is also seeing an unemployment rate nearly half the national average. Witte said this is, in large part, due to the lack of connectivity and innovation with the industry's necessary point-to-point management systems. With its first acquisition, Equal Parts plans to help Lumen build and scale a "highly connected back end" by linking point-to-point systems together. With this highly connected back end, Witte said Equal Parts plans to leverage AI to automate the systems, so agents can get back to "what they should be doing, which is talking to clients." "A lot of that, to me, is just the legacy nature of the business and how work gets done," Witte said. "It's not necessarily attractive and appealing to young folks that want to be in a more innovative environment. I do think that Equal Parts, we need to be a brand, a company and an employer that provides that avenue for younger folks to get into insurance, that want to be a part of the more innovative work environment. It's certainly what we what we hope to cultivate." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Workrise co-founder's new Austin startup acquires Lumen Insurance
