Latest news with #HorizonGroup
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris running for Joni Ernst's US Senate seat
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, becoming the latest Democrat seeking to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. "Look, I think it's time for an educator in the Senate," she told the Des Moines Register. "Former teacher, school board member. I have seen firsthand the invisible burdens that are on the shoulders of families right now." Norris, 54, has a lengthy political resume. She worked on campaigns for former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and former President Barack Obama and was chief of staff to former First Lady Michelle Obama. She is the president and owner of Horizon Group, a research and consulting firm, and previously served as CEO of Goodwill of Central Iowa. She is married to John Norris, a former Iowa Democratic Party chair, gubernatorial candidate and Polk County administrator. They have three sons. Jackie Norris says she's 'very proud' of Des Moines Public Schools' policy limiting cell phones Norris, who worked as a high school government teacher in Perry, Ames and Johnston, said "families are in crisis" and are struggling to afford child care, health care and housing while young people also struggle with anxiety and depression. She pointed to her efforts as a school board member to pass a district-wide policy limiting cell phone use during class time. The district's Hoover High School previously adopted a similar policy in an effort to improve students' grades and their mental health. "We heard loud and clear that we needed to improve the conditions where students can learn and teachers can teach," she said. "And so cell phone addiction was becoming an issue. Kids were struggling with mental health challenges, they weren't hitting their mark on academic outcomes, and so moving forward and passing a cell phone policy for 30,000 students is something I'm very proud of." Norris' school board seat will be on the ballot this fall. She said she does not plan to run for reelection as she mounts a Senate campaign. 'I'm going to bring my whole self to this campaign' Norris is the fourth Democrat to formally enter the race. State Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, state Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage of Indianola have all announced campaigns. State Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs is preparing to launch a campaign this month. Norris said, "I'm going to bring my whole self to this campaign." "I'm going to work hard," she said. "I'm going to use the network that I have all across this country to raise the funds necessary to be competitive and also remind people that Joni Ernst is not what we want in the Senate and we have an opportunity to flip the seat and we need the best candidate to do it. And I'm that candidate." Jackie Norris criticizes Joni Ernst for Medicaid comments, support for Pete Hegseth Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been scrutinized this year for comments she made at a May 30 town hall, saying, "Well, we all are going to die" after a constituent shouted that people would die due to Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's budget bill. The next day, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video that she filmed while walking through a cemetery. Ernst ultimately voted for the bill, which extends and deepens tax cuts signed by Trump in 2017 while cutting Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over a decade. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says 10 million people are expected to become uninsured over a decade as a result of the bill. Norris characterized Ernst's remarks as "some pretty flippant comments about people who are going to face real harm." "Those types of callous remarks make it really clear that she is not in touch with how Iowans are feeling and how serious it is," she said. Norris also said that she is a military mom and respects Ernst's military service, but was disappointed by her support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, had expressed concerns about Hegseth, who previously said he didn't believe women should serve in combat roles. She questioned Hegseth about the topic during his confirmation hearing before ultimately voting to confirm him after he affirmed women would continue to be able to serve in combat roles, "given the standards remain high." "She is a woman who served in the military, and yet she seems pretty comfortable letting women be disrespected by the secretary of defense," Norris said. "I think she's lost her way. I think she's lost her integrity." Still, Norris said her approach to governing is to solve problems regardless of party. She pointed to her work for Points of Light, a nonprofit Republican former President George H.W. Bush founded. "My approach is always going to be to find the best win for Iowa," she said. "And if that means working with people who are strange bedfellows so be it, because we should all want to work for the betterment of our state. And quite honestly I think Americans are going to believe in government if they actually see us putting them ahead of our own party loyalties." Ernst has hired a campaign manager but has not formally announced that she will seek a third term in 2026, prompting speculation about her plans. Two Republicans have said they intend to challenge Ernst for the GOP nomination: former state Sen. Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris running for US Senate
Zawya
01-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hotel101 signs joint venture partnership agreement with Horizon Group to develop 10,000 keys in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia – Hotel101 Global (Hotel101) is pleased to announce the signing of a Joint Venture Partnership Agreement with Horizon Group (Horizon) as the main partner for Hotel101's expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a vision to introduce the fast-growing Hotel101 Brand and develop up to ten thousand (10,000) rooms which is expected to translate to about US$2.5 Billion (Php137.5 Billion) in project value. An initial five (5) locations for Hotel101 Projects have been identified, the first of which is intended to be located in Medina, followed by Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha and Alula. Hotel101's global "one room" hotel chain is poised to disrupt the tourism industry by oWering identical, standardized hotel rooms globally. In standardization, Hotel101 sees a global opportunity in the hospitality space that brings unbeatable eWiciency, especially for the value segment so customers know exactly what to expect wherever they may be in the world. Hotel101's asset-light 'condotel' business model is designed to scale eWiciently while maximizing value for both unit owners and guests. The partnership unites Hotel 101's high-eWiciency HappyRoom concept and condo-hotel funding model with Horizon's deeply rooted market expertise and expert connections in the region. ' We are inspired by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and their sheer determination and will power to make things happen, as such, we are confident in the plans they have laid out for the region and we believe the Hotel101 concept will be able to make a significant contribution in terms of room keys to complement the 2030 Vision for the Kingdom, and to form part of our global vision of 1 million Hotel101 rooms worldwide,' said Hotel101 Global Founder Edgar 'Injap' Sia II. ' We feel very fortunate to have found the right local partners to rapidly expand the Hotel101 brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is one of the 25 countries we have identified for the initial expansion of Hotel101. We see tremendous opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia given the high growth in tourism both domestic and international. We believe Saudi Arabia will be one of the most exciting markets for Hotel101 globally, ' said Hotel101 CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini. ' With Hotel 101's rapid-build model and Horizon's local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, aLordable rooms across the Kingdom—supporting Vision 2030, creating Saudi jobs, and expanding options for pilgrims, tourists, and business travelers alike.' said Horizon Group CEO Abdulrahman Sharbatly. Hotel101 recognizes the strategic opportunities presented by the Saudi market and its Vision 2030 plan. Hotel101 is committed to rolling out a standardized and predictable Hotel oWering on average 500 rooms per site which can cater to the evolving and growing demands of the Saudi market. In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed 27 million international tourists and 79 million domestic tourists breaching the 100 million visitor mark. A total spend of USD 67 billion showcased the robust tourism sector of Saudi Arabia. This is in line with the target of reaching over 150m tourists by 2030. This provides substantial opportunities in support services and infrastructure in areas such as Hotels, Shopping, F&B and transportation. About Horizon Group Horizon Group is a Saudi-headquartered investment company led by the brothers Khaled and Abdulrahman Sharbatly, and Wael Daqal, with a focus on partnering and investing in Vision 2030 industries with international market leaders. Horizon has many partnerships and aWiliations such as Alnahla Group and SAMACO, and is a market leader in its industry with a preference and focused on Hospitality and Manufacturing.
GMA Network
29-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Hotel101 Global to develop 10,000 rooms in Saudi Arabia
Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd., the Singapore-headquartered subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corp., has partnered with the Horizon Group to develop up to 10,000 rooms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expected to translate to a $2.5-billion or P137.5-billion project value. Under the partnership, the two parties have identified an initial five locations, with the first being in Medina, followed by Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Alula, with an average of 500 rooms per site. This comes as Hotel101 adopted a global "one room" hotel chain, offering identical, standardized hotel rooms. It also has an asset-light "condotel" business model, designed to scale efficiently while maximizing value for unit owners and guests. "We see tremendous opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia given the high growth in tourism both domestic and international. We believe Saudi Arabia will be one of the most exciting markets for Hotel101 globally," Hotel101 chief executive officer Hannah Yulo-Luccini said in an emailed statement. "With Hotel101's rapid-build model and Horizon's local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, affordable rooms across the Kingdom—supporting Vision 2030, creating Saudi jobs, and expanding options for pilgrims, tourists, and business travelers alike," Horizon Group chief executive officer Abdulrahman Sharbatly said. Saudi Arabia targets to reach 150 million tourists by 2030, after welcoming 27 million international tourists and 79 million domestic tourists in 2030, reaching a 100-million visitor mark. "We are inspired by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and their sheer determination and will power to make things happen, as such, we are confident in the plans they have laid out for the region and we believe the Hotel101 concept will be able to make a significant contribution in terms of room keys to complement the 2030 Vision for the Kingdom, and to form part of our global vision of 1 million Hotel 101 rooms worldwide," Hotel101 Global founder Edgar "Injap" Sia II said. Hotel101 officially filed its F-4 Registration Statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on February 1 (Philippine time), taking a key step toward its $2.3-billion Nasdaq listing. The firm entered a definitive merger agreement with JVSPAC Acquisition Corp. in April 2024, positioning DoubleDragon to become the first Filipino company with a subsidiary listed on Nasdaq. Hotel101's first three overseas projects are located in Niseko Hokkaido, Japan; Madrid, Spain; and Los Angeles, California, in the United States, which are set to jumpstart its expansion to other areas as it targets to accumulate a portfolio of 1 million rooms in 101 countries before 2050. It also seeks to expand in areas such as the United Kingdom (UK), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Germany, France, and China. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hotel101 signs joint partnership agreement with Horizon Group to develop 10,000 keys in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Hotel101 Global (Hotel101) is pleased to announce the signing of a Joint Partnership Agreement with Horizon Group (Horizon) as the main partner for Hotel101's expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a vision to introduce the fast-growing Hotel101 Brand and develop up to ten thousand (10,000) rooms which is expected to translate to about US$2.5 Billion (Php137.5 Billion) in project value . An initial five (5) locations for Hotel101 Projects have been identified, the first of which is intended to be located in Medina, followed by Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha and Alula. Hotel101's global "one room" hotel chain is poised to disrupt the tourism industry by oVering identical, standardized hotel rooms globally. In standardization, Hotel101 sees a global opportunity in the hospitality space that brings unbeatable eViciency, especially for the value segment so customers know exactly what to expect wherever they may be in the world. Hotel101's asset-light 'condotel' business model is designed to scale eViciently while maximizing value for both unit owners and guests. The partnership unites Hotel 101's high-eViciency HappyRoom concept and condo-hotel funding model with Horizon's deeply rooted market expertise and expert connections in the region. 'We are inspired by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and their sheer determination and will power to make things happen, as such, we are confident in the plans they have laid out for the region and we believe the Hotel101 concept will be able to make a significant contribution in terms of room keys to complement the 2030 Vision for the Kingdom, and to form part of our global vision of 1 million Hotel101 rooms worldwide,' said Hotel101 Global Founder Edgar 'Injap' Sia II. 'We feel very fortunate to have found the right local partners to rapidly expand the Hotel101 brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is one of the 25 countries we have identified for the initial expansion of Hotel101. We see tremendous opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia given the high growth in tourism both domestic and international. We believe Saudi Arabia will be one of the most exciting markets for Hotel101 globally,' said Hotel101 CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini. 'With Hotel 101's rapid-build model and Horizon's local know-how, we will add 10,000 quality, aLordable rooms across the Kingdom—supporting Vision 2030, creating Saudi jobs, and expanding options for pilgrims, tourists, and business travelers alike.' said Horizon Group CEO Abdulrahman Sharbatly. Hotel101 recognizes the strategic opportunities presented by the Saudi market and its Vision 2030 plan. Hotel101 is committed to rolling out a standardized and predictable Hotel oVering on average 500 rooms per site which can cater to the evolving and growing demands of the Saudi market. In 2023 Saudi Arabia welcomed 27 million international tourists and 79 million domestic tourists breaching the 100 million visitor mark. A total spend of USD 67 billion showcased the robust tourism sector of Saudi Arabia. This is in line with the target of reaching over 150m tourists by 2030. This provides substantial opportunities in support services and infrastructure in areas such as Hotels, Shopping, F&B and transportation. About Horizon Group Horizon Group is a Saudi-headquartered investment company led by the brothers Khaled and Abdulrahman Sharbatly, and Wael Daqal, with a focus on partnering and investing in Vision 2030 industries with international market leaders. Horizon has many partnerships and aViliations such as Alnahla Group and SAMACO and is a market leader in its industry with a preference and focused on Hospitality and Manufacturing. The agreement was signed by Hotel101 Global CEO Hannah Yulo-Luccini and Horizon Group CEO Abdulrahman Sharbatly in Medina, Saudi Arabia and witnessed by: Edgar 'Injap' Sia II —DoubleDragon Corporation Chairman & Hotel101 Founder, Khaled Sharbatly Chairman, Horizon Group, Wael Daqal Board Member, Horizon Group, Hisham Al Ansari – Board Member, Horizon Group, Rodolfo 'Pong' Ponferrada DoubleDragon President & Hotel101 Global Executive Chairman and Matthew Morio Hotel 101 Global Director for Strategic Partnerships MEA. On the same day of the signing, the partners also met with the Mayor of Medina, Saudi Arabia and CEO of the Medina Region Development Authority, Eng. Fahad Albuliheshi to discuss the Group's expansion plans in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
National Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
GHK Capital-Backed Horizon Group to Appoint Jeff McCorstin as President & CEO
Article content JAMAICA, N.Y. — Horizon Group ('Horizon' or the 'Company'), a leading global provider of specialized international freight forwarding focused on time-critical marine spare parts logistics, has announced that Jeff McCorstin, a proven leader in global logistics, has been appointed as Horizon's new CEO, effective March 31, 2025. Steve Leondis will retire as CEO after more than four decades at the Company and will transition to an advisory role through the end of the year. Horizon is a portfolio company of GHK Capital Partners LP ('GHK'), a leading middle-market private equity firm based in Greenwich, CT. Article content Article content McCorstin brings decades of experience in global logistics with an extensive background in freight forwarding, most recently serving as the President of Global Freight Forwarding at United Parcel Service, Inc. ('UPS') leading global operations and strategy. Prior to that role, McCorstin led other large divisions and regions within UPS, including as President of Global Customs Brokerage and regional President of Freight Forwarding for Asia Pacific and EMEA. Article content 'Horizon has an exceptional reputation for best-in-class service and execution thanks to the strong leadership from Steve over the past several decades and I am humbled to be leading the Company through its next phase of growth,' said McCorstin. 'As a leader in the marine spare parts logistics space, Horizon has the people and processes in place to accelerate growth on a global scale in order to better serve the needs of our customers and I look forward to working with all of our stakeholders moving forward.' Article content 'It has been my privilege to lead this world-class organization,' said Leondis. 'Through dedication to our people and our customers, we have built an industry leader in marine spare parts logistics during my tenure. Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve this organization well during this next stage of accelerated growth.' Article content Gil Klemann, Managing Partner of GHK and Chair of Horizon's Board of Directors, added, 'Jeff has demonstrated his unique abilities as an effective leader through his long-standing career at UPS where he held a variety of roles in global logistics. We are excited to partner with Jeff to build upon the Company's strong foundation and market position to establish Horizon as the leading global provider of time-critical marine spare parts logistics.' Article content About Horizon Group Article content Founded in 1970, Horizon Group, through its subsidiaries Horizon Air Freight and Swift Marine, is a leading global provider of specialized international freight forwarding focused on time-critical marine spare parts logistics. Operating out of over 30 locations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Horizon offers services spanning multimodal logistics for marine spares, supplies, and equipment and port agency solutions. Over its more than five-decade history, Horizon has established a strong reputation for delivering best-in-class customer service, creating a brand name known for consistent quality. To learn more about Horizon please visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
