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☆ The organizer of an annual charity raffle to win a Tesla says he's struggling to sell tickets this year because of Elon Musk's antics
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Climate XChange has run a Tesla raffle since 2015 and this year's prize is a $165,000 Model X. The last three years sold out, but in 2023 ticket sales are slow, the raffle's organizer told Insider. Some previous entrants have said they no longer want to win a Tesla thanks to Elon Musk. That's despite the top prize, a Tesla Model X Plaid and all associated taxes, being worth $250,000 — a 10% higher value than 2022's raffle. He has put down a deposit for a Rivian as a replacement, he told Insider.

I used to set unrealistic New Year's resolutions, like swearing I won't eat out all year to save more money. This year, I'm setting five microsavings goals to help me save $2,750 and invest $1,050 by the end of the year. That surprise money made such an impact on me that I decided to apply it to my 2023 savings goals. To meet that savings goal, I'm saving 10% of my paycheck, roughly $200, until April 2023. After buying my laptop in April 2023, I plan on saving 5% of my paycheck, roughly $100, toward my Oaxaca trip.

"It's not a question of if it will happen, it's now just a matter of how many and how fast." As the Lunar New Year holiday - typically a peak travel period for Chinese tourists - starts on Jan. 21, some businesses are already gearing up. Japan, however, is being cautious about Chinese tourism due to the rapid spread of the virus in China. Australia, Germany, Thailand and others, however, said they would not impose additional rules on Chinese travel for now, with France taking to social media platform Sina Weibo to emphasise it welcomed Chinese friends "with open arms". "I suspect any meaningful rebound will have to wait until the travel boom in June or July next year."

☆ 'The ICU is full': medical staff on frontline of China's COVID fight say hospitals are 'overwhelmed'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Martin Quin Pollard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Bernstein's account reflects similar testimony from medical staff across China who are scrambling to cope after China's abrupt U-turn on its previously strict COVID policies this month was followed by a nationwide wave of infections. "The hospital is just overwhelmed from top to bottom," Bernstein told Reuters at the end of a "stressful" shift at the privately owned Beijing United Family Hospital in the east of the capital. In the past month, Bernstein went from never having treated a COVID patient to seeing dozens a day. Elsewhere in China, medical staff told Reuters that resources are already stretched to the breaking point in some cases, as COVID and sickness levels amongst staff have been particularly high. The National Health Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the concerns raised by medical staff in this article.

☆ Nike is about to face its biggest test as sneakerheads pounce on the new 'Lost and Found' Jordan 1, and the brand tries to rebuild trust with fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Nike will release the Air Jordan 1 Chicago "Lost and Found" on November 19. The Air Jordan 1 Chicago "Lost and Found," which will be released November 19, is the latest and biggest test of Nike's work to make drops more fair. "We continue to see Exclusive Access serve as a defining marketing mechanism to connect with consumers," Donahoe said. This weekend's launch of the Air Jordan 1 Chicago "Lost and Found" comes with the latest iteration of Exclusive Access. The company said customers who had lost 20 previous raffles for Jordan 1s on its SNKRS app were eligible for Exclusive Access.

☆ Cryptos attempt to steady as Binance-FTX deal chills market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin , the biggest cryptocurrency by market value, was down 2% at $18,250, after a 10% plunge on Tuesday that marked its worst day since mid-August. The market focus was, however, on FTT , the token tied to FTX, whose financials have been the source of market angst since last week. Market participants were then stunned when Binance signed a nonbinding agreement on Tuesday to buy FTX's non-U.S. unit to help cover what it called a liquidity crunch. The deal between high-profile rivals Zhao and Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX's CEO, followed week-long speculation about FTX's financial health that snowballed into $6 billion of withdrawals in the 72 hours before Tuesday's deal. "Alameda is a big market maker in the defi market.

☆ Southeast Asia's top digital economies expected to hit $200 billion in 2022, report shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — South East Asia's top digital economies grew faster than expected in 2022 and is set to reach $200 billion in total value of transactions made this year, according to a new report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. An earlier report in 2016 estimated the internet economy in the region's six major countries will close in on $200 billion in GMV by 2025. The six major economies covered in the report are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. "After years of acceleration, digital adoption growth is normalising," said the report released Thursday. Southeast Asia continues to see growth in the number of internet users — with 20 million new users added in 2022, raising the total number of users to 460 million.

☆ Luxury hotel booking programs from Amex, Capital One, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Eric Rosen | Tessa Campbell | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

David Slotnick/Business InsiderMany travel rewards cards offer elite-like hotel benefits when you book with their online portals. The prices through credit card travel portals are often on par with booking directly through hotels. However, it's only available to Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Travel Elite cardholders. Bottom lineYou might not have a premium hotel credit card or elite status with one of the major loyalty programs. However, that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of credit card booking portals to enjoy perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, and on-property credits.

☆ Dubai, Tel Aviv and beyond: CNBC names the best hotels for business travel in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Monica Buchanan Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

CNBC Travel and the market data firm Statista today release a ranking of the "Best Hotels for Business Travelers" in the Middle East. From Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, here is the full list of the winners in the Middle East in PDF format — complete with final scores — some of which are highlighted below. Alternatively, you can search by city or country using the table here:Abu DhabiRosewood Abu Dhabi Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi — Yas Island Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island Beach Rotana ResidencesRosewood Abu Dhabi Source: Rosewood Abu DhabiRosewood Abu Dhabi is the brand's only hotel in the United Arab Emirates. AnkaraAlegria Business Hotel Holiday Inn Ankara — Cukurambar Ankara Atli Hotel Ankara HiltonSA Occidental Ankara The Alegria is all business — as befits its name. It has the amenities that business travelers value — an on-site restaurant, bar and patisserie — all just a few miles from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

The prices through credit card travel portals are often on par with booking directly through hotels. Depending on the issuer and type of credit card you carry, you might have access to special online booking portals where reservations include these sorts of freebies, too. Although you won't earn hotel points or credit toward elite status by booking through this portal, the $100 credit will likely make up for it. More Information Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

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