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Explore Your Dream Destination

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Tips for planning a travel adventure

MISSION, Kan., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — (Family Features) If you find yourself dreaming of sunshine, sand and sparkling pools, it may be time to start looking forward to your next vacation getaway. Get a jumpstart on building excitement for the journey ahead by beginning preparations early, which offers many benefits, including better rates and more time to research your options.

Start exploring ideas for a fun-filled trip with these tips from the travel experts at Funjet, which specializes in providing travelers with vacation packages to hundreds of destinations around the world:

Plan Ahead

Booking your vacation well in advance allows you to take advantage of the best deals at the most popular hotels and hottest travel dates. In addition, by being flexible with travel dates, families can save hundreds of dollars. Moving travel dates by a day or two can result in major savings, often even more than the discounts you can get on last-minute trips.

Research Dream Destinations

Deciding where you want to go is the first step, but with a literal world of possibilities, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices. One place you can find inspiration is by exploring the top travel destinations others are choosing. For example, the top 10 travel destinations booked with Funjet in 2023 include numerous international destinations. Las Vegas is the only U.S. city to make the top 10 list. Mexico is especially popular, with Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose Del Cabo. Others include Belize City, Belize; Liberia, Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Panama City, Panama; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Consider All-Inclusive Options

Whether you prefer adults-only or family-friendly, luxury or budget-friendly, there’s a diverse range of all-inclusive resorts to choose from. All-inclusives are known for their convenience and value. They offer hassle-free experiences with meals, drinks and often activities included. While many resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean islands are all-inclusive, be aware that smaller islands like Antigua may feature European plan-style hotels, where meals and drinks are not included.

An all-inclusive package usually encompasses a variety of activities and amenities curated to offer an enjoyable and cost-effective vacation. Within these packages, guests often have the opportunity to access amenities such as swimming pools, engage in sports activities, participate in fitness classes and other entertaining experiences.

Pack Like a Pro

Gathering everything you need for a vacation, especially with kids in tow, can be stressful. To make the process easier, organize your packing based on factors like the length of your trip, airline policies and your family’s activities. Essentials like an umbrella should not be overlooked, especially if your destination’s weather can be unpredictable. Maximize luggage space by packing travel-sized toiletries and put electronic necessities like your mobile device, charger and headphones in your carry-on bag.

Anticipate Extra Expenses

While all-inclusive resorts make tropical getaways stress-free and economical, it’s customary to express appreciation for exceptional service with tips. Resorts typically don’t require tipping, but guests commonly tip as a gesture of gratitude. When deciding to tip, families should consider modest amounts, like $1-5 per meal per person, and be mindful of different service levels as well as the convenience of using local currency. Having cash on hand makes it easier to tip as needed and ensure you have extra for souvenirs and other purchases.

Unplug and Unwind

Although most travelers believe it’s essential to stay connected, it’s a good idea to limit screen time so you can make the most of your vacation. Schedule a specific time, preferably in the morning, to address emails and online tasks then enjoy a worry-free rest of the day. While phones are often used to capture photos and videos or look up information about nearby attractions, putting away the screens means you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery, connect with loved ones and have a truly rejuvenating experience.

Protect Your Group Travel

When traveling with a group, there’s a greater chance of something happening that changes plans between when you book your trip and leave. That’s why it can be a good idea to take a “travel with confidence” approach and consider including a travel protection plan in your reservations. This insurance allows travelers to cancel their trip for any reason, if necessary. When traveling with a group, stick with nonstop flights when possible, as you’re more likely to stay together, which can mean more cost-effective travel.

Enjoy the Experiences

While spending leisure time by the resort pool with afternoon cocktails can be a relaxing reward, you can make the most of a destination vacation by also planning a tour. Many destinations offer services that can assist travelers with booking various adventures, ranging from catamaran cruises to hikes and almost everything in between.

Find more tips and plan your next adventure at Funjet.com or call your local travel advisor.

Where to Stay

Start planning your dream getaway by checking out these traveler-favorite destination properties, based on bookings through Funjet:

Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts

Dreams Onyx Resort & Spa (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort (Nayarit, Mexico)Riu Caribe (Cancun, Mexico)Riu Guanacaste (Costa Rica)Riu Negril (Jamaica)Iberostar Grand Paraiso (Riviera Maya, Mexico)Riu Cancun (Mexico)Royalton Riviera Cancun, An Autograph Collection (Mexico)Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun (Quintana Roo, Mexico)Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa (Oaxaca, Mexico)

Highly Rated Hotels for Groups

Royalton Riviera Cancun, An Autograph Collection (Mexico)Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort (Quintana Roo, Mexico)Dreams Flora Resort & Spa (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)Oasis Palm (Cancun, Mexico)Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach (Honolulu, Hawaii)Marival Emotions Resort & Suites (Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico)Royalton Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection (Dominican Republic)Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa (Oranjestad, Aruba)Bahia Principe Grand La Romana (Dominican Republic)Dreams Macao (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres (Mexico)Zoetry Agua Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)

Michael French
mfrench@familyfeatures.com
1-888-824-3337
editors.familyfeatures.com

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com.

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Lumeris Partners With Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content to Advance Tom™ Symptom-Checking Capability with Evidence-Based Telehealth Triage Guidance

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Partnership strengthens AI-powered symptom checking with trusted clinical content to support more consistent patient guidance and care navigation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., and CHANDLER, Ariz., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lumeris, a leader in healthcare technology and services, and Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content (STCC), the leading provider of telehealth triage guidelines and medical call center decision support information in North America, today announced a partnership to integrate STCC’s evidence-based clinical triage content into the symptom-checking capability within Tom™, Lumeris’ AI-powered Primary Care as a Service platform.

The partnership represents the next evolution of Tom’s ability to help care teams extend access, improve patient engagement and deliver more proactive support for individuals with complex health needs. By incorporating STCC’s clinical guidance, Tom’s symptom-checking capability provides healthcare organizations with a stronger clinical foundation for helping patients navigate symptoms between primary care visits while supporting more timely, informed interventions.

Patients with chronic conditions and other complex health needs frequently experience new symptoms, medication concerns or health-related questions between scheduled in-person primary care appointments. Without timely guidance from providers, they may delay care or seek treatment in higher-acuity settings that may not be necessary. Tom’s symptom-checking capability provides an accessible first point of contact, enabling patients and caregivers to report symptoms, ask health-related questions and receive support through natural, conversational interactions while helping care teams identify individuals who may require additional clinical attention.

The integration of STCC’s clinical content strengthens the guidance behind Tom’s symptom-checking experience, helping healthcare organizations deliver more standardized, evidence-based responses to symptom-based questions. By combining conversational patient engagement with trusted clinical decision support, organizations can improve consistency across care settings while helping care teams efficiently assess patient needs and determine appropriate next steps.

“One of the biggest challenges in caring for high-risk populations is making sure patients have access to the right support at the right time,” said Dr. David Carmouche, chief medical and commercial officer, Lumeris. “This partnership strengthens Tom’s role as an active member of the care team by combining conversational patient engagement with trusted clinical guidance. Together, we’re helping organizations deliver more consistent symptom assessment, streamline clinical workflows and support safer, more timely interventions.”

Following each symptom-checking interaction, Tom generates a structured summary along with recommended prioritization guidance to help care teams quickly assess patient needs and determine the most appropriate next actions. The capability complements clinical workflows rather than replaces them, allowing organizations to extend support beyond traditional care settings while maintaining appropriate clinical oversight.

The partnership further advances Lumeris’ vision for Tom as an intelligent extension of the primary care team, combining AI-powered patient engagement, evidence-based clinical guidance and care team workflows to help healthcare organizations improve access, enhance patient experiences and deliver more proactive, coordinated care.

“We’re excited to partner with Lumeris to bring our gold-standard clinical triage guidance to the Tom platform,” said Patty Maynard, chief operating officer, STCC. “Together, we’re enabling healthcare organizations to deliver symptom-checking experiences that combine conversational technology with evidence-based clinical decision support, helping patients receive more consistent guidance while supporting care teams with trusted recommendations they can confidently act on.”

About Lumeris
Lumeris is a leader in healthcare technology and services advancing the future of primary care through Tom, its AI-powered Primary Care as a Service platform designed to function as a proactive member of the care team embedded directly in clinical workflows. Tom autonomously supports best next actions that help providers expand capacity, improve patient access, and reduce administrative burden while enabling more personalized, scalable care delivery. Built on more than two decades of primary care and value-based care experience, Tom reflects Lumeris’ deep experience supporting health systems and physician organizations nationwide and operating Essence Healthcare, its leading Medicare Advantage plan. Founded in 2010, Lumeris is headquartered in St. Louis and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company employs more than 1,200 engineers, clinicians, and healthcare specialists. Learn more at Lumeris.com.

About Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content
Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content (STCC) is the leading source of telehealth triage guidelines and medical call center decision support information in North America. STCC provides the most comprehensive triage and advice content, spanning the continuum of delivery: After Hours, used by hospitals, health systems and insurance companies and Office Hours, used in practices and clinics. Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content is the ‘gold standard’ in telephone triage, offering evidence-based, efficient and time-tested decision support. It is used by more than 400 health systems and health plans and an additional 10,000 physician practices. Learn more: http://www.stcc-triage.com.

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SOURCE Lumeris

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NorthRock Partners Expands Minneapolis Presence with Addition of Kowalski Financial, Strengthening National Growth Strategy

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The partnership expands NorthRock’s Personal Office® model in its hometown of Minneapolis while bringing additional expertise and resources to Kowalski Financial’s clients.

MINNEAPOLIS, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NorthRock Partners (NorthRock), a financial advice firm redefining the wealth management experience through its Personal Office® model, announced today that Kowalski Financial (Kowalski) has joined NorthRock. The partnership brings over $200 million in assets under management (AUM) and five team members, strengthening NorthRock’s growing presence in Minneapolis, MN.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, NorthRock has grown into a national advisory firm by expanding what a single client relationship can include. Its Personal Office® model builds a dedicated, customized team around each client to coordinate investments, tax, estate planning, insurance, legal, business services, and philanthropy in one place, staying alongside clients as their lives change. Each firm that joins NorthRock adds depth to that team and extends the model to more families.

Kowalski Financial brings an experienced team, a strong commitment to client relationships, and a shared belief in delivering personalized, long-term financial advice. Through this partnership, Kowalski advisors will gain access to the full depth of NorthRock’s Personal Office® specialists, expanding the advice and resources available to their clients.

“From the first conversations with Marc and the Kowalski team, it was clear they care deeply about their clients and about doing things the right way,” said Cam Rosenow, Head of Growth at NorthRock Partners. “That matters to us. This partnership is a strong fit because it brings together a team with real client relationships, a shared advice-first mindset, and the ability to plug into the depth of NorthRock’s Personal Office® model. We’re excited to welcome them into our Minneapolis office and build together from here.”

Founded in 2019, Kowalski Financial provided multidisciplinary financial planning services, including estate planning and tax services. The firm adds a talented group of advisors and professionals who share NorthRock’s commitment to helping clients navigate both financial decisions and life transitions.

“Joining NorthRock represents an exciting opportunity for our team and the clients we serve,” said Marc Kowalski, CEO at Kowalski Financial. “We have always believed that great advice starts with understanding the full picture of a client’s goals, values, and priorities. NorthRock’s Personal Office® model provides an expanded platform of expertise and resources that will allow us to continue delivering the personalized guidance our clients expect while enhancing the services available to them.”

The addition of Kowalski Financial reinforces the continued momentum behind NorthRock’s growth strategy and Personal Office® model. As advisors and families seek more coordinated approaches to wealth management, NorthRock continues to partner with firms that share its commitment to delivering customized, comprehensive advice. Furthermore, the Kowalski team will relocate to NorthRock Partners’ offices in downtown Minneapolis.

About NorthRock Partners
NorthRock Partners is a financial advice company serving more than 6,000 clients and managing over $12 billion in assets. For more than 30 years, NorthRock has placed clients’ financial and life needs at the center through its Personal Office® model. This integrated approach builds a dedicated, customized team around each advisor and enables them to coordinate all aspects of a client’s life, including investments, tax, insurance, estate, legal, business strategies, lifestyle, and philanthropy. NorthRock is recognized as one of Barron’s Top 100 RIAs in the United States. The firm also offers specialized divisions that include NorthRock X for athletes and entertainers and Foundation X for philanthropic advice and services. Learn more at www.northrockpartners.com.

Disclosures:
All investment advisory and Personal Office® services are provided by and through NorthRock Partners LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

NorthRock Partners was recognized in Barron’s Top 100 RIAs in September 2025. The ranking was determined by Barron’s using criteria including AUM growth, employee growth, proprietary data and the number of advisors considered for evaluation. NorthRock Partners did not pay a fee to be considered for or included in the ranking. Additional information regarding the ranking methodology is available from Barron’s.

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SOURCE NorthRock Partners

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Compass, Inc. to Announce Second Quarter Results on August 4

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NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Compass, Inc., d/b/a Compass International Holdings (the “Company”) (NYSE: COMP), a global real estate services company, announced its second quarter 2026 financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its results that afternoon at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT.

Call details are as follows:

The conference call and shareholder presentation will be accessible online via the Company’s Investor Relations website, https://investors.compass.com.You can also register in advance to access the live conference call at: Compass Inc. Q2 26 Earnings Conference Call.An audio recording of the conference call will be available for replay shortly after the call, for 90 days. To access the replay and shareholder presentation, visit the Events and Presentations section of the Company’s Investor Relations website.

About Compass, Inc., d/b/a Compass International Holdings

Compass, Inc., d/b/a Compass International Holdings (the “Company”) (NYSE: COMP) is a global real estate services company with a presence in every major U.S. city and approximately 120 countries and territories. Compass International Holdings serves millions of buyers and sellers through a portfolio of some of the most recognized and iconic brands: @properties, Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Christie’s International Real Estate, Coldwell Banker®, Compass, Corcoran®, ERA®, and Sotheby’s International Realty®. Every day, the Company empowers a global network of more than 300,000 real estate professionals in its owned-brokerage and franchise business to grow and deliver exceptional service to consumers.

The Company empowers real estate professionals to streamline operations and seamlessly guide clients through every phase of residential and commercial transactions, leveraging powerful tools, including its modern technology platform. In addition to brokerage services, Compass International Holdings offers integrated services, such as mortgage, title, insurance, escrow, and relocation.

The Company uses its Investor Relations website, https://investors.compass.com, to disclose information that may be of interest or material to its investors and to comply with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company’s Investor Relations website and follow the Company’s press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, webcasts, and social media.

Investor Relations Contact
Soham Bhonsle
soham.bhonsle@compass.com

Media Contact
Devin Daly Huerta
Devin.daly@compass.com

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SOURCE Compass, Inc.

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