Connect with us

Technology

New AI Capabilities in Oracle OPERA Cloud Supercharge Hotel Operations

Published

on

Embedded AI features empower associates to work more efficiently, standardize operations across properties, and elevate guest service

AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Oracle today announced Oracle OPERA Cloud Assistant, a new suite of AI-powered capabilities embedded directly within the familiar workflows of Oracle OPERA Cloud. These innovations help hoteliers automate guest room assignments, generate AI-driven rate descriptions that improve quality and consistency, and strengthen revenue management, while enabling staff to work more efficiently.

For example, instead of spending time searching through documentation or consulting a manager, associates can simply ask OPERA Cloud questions such as, “How do I run a report?” or “How do I resolve this guest issue?” to receive real-time guidance. Together with integrated AI language translation supporting global operations across 230 countries and territories, OPERA Cloud Assistant empowers associates to take action to streamline operations, and deliver better experiences to guests across regions.

All these capabilities are available today at no additional cost to OPERA Cloud customers worldwide. To see the OPERA Cloud platform in action visit HITEC booth #842 on June 15-18th.

“AI is reshaping how hotels operate and deliver great guest experiences,” said Scott Strickland, chief commercial officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Some of the most impactful innovations are those helping hoteliers make better decisions, reduce operational complexity, generate more revenue through upsells, and respond more effectively to ever-changing guest needs. With new AI capabilities embedded directly within Oracle OPERA Cloud, we’re helping franchisees and the teams that support them unlock new levels of productivity, consistency, and operational agility, all without disrupting existing workflows.”

Wyndham, one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors, currently has more than 2,100 properties running on OPERA Cloud. The addition of OPERA Cloud Assistant builds on a multi-year effort to integrate AI across the company’s ecosystem, reflecting its early focus on applying advanced technologies to help franchisees drive greater revenue and efficiencies amid a rapidly evolving hospitality landscape.

Embedded natively within existing OPERA Cloud configurations, revenue, and front desk workflows, the new AI capabilities simplify complex processes, automate routine tasks, and help hotel teams increase productivity, make faster decisions, and deliver more personalized service throughout the guest journey. By bringing AI into familiar workflows, Oracle enables hospitality organizations to accelerate productivity, standardize best practices across global operations, and improve business performance without adding separate systems, integrations, overhead, or training.

“AI has the potential to transform hotel operations when it is seamlessly integrated into associates’ daily work,” said Laura Calin, senior vice president, Oracle Consumer Industries. “With OPERA Cloud, users have a unified AI-enabled platform that streamlines operations, removes challenges, and helps staff make smarter decisions in real time. By reducing friction and automating routine tasks, hotel associates can focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional service.”

With the new OPERA Cloud AI capabilities, hoteliers can:

Empower employees with instant operational intelligence: OPERA Cloud Assistant provides hotel staff with real-time, natural-language access to operational knowledge, hotel procedures, and Oracle documentation. Whether an associate needs guidance on completing a night audit or navigating a system process, the assistant delivers immediate answers in the employee’s preferred language. This helps accelerate onboarding, reduce dependence on managers, improve productivity, and enable consistent service delivery during peak operating periods.Deliver personalized guest experiences through intelligent room assignment: AI-assisted room assignment analyzes reservation details, guest preferences, stay history, and operational parameters to recommend the most suitable room for each guest. By helping hotels better match guests with preferred room features, these recommendations can improve guest satisfaction, increase loyalty, reduce manual effort at the front desk, and enable faster, more seamless check-in experiences.Strengthen revenue optimization and pricing consistency: AI-generated rate code descriptions automatically create comprehensive, standardized rate content using package details, rate attributes, and structured inputs already available within OPERA Cloud. By improving the quality and consistency of rate information across distribution channels, hotels can enhance pricing transparency, reduce administrative effort, and support stronger revenue management practices across multi-property portfolios.Scale global operations with multilingual consistency: AI-powered translation generates ready-to-use translations for configuration descriptions and operational content, helping global hotel brands maintain consistent standards, terminology, and brand alignment across regions. These capabilities simplify global deployments and reduce the complexity of managing multilingual environments.

By combining operational intelligence, workflow automation, and AI-driven decision support within a single platform, Oracle continues to help hospitality organizations increase efficiency, improve profitability, and deliver memorable guest experiences that support long-term loyalty and revenue growth at scale.

To learn more visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.

Oracle Hospitality
Oracle technology serves independent hoteliers, global hotel chains, casinos, and cruise lines in over 230 countries and territories. Our cloud-native solutions connect the entire business from the front desk to the dining room and back office, and our customers use intuitive tools and AI insights to fuel frictionless guest experiences, maximize profitability, and encourage long-term loyalty. To learn more, please visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company–ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-ai-capabilities-in-oracle-opera-cloud-supercharge-hotel-operations-302800760.html

SOURCE Oracle

Continue Reading

Technology

COP31 in Focus: How POWERCHINA Projects Bring Clean Power to Grids and Communities Across the Globe

Published

on

By

BEIJING, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Power Construction Corporation of China (“POWERCHINA” or “the Company”) is advancing the global clean energy transition with solutions tailored to local resources, infrastructure, and electricity needs. With world leaders gathering for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20, these projects highlight practical approaches to the central challenge facing the energy transition, namely, delivering reliable clean electricity across markets with widely differing energy requirements and infrastructure capabilities.

POWERCHINA’s 2025 sustainability performance demonstrates how the Company continues to develop its international renewable energy business in partnership with local communities while incorporating environmental considerations into project development and construction.

Enhancing clean power availability in South Africa

POWERCHINA’s Total Energies Hydra Storage Project in South Africa’s Northern Cape province combines 216 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity with 588 megawatt-hours of battery storage. The system is designed to store electricity generated during daylight hours to help improve grid reliability and extend the availability of renewable power for delivery when solar production declines. The project enabled integrated electrical system commissioning by reaching a key milestone in November 2025 when its 132-kilovolt substation was energized.

Connecting wind resources to the grid in Europe

The Ivovik Wind Power Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrates the importance of connecting renewable generation to existing electricity networks. The supporting infrastructure, that includes a step-up substation and transmission lines, expands access to renewable power by enabling electricity generated from local wind resources to enter the national grid.

POWERCHINA built wind project delivers clean power from Laos to Vietnam

The 600 MW Monsoon Wind Power Project in Laos demonstrates how cross-border transmission infrastructure can connect renewable energy generation with neighboring markets. Constructed by POWERCHINA, the project achieved commercial operation at full capacity in August 2025 and now supplies wind-generated electricity to Vietnam’s national grid. The project highlights the importance of regional grid interconnection in facilitating cross-border renewable electricity trade.

Providing reliable electricity for remote communities in South America

POWERCHINA’s Suriname Village Microgrid PV Project (Phase II) combines solar generation, battery storage, and backup diesel generators to provide round-the-clock electricity. This shows how decentralized systems offer another approach when conventional grid expansion is impractical. Nine microgrid power stations supply electricity to approximately 5,000 households in 45 communities in remote areas of Suriname, with renewable energy accounting for more than 80% of electricity supply. The systems support essential services such as education, healthcare, and communications in previously underserved communities.

Beyond electricity generation, POWERCHINA also incorporates resource efficiency into construction. In Mauritania, the Company carried out the photovoltaic green energy public welfare initiative;In the Middle East, at an industrial facilities project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, treated wastewater is reused for landscaping and vegetable cultivation, reducing freshwater consumption.

Together, these projects support the broader clean energy transition highlighted by COP31 by illustrating how renewable generation, storage, transmission infrastructure, and resource management can be adapted to local conditions.

SOURCE POWERCHINA

Continue Reading

Technology

iQIYI’s “The Shadow’s Edge” Gains Further Industry Recognition as Tony Ka-fai LEUNG Wins Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards

Published

on

By

BEIJING, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On November 10, Tony Ka-fai LEUNG won Best Actor at the 39th Golden Rooster Awards for his performance in iQIYI-produced action-crime film “The Shadow’s Edge.” The award was presented at the ceremony in Xiamen, China. Earlier, “The Shadow’s Edge” received three nominations at this year’s Golden Rooster Awards, including Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

At the ceremony, the Golden Rooster Awards jury recognized LEUNG’s ability to portray the character’s complexity through both powerful action and subtle emotional expression. In his acceptance speech, LEUNG expressed his gratitude to director Larry YANG, Jackie CHAN, the Jackie Chan Stunt Team and the film’s production companies, including iQIYI, Damai Entertainment and Hairun Pictures, for their collective efforts. This also marked LEUNG’s first Golden Rooster Award in his more than 40-year acting career, following his first nomination.

Established in 1981, the Golden Rooster Awards are among China’s most prestigious film honors, recognizing outstanding achievements in filmmaking. The latest win adds to the track record of iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, in producing high-quality films, following previous Golden Rooster Awards wins and nominations for titles such as “Let Life Be Beautiful,” “Tough Out” and “Ping Pong: The Triumph.”

A Powerful Performance in a High-Stakes Action Crime Thriller

Directed by Larry YANG and starring global action star Jackie CHAN, Zifeng ZHANG and veteran Hong Kong actor Tony Ka-fai LEUNG, “The Shadow’s Edge” follows an elite law enforcement team drawn into a cat-and-mouse chase through the dynamic streets of Macao as they pursue a sophisticated criminal gang. The film pits old-school human intuition against modern high-tech surveillance.

LEUNG plays Longsheng FU, the calculating mastermind leading a crew of elusive master thieves. His performance captures the character’s contrasting sides, shifting between a sophisticated, composed appearance and ruthless personality, while delivering demanding action scenes, including a memorable one-against-30 fight sequence.

Box Office Success and International Recognition

Released theatrically in 2025, “The Shadow’s Edge” earned RMB 1.265 billion (190 million USD) at the Chinese box office and received strong audience reviews, becoming one of the year’s standout action-crime films.

The film also reached audiences in more than 30 countries and regions, ranking among Malaysia’s top 10 highest-grossing Chinese-language films of all time. It was featured in the Open Cinema section of the Busan International Film Festival and the Limelight programme of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, two major international film festivals. LEUNG also won Best Actor at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, one of Asia’s leading film honors, for the same role.

iQIYI Extends the Film’s Value from the Big Screen to Streaming

Beyond its theatrical success, “The Shadow’s Edge” continued its strong performance following its online release on iQIYI in November 2025, topping multiple viewership charts and attracting strong audience engagement. Its performance across both theatrical and streaming releases highlights iQIYI’s ability to extend the value of high-quality theatrical films through its streaming platform.

Building on the success of the first film, the iQIYI-produced sequel “The Shadow’s Edge 2” began filming in Huizhou, Guangdong, in October 2026, extending the story into its next chapter.

Through projects such as “The Shadow’s Edge,” iQIYI remains committed to producing high-quality films, supporting creative talent and bringing compelling Chinese stories to audiences in China and around the world.

Contact:
iQIYI Press
press@qiyi.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/iqiyis-the-shadows-edge-gains-further-industry-recognition-as-tony-ka-fai-leung-wins-best-actor-at-the-golden-rooster-awards-302938795.html

SOURCE iQIYI

Continue Reading

Technology

Beyond Capital Gains: Why Dividend Investing Matters in Today’s Market

Published

on

By

Amid uneven global growth, persistent inflation and market uncertainty, dividend investing offers another dimension to long-term wealth creation. For Singapore investors, understanding and planning dividend income is becoming increasingly relevant.

SINGAPORE, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 

Resilient markets, uncertain outlook

Global equity markets have experienced renewed volatility in recent weeks, as investors reassess the sustainability of AI-driven gains amid concerns over elevated valuations, corporate earnings and the substantial capital being committed to artificial intelligence. The recent sell-off in technology stocks underscores how quickly market sentiment can shift, even as AI investment remains a significant driver of economic activity.

Against this backdrop, an increasingly uneven global growth outlook, persistent inflation and interest-rate uncertainty are prompting investors to reassess how they balance growth opportunities with portfolio resilience and income generation.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) October 2026 World Economic Outlook[1], global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, with economic performance increasingly divergent across markets. Global inflation is expected to reach 4.7% in 2026, while uncertainty surrounding monetary policy and geopolitical developments continues to influence investment sentiment.

Singapore has demonstrated considerable strength, with its economy estimated to be expanding 5.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)[2]. However, MAS expects the exceptional pace of AI-related growth to moderate in the second half of 2027, highlighting the importance of remaining mindful of economic and market cycles.

“Strong market performance can sometimes mask the underlying uncertainties investors face. With global growth becoming increasingly uneven, investors need to think beyond short-term price movements,” said Gavin Chia, Chief Executive of Longbridge Securities Singapore and Regional CEO, Southeast Asia.

“Building long-term wealth is not just about identifying growth opportunities, but also understanding how different sources of returns can work together within a portfolio.”

Against this backdrop, some investors may consider dividend-paying stocks as one potential component of a broader portfolio, alongside capital appreciation.

Why dividends matter for long-term wealth creation

Dividend investing provides an additional source of potential investment returns through cash distributions from companies and funds.

Historically, dividends have contributed meaningfully to long-term equity performance. Research published by HSBC Asset Management in May 2026 found that reinvested dividends accounted for more than half of cumulative equity gains in many markets since 2000.[3] Separately, Invesco reported that dividend income represented 24% of the S&P 500’s average monthly total return between 1957 and April 2025.[4]

These findings illustrate why investors should consider total returns — combining capital appreciation and dividend income — rather than focusing exclusively on share-price movements.

“Dividend investing is often associated with generating passive income, but its value extends beyond that,” Chia explained.

“For long-term investors, reinvesting dividends can contribute meaningfully to wealth accumulation, while investors seeking cash flow may use dividends as one potential source of income, although both the amount and timing of payments can vary. The key is not to choose between growth and dividends, but to understand how both can contribute towards different financial goals.”

However, dividends are not guaranteed. Companies may reduce or suspend distributions, while high dividend yields can sometimes reflect declining share prices rather than strong fundamentals. Investors should therefore assess dividend sustainability, diversification and long-term total returns.

Why Singapore is increasingly accessible to dividend investors

Singapore offers an established universe of dividend-paying companies, particularly in banking, telecommunications and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Eligible dividends from Singapore-resident companies also generally benefit from tax exemptions for individual investors.

Recent market developments have further lowered barriers to participation.

On 5 October 2026, Singapore Exchange (SGX) reduced the minimum board-lot size for selected securities, including DBS, OCBC and UOB, from 100 shares to 10 shares.[5] For a stock trading at S$40, this reduces the minimum standard-lot investment from approximately S$4,000 to S$400, excluding transaction costs.

Meanwhile, MAS’s S$6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme aims to deepen liquidity, investment capabilities and participation in Singapore’s equities market.[6]

These developments make it easier for investors to progressively build portfolios, including holdings that generate dividend income.

Yet greater access to dividend-paying securities also raises an important question: How can investors ensure their portfolios are generating income that aligns with their financial goals?

How much capital might be needed to target S$1,000 in average monthly dividends?

For investors seeking dividend income, setting a measurable target is an important starting point.

An investor targeting S$1,000 in average monthly dividends, or S$12,000 annually, would theoretically require different amounts of capital depending on the dividend yield achieved.

The table below is purely hypothetical and for illustration only. Illustrative calculations assume constant yields and exclude applicable taxes, fees and capital fluctuations. Actual payouts are not guaranteed.

Assumed annual yield

Illustrative capital required

3 %

S$400,000

4 %

S$300,000

5 %

S$240,000

6 %

S$200,000

However, achieving a desired dividend yield is only one consideration. Investors must also understand whether distributions are sustainable, when payments are expected and how dependent their income is on individual holdings.

A portfolio generating S$12,000 annually, for example, may not distribute S$1,000 every month, as companies follow different payout schedules.

For investors holding multiple securities across markets, tracking these variables through spreadsheets and dividend announcements can become increasingly cumbersome.

The challenge is therefore shifting from simply recording dividend payments to understanding and planning future income.

From tracking dividends to planning income: Longbridge Dividend Hub

To address this need, Longbridge is introducing Dividend Hub, a feature integrated into the Longbridge investment app to help investors manage their dividend portfolios more effectively.

“For many investors, the challenge is no longer simply identifying dividend-paying stocks. It is knowing how much income their portfolio could generate, when that income might arrive, and whether they are on track to meet their financial goals,” Chia said.

“With Dividend Hub, we want to move the conversation beyond tracking historical payouts towards helping investors plan their dividend income with greater clarity and confidence.”

Dividend Hub brings together several capabilities:

Personalised dividend goals: Set annual income targets and track progress towards them.Next 12 months dividend forecasts: View forward annual dividend income based on current holdings, announced dividends and historical payout patterns.Monthly payout calendar: Understand when dividend payments are expected and identify potential cash-flow gaps – Declared payouts show confirmed amounts as soon as they’re announced, while estimated payouts are clearly labelled as projections.Top-contributor insights: Identify which securities contribute the greatest share of portfolio dividend income.AI-assisted gap analysis: Assess the difference between projected dividend income and financial goals, with insights to support investment planning.Payout Tracker: Track every milestone of the dividend lifecycle, from declaration and ex-dividend date to record date, payment date, and final receipt, in one place so investors can ditch their spreadsheet.

Because Dividend Hub is integrated into the Longbridge brokerage platform, dividend records and projections can update alongside portfolio changes and company announcements, reducing manual tracking.

The feature will be available free to Longbridge account holders and support dividend-paying stocks and ETFs listed in Singapore, the United States and Hong Kong. Future dividend projections are estimates, not guaranteed payments.

Why the time to start is now

Time in market allows reinvested dividends more time to compound, though this does not guarantee a positive outcome. For dividend investors, time matters because dividends that are reinvested have longer to compound.

Singapore equities have pulled back from recent highs[7], yet many established Singapore-listed companies continue to show sound fundamentals and long track records of paying dividends. Lower prices may result in higher dividend yields for new purchases, although investors should assess whether a higher yield reflects sustainable payouts rather than a weakening business, as past dividends do not guarantee future payments.

Getting started has also become more accessible. With SGX’s smaller board lots, recurring buy now available for Singapore stocks on Longbridge Singapore, and Dividend Hub to track progress towards an income target, investors can build dividend positions gradually and track progress towards their income goals.

For many, dividend income is tied to personal milestones: a parent setting aside funds towards a child’s university education, or a working professional building a supplementary income stream for retirement in 15 years. Starting early, even with modest amounts, allows more time for potential compounding effects.

Towards more informed dividend investing

As financial markets evolve, investors need to consider not only how their portfolios may appreciate in value, but also how those investments can contribute towards broader financial objectives.

Dividend investing is neither a substitute for growth investing nor an inherently lower-risk strategy. Instead, it provides another potential source of returns that can complement long-term wealth accumulation.

By bringing dividend tracking, income forecasting and goal-setting into one platform, Longbridge Dividend Hub aims to help investors adopt a more structured, forward-looking approach to managing dividend income.

Ultimately, successful dividend investing is not simply about collecting payouts, but understanding how those payouts contribute towards achieving long-term financial goals.

Access Longbridge Dividend Hub here.

Frequently asked questions

What is dividend investing?

Dividend investing involves owning shares or funds that distribute income to investors. Dividends can be reinvested for potential compounding or used as a source of cash flow.

How can I forecast future dividend income?

Investors can estimate future dividends using declared distributions and historical payout patterns. Longbridge Dividend Hub automates dividend projections for the next 12 months based on portfolio holdings, although estimated payouts are not guaranteed until officially declared by the company.

What is Longbridge Dividend Hub?

Longbridge Dividend Hub is a free, dividend-planning feature directly integrated into the investor’s portfolio page that helps investors set income goals, forecast payouts, track dividend schedules and assess their progress using AI-assisted insights.

“First Dividend Hub” refers to the first MAS-licensed, retail-facing brokerage in Singapore to launch a native, centralised in-app feature that combines historical dividend tracking, forward dividend income projections based on users’ holdings, and dividend income goal-setting with progress tracking in one dedicated experience. This claim is based on our review of 20 in-scope brokerages, assessed through hands-on app testing and official sources, as of 25 September 2026.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Projected and past dividends are not indicative of future payouts. Views attributed to Gavin Chia, Chief Executive of Longbridge Securities Singapore and Regional CEO.

[1] International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, October 2026: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2026/10/13/world-economic-outlook-october-2026

[2] Monetary Authority of Singapore, Monetary Policy Statement, October 2026: https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/monetary-policy-statements/2026/mas-monetary-policy-statement-14oct26

[3] HSBC Asset Management, Equity Insights, April 2026: https://www.assetmanagement.hsbc.com.sg/en/institutional-client/news-and-insights/equity-insights-april-2026

[4] Invesco, “Dividends and Capital Appreciation: Understanding Total Return”: https://www.invesco.com/us/en/insights/dividends-and-capital-appreciation-understanding-total-return.html

[5] Singapore Exchange (SGX), Securities Trading: https://www.sgx.com/stock-exchange/trading

[6] Monetary Authority of Singapore, “MAS Appoints Third Batch of EQDP Asset Managers” (2026): https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/2026/mas-appoints-third-batch-of-eqdp-asset-managers

[7] The Straits Times Index crossed the 5,000 mark for the first time in 2026. Source: The Straits Times, “Straits Times Index crosses 5,000 mark for the first time”: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/straits-times-index-crosses-5000-mark-for-the-first-time

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/beyond-capital-gains-why-dividend-investing-matters-in-todays-market-302938802.html

SOURCE Longbridge

Continue Reading

Trending