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Wego Partners with Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to Transform the Digital Umrah Experience

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Wego continues to advance digital innovation in Umrah services and is among the first platforms to enable electronic Umrah visa issuance, helping simplify the pilgrimage journey for travelers worldwide

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to introduce a fully integrated digital platform designed to enhance and simplify the Umrah journey for pilgrims worldwide.

This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing Saudi Arabia’s vision of delivering a seamless, digitally enabled pilgrimage experience. By bringing together Wego’s leading travel technology and extensive regional reach with the Kingdom’s trusted network of licensed Umrah service providers, the platform offers pilgrims a streamlined, end-to-end booking experience.

Wego continues to play a leading role in digital innovation within pilgrimage services, as among the platforms enabled to facilitate Umrah visa requests digitally, reinforcing its commitment to simplifying the travel experience for pilgrims worldwide.

Through a single, intuitive flow, travelers can access flight bookings, verified hotel bookings, licensed ground services, and facilitated Umrah visa request submissions, ensuring a more transparent, efficient, and reliable journey from planning to arrival. All visa issuance is conducted by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A Seamless, End-to-End Pilgrim Journey

The new platform is designed to redefine how Umrah services are accessed and delivered. Wego will leverage its expertise in travel search, payments, and digital distribution to manage marketing, sales, and customer transactions, while trusted, licensed Umrah service providers focus on delivering high-quality, on-ground services.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plays a key regulatory and supervisory role in overseeing the Umrah ecosystem, ensuring compliance, quality standards, and a consistent experience for pilgrims, while licensed operators are responsible for service delivery and operational execution.

This model enhances operational efficiency while ensuring consistency and accountability across the entire pilgrim experience. All transactions are securely processed in Saudi Riyals at the time of booking, reinforcing transparency and eliminating unexpected on-ground costs.

Commenting on the partnership, Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: “Through our collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, we are enabling a more seamless and transparent Umrah journey powered by technology. By integrating flights, facilitated visa request processes, verified accommodations, and licensed ground services into one unified platform, we are enhancing the overall pilgrim experience while creating new growth opportunities for Umrah service providers across Saudi Arabia.”

Tailored Experiences for Every Pilgrim

The platform introduces three thoughtfully designed service tiers, allowing pilgrims to choose experiences that best match their needs and preferences.

Essential: Core services including airport reception and dedicated on-ground support.Standard: Enhanced convenience with intercity transportation between key locations such as Makkah and Madinah.Premium: A more personalized journey featuring private transfers, curated sightseeing experiences, and round-the-clock support.

Each service tier is carefully curated to meet Wego’s quality benchmarks, ensuring pilgrims receive reliable, high-value options at every step of their journey.

Enhanced Transparency and Traveler Protection

To further strengthen trust and reliability, the platform incorporates clear consumer protection policies, including flexible booking modifications and refund eligibility under defined conditions. These measures are designed to provide peace of mind while maintaining operational efficiency for service providers.

Additionally, multilingual support capabilities and dedicated customer service channels ensure accessibility for pilgrims from diverse global markets, reinforcing Wego’s commitment to inclusivity and service excellence.

Empowering the Umrah Ecosystem

As part of this initiative, Wego is inviting qualified Umrah service providers to participate in the platform, creating a scalable and competitive marketplace that supports the growth of Saudi Arabia’s pilgrimage sector.

The platform www.wego.com/umrah will be ready for launch in June 2026, aligning with the beginning of the Umrah season and enabling pilgrims to plan and book their journeys with greater ease and confidence.

About Wego

Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Combining a dynamic travel marketplace with on-platform bookings, Wego enables travelers to easily search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies. Beyond its B2C marketplace, Wego also operates WegoPro, a next-generation business travel platform, and WegoBeds, a MENA-focused bedbank. The company is backed by Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group, and Arqaam Capital, and is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai with offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

For more information, visit www.wego.com

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MEDIA ADVISORY -Terrestar Solutions highlights how satellite infrastructure and Hybrid IoT unlock economic growth at CRRBC 2026

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SASKATOON, SK, Nov. 2, 2026 /CNW/ — Terrestar Solutions Inc., Canada’s only domestically headquartered and controlled mobile satellite service operator, will participate in the upcoming Canada’s Rural & Remote Broadband Community Conference & Expo (CRRBC 2026) in Saskatoon from November 2–3, 2026.

During the conference, Stéphane Miljours, Director, Business Product – IoT at Terrestar Solutions, will participate in a panel session titled “Space as Infrastructure: Driving Sovereign Connectivity and New Revenue Growth in Canada’s North.”

Miljours will address how satellite-enabled Hybrid IoT technology can unlock economic opportunities across Canada. By providing seamless connectivity beyond conventional terrestrial networks, Terrestar’s solution enables resource and regional industries–including mining, forestry, utilities, energy, and agriculture–to transform remote field operations, optimize productivity, and drive sustainable growth through data-driven intelligence.

At the conference, Terrestar Solutions is also pleased to showcase its partnership with Toccata, a Saskatchewan-based full-stack data technology company that builds remote monitoring solutions. Terrestar’s Hybrid IoT solution powers Toccata’s Canaro remote monitoring platform, which makes it easy for non-technical operators and their teams to monitor remote infrastructure, properties and facilities.

Toccata’s CEO and founder, Noah Little, will also be in attendance and available for media interviews.

Event Details:

Event: Canada’s Rural & Remote Broadband Community Conference & Expo (CRRBC 2026)Speaker: Stéphane Miljours, Director, Business Product – IoT, Terrestar SolutionsPanel Session: Space as Infrastructure: Driving Sovereign Connectivity and New Revenue Growth in Canada’s NorthDate & Time: November 3, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. CSTLocation: Delta Hotels Saskatoon Downtown

Spokesperson Availability:

Stéphane Miljours and Noah Little will be available for pre-event (phone/virtual) and on-site 1-on-1 interviews to discuss:

Unlocking economic growth with satellite-cellular Hybrid IoT innovation.Hybrid IoT pilot deployments in real-world environments, such as Twinberry Farms.Terrestar’s collaboration with local Saskatoon partner Toccata on the Canaro remote monitoring platform.

SOURCE Terrestar Solutions Inc.

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Virginia Ranked Top 5 State in Nation for Innovation & Research Ecosystem by Area Development

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National ranking builds on record growth across Virginia’s innovation ecosystem. 

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) announced today that Virginia has been ranked #5 in the country for “Innovation and Research Ecosystem” in Area Development’s 2026 Top States for Doing Business report. This latest recognition follows Virginia’s Top 10 national ranking (#6) for “Technology & Innovation” in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business study and builds on record growth across Virginia’s statewide innovation ecosystem during the past five years. VIPC serves as the Commonwealth’s nonprofit economic development authority dedicated to growing Virginia’s innovation ecosystems through public-private partnership.

Area Development is a leading executive publication covering corporate site selection and business investment. Its 16th annual Top States for Doing Business rankings are based on a survey of expert industry consultants who evaluated states across 20 categories. “Innovation and Research Ecosystem” was Virginia’s second-highest ranked category. Virginia ranked #8 overall nationally, including #1 for “Workforce Training Programs.”

“Virginia has cultivated a robust ecosystem that connects innovation, talent, and capital, enabling businesses of all sizes to build and grow in the Commonwealth,” said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie H. Chenery. “Through collaboration with Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation and statewide partners, we are helping researchers and entrepreneurs transform ideas into companies that create thriving communities, good jobs, and create opportunities for all Virginians.”

Over the past five years, Virginia’s innovation ecosystem has accelerated, achieving record growth milestones across university research, high-growth startup formation, and venture capital investment. Annual university research expenditures in Virginia have increased more than 40% during this period, outpacing the national growth rate and climbing to an all-time high of $2.6 billion. Over 25,000 new high-growth startups have launched throughout the Commonwealth since 2020, representing a record five-year cumulative total. Venture capital investment in Virginia startups and early-stage technology companies has also nearly doubled since 2020, reaching a record-high $2.9 billion in 2025.

“Virginia is where innovation thrives, and our Top 5 national ranking reflects the tremendous momentum across our innovation ecosystem,” said Joe Benevento, President and CEO of VIPC. “This shared success is driven by collaboration with partners throughout the Commonwealth, united by a vision to make Virginia the best place to launch, grow, and thrive.”

Virginia is continuing to innovate. Last year, VIPC created Lab-to-Launch, a unique statewide collaboration with Virginia’s leading R1 and R2 research universities to accelerate research commercialization, technology transfer, and startup spinouts. Designed to simplify and streamline technology transfer, Virginia’s Lab-to-Launch offers a faster, easier, and less costly pathway for licensing university intellectual property (IP) and advancing innovation into the marketplace. This new initiative aims to help Virginia universities double their annual technology startup spinouts.

About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) serves as the Commonwealth’s nonprofit statewide economic development authority dedicated to growing Virginia’s innovation ecosystems through public-private partnership. For more information, visit www.VIPC.org.

CONTACT:

 Amber Salter
804-591-9591
Amber.Salter@VirginiaIPC.org

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SOURCE VIPC

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HelloNation Article Highlights Downsizing Strategies From Real Estate Experts Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm

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The article explains how long-time homeowners and seniors can prepare emotionally and financially for a successful move.

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When is the right time for long-time homeowners or seniors to consider downsizing? A HelloNation article offers a clear, thoughtful guide to when and how to make this critical life transition.

In the feature, New Philadelphia-based real estate professionals Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm, of Holly & Rich Grimm at REMAX Crossroads, offer practical advice to help seniors sell their homes or prepare to downsize. The article highlights the emotional and logistical challenges that often accompany selling a family home and outlines how homeowners can approach the process with confidence and clarity.

For many longtime homeowners, downsizing isn’t just about reducing space. It’s about finding a living arrangement that better matches current needs. The HelloNation article reframes downsizing as rightsizing, a mindset shift that helps lessen the emotional weight of the decision. This approach encourages homeowners to focus less on what they’re leaving behind and more on how they want to live going forward.

The article explains that preparing for downsizing is most effective when started early and approached gradually. Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm emphasize that signs often emerge over time—whether in unused rooms, maintenance issues, or daily tasks that become more tiring. Recognizing these signs can prompt meaningful conversations and reduce the chance of rushed decisions later.

Seniors selling a home often face the added challenge of emotional attachment. Memories and family history tied to a house can make moving overwhelming. The HelloNation feature suggests breaking the process into small steps, starting with organizing storage areas and sorting personal items in manageable sessions. This helps long-time homeowners see progress without feeling burdened.

One key recommendation from the article is to engage in open conversations with family members early in the process. Discussing plans, financial concerns, and future goals helps align expectations and avoid misunderstandings. For seniors selling a home, these discussions also help ensure their wishes remain central to the plan, rather than being shaped by outside pressure.

From a practical standpoint, preparing a property for sale begins long before a home is listed. According to the article, addressing basic maintenance, minor repairs, and cosmetic updates can significantly improve the home’s market performance. This not only improves the sales experience but also allows homeowners to move at a pace that feels right for them.

Working with experienced real estate agents, such as Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm, can provide clarity throughout this process. With a strong understanding of New Philadelphia’s local market, these professionals help clients navigate every stage, from determining the right time to move to assessing financial readiness. Their insight supports thoughtful decision-making and reduces uncertainty for those preparing to downsize.

Financial planning is another significant component of rightsizing. As the HelloNation article notes, seniors selling a home benefit from understanding how the sale will affect their overall financial situation. This includes considerations around retirement income, future housing costs, and long-term care. Having a strategy in place creates a smoother path toward a new chapter in life.

Ultimately, the article’s message is clear: downsizing a home should never be a rushed or reactive decision. By starting early and focusing on emotional, physical, and financial readiness, long-time homeowners can view the process as a step toward greater comfort and security.

Downsizing or Rightsizing Your Home: A Practical Guide for Long-Time Homeowners and Seniors features insights from Holly Abel Grimm and Rich Grimm, real estate experts at Holly & Rich Grimm at REMAX Crossroads in New Philadelphia, OH, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hellonation-article-highlights-downsizing-strategies-from-real-estate-experts-holly-abel-grimm-and-rich-grimm-302922176.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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