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Cruise Passengers Are Meeting Before They Sail: The Rise of Pre-Cruise Social Networking

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Cruise-focused social network CruiseHuddle has noticed travelers starting their cruises while still on land.

MIAMI, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As cruise travel continues to grow, a new trend is quietly reshaping how passengers experience their vacations: travelers are increasingly connecting with fellow cruisers before they ever step onboard.

For decades, the social side of cruising began at sail-away parties, pool decks, dining rooms, and shore excursions. Today, many passengers are arriving at the terminal already connected with fellow travelers through online cruise communities.

Rather than relying solely on chance encounters once onboard, cruisers are using specialized communities to identify passengers on the same sailing, organize meetups, share travel advice, coordinate excursions, and establish friendships before embarkation day.

One platform benefiting from this shift is CruiseHuddle, a cruise-focused social network that has attracted more than 119,000 registrations since launch.

“One of the biggest surprises has been how many people simply want to meet others before their cruise,” said Jay Kuberski, co-founder of CruiseHuddle. “Many members are looking for friends, dining companions, excursion partners, or people to explore ports with. The social aspect of cruising is becoming just as important as the destinations themselves.”

While sailing-specific Facebook groups have existed for years, dedicated cruise communities are expanding the concept by allowing travelers to search for their exact sailing, connect directly with fellow passengers, participate in voyage discussions, and build relationships before departure.

Unlike traditional social networks or dating apps, cruise communities are organized around a common real-world experience. Members already know they share a ship, itinerary, departure date, and vacation plans, creating a natural foundation for conversation.

For many passengers, the benefits extend beyond socializing. Travelers frequently use cruise communities to exchange tips, coordinate shore excursions, organize meetups, discuss dining plans, and navigate the cruise experience together.

The result is a vacation that begins long before embarkation day.

“When we started CruiseHuddle, we thought we were solving a problem for ourselves,” Kuberski said. “We wanted an easier way to find people on our own cruises. What we’ve discovered is that thousands of travelers feel exactly the same way. People don’t necessarily want another dating app or another social network. They want to know who they’re sailing with before they board.”

As cruise travel continues to evolve, pre-cruise social networking is emerging as a meaningful part of the modern cruise experience. What was once limited to onboard encounters is increasingly beginning online, transforming how travelers meet, connect, and build relationships at sea.

“The future of cruising isn’t just about where you go,” Kuberski added. “It’s about who you meet before you get there.”

For a growing number of travelers, the journey no longer begins at the port.

It begins with the people they meet before they sail.

About CruiseHuddle

CruiseHuddle is a social networking platform designed specifically for cruise travelers. Members can locate their sailing, connect with fellow passengers, participate in voyage discussions, coordinate activities, and build relationships before embarkation day. Since launch, CruiseHuddle has attracted more than 119,000 registrations from travelers worldwide.

Media Contact:
Jessica Kuberski
+1(303) 406-6200
417548@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cruise-passengers-are-meeting-before-they-sail-the-rise-of-pre-cruise-social-networking-302810608.html

SOURCE CruiseHuddle

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ClaimAngel and SmartAdvocate Launch The First One Click Legal Funding Experience For Plaintiff Firms

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Integration gives all SmartAdvocate firms one workflow for plaintiff funding, case updates, and live payoffs, with access to multiple vetted funders and ClaimAngel’s 27.8% simple annual rate capped at 2x.

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ClaimAngel today announced the launch of its integration with SmartAdvocate, the case management platform used by more than 20,000 legal professionals nationwide.

Consumer legal funding has always carried practical and ethical tensions: clients need money to get by while their case is pending, and firms need a funding process they can trust, explain, and monitor. The problem with the funding industry has always been its exorbitant rates and archaic processes.

That changes now. This first-of-its-kind integration breaks that decades-old mold by bringing legal funding directly into SmartAdvocate, allowing firms to digitally request funding, track case updates, and manage live payoffs. This integration simplifies the entire funding process and promotes a seamless experience for law firms.

“Funding should help lawyers to maximize their client’s recovery, it should be efficient, ethical and affordable,” said Jeremy Alters, CEO of ClaimAngel. “ClaimAngel gives firms a transparent, standardized process they can trust: multiple vetted funders, the lowest set rate in the industry, and every request, update, and payoff tracked inside the case file.”

“We’re pleased to welcome ClaimAngel as a SmartAdvocate integration partner. We are committed to providing law firms with access to innovative, trusted technology solutions that enhance the way they serve their clients. This integration expands the options available to firms by connecting ClaimAngel’s funding platform directly within SmartAdvocate, helping firms manage key case-related activities from a single platform.” – Allison Rampolla, SVP of Sales & Marketing, SmartAdvocate

Since launching in 2023, ClaimAngel has facilitated more than $130 million across more than 27,000 fundings for over 700 law firms in more than 40 states. ClaimAngel is now available to all SmartAdvocate firms. ClaimAngel is listed in the SmartAdvocate integration partner directory under Funding.

About ClaimAngel

ClaimAngel is the standard and infrastructure consumer legal funding has been missing: a set rate, a marketplace, and embedded workflows inside the systems plaintiff firms already use. ClaimAngel operates a transparent marketplace where more than 25 vetted funders compete at a 27.8% simple rate, capped at 2x, and owed only if the case succeeds. Learn more at https://claimangel.com.

About SmartAdvocate

SmartAdvocate is a fully customizable, award-winning case management software used by more than 20,000 legal professionals.The platform helps attorneys and legal staff manage cases, documents, communications, reporting, and firm operations in a single, unified system. SmartAdvocate’s innovation strategy is built-in SmartIntelligence™AI-powered features that help firms improve intake, automate document-intensive processes, enhance communications, and gain deeper insight from case data. With more than 175 integrations, SmartAdvocate combines innovative technology with personal support to help law firms operate more efficiently and achieve stronger outcomes.

For more information visit https://www.smartadvocate.com/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/claimangel-and-smartadvocate-launch-the-first-one-click-legal-funding-experience-for-plaintiff-firms-302810996.html

SOURCE ClaimAngel

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From boots to bookings: Mastercard insights show where Calgary Stampede drives meaningful lift for local businesses

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The Mastercard Economics Institute shows restaurants, retail and accommodations are among the biggest beneficiaries.

CALGARY, AB, June 25, 2026 /CNW/ – New insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) show the Calgary Stampede does more than draw crowds, it sets Calgary’s economy in motion even before the gates open, from last-minute retail runs ahead of opening weekend to surging restaurant demand and early hotel bookings downtown.

Using aggregated and anonymized spending insights from 2025, alongside travel trends through bookings made by the end of May 2026 with departure dates from June 29 through July 12 for Calgary International Airport, MEI examined how economic activity around the Calgary Stampede compared with expected baseline levels without the event.

MEI estimates that the 2025 Calgary Stampede generated an approximate 18 per cent lift in spending at local merchants relative to baseline, with restaurants experiencing one of the strongest lifts at roughly 29 per cent. Retail spending also surged ahead of opening weekend, while accommodation demand built early, especially in downtown Calgary.

The data reveals a clear pattern: Stampede’s economic impact builds in waves. Retail spending jumps before the festivities begin, as Calgarians and visitors prepare for the week ahead. Dining demand remains elevated through the event, and accommodation spend is front-loaded into the first few days as visitors arrive and settle in. Together, the insights show that Stampede is not just busy, it is an engine of local spending in ways that are visible across time, place and category.

The spending story is also being shaped by international interest in Stampede. Preliminary booking data suggests international travel tied to Stampede is up year over year in 2026, with some of the strongest international growth coming from the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Australia.

“The Calgary Stampede is a great example of how a cultural moment can also be a major economic catalyst,” said Benjamin Jacob, Senior Vice President, Services, Mastercard, Canada. “For local businesses, success during Stampede is not just about being busy, it is about being ready. Insights like these can help businesses better anticipate demand and make smarter decisions around staffing and inventory during one of Calgary’s most important economic moments.”

“While the Calgary Stampede is a cultural and recreational highlight for our city, it is also a key opportunity to showcase Calgary on the global stage. The 10-day event reflects the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and community pride that defines Calgary, while attracting visitors from around the world,” said Melanie McDonald, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Engagement, Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Generating an estimated $664 million in economic activity in Calgary in 2025, the Stampede provides a significant boost to restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment venues, coffee shops, retailers and many other local businesses across the city. It is also a time when Calgary’s business community comes together to strengthen relationships and celebrate the spirit of collaboration that supports the city’s continued growth.”

The insights show how Stampede spending unfolds across the city:

MEI estimates that the 2025 Calgary Stampede drove a roughly 18 per cent lift in overall spending at local merchants relative to expected baseline without the event.Restaurants saw some of the strongest lift in spend, approximately 29 per cent, underscoring the role dining plays in the Stampede experience.Retail spending surged on the Thursday ahead of opening weekend, as consumers prepared for Stampede festivities.Accommodation demand built early, with the strongest lift concentrated downtown in the first few days of the event.Among international markets tied to Stampede travel in 2026, the United States accounts for roughly one-third of all bookings.Travel bookings are up year over year from international markets, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain and Australia.  

The insights also show that economic value is not evenly distributed. Spending patterns varied by sector, location and timing, with some of the strongest lifts concentrated in areas closest to the Stampede grounds and in experience-led categories such as dining and accommodations.

As businesses navigate a more complex economic environment, understanding those patterns matters. Through the Mastercard Economics Institute and its economic solutions, Mastercard helps businesses, governments and partners decode what is happening in the real economy using anonymized spending insights to help them plan with greater confidence and act on emerging opportunities.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

SOURCE Mastercard Canada

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Days After Launch, Attunio Health Expands Precision Psychiatry Infrastructure with Quest Diagnostics and Getlabs

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Quest Diagnostics and Getlabs strengthen Attunio’s AI-powered, biomarker-driven infrastructure with blood and genetic testing from home

ATLANTA, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Just days after publicly launching its AI-powered precision psychiatry platform and gaining early media attention, Attunio Health announced a major expansion of its clinical infrastructure by selecting Quest Diagnostics as its national laboratory backbone and integrating Getlabs for at-home blood collection.

The announcement marks another significant milestone in Attunio’s rapid growth as the company builds what it believes is the future of mental healthcare: continuous, objective, data-driven care powered by artificial intelligence, biomarkers, and real-world patient signals.

While traditional psychiatry has long relied on subjective symptom reporting, episodic visits, and trial-and-error medication management, Attunio is building a fundamentally different model.

The firm’s system merges:

Clinical insights provided through artificial intelligence.

Physiological information collected by devices worn on the human body.

Examination of blood biomarkers

Examination of genetic material.

The observation of behavior.

Medical professional-directed therapy enhancement.

This infrastructure powers what Attunio calls Closed-Loop Precision Psychiatry™ — a model in which psychiatric treatment is continuously informed by evolving biological and behavioral data rather than limited to occasional appointments.

With Quest Diagnostics serving as Attunio’s national laboratory backbone, the platform can support scalable access to advanced diagnostic testing across the United States.

These diagnostic capabilities help clinicians identify biological contributors to mental health impairment, including:

Impaired metabolic function

Persistent inflammation

Lack of essential vitamins and nutrients.

A state of disrupted hormonal equilibrium.

Drug processing and indicators of safety.

Measures of neurobiological performance

Attunio has also integrated Getlabs to enable blood and genetic testing from home, allowing certified mobile phlebotomists to travel directly to patients’ homes or workplaces for specimen collection.

This dramatically reduces friction in diagnostic testing and makes biomarker-driven psychiatric care more accessible to patients nationwide.

By combining diagnostic testing with wearable data and AI analysis, Attunio aims to help clinicians answer critical questions traditional psychiatric visits often cannot:

Is declining focus caused by ADHD progression or poor sleep?

Is worsening anxiety linked to physiological stress or metabolic dysfunction?

Is medication underperforming due to biology, genetics, or adherence?

Can deterioration be detected before a patient reaches crisis?

As interest accelerates around AI in healthcare, digital biomarkers, and precision medicine, Attunio is positioning itself at the intersection of psychiatry, diagnostics, and artificial intelligence.

The company believes mental healthcare must evolve beyond reactive care.

The future, Attunio says, will be:

Predictive. Measurable. Personalized.

This latest infrastructure expansion builds on Attunio’s recent launch, which introduced a new model of behavioral healthcare centered on wearable data, biomarker analysis, and AI-powered clinical intelligence designed to improve outcomes for conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and cognitive burnout.

About Attunio Health

“Attunio Health is deeply committed to advancing health and wellness, striving to deliver innovative solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives every day. Our dedication extends beyond mere treatment, focusing on proactive care and fostering healthier communities across the region and beyond.” To learn more visit https://www.attuniohealth.com/marketplace

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/days-after-launch-attunio-health-expands-precision-psychiatry-infrastructure-with-quest-diagnostics-and-getlabs-302811003.html

SOURCE Attunio Health

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