US Job Growth Beats Expectations in February as Economy Still Hot

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The numbers, which saw the unemployment rate tick up, bring slight relief after January’s hiring surge but also indicate the economy remains hotter than hoped

The United States added more jobs than expected in February — though fewer than the previous month — government data showed Friday, suggesting policymakers have more to do to cool down the world’s biggest economy.

The numbers, which saw the unemployment rate tick up, bring slight relief after January’s hiring surge but also indicate the economy remains hotter than hoped.

Employers added 311,000 jobs last month, down from a revised 504,000 figure in January, the Labor Department said. The jobless rate went up slightly to 3.6 percent, from a low last seen in the late 1960s.

The numbers come days after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that the US central bank is prepared to speed up the pace of its interest rate hikes and could lift rates higher than anticipated if needed to rein in stubborn inflation.

“Today’s job numbers is clear. Our economy is moving in the right direction,” President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday.

He added that with inflation easing, he felt “confident that we’re headed in the right direction” on this front as well.

The Labor Department said “notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, government, and health care.”

Meanwhile, employment slipped in the information sector and in transportation and warehousing, the report added.

Average hourly earnings picked up by 0.2 percent to $33.09 in February, with the pace of growth decelerating. From a year ago, earnings were up 4.6 percent.

 

Potential shift

 Asked how to reconcile February’s job growth and rise in unemployment, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday pointed to a slight increase in the labor force participation rate.

She noted that the rates for both adult men and women have exceeded their pre-pandemic highs, helping to address supply and demand imbalances in the labor market.

“What we’re seeing here is a continued, very strong labor market, putting Americans back to work,” Yellen said in testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Friday’s numbers suggest the labor market “remains strong with the economy still creating jobs at a rapid pace,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics.

“But a rise in the unemployment rate and softer wage growth suggest a potential adjustment in conditions,” she added in a note.

Although indicators had suggested the economy might be cooling, after eight Fed rate hikes since early last year to lower inflation, data released last month raised fears that the central bank would have to do more in the coming days.

“A resilient labor market coupled with sticky inflation suggests the Fed will continue to move rates higher over coming meetings,” Farooqi said.

 

Rate hikes likely  

The report will not stop the Fed from hiking interest rates further when policymakers meet later this month, said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

But “it does lower the odds of a 50 basis points increase,” he said.

While he believes a further hike in May is still likely, Shepherdson added that wage growth is “headed to a sustainable pace” and might already be there.

The Fed announced a 25 basis points rate hike in February, tempering its pace after an earlier 50 basis points rise, fueling optimism it was approaching the end of a cycle of rate increases.

The central bank has been closely eyeing the job market, with labor demand exceeding the supply of available workers and companies looking to keep staff they may have struggled to hire during the pandemic.

While unemployment is typically seen to rise as interest rates increase and borrowing costs go up, the jobless rate had hovered at historically low levels in recent months.

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United States, EU Agree to Start Talks on Critical Minerals Amid Trade Tensions

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Biden’s IRA, a $430bln law that offers massive subsidies for U.S.-made products and is aimed at addressing the climate crisis and promoting renewable energy, has prompted European anger. EU officials say allies should stick together and form a common front against bigger threats from China

Amid trade frictions between the United States and the European Union, President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on Friday that the two sides would launch talks on critical minerals used for electric vehicles.

Biden and von der Leyen met at the White House against a backdrop of European complaints that clean energy subsidies in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and others will divert investment away from Europe and hurt their economies. The war in Ukraine was also a major agenda item.

Biden’s IRA, a $430 billion law that offers massive subsidies for U.S.-made products and is aimed at addressing the climate crisis and promoting renewable energy, has prompted European anger. EU officials say allies should stick together and form a common front against bigger threats from China.

The Biden administration has sought to address European concerns while sticking to the core tenets of the law, which represented a major domestic political victory for Biden upon its passage.

In a joint statement after their meeting, the two leaders said they intended to “immediately begin negotiations on a targeted critical minerals agreement” to ensure that minerals extracted or processed in the EU would count for clean vehicle tax credits under the IRA law.

“This kind of agreement would further our shared goals of boosting our mineral production and processing and expanding access to sources of critical minerals that are sustainable, trusted, and free of labor abuses,” they said in the statement. “Cooperation is also necessary to reduce unwanted strategic dependencies in these supply chains, and to ensure that they are diversified and developed with trusted partners.”

Speaking in the Oval Office at the start of the meeting, both Biden and von der Leyen underlined the strength of their partnership, and the unified support for Ukraine and efforts to hold Russia accountable for its invasion.

“We are not only partners, the European Union and the United States are good friends,” von der Leyen said, highlighting U.S. support for Europe in finding alternate energy supplies so EU members could reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

“We supported Europe’s energy security,” Biden said. “And at the same time, we’re driving new investments to create clean energy industries and jobs, and make sure we have supply chains available to both … our continents.”

The European Commission last month presented its Green Deal Industrial Plan in response to the U.S. IRA law, with increased levels of state aid to help Europe compete as a manufacturing hub for clean tech products.

Biden said the idea of driving investments and securing supply chains underpinned both measures.

Jake Colvin, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, a corporate lobby group, urged the White House to raise U.S. industry concerns on what he called a “discriminatory digital sovereignty agenda” aimed at undermining U.S. companies.

“A level transatlantic playing field is critical but that has to go both ways, he said. “The White House needs to step up and underscore the need for American companies to be regulated in the same manner as their European counterparts when operating on the other side of the Atlantic.”

During a December visit by France’s President Emmanuel Macron to the White House, Biden said that bills aimed at boosting U.S. renewable energy and the semiconductor industry have “glitches” that can be addressed.

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Cost Management in Construction: An Overview

One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to a construction project is trying to ensure that it comes in on or under budget. To this end, cost management is imperative. Looking for ways to ensure efficiency can really make a huge difference in terms of ensuring that the project sticks to the budget but also the timeline too. Refining your cost management processes is key because it affects all areas of the project and, therefore, your bottom line too. Keep reading to learn more.

Cost Management Explained

Realistically, cost management is arguably pretty straightforward. In terms of the construction industry, cost management refers to all financial processes that surround a project and ensure that it comes in on or under budget. It allows management staff to set out their expectations in terms of costs versus returns and keep the job on track. It is relevant to all stages of construction, from the initial planning and design stages right through until the project is finished and delivered to the public or to its ultimate purpose, whatever that may be. Cost management isn’t always easy, especially for newer businesses that perhaps don’t have the experience or the skills to carry out these tasks. Luckily there are tools that you can take advantage of. For example, Kahua have this software which is designed to streamline cost management processes and make things easier for you.

The Effect of Poor Cost Management

Subpar cost management practices can have a number of knock-on effects on your construction businesses. There is a higher risk of errors occurring, which can be incredibly detrimental to the project and also the business as a whole. There is also more likely to be a disconnect between the data and the different users needing access. Inaccuracies are also more common. In short, poor cost management directly translates into wasted resources, which means delays for the project as well as the likelihood of going over budget.

Cost Management Tips

In addition to looking for tools to help, there are a few other tips that can help you in your endeavour to improve your cost management processes. Firstly, you should always do your best to be accurate in any cost estimates from the beginning. Creating realistic estimates does take time and research because you need to learn more about the project and what it will require to be completed. Try to work out what, if any, the potential risks to the project are. The issues that you could face that could delay or derail the project will obviously affect your budget and, therefore, your bottom line. Working out contingency plans can help to ensure that if you do experience issues that, you can get back on track as quickly as possible. Once the estimates are in place, and the job has begun, you then should begin to track all of your costs in real time as they occur. This helps to make sure that you are working with your budget in mind.

To Conclude

Cost management is integral to a construction project; it permeates almost every aspect. In order to achieve the best possible outcome for your project, perfecting your cost management processes are vital. Thankfully, technological advancements have made cost management easier than ever before. That being said, you should still take on board the tips mentioned above to ensure that you don’t forget anything.

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The USA Wealth Report: America’s Millionaires Are on the Move

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The tide is turning in the USA, a country shaped by generations of immigrants from across the globe, whose descendants went on to create the largest wealth market in the world. However, as we enter 2023, a new dynamic is playing out, with wealthy Americans seeking greener pastures abroad at an unprecedented rate. And as highlighted in the inaugural USA Wealth Report, published by investment migration specialists Henley & Partners in partnership with wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth, the country is also losing its luster among migrating millionaires, with experts commenting that “the ‘American Dream’ is now on life-support.”

The report also reveals that there is a significant internal movement of HNWIs currently underway within the country. Cities such as Austin, Scottsdale, Greenwich, and Miami are gaining millionaires, while the big wealth hubs of Los AngelesChicago, and New York City are losing them.

The 2023 USA Wealth Report features exclusive new private wealth research and data, providing a comprehensive review of America’s wealth sector, including trends among high-net-worth individuals, city wealth statistics, millionaire migration patterns, and a review of the key drivers and creators of wealth. The data reveals a notable drop in net inflows of millionaires to America in 2022 when the figure fell to just 1,500, when compared with the period from 2013 to 2019 when net inflows of millionaires fluctuated between 6,400 to 10,800 annually.

In terms of private wealth outflows, Henley & Partners’ Head of North AmericaMehdi Kadiri, says the firm received the most enquiries from US citizens on record in 2022 (a 447% increase from 2019) when, for the first time, Americans ranked highest of all nationalities worldwide applying for residence and citizenship by investment programs. “To meet this significant and growing demand from US investors, Henley & Partners has opened three American offices this year, in the wealth hubs of Los AngelesMiami, and New York City.”

 

Benchmarking America’s private wealth

America is the world’s largest wealth market by a substantial margin, accounting for an extraordinary 32% of global wealth and 36% of the world’s dollar millionaires. The USA is also home to the two largest stock markets in the world (the NYSE and the Nasdaq) as well as hosting nine of the top ten largest companies globally by market cap. The wealth held in New York City alone outstrips that of most G20 countries.

By comparison, although its economic rival China ranks only marginally behind in nominal GDP terms, when it comes to private wealth, America is in a league of its own, with treble the total wealth of China and seven times as many dollar millionaires. Significantly, wealth per capita levels in the USA are 12 times higher than in China.

Misha Glenny, award-winning journalist and author, says the relationship between the economic giants will be the single most important factor in determining the world’s future. “China has the largest dollar reserves outside the USA and a monopoly on raw materials essential for hi-tech production and the green transition. For this reason, they prop each other up — one falls, and the other comes tumbling down with it. China today presents both a serious ideological and an economic threat to the USA because they are so deeply entangled — yet increasingly competitive.”

 

Wealthiest and fastest growing US cities

New York City takes the crown as the wealthiest city in the US (and the world) with 340,000 millionaires, followed by the Bay Area (285,000), Los Angeles (205,400), Chicago (124,000) and Houston (98,500).

When it comes to America’s fastest growing wealth hubs, five cities have experienced millionaire growth of more than 70% in the past decade. Frontrunner Austin’s millionaire population shot up by 102% between 2012 and 2022, and the city now boasts 30,500 resident high-net-worth individuals worth USD 1 million or more. West Palm Beach grew by 90% (home to 9,400 millionaires), Scottsdale by 88% (with 13,900 millionaires), Miami by 75% (with 38,000 millionaires), and Greenwich & Darien by 72% (with 11,900 millionaires).

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What Should My Business Outsource & Keep in House?

If one thing is for sure about modern business, it’s that it is more dynamic than ever. The options on how to run a company have exploded. You can now run a full business from the comfort of your couch, but it’s always essential to consider what you should pay someone outside of your business to do, what you should hire employees to do, and what you should do yourself.

It’s imperative to know what your vision for the company is. You need not only to know what you should spend your time on, but also what other people are better at. Delegation is so much of running a successful business. Below are some aspects of a business and your options for outsourcing, keeping it in house, and doing it yourself.

Cloud Storage

It doesn’t matter what kind of business you are in. Cloud management has become a part of every company and individual’s life. With so much data we are creating and sharing daily, the ability to safely store this, in many cases, vital information is so important. Whether you are working with large sets of data or just want to be organized on the Cloud to free up your devices and network.

Even if you don’t know what you are working with or what data and files you have, starting with proper Cloud storage is essential. A lot of companies like to outsource to Cloud specialists who can do a better job of organizing data and keeping it protected from malicious actors.

Data Analysis

Cloud storage comes in handy with data analysis. When you have a lot of data you have either mined, gathered from employees, or bought from another company, you should be analyzing it. If you don’t have access to artificial intelligence (AI), it could be a better idea to hire someone who does to help you with data analysis. They can do it a lot faster because AI is so quick when it comes to analysis of any kind.

The numbers involved here can be synthesized by AI and presented in accessible and intuitive graphs, charts, images, and more. AI can identify problems and solutions that data can provide. It offers information about what customers want and what they don’t. It can show you exactly what demographics you should target. It can even help innovate new products, services, and change branding. With thorough data analysis, your business can transform.

SEO, Social Media, & Digital Marketing

To get the most out of digital marketing, you might want to outsource it. You need to employ search engine optimization (SEO) specialists, social media experts, and great copywriters. SEO is the combination of strategies to push the website to the top of Google and Bing. For example, if you use the right keywords, hyperlinks, and metadata in a short post and frequently post content that fits into that algorithm, you will have the ability to push a page to the top of search engines. The more clicks on the page, the higher it goes.

On the other hand, social media is a full-time job on its own. These skills are both abstract and definitive. The analytics plainly show when you should post and what works when you do, but the feel for social media is something you can’t really learn that fast. These people are typically naturals. While you might have someone that is good at both digital marketing and social media specifically, it might be worth it to outsource these to professionals who specialize in these different domains.  

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity

Information technology is the organization of data and tech that a business operates within. Cybersecurity is the protection of all the infrastructure involved from cyber-attacks, hackers, and other malicious online entities. With so much money involved in data and company assets, you shouldn’t skimp on the IT and cybersecurity that you have. It’s expensive to hire the most successful workers in this regard. That’s why it might be better for you to hire the experts at another company.

When you are focused on securing the information of yourself, your business, and your employees, there is no compromising. IT and cybersecurity are incredibly lucrative for a reason.You might want to outsource cybersecurity and IT.

Hiring & Staffing

Depending on what you are hiring for, you can work with recruiters and other staffing companies to find the best employees for the job. Whether you are looking for accounting staffing companies or someone to help you find the right cybersecurity staff for your business, there are plenty of hiring businesses that can help you overcome staffing hurdles.

Working with the right employees is one of the most effective ways to go about pushing your business forward. With the right employees, you can turn your business into something truly special. Whether you are hiring a lot of people or just need that special person to put it all together, there’s no shame in needing help to find and hire the right people for your staff.

Accounting

Accounting is one of the most central and pivotal parts of any business. If you aren’t aware of how much money is going out and coming in, you won’t be able to turn the most profit. You won’t be able to expand. So, if you don’t have an accounting team on staff and want to focus on other things to create your vision, outsourcing your accounting can be one of the best moves to make. Leave money up to the money experts. All you need to know is how much you are in the green, yellow, or red.

There are plenty of ways to structure a company. Whether you are trying your best to keep the smallest, most productive team possible, outsourcing is your friend. You can use these resources without being tied down to salaries. It can help make your business more dynamic.

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Historic Inflation and Labor Shortage Forcing Businesses to Raise Prices

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According to a new survey from The Harris Poll, commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, businesses are turning to automation, absorbing additional costs and reducing staff as a result of high inflation and the labor shortage.

Record low unemployment may mean good news for American job seekers but coupled with stubbornly high inflation, companies are being forced to make difficult choices to stay afloat, including continuing to pass on increased operating costs to consumers.

This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

Over the past few years, companies have had firsthand experience with a variety of obstacles—a global pandemic, inflation, labor shortages and even the fear of a recession. Unfortunately, they still may be witnessing the effects of some of these challenges in the years to come, one of which is the labor shortage.

Apart from having an impact on hiring, companies say that if the labor shortage continues, they will have to raise prices (30%). Around 3 in 10 also report their company plans to absorb some of the additional costs (29%), adopt new technology to automate tasks/processes (27%) and/or outsource a portion of their work (27%) as a result.

Another challenge that may impact companies in the future is inflation. In the first half of 2022, nearly all hiring managers (92%) said their company had been impacted by the rise in inflation, with nearly two-thirds (65%) reporting it had a major/moderate impact on their company.

As a result, companies said they had to raise prices (40%) and/or absorb some of the additional costs (39%). In line with these sentiments, hiring managers report that if inflation continues, their company is planning to raise prices (43%), absorb some of the additional costs (31%), adopt new technology to automate tasks/processes (23%), reduce staff (19%) and/or outsource a portion of their work (19%).

 

 

Inflation Impacts

“If high inflation continues, my clients will have to find ways to cut costs in other areas,” said Mike Nolfo, Express franchise owner in New Jersey. “Something has to give. Normally, labor is one of the larger operating expenses, which may translate to price pressure on services and goods.”

In Texas, Express franchise owner Nancy Reed agrees that companies will have to re-evaluate their business strategies if inflation doesn’t ease up soon.

“All costs are going up, and they may have to evaluate their structure and payroll budgets,” she said. “We are having to pay higher wages which means some employers will have to work with fewer employees.”

The high prices aren’t showing many signs of budging in the near future, and Reed says it seems like her clients are just trying to push through it.

“Everyone is ready to get our market back to normal after all the challenges during and after COVID-19,” she said. “They are trying to adjust for the increase in their material costs, labor expenses and trying to get products to market as quickly as possible.”

Businesses may have to wait awhile for commodity prices to return to more manageable levels, as Nolfo says he doesn’t expect any relief in the next 12 months.

“It seems like everyone is getting used to paying higher prices,” he said. “They may not be happy about it, but they’ve made adjustments in other areas to deal with the changes.”

 

 

Staffing Challenges

In addition to inflation struggles, Reed says her staffing business is seeing the effects of the labor shortage like many of the companies she serves.

“If the labor shortage continues, my clients will be forced to find creative ways to get their product to market, such as using automation or being selective with the business they take on,” she said. “Even in our business, we are finding ourselves having to pay higher wages or work with less staff.”

Nolfo sees automation as one solution to the labor shortage but also encourages training employees to create a desirable workforce.

“If you are going to stay in business, you need to adapt,” he said. “The best way to combat the labor shortage is to either automate or train your entry-level workers to fill in the gaps.”

The good news, Nolfo says, is that the labor market seems to be improving, especially in the light industrial sector, as applicants increased 20% year-over-year in January.

“Candidates seem like they are motivated to find work, and our referrals have also increased,” he said. “I think some job seekers are tired of sitting on the sidelines and actually need work right now.”

The latest jobs report shows openings are numerous, which means despite layoffs in certain sectors, many companies are still desperate for workers, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller.

“The employment landscape right now is an anomaly as employers struggle to find workers but also face exorbitant costs for talent,” he said. “Let’s hope as the year goes on, more candidates continue to come off the sidelines, ultimately tamping down inflation and market uncertainty.”

 

 

Survey Methodology

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2022, among 1,002 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 3.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.

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Acqualina Resort Named #1 Best Hotel and #1 Best Resort in the U.S.A.

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Acqualina Resort, a family-owned and operated property in Miami, was named #1 Best Hotel and #1 Resort in America by US News & World Report. Acqualina also achieved a Five-Star rating for the hotel and spa from Forbes Travel Guide for the 11th consecutive year.

Acqualina Resort & Residences has been recognized with the top awards in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels rankings and was named the #1 Best Hotel in the U.S.A. and #1 Best Resort in the U.S.A.

“We have worked very hard to consistently deliver exceptional customer service and experiences to our distinguished guests,” said Acqualina CEO and Partner Deborah Yager Fleming. “Acqualina is a brand that continuously looks for ways to improve and implement new services and amenities for our customers to enjoy, from design and activities to dining experiences. These awards are a great testament to our dedicated and committed team’s efforts to exceed expectations at every turn.”

U.S. News & World Report is a globally recognized publisher of consumer advice and information. Editors researched thousands of hotels, collected dozens of data points, and used an unbiased approach to calculate the rankings. The 13th annual Best Hotels rankings evaluate more than 35,000 luxury properties across the United States, Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. The methodology considers a hotel’s star rating and both expert and guest sentiment by collecting annual awards from distinguished travel publications and TripAdvisor user scores, the combination of which helps determine each hotel’s rank.

Today, Forbes Travel Guide announced Acqualina Resort as a Five Star Hotel, making it the 11th year in a row the property has received this prestigious, ultra-exclusive industry accolade. In addition, Forbes Travel Guide awarded Acqualina Spa with a Five Star Spa rating.

Forbes Travel Guide is the gold standard for luxury hospitality ratings worldwide, and announces its Global Star Ratings yearly, listing the world’s finest hotels, restaurants, and spas. Only properties that meet Forbes’ hospitality standards — the most stringent in the industry — achieve a Five Star, Four Star, or Recommended rating. Professional inspectors check into and check out every property they rate regularly, evaluating more than 500 rigorous criteria to determine a Star Rating that takes the guesswork out of travel planning and establishes a global benchmark for luxury travel.

To mark the occasion, Acqualina invites guests to book the Five Star Experience Package. Guests receive the fifth night free when booking a five-night getaway. In addition, they can indulge in such offerings as a special welcome amenity, daily buffet breakfast for two, and complimentary Internet access.

With four world-class restaurants, including the new Avra Miami, curated amenities, and luxurious rooms and suites, Acqualina Resort provides an exclusive experience and ultra-luxurious beach lifestyle like no other. Last month, Acqualina unveiled a glamorous refresh of the Mediterranean villa-style resort. From a newly transformed gallery lobby, decadent new adult pool experience, AcquaMarine kids club, luxurious rooms and suites, and restaurants, Acqualina’s enhancements offer glamour, style, and timeless beauty.

The gorgeous beachfront location features outdoor living room settings, three oceanfront swimming pools, and cabanas where guests can make online reservations. Guests of the luxury Miami Beach resort can bask in the South Florida sun or spend the afternoon shaded by palm trees. The attentive Acqualina team will make sure every need is met. That includes everything from serving a delicious Mediterranean lunch on the beach to providing a delectable coconut or a cocktail where guests never need to leave the beach.

 

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Best Outdoor Destination – Pennsylvania

Pine Creek Running Through the "Grand Canyon" of Pennsylvania in Leonard Harrison State Park

Lovers of the outdoors will delight in the discovery that is Potter-Tioga. Featuring acres of unspoilt countryside, the region has a reputation for stunning scenery and a range of outdoor activities to appeal to everyone from those who are new to outdoor pursuits, to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. We take a look at some of the highlights to enjoy at Potter-Tioga.

The Pennsylvanian counties of Potter and Tioga sit on its northern border with New York state. Home to the Pine Creek Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, the area is famed for its rich trails and breath-taking views.

Surrounded by about 165,000 acres of state forest, the Gorge itself begins at Ansonia near Wellsboro and runs south for about 47 miles, traversing the Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks. The Pine Creek Rail Trail runs along the bottom of Pine Creek Gorge for some 62 miles. Named as one of the ‘10 Great Places to Take a Bike Tour’, the Trail can be used for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. With a gentle 2% grade along its entire length, The Pine Creek Rail Trail is popular with cross-country skiers in winter too.

Nature lovers will marvel at the dramatic scenery and unrivalled beauty of the Gorge. Diverse plants and wildlife are abundant along the trail, with ospreys, eagles, coyotes, herons, river otters, black bears, and deer, as well as many other species, thriving in the valley.

For water lovers, there are plenty of lakes to explore. Four large lakes, Hills Creek Lake, Tioga, Hammond, and Cowanesque offer camping, boat hire, kayaking, fishing, and swimming.  Smaller lakes, Lyman Run, Nessmuk, Beechwood, and Hamilton offer a more sedate pace with motorless boating and fishing. And if you’re lucky enough to catch a fish, you may be landing trout, panfish, pickerel, or walleye.

And it’s not only in the daytime that visitors to the region will marvel at the natural phenomenon. The Cherry Springs State Park, southeast of Coudersport, is famous for its magnificent night skies. It’s said that the Milky Way shines so bright here that it will cast your shadow on a clear night. It was, in fact, named the Best Place on Earth for Stargazing by the Travel Channel and designated a Gold Level Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

The winter in Potter-Tioga is spectacular whatever your sport or interest. With a total of 29 groomed cross-country skiing trails, there’s plenty of opportunity to explore. And if you prefer a more sedate pace, why not try snowshoeing? You can take the same groomed trails or head off into the backcountry for a real mountain adventure. Want to speed up the pace? Then give snowmobiling a try. There are over 450 miles of groomed trails to explore!

There’s something for everyone at Potter-Tioga. As well as camping, the region offers secluded cabins and cottages, chic bed and breakfast accommodations, lodges, hotels, and motels to suit every budget.

The thriving region also hosts a selection of events and fun for all the family including craft shows, music festivals, live theatre productions, and even the North Central Wine Festival.

Potter-Tioga is an irresistible destination for your next vacation. To find out more, please visit www.VisitPotterTioga.com.

For business enquiries, contact Visit Potter-Tioga at – www.visitpottertioga.com

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Most Family-Friendly RV Resort – Colorado

Beautiful sunset in autumn at the Rv campsite with clouds and blue skies

At Stoner RV Resort, there’s more than just beautiful scenery and the serenity of nature to enjoy. We find out more about how the owner of this resort strives to provide an exceptional service to all his clientele as it celebrates being recognized in the New World Report Travel Awards 2022.

Located in a lush green valley, the family-run Stoner RV Resort, based in Stoner, Colorado, occupies an enviable spot at about 7,420 feet above sea level. Benefitting from the glorious backdrop of the San Juan mountains, and surrounded by 100-feet-high conifers, this is a campsite that allows you to get up close and personal with nature, in a secluded and private setting.

Situated 45 minutes from Telluride, Colorado, the RV resort provides the ideal base for exploring the great outdoors and partaking in adventures. Whether campers choose an overnight stay or something more extended, the on-site amenities and friendly staff are guaranteed to make each and every visitor feel at home.

With core values centering around continuous improvement, personal development, and integrity, the client-focused ethos at Stoner RV Resort is that every guest gets complete recognition and total satisfaction, for an unrivalled and exceptional vacation experience. 

“Here at Stoner, we strive for customer satisfaction even if that consists of going above and beyond for our guests,” explains Scott Leinberger, owner and founder of Stoner RV Resort. “Guests’ expectations are to be met 100% and customers always leave with a smile on their face.”

Born and raised in Colorado, Scott bought the resort and set about renovating it in early 2021, transforming the once dying area into what it is today. He has a residence on-site where he spends most of the season making sure everyone is well taken care of and enjoying their stay.

Offering everything from basic tent camping spots, right to full hook-ups for large RVs and trucks, Stoner RV Resort is family-friendly as well as pet-friendly and has facilities catering to every type of camper looking to enjoy the call of the wild.

Whilst the modest, off-grid tent sites provide family bathrooms and a parking spot (for those who like to get back to basics!), the full RV hook ups enjoy all the comforts of home, with all pads being equipped with water hookups, sewer hookups, 30- and 50-amp power, picnic tables, fire pits, propane BBQs, and free high speed wi-fi.

There’s also a well-stocked on-site convenience store packed with lots of essential items so guests don’t have to make long journeys into nearby towns whilst they are on their vacation.

Recently, Stoner RV Resort gained international recognition after being named in the New World Report Travel Awards and clinching the enviable title of Most Family-Friendly RV Resort – Colorado. Understandably delighted, Scott and the campsite manager, Dylin Baker, are now committed more than ever to continuing to provide peaceful and relaxing vacations for al tier visitors.

As Scott emphasizes, at Stoner, “you’re more than just a number!”

We heard from several delighted campers who had recently enjoyed a stay at Stoner RV Resort.

S Joyce couldn’t recommend the campsite enough and enthused: “Oh man, this place is great! I highly recommend you stay a night or two if you are in the area. And if you’re not in the area, get there! Stoner RV Resort may be my new favorite park camping destination. The area is absolutely beautiful, and the park sits right on the creek. It was very calm and peaceful. There are full hookups for RVs, but we tent camped and took advantage of the bathroom facilities, with flush toilets and hot showers! There are propane grills, fire pits, and picnic tables at each site. Huge bonus, the owners are super awesome! Can’t wait to return!”

T Dacey agrees that the hospitality they received was second-to-none, stating: “Stayed here during my birthday weekend and was blown away by the hosts’ hospitality and kindness. The campground is one of the cutest and nicest I’ve stayed at. It was so relaxing being tucked away in a little forest grove and waking up to the sound of the river. The little meadow is perfect for early morning yoga. I’ll definitely stay here again.”

For business enquiries, contact Scott Leinberger & Dylin baker from Stoner RV Resort on their website – Stonerrvresort.com

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Cenith Energy Corporation: Best Clean Energy & Environmental Protection Company – Ontario Mclilian Tech Inc.: Best Robotics Company – Ontario

Solar panels (solar cell) in solar farm with blue sky

Having operated for more than 20 years, solar powerhouse Cenith Energy Corporation (Cenith Energy) recently sold all of its hi-tech products to Mclilian Tech Inc. We speak to company director Sam Qin, about the two companies and the recent acquisition as both firms are recognized in the Canadian Made Awards 2022.

Since being established in Ontario, Canada in August 2002, Cenith Energy Corporation has been a solar power developer in both the USA and Canada. Cenith Energy is also a wholesaler of different parts of solar power systems, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting brackets, inverters, lithium and solar batteries, power distribution boxes, solar photovoltaic (PV) cables, MC4 connectors, and solar power streetlights. Cenith Energy provides products and services that satisfy the needs of thousands of loyal clients and customers.

As a solar power developer and a service provider in the environment protection engineering space, Cenith Energy’s clients are predominantly corporates, governments, and institutions. So far, the company has provided almost 1 GW to customers in the solar power industry, and it has also provided for its clients an easy smog solution in the environment sector globally.  

Mr Sam Qin is one of two directors of Cenith Energy, the other being Ms Joyce Li. Sam tells us more about how the firm goes about finding new business.

“We contact the clients to arrange a meeting and then make presentations for them to see if they need the solar power products and systems, and/or our smog solution,” he explains. “Sometimes, as the solar power developer, we have to bid in order to acquire the solar power projects through our local Feed-in-Tariffs or Net-Metering programs.”

In October 2022, Mclilian Tech Inc purchased all of the existing hi-tech products and services from Cenith Energy Corporation. These hi-tech products and services include 1) the popular Enoch Robot (this being a snow removal and lawnmower for residents), 2) the smart solar street light systems, 3) Havilland indoors, 4) smart devices for residents, and 5) tribal-electric devices.

As the economy seems to be going through a downturn currently, Sam is determined to carry on with business as usual.

“We will employ our innovative spirit to continue to sell and develop the solar power products and systems, as well as smog solution, in the environment protection engineering space,” he states. “As well as this, we will continue to find the right partners and staff members.”

Indeed, the employees at Cenith Energy are very well respected by Sam and his colleagues, and it is in part due to their hard work and commitment that not only has Cenith Energy been recognized in the Canadian Made Awards 2022, winning the title of Best Clean Energy & Environmental Protection Company – Ontario, but so too has its auxiliary company, Mclilian Tech which was named Best Robotics Company – Ontario. These two prestigious accolades are testament to the dedication of the team, as Sam elaborates.

“Our staff play a very important role in cooperation, especially in sales and innovation. Trustworthiness is a very important quality between clients and the staff. There are three internal cultures which we encourage here at Cenith, and these are professionalism, responsibility, and trustworthiness.”

The two directors, Sam Qin and Joyce Li, both received Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals in 2012 and, more recently, Queen’s Platinum Medals of Canada in 2022, which was presented to them by Majid Jowhari, a Member of Parliament for Canada.

For business enquiries, contact Sam Qin from Cenith Energy Corporation/Mclilian Tech Inc. on their website – www.cenithenergy.com

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