The 10 Most Enriching Travel Experience Solution Provider 2019

4. E Travel Solutions for Enriching Lives T he notion of gaining pleasure through travels dates long back in the history; as travel rejuvenates the adrenaline rush and helps an individual to evolve physically as well as psychologically. In my opinion, through travelling one can seek for a better approach and unique towards the daily life dilemmas. Even with a trend of #wanderlust, many have taken initiative to appreciate the beauty of the world and travelling. Apart from such pleasurous benefits, while travelling it is quite essential for an individual as well as for businesses to beneficial with travel expenses. There are many travel agencies that facilitate enriching travel experiences and some are featured in this issue. Travel often have distinct purpose or approach, from trade to tourism, but organizational travelling stand a step ahead to that of systematical travelling purposes. Commonly known as—Business Travels might seem a moderate procedure to go through. But, for those who accentuates, it is the most hectic aspect in business world. To streamline expenses, improve compliance, and maximize the efficiency, an organization must ensure to fill the void by improved traveler experience. This phenomenon is acknowledge by everyone in the business as it is considered as the best method to carry out business deals, conference meetings, integration of bookings, itinerary and messaging, expense reports, travel risk management and virtual payments. Market is filled with many solution providers but it is essential to pick those who deliver best-in-class travel services and solutions ensuring them to be scalable, flexible, reliable and globally connected. Whether be it a business or an individual trip everyone does requires a peace of mind and a comfortable travelling ambience. Through outsourcing the organizational travelling processes, one can ease out the hectic pressure of handling many at a same time. Insights Success appreciates the contribution put forth by such impeccable organization and feels pride to bring out a special edition, “The 10 Most Enriching Travel Experience Solution Providers”. The issue contents some exceptional travel experience solution providers who have enriched the way of travelling in corporates.

5. “ “ A perfect travel experience is quite essential for a person as well as for a business, and so should be cherished wisely. Bhushan Ghate In today’s digital world, customers are expecting more convenience and personalized experiences in terms of any of the services provided to them. Taking this into consideration, the cover story, Collinson stepped into the market with a mission to deliver to the world smarter customer experiences. In an interview with Insights Success, Christopher Evans, the Joint CEO of Collinson shares his valuable insights on how the company is engaging deeper with its customers, enriching their travel experiences, protecting their interests, and assisting them in times of need. Let’s unveil such alike, inspiring interviews and stories of many such significant businesses in this special edition and spread a word about their contribution in making this world a better place. Also, flip through the CXO standpoints presented by some of the leading industry experts to taste the glimpse of industrial revolutions. Happy Reading!

6. Cover Story 10 Collinson Driving Deeper Devotion with Enriched Travel Experiences 24 34 Leader's Take The Changing Face of Luxuary Maestro’s Insights The Revolution of our Roads

7. C O N T E N T S 22 Austin Adventures Delivering Unparalleled Travel Experiences 28 Girolibero Cycling Holidays Enriching Travel through Pedals 38 Hidden Iceland Helping to Discover the Hidden Treasures 18 Chalk Talk 32 E-Mobility Article Trends Shaping the Aviation Industry Pioneering Transportation with Smart Grid

9. Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Executive Editor Hitesh Dhamani Assistant Editors Jenny Fernandes Bhushan Kadam Managing Editor Anish Miller Co-designer Visualizer David King Art & Design Director Amol Kamble Associate Designer Iresh Mathapati Nagesh Tembhekar Senior Sales Manager Business Development Manager Co-designer Passi D. Peter Collins Sales Executives David, Kevin, Mark, Vaibhav Marketing Manager John Matthew Business Development Executives Technical Head Jacob Smile Steve, Joe, Alan, Tushar Digital Marketing Manager Marry D'Souza Technical Specialist Aditya Research Analyst Patrick James SME-SMO Executive Prashant Chevale Database Management Stella Andrew Technology Consultant David Stokes Circulation Manager Robert Brown sales@insightssuccess.com April, 2019 Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off. No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ We are also available on : www.twitter.com/insightssuccess Copyright © 2019 Insights Success, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.

10. The 10 Most Enriching Solution Providers in 2019

11. Cover Story Christopher Evans Joint CEO Collinson

12. I terms of any of the services provided to them. Taking this into consideration, Collinson stepped into the market with a mission to deliver to the world smarter customer experiences. In an interview with Insights Success, Christopher Evans, the Joint CEO of Collinson shares his valuable insights on how the company is engaging deeper with its customers, enriching their travel experiences, protecting their interests, and assisting them in times of need. Through directly servicing over 50 million of our own end-customers, as well as the millions of our clients’ consumers, we have gained a unique insight into digitally-engaged mass affluent travelers and mid- to high-net worth consumers. We conduct ongoing research with both our clients and end- consumers to understand their ever- changing needs, attitudes, and behaviors to help us to craft smarter customer experiences. line, while for airport food and beverage and retail providers it increases their potential customer base. n today’s digital world, customers are expecting more convenience and personalized experiences in With airline punctuality being unreliable at times, and increasingly busy airports, we saw an opportunity to develop SmartDelay™, our flight delay assistance product, to help ease the pain of flight delays and remove the need for lengthy travel claims from our clients’ customers by offering an instantly redeemable benefit. We are now the chosen partner for leading payment networks, over 600 banks, 90 airlines, 20 hotel groups, and top retailers globally, generating over $1billion of revenue. Our clients include American Express, Hilton, Air France KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, MasterCard, Radisson Hotel Group, RSA, Saudia, UnionPay, Vhi and Visa. We also help leading airline, travel, hospitality and banking brands better engage their members and increase revenue and profitably through our white-labeled points earning and redemption solutions. These give frequent flyers and guests greater opportunities to earn and redeem loyalty currency outside of a brand’s core offering, ultimately driving deeper engagement and more profitable relationships. Below are highlights from the interview: Give a brief overview of the company, its uniqueness and its vision. Kindly describe how the solutions offered by Collinson are enriching travel experiences? Collinson is a global leader in customer benefits and loyalty. Over the past 30 years, we have used our expertise to help many of the world’s best-known brands to acquire, engage, and retain the most profitable and demanding customers. We deliver exceptional travel, insurance and assistance products that differentiate value propositions, and loyalty solutions that win deeper, more valuable customer relationships. Almost 30 years ago, our founder watched premium-class passengers enjoying the exclusivity and tranquility of airport lounges, as he endured the chaos of the departure hall. His answer was to create Priority Pass – a program that transforms the airport experience from an endurance test into a moment of indulgence, regardless of airline ticket. Decades on, Priority Pass remains the market-leading airport experiences program. Over the years we’ve discovered how enriching these experiences are, as they have been used by hundreds of premium brands to attract and retain high value, regular traveling customers. Innovation has always been at our core. Our continued success comes from harnessing our entrepreneurial spirit and learning from running successful brands in our own right. These include Priority Pass™, recognized worldwide as the original, independent airport experiences program. In addition, our loyalty business grew from anticipating that companies would need to balance their focus on acquiring new customers with understanding who they are, in order to deliver their needs. We have continued to innovate Priority Pass to enrich travel experiences, beyond the lounges, to include access to dining and spa discounts and other experiences in airports. In September last year, we announced our investment in Grab – an airport e-commerce platform providing mobile order-ahead capabilities at airports across the UK and US. It enables travelers to skip the

13. With the emerging trends in the travel and tourism industry, how is Collinson driving itself to create an impact on its customers? experience-based offerings. It’s never been more important for brands to react to this new experience economy and grow revenues through deeper engagement with passengers and members. We pride ourselves on being a customer benets and loyalty company like no other – global, privately-owned and family-run. It’s a fascinating and challenging time for the industry. While travel is more popular than ever, it’s also more competitive. In fact, attracting and retaining customers has never been harder for travel businesses. The way people research and book travel has changed completely. Consumers check out destinations on the fly, crowd source recommendations on social media, then book on their smartphones. The cheapest flights, coolest experiences and best accommodation are often one click away on a single platform. Our expertise, experience, and delivery enable us to excel at co-creating innovative products and services with clients that enrich customer travel experiences globally. We will continuously strive to improve the airport and travel experience for our clients and their premium customers, creating exclusive rewards and benefits that are best delivered by Collinson because of our scale, global relationships, and partnerships, as well as our innovative approach. Brands from all verticals are jostling for customer attention as they expand into complementary and more The Club at San Jose CA Mineta Intl (Terminal A), available to Priority Pass members

14. We’re on a mission to deliver to the world smarter customer experiences that say ‘a brand knows me, cares about me and will go that extra mile’. David Evans Joint CEO Christopher Evans Joint CEO

15. designing and delivering motivating and compelling experiences. How does the organization protect the interests of its customers and how it assists them in times of need? We use our expertise and products to craft customer experiences that enable some of the world's best known brands to acquire, engage and retain the most demanding and choice-rich customers. Our innovative loyalty solutions are tailored to allow global travel, financial services, and retail brands to address their opportunity gaps and drive customer devotion, both in-store and online. Our powerful loyalty platforms give brands the ability to track, recognize, reward, and communicate with their members to deliver a truly personalized, seamless experience. Our points earning and redemption solutions also drive deeper engagement by providing members with greater choice and personalized shopping experiences when earning and burning their loyalty currency. Collinson helps to protect the interests of our clients’ customers, and our own, and assist in times of need. Our travel insurance solutions blend our unique experience across sectors to deliver smarter products that respond to the individual needs of every customer. We have experience in the travel insurance industry across a wide range of demographics including general mass market, over 50s’, students and impaired risk. Our expertise covers sales, product design, underwriting, medical screening, claims, and assistance services. the travel insurance context, it’s important that the necessary ‘human channels’ are in place for customers to quickly talk to an expert. The key is finding a balance between the human and digital interaction at the correct time – it’s so important that we get this right, given the impact it can have on a customer who is in the middle of a travel emergency, for example. How according to you could the potential evolution of travel and tourism affect the industry, and how does Collinson envision sustaining its competency? Our customer service ethos, “Delivering Service Differently,” recognizes that every customer is different and each interaction matters. We provide our partners and their customers with a personalized service and tailored support while always keeping the customer at the forefront. In today’s ‘experience economy’ people choose to spend their time and money on enjoyable experiences that enrich their lives. Consumers are looking more for meaning in what they do: possessions are proving less rewarding than the memories and learnings they gain from the things they do. What are the strategies of Collinson to engage deeply with customers? Tell us more about your Loyalty solutions. Collinson also provides a global traveler assistance service, supporting customers at home, on the road, or abroad through claims handling and management services. Our 24-hour specialist teams operate robust independent networks and we pride ourselves on delivering superior assistance through our experienced case handlers. We recently joined forces with Drum Cussac to launch a 24/7/365 integrated travel risk management solution that enhances the wellbeing of employees traveling abroad and helps organizations fulfill their duty of care and beyond. Today’s choice-rich consumers expect more for their loyalty than ever. Working with leading brands around the world, we craft experiences that enable them to acquire, engage, and retain the most demanding customers. Our latest global research shows that travel is consumers’ go-to option when choosing how to spend their time and money – good news for airlines, airports, travel providers, and suppliers. When delivered correctly, loyalty can be a powerful way to positively influence customers, and a brand’s bottom line. But this is getting harder to achieve. We believe customer experience is the ultimate battleground between competing brands. To add value and differentiate themselves, companies need to find new ways to embed benefits throughout a customer experience that are thoughtful, relevant, and that create the potential for a more emotional connection. Brands that offer products and services that drive better experiences will reap the rewards of customer loyalty, and a greater share of wallet. By Our loyalty experts differentiate each client’s proposition using our unique combination of strategy, award- winning solutions, and services. Over the last few years, we’ve built an even more seamless approach – mapping out precisely what the customer wants and expects and introducing products and services that help our clients deliver on those objectives. We have a customer- first focus – using insights to understand the customer, then Our assistance business offers a responsive and intuitive claims and assistance service when customers need us the most. We’re committed to creating the best possible customer experience at every touchpoint and work with our partners to tailor the most appropriate solution for their business model and customer base. In

16. Priority Pass members have access to discounts and experiences beyond the lounges Where does Collinson see itself in the long run and what are its future goals? continuously innovating, we’ll ensure our clients benefit from exceptional travel, insurance and assistance products, and loyalty solutions. Collinson has continuously innovated for over 30 years and seen phenomenal progress through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisition and reinvestment. As a privately-owned business we have the stability and ability to make long-term decisions. Give a detailed description of the featured personnel’s influence over the company. As joint CEO of Collinson alongside my brother David, it’s my responsibility to create the company’s vision and to lead our global teams as we strive to achieve it. I work in close partnership with our many offices across four regions, delivering our strategy and commercial goals. We will continue to develop existing and new strategic partnerships to enhance our offering, leveraging long-term partnerships with third parties, including card issuers, retail banks, processers, and technology companies. We have a clear roadmap for developing our travel experiences platform, as well as our loyalty solutions that combine proprietary technology and expertise. And we will continually seek to work with best in-class partners and consider potential acquisitions to achieve our vision of providing consumers with a smarter experience that enhances their lives. My role is also to foster a culture of innovation, so that bright ideas shine through. This spirit of innovation allows us to deliver a better service for our diverse profile of global clients and their end-customers. At Collinson, I challenge myself and others to keep a relentless focus on smarter client solutions and end- customer experiences. My colleagues are the company’s greatest asset – they have a wealth of expertise in various sectors, and I credit them with our success over the years. I aim to inspire our business leaders to be open to different ways of working; our market is dynamic, and everyone in Collinson has a role to play, not just David and I. We’ll continue to grow our own expertise with new products, services and solutions, cross-selling into new and existing clients while expanding into new geographies and increasing our global presence.

18. READ IT FIRST SUBSCRIBE T O D A Y Never Miss an Issue Yes I would like to subscribe to Insights uccess Magazine. , S Global Subscription Date : Name : Address : Telephone : Email : City : State : Zip : Country : Che ck should be drawn in favor of: INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA TECH LLC CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone (614)-602-1754,(302)-319-9947 : Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com

20. April 2019 18

21. Chalk Talk April 2019 19

22. April 2019 20

24. 10 The Most Enriching Solution Providers in 2019 Austin Adventures: Delivering Unparalleled Travel Experiences I guests to experience the land, the people, and the culture in the most immersive, energizing, and inspiring way possible. n an interview with Insights Success, Dan Austin, the Founder and President of Austin Adventures unveils the key insights on how the company is allowing its have their best experience of a place possible. Anyone can pick a hotel or restaurant based on online reviews; we have the access and connections to provide dining and lodging that perfectly capture and enhance a destination. We know how to balance immersive activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, and zip lining with leisurely strolls, wine tastings, and stories beneath a breathtaking landscape. Our travel solution is not where to go or what to do but how to deeply connect with friends, family, local cultures, and nature in some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Below are the highlights of an interview: Give a brief overview of the company, its uniqueness, and its vision. For over 35 years, Austin Adventures has created meticulously curated, ultra-personalized adventures that allow our guests to experience a destination in the most immersive, energizing, and inspiring way possible. Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learned that have shaped the journey of the company. The great thing about operating a travel company as an avid active traveler is that every experience shapes the journey of the company. Dan Austin never stops learning, and he never stops striving to be the best in the business. He encourages his staff to do likewise. Earning top honors from Travel + Leisure, or Conde Nast Traveler, or National Geographic is humbling—and something we work hard for—but those honors are milestones on a continuous journey of improvement. Family owned and operated, it’s not unusual for a guest to interact directly with Dan, Carol, Andy, or Kasey Austin. At the same time, small and personal doesn’t mean limited. We offer more than 80 active tours on all seven continents and gladly plan custom dream vacations. As a boutique tour operator based in Montana, we bring our western ethos of hospitality and honesty to every relationship—be it a new guest, a seasoned alumni, our office staff, or our guides. We listen with empathy and put our guests first—always. By far the best accolade we could possibly accrue is the loyalty and support of our Alumni, a whopping 98.8 percent of whom indicate they would travel with us again. We couldn’t be more grateful for our repeat travelers, who—along with their referrals—are the number one source of our business. The lessons we learn by listening to each of our guests are what keep us learning and improving every day. Ultimately, we believe travel has the power to change us, to let us see the world, and our role in it, through a new lens. This is our vision for each and every guest: to leave us feeling fulfilled, invigorated, and transformed—knowing they are now family and are welcome anytime. Kindly describe the contemporary travel experience solutions offered by Austin Adventures. In our era of options, we know there is no shortage of choices on where to go, how to get there, or who to go with. At Austin Adventures, our primary contemporary travel experience solution is simplicity. What are the challenges faced while providing an enriching travel experience solutions and how is Austin Adventures serving to tackle them? At Austin Adventures, we like to look at challenges as opportunities. We know how daunting it can be to plan activities, dining, lodging, relaxation, and transportation logistics for a wide range of ages and ability levels. We not only take care of all the planning, we do it in such a way that each guest will It can be challenging to stay on top of the ever-changing logistics of transporting and caring for a wide variety of guests April 2019 22

25. “ For the last 35 years Austin Adventures has set the bar for adventure travel and will continue to do so for the next 35 years. “ — Dan Austin Founder & President all with different ability levels. To tackle this opportunity, we ask our guides to be our eyes and ears and continually improve itineraries based on guide observation and guest feedback. We also tackle this challenge of exceeding guest expectations by capping our trips at 12 guests (18 on family trips) and offering the lowest guest-to-guide ratio in the industry at 6:1. For decades, Austin Adventures has also been renowned for its “WOW Factor,” a highly tuned skill of anchoring special moments on our trips with an additional “WOW”—a thoughtful, unexpected touch that becomes an oft-talked about memory of the trip. Another challenge is providing enriching travel at an exceptional value. To tackle this opportunity, each year we take a close look at how we stack up value-wise with our competitors, and then we adjust our rates, terms, conditions, and inclusions to secure ourselves as the leader of the pack. About the Leader Dan Austin is a boots-on-the-ground influencer in the company, offering daily guidance and inspiration to his small but dedicated team, interacting with guests, ensuring guides lead his trips the way he would, and curating new trips by personally experiencing and evaluating every detail. Always eager to give back, Dan has also served on his local tourism board and the state’s council on tourism, as well as recent past President of the Zoo Montana Board; continues to operate Wheels of Change, a nonprofit that gathers and ships donated bicycles to Africa amidst other community development projects; and is regularly asked to speak at or contribute to travel expos and articles. How according to you could be the potential evolution of the travel and tourism industry, and how does Austin Adventures envision sustaining its competency? As travel becomes more accessible to more people, we see adventure travel evolving to include more than just hiking, biking, and experiencing a locale. Travelers want a deeper experience, a unique memory, and the chance to make an impact on their own life and the lives of others. Austin Adventures is ahead of the curve in sustaining its lead in the industry. Since 2018, we have partnered with positive lifestyle brand Life is Good to offer tours that live out their ethos of embracing the power of positivity. This year, in 2019, Austin Adventures is launching its Digital Detox tours that will make a radical impact in the lives of guests who ditch their digital devices and all talk about stress-inducing topics in order to reconnect with each other and with beauty. April 2019 23

26. Jonathan Nicol Founder & CEO Stratajet April 2019 24

27. Leader's Take ? 25 April 2019

28. April 2019 26

30. 10 The Most Enriching Solution Providers in 2019 Girolibero Cycling Holidays: Enriching Travel through Pedals T splendid experiences one can ever gain. But, the degree of the adventure of one’s traveling depends upon the ride one chooses.Ever imagined, how mesmerizing it is to pedal across the specular views and feel the elegance of nature! Through bicycle, people can witness their journey trail more intimately that they might miss in the car. An Italian tour operator company, Girolibero Cycling Holidays, is enriching travel experiences of its customers by providing cycling tours. The company, supervises, organizes, and provides assistance in holiday tours with the tasty food and comfortable lodging. ravelling is what makes the human more self-aware, confident, and introduces them to the diversity of nature. Exploring the beauty of nature is one of the Bike+Barge formula, with overnights in river barges accommodating 20 guests). For our tours we: Handpick hotels Design your tour each step of the way Provide multilingual tour info and assistance Select and train our own tour leaders Create tailor-made guidebooks, the Girolibero Greens series – detailed, illustrated and designed specifically for our cycling itineraries Coordinate all logistics from our headquarters in Vicenza – Italy Assemble and service your bike in our workshop, down to the last bolt Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ In an interview with Insights Success, the Founder and CEO ofGirolibero, Pierpaolo Romio shares key insights over his organization’s journey and its specialized services. Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learned that have shaped the journey of the company. We have been running cycling tours since 1998. Our first step was purchasing 24 bikes and 24 locks. Next came a trailer on loan from a theatre group, with which we toured Austria, Holland and Germany. After 4 years, our first bikes were sold off to a rental company in Berlin; by then, hopelessly hooked on Europe’s bikeways, we decided to go for it and invest in new ones – bright orange this time, in honor of Holland, the homeland of cycling. Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between Pierpaolo Romio and Insights Success: Give a brief overview of the company, its uniqueness, and its vision. We simply believe that cycling makes for a great holiday, and that a rewarding break requires a thirst for discovery, a pinch of initiative and the right dose of comfort. Bikes let you travel at an easy pace, whether along cycling tracks or quiet roads, keeping you in touch with nature and allowing you to appreciate the people you come across as you cycle through the villages, and appreciate their way of life. Now our bikes are 2,500 and our numbers in detail are: 15 mln turn over in 2018 20,000 cyclists from every part of the world A holiday on the move, with everything organized: hotels, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel and support – 7 days a week. Plus: cycling guides and ample background information if you choose to pedal independently, and even the option of an expert tour leader to guide you all the way. 40 people + over 100 seasonal staff working in synergy to offer the best possible holiday experience 4 river barges directly owned by Girolibero (2 barges in Italy + 2 in southern France) Kindly describe the contemporary travel experience solutions offered by Girolibero. Cycling holidays in Italy, France and beyond, with itineraries for all, from beginners to experienced cyclists. Self-guided and guided tours, with overnight stays in selected hotels or in comfortable barges (for the 2,000 touring bikes 500 e-bikes 28 April 2019

31. “ “ The detail is not the detail. The detail is the product. — Pierpaolo Romio Founder & CEO What are the challenges faced while providing an enriching travel experience solutions and how is Girolibero serving to tackle them? Despite Northern Europe’s long distance cycle paths, Italy hasn’t a wide net of long cycling itineraries. For this reason Girolibero studies and scouts in advance all the routes, privileging cycle paths and off-the-beaten tracks itineraries. Girolibero self publishes Maps/Roadbooks/Travel Guides: the collection is entitled Girolibero GREENS Guides, and a copy is always included in the package. Testimonial from Girolibero’s Clients “The route taken by the ‘Ave Maria’ exceeded our expectations, massively. So, too did the daily cycle rides, and the variety of places we so ably shown around. My wife and I are well travelled. NO holiday has been better resourced from every angle.” -Richard, Scotland, Mantua to Venice Bike+Barge tour We have been running Bike and Barge tours since 1998, offering the classic Netherlands. Ten years later we shipped the “Bike +Barge” formula over to Italy (there were no suitable barges here), bringing here the Vita Pugna. In 2011 we launched the eco-friendly vessel Ave Maria. Since 2017 we also own L’Estello and Caprice, two romantic barges in Provence-Camargue. We aim to build new barges and offer more and more “Bike+Barge” tours in Europe. About the Leader A born dreamer, Pierpaolo founded Girolibero/Zeppelin in 1998. His travel diaries cover over 500,000 km of hitchhiking adventures the length and breadth of Europe and the most unusual collection of bikes. His CV lists some unlikely occupations, from ice cream parlor fittings consultant to novelty jewelry and trinkets salesman. Pierpaolo is also known to have had a go at the 80-km Kennedy Mars march in Holland, after which he irreversibly converted to cycling holidays. When not at the company’s HQ in Vicenza, he’s most likely out at lunch with one of his staff – something he enjoys doing with each of them in turn. How according to you could be the potential evolution of the travel and tourism industry, and how does Girolibero envision sustaining its competency? Cycling tours are becoming more and more popular: e-bikes opened this travel-trend also to seniors and people that doesn’t feel fit enough. Another popular trend is the “bespoke” Cycling holiday with an ex pro-racer as tour leader: Girolibero has Andrea Ferrigato, who cycled many Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, and plans itineraries along the most exiting roads in Italy and France: Dolomites, Tuscany, Barolo hills in Piedmont, Mont-Ventoux in Provence… Every stage is accompanied by a selection of high-level hotels, excellent meals, wine and local food tastings, high-end roadbike rental, support van. 29 April 2019

34. E-Mobility: Pioneering Transportation with Smart Grid T demands are initiated towards renewable energies in terms of a zero-emission and sustainable mobility. The “Smart Grid” could be a hypothetic methodology with electrically collected from vehicles that run on renewable resources. However, E-mobility consequently specializing in customer demands and build an effective source of energy through mobility. Rendering ahead with Smart Grid The move towards a low-carbon society would require progress in renewable energy production and in e-mobility. The success of e-mobility is connected to smart grid development that helps intelligent charging infrastructure for big scale acceptance of electric vehicles. The dependency works both ways in which comparable to massive scale acceptance of e-mobility helps massive scale infrastructure investments to be profitable. he electric automobile is associated with the integration of transportation, which is resulted according to the customer needs. Customer Functionalities of E-Mobility Electro mobility or E-mobility suggests clean and environment-friendly transport through electric vehicles. It conjointly delivers climate-friendly technology with massive growth potential. In the automotive industry, electricity suppliers and government influencers are also pushing e-mobility within the field of standardization. For sequencing to the perfection, utilities and network operators are heavily investing under development of ‘intelligent’ electricity distribution systems. There are two different kinds of plug-in electric vehicles, such as plug-in hybrid vehicle and pure electric vehicle. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are equipped with a combustion engine and pure electric vehicle encompass pure electric connectivity. The proper electricity-production drastically reduces CO2 emissions compared to traditional combustion engine cars. From the perspective of the electrical grid, people’s habits and daily schedules can probably cause peak demand at certain times of day, which may cause electricity network congestion or voltages below normal. Smart Grid Communication for economical E-Mobility Revolutionary Trends of Electrical Grid In smart grid, smart energy network depends upon comprehensive communication with integrated charging stations. The communication with the smart grid is incessantly measured and controlled through an IP-based connection. It additionally permits load compensation with the assistance of interconnecting charging stations. Additionally, vehicle-to-grid communication makes it potential to integrate special charge models and supply new services. Moreover, in future the vehicles connected to the smart grid unit expected to perform batteries for storing extra energy as needed. In an electrical grid, the energy system becomes progressively relied on renewable energy sources. The wants to the electrical grid are ever-changing with latest trends. The alternative energy is generally non-controllable, suburbanized and unsteady. E-mobility brings purposeful technology which reinforces the transportation medium and efficient method. April 2019 32

35. E-Mobility Flexible property of E-Mobility users are ready to offer the battery capacity to vehicles and to create energy for grid. Hence, Nissan drives its e-mobility vehicles effectively with unified consumer experience. E-mobility may be a versatile electrical transportation medium immensely capturing client demands. The flexibility of e-mobility helps to reduce costs of network investments and electricity bills with grid operators. The network has the flexibility to deal with worst case situation. It additionally reduces energy and absorbs excessive energy generation, and additionally things and voltage issues. Confronting Future with E-Mobility The future of electric vehicles is remodeling within the field of energy and quality happening in the fields of energy and quality. E-mobility is influenced by market factors and forthcoming trends that are nearly unbeatable. The conjunction of e-mobility and smart grid is a chance for many automobile industries. Through automobile, businesses have many possibilities to head in the market. Nissan Integrates E-Mobility with Smart Grid The well-known automobile brand, Nissan is introducing its own electronic vehicle or e-mobility vehicle with smart grid technology. Nissan additionally proposes to introduce technology and business ties between electric driving and smart grid. Moreover, Nissan is on the point of introducing energy storage for a vehicle for domestic usage supported second-life batteries. Nissan’s is aiming to provide concerning one hundred electric vehicle charging stations for each non-public and business purpose. The automotive Henceforth, e-mobility delivers significant solutions to automobile industry comprises with a smart grid. It’s a revolutionary step towards automobile segmentation comprises with electric transport mobility solutions. April 2019 33

36. The Revolution of our Roads Driving the UK to zero carbon transportation G installing EV charge points. Ideas and initiatives for boosting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) have accelerated recently, in an effort to make electric vehicles the norm rather than the exception on UK roads. In September, Theresa May announced further support for the industry at the very first Zero Emission Vehicle Summit, outlining a plan to ensure Britain “leads from the front” in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, committing £106m in funding for research and development into EV technology. She also elaborated on the 2040 target to make all manufactured cars emission-free, saying that this should be reflected in all cars on the road just ten years later. reen number plates for electric vehicles. Zero Emissions Zone trials. Grants for any employer About the Author Fiona Howarth, the CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, Biography Fiona leads the Octopus Electric Vehicle business - a start-up from Octopus Energy. With a passion for renewable energy, fantastic cars and using tech to create great customer experiences, this is absolutely Fiona’s dream job! Having studied Engineering at Oxford University, she spent her early career at Dyson and BMW - developing efficient motors and hydrogen powered cars. She then went on to work with major energy companies and government while at Bain & Company, before joining British Connected Homes start up AlertMe. A move to British Gas, saw her take Hive, by British Gas, from a tech pilot to a household name that today has more than one million customers. Government Backing This government’s commitment to electric vehicles is being matched by an increase in interest from drivers, as the perceived hurdles - including the initial cost of switching to an electric car, and the mile range compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars - are being cleared. Last month EVs accounted for one in every 12 new cars purchased in the UK. “Octopus EV is offering the electric vehicle equivalent of Sweden’s famous baby box,” says Octopus Electric Vehicles CEO Fiona Howarth That’s been attributed to a number of factors, including the availability of a range of cars that do at least 150miles on a single charge, EV drivers are 34 April 2019

37. Maestro’s Insights reducing their fuel spend by 90%, and with an increase in the number and visibility of charge points and a decrease in the cost of the electric vehicles themselves. There’s also been better proof of the environmental impact of EVs, such as a recent European Climate Foundation- commissioned report which found that EVs emit half the CO2 emissions of a petrol or diesel car through the course of their lifetime, and the overall effect has now been shown to be positive. A New Breed of EV One company is on a mission to help drive the adoption of electric vehicles. Octopus Electric Vehicles is pioneering an ‘EV bundle’ which will give drivers everything they need to make the switch, for one monthly price. The innovation has come from energy supplier Octopus Energy, which is driven by a mission ‘to make buying energy as easy as buying cornflakes’. Similarly, the team at Octopus EV wants to help to make the switch to EV as easy as possible, for as many people as possible. CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, Fiona Howarth says: “For us, the EV journey begins long before we start talking about leasing options and charge point installation. There’s a big education job to do - many people still believe that they’ll need to stop every few miles to recharge and that the range of models is limited. Our Drive Day roadshow has proved enormously popular, touring the country and letting people come and see the cars for themselves, as well as question EV experts about exactly how it all works” Fiona Howarth CEO Octopus Electric Vehicles per charge. cost.” Continues Howarth: “We’ve found that people are often surprised at what an electric car can do. I think there’s a general misconception that the technology and the pricing has stayed largely the same since EVs came to market a few years ago, whereas in fact today’s electric car is almost unrecognisable from its older incarnation, and a hell of a lot cheaper. Battery costs came down 80% in six years – unlocking a better range of electric vehicles at a fraction of the All-in-one EV solution After education, the challenge has been how to best help customers with the changes needed to go electric. Here, Octopus Electric Vehicles is pioneering adoption with their ‘EV bundle’. “We’re offering the electric vehicle equivalent of Sweden’s famous baby box, giving the driver everything they need to make the switch” says Howarth “and unlike babies, our vehicles come with instructions!” These events have not only demonstrated the massive leap forward that the industry has taken in the past few years, but also provided people with a chance to test drive the latest models. From the sporty BMW i3 to the family friendly Nissan LEAF, the cars have been carefully selected as the best EVs on the market, with each offering at least 150 miles of driving 35 April 2019

38. About Powerloop How Vehicle-to-Grid is changing the game Octopus can arrange the installation of the Zappi via trusted installers that can help unlock the £500 home charge point grant from the government. Electric vehicles have been criticised for placing more demand on an already overloaded grid. But a consortium of industry experts is hoping that electric vehicles could be the solution to the grid’s capacity issues, rather than a problem. Led by Octopus EV and Octopus Energy, the consortium has won over £3m of funding from Innovate UK (backed by government departments DfT and BEIS) to test the viability of vehicle-to-grid charging on UK roads. The Powerloop project offers EV drivers the chance to help balance demand by supplying the grid with power from their car batteries during the peak hours of 4-7pm, before recharging in the early hours of the morning while demand is lowest. In return for plugging in their cars 12 times a month to supply charge during the evening, Powerloop drivers will get money off their monthly leasing cost. This world-first tariff is possible thanks to Octopus EV’s relationship with Octopus Energy. The supplier is already taking advantage of the potential of smart meters with the Agile Octopus tariff, which lets customers see the fluctuations in wholesale energy prices and adjust their usage accordingly. It’s just the beginning of how the company intends to use smart meter technology, which allows them to measure and record electricity usage in real-time and offer cheaper electricity when demand on the grid is low. Fiona Howarth believes this will be a landmark year for electric vehicle adoption in the UK. “Tesla has revolutionised the market and now all other vehicle manufacturers are rapidly bringing their EVs to the market. Think of the switch from analogue phones to smart phones - we’re in a similar transitory phase. If the Government can deliver on their EV plans, and we think they can, the carpark of tomorrow is going to look very different to the gas-guzzling lot of today.” As well as the monthly lease of an electric vehicle, Octopus EV organises the installation of a home charge point and smart meter. The monthly lease cost can also include insurance, service and maintenance, as well as help and support for the duration of the contract. There’s even a bespoke electricity tariff, designed specifically with EV drivers in mind. Dubbed Octopus Go, it offers renewable electricity at just 5p/kWh between the hours of 12.30am and 4.30am, allowing people to charge their cars for just a fraction of the daytime cost for 70% less than a standard variable tariff from a Big 6 supplier. Octopus EV has also partnered with myenergi, to offer the innovative Zappi charge point, which automates charging to take advantage of these prices. 36 April 2019

40. 10 The Most Enriching Solution Providers in 2019 Hidden Iceland: Helping to Discover the Hidden Treasures I started hitting the headlines due to the immense possibility when it comes to tourism. So, born Hidden Iceland a boutique travel company in Iceland with its focus on offering personalized trips across the country. The organization helps its guests to hike on glaciers, discover ice caves, walk on active volcanoes and search for hidden gems while still ticking off the most popular places along the way. celand, the hidden gem of Europe is a mysterious land of fire and ice, waterfalls, volcanoes, wild landscapes and glaciers. In recent time Iceland has and knowledge of the uniqueness of Iceland. Dagný would often explore the hidden gems in a tent with her parents and grandparents during summers. Soon, she developed a belief that the focus within the tourism industry needed to be adjusted back towards crafting the best possible experiences for the guests who visit Iceland. So, Dagný and her team want the guests to leave Iceland with fond memories of the beautiful country and stories to share around the dinner table for years to come. Growing by Leaps and Bounds The amazing sights of Iceland are obviously a large component of the organization’s products. However, Hidden Iceland believes that travelling with one of its experienced, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic guides can transform any trip from good to unforgettable. The company has designed the trips in such a manner that the leaders are even proud to take their family and friends on. As a company Hidden Iceland is still very young. However, when it comes to the growth, it has grown beyond the expectations during the first year and half. The organization believes, the success by far is a result of hard work, personalized service, unique trips, honesty and transparency towards its guests. The best part is, even at this early age Hidden Iceland has welcomed its guests to Iceland again as they left wanting know and see more about the amazing country. The Leader who believes in Crafting Best Experiences The company always strives to be as flexible and solution driven as possible no matter how hard the wind blows and snow falls in the unpredictable winters. Currently, TripAdvisor has ranked Hidden Iceland at number three overall out of 386 tour operators from Reykjavík, with incredible feedback from its guests which always reflects the organization’s values and shows that its hand-picked guides can make its clients Dagný Björg Stefánsdóttir is the Sales Manager, CEO, and Co-owner of Hidden Iceland. Together with the General Manager Scott Drummond, both have crafted each itinerary with customer experiences and expectations in mind. While growing up in the tranquil and remote West Fjords, she gained an understanding 38 April 2019

41. “ Small group, personalized trips with passionate guides that take you behind waterfalls, into ice caves, across moving glaciers and onto volcanoes. “ — Dagný Björg Stefánsdóttir Sales Manager, CEO & Co-owner this sentiment is easy to believe. However the reality is that Iceland is big, as large as England in fact. feel like they are travelling with a group of family and friends. So, if anyone is willing to travel to the unexplored areas with the company, sleep in converted farm guest houses, taste the local cuisine then he/she is not only enriching his/her own experiences, but also diversifying the travel sector and helping out the locals living in the lesser known areas Tackling Challenges With the name Hidden Iceland, the organization often faces growing visitor numbers to the most celebrated sights it visits. Guests often contact the organization when starting to plan their trip to Iceland, wanting to avoid the crowds but still wanting to see all the popular highlights. So it’s then up-to the organization to manage expectations, time it perfectly while travelling to those locations, and mix it with visiting hidden sights. In certain seasons mass tourism becomes even more apparent in some locations, so knowing how to work around them is the real challenge. However, this can be done by venturing further and sometimes higher than other tour operators out there. Helping Clients to Enrich their Experience According to Hidden Iceland, media often portrays Iceland as becoming overcrowded more and more. With only one international airport the guests are all directed in the same direction on day tours from Reykjavík during the day and on northern lights trips during the evening so 39 April 2019