Company Profiles: Spotlight on Travel and Tech

If you routinely store files somewhere other than your computer’s hard drive, you are probably saving them to the cloud—the network of servers that essentially make up the Internet. While some cloud servers host services—such as Adobe’s Creative Suite or Gmail—others store a variety of data and are becoming increasing popular with business and individual users alike. Dropbox has over 500 million users. Google Drive boasts more than a million paid customers, and millions more who subscribe to Microsoft’s Office 365 use OneDrive to store their documents, photos and videos remotely.

Wildfires, hurricanes, floods, new construction, deforestation, the damming of lakes and rivers: There are constant changes and challenges facing the millions of acres of land in the United States and the people who live and work on them. That’s where The Conservation Fund comes in. RewardExpert spoke with Jena Thompson Meredith, the Fund’s vice president of business partnerships about what makes the organization unique and how anyone can help protect the Earth.

If you’ve ever had an email account, you’ve likely received a message similar to this one:

Dear customer, our courier has attempted to deliver your parcel today, but you could not be contacted at the address or on the phone. Because nobody could sign for the parcel, we have deposited it at our local office, leaving you a notice in your mailbox. To claim your package, please visit our office with a printed copy of the delivery notice. A scanned copy of the UPS Missed Delivery Notice can also be found by clicking here.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know your bus was going to be ten minutes late so you could wait inside instead of standing in the rain? With the Moovit app, you can keep tabs on your transportation. RewardExpert had the opportunity to speak with Steve Swasey, Moovit vice president and head of global communications, about how it works.

Nowadays,millennials are often the brunt of jokes and sometimes even personal scorn. However, like any other generation, not all Millennials fit the stereotype. Some strive for financial success.

Are you looking for a new car that has the latest technology? Need a vehicle with a little more pizazz but want a short-term commitment and not a lot of paperwork hassle or money down? Or do you have a lease that you would like to get out of? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then Swapalease may be the right option for you. RewardExpert spoke with Scot Hall, Swapalease’s executive vice president of operations, about why getting in or out of a lease through Swapalease can save time and money.

Do you find it frustrating to find comparable car insurance rates? Are you tired of scouring through dozens of websites trying to find the best options? Do you feel like you’re paying too much for car insurance? If you’re seeking a clear cut, black and white option of viewing quotes in an efficient and cost-effective way, look no further than The Zebra.

Social trading and investing platform eToro represents more than six million registered members from 140 countries, revolutionizing the way people access financial markets.

The company makes the trading experience more social, enjoyable and transparent by offering FX, commodities, indices, CFD stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. David Berg, eToro’s UK regional manager, talked with RewardExpert about how traders are in more control than ever.

If you’ve paid any attention to advertising in the last 15 years, you’re probably familiar with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority slogan “What Happens Here, Stays Here.” Not only did the phrase drive millions of fun-seekers to Sin City, it also inspired a movie trilogy. Too bad it’s often wrong. Depending on federal and state laws, as well as your employer’s policies, your conduct while on vacation—or even just after hours—could have a direct effect on your job.

According to data from RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness, American consumption of animal protein increased five percent per capita in 2015. Individuals in the U.S. consumed nearly 271 pounds of meat that year—more per person than almost any other country on the planet—and RaboResearch scientists project U.S. protein production will continue to grow 2.5 percent per year through 2018.

Do you have dental coverage? Do you think it’s not necessary or too pricey? Do you believe that it’s not something you need to worry about? One trip to the dentist could cost you your entire paycheck and then some if you have to have an emergency procedure done right away. Oftentimes individuals have the mindset that nothing will happen to them – that is, until it does. DentalPlans.com offers more than just dental savings plans. It provides peace of mind to members, by a company that cares – all at an affordable price.

Nowadays, everything is in the cloud. Some companies saw that tech trend long ago.

Hosting service provider Memset provides Cloud VPS and dedicated server solutions in secure environments. In the past two years it has developed Cloud IaaS, which is powered by OpenStack and utilizes OpenSource technology. It’s a pay-as-you-go solution for cloud hosting that can scale in seconds and meet the demands of any business.

From overbooked flights and endless delays to cramped airplane seats and lost luggage, traveling can sometimes leave you feeling like everyone in the industry is out to get you. Fortunately, that’s not so. Travelers United, a non-profit membership organization with a five-star rating from GreatNonprofits.org, has your back.

RewardExpert recently spoke with Charles Leocha, the organization’s president and co-founder, about the inspiration behind Travelers United, their accomplishments and current initiatives, and the launch of a new paid membership option.

Understanding finances can be a challenge for some, which is why companies like Bills.com exist.

One of the Freedom Financial Network companies, it describes itself as providing innovative solutions that empower individuals to live healthier financial lives. This includes making better financial decisions — whether it’s homeowners understanding loan options and making smarter mortgage decisions, or learning about and getting transparent around debt solutions.

In today’s world, credit is essential. Whether you need to rent an apartment or car, purchase a mobile phone service plan, or want to earn cashback or rewards towards a dream vacation, you need a credit card to make it happen. Unfortunately, establishing credit has traditionally been difficult for some segments of the population, including students from other countries.

Lendio is a company that matches thousands of small businesses with the financing needed to grow, recharge and thrive. It is an online marketplace, akin to Kayak, AirBnb or Yelp, but for small business loans. It’s as simple as owners filling out an application and receiving access to more than 75 lenders on the company’s platform.

Anybody can be a travel agent. Even you.

The world of travel is wrought with twists, turns and surprises along the way, and it’s often better to be prepared for them. Earning commissions on those bookings? Even better. A company called TRVL does just that, and more.

Do you want to start your own business, but are worried about the cost of expensive office management software? Do you already have a successful company, but are looking to save money and also boost productivity and efficiency? ONLYOFFICE could be the solution for you. ONLYOFFICE offers a complete productivity suite for growing businesses and individuals, complete with document management, project management, calendars, email and other features. It is already used by more than two million people around the globe, and everyday more than 100 teams deploy it on their private network. The company’s mission is to bring the most innovative web office apps to everyone.

Step into many major cities of the world, and chances are there will be a river at its heart. Think about the Hudson in New York, the Thames in London, the Danube in Vienna, the Nile in Cairo, the Han in Seoul and so on. But rivers are not just important to big cities. Healthy, vibrant rivers are also critical to rural communities, and many of these smaller rivers particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, are endangered.

That’s where International Rivers comes in. The Berkeley, California-based organization works to preserve and protect the world’s rivers from overdevelopment, misuse and destructive projects. It is also dedicated to giving local citizens the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.

From free checked bags to free seat upgrades, and free wi-fi to free continental breakfast, ‘free’ is many travelers’ favorite four-letter word. If you’re among them, you’ll love TheFreeSite.com. Created as a catalog of the Web’s best freebies, the site will help you score free samples and services you can use at home or on the road.