On May 17, the old fourth branch in Atlanta was buzzing with celebration when the entertainment director and entrepreneur Ebona Ward officially opened the door 550 rmgThe recent headquarters of her company, eleventh & Co. A ten,000 square feet of 10,000 is a return to her hometown and a brave investment in black creativity, cooperation and community.

“To be honest, it really means everything,” Ward said about having a brand new headquarters. “You work so hard to achieve a certain level of success. I have been in the industry for 13 years and I have rented a lot of space. I have worked with many other companies and brands, but have something of my own … I just feel completely different.”

Ward travel in the entertainment industry covers over a decade, including rap stars management comparable to Future, Gunna, DDG and Flo Milli. As one of probably the most influential black women in music, she is understood for connecting her sharp business vertex with deep involvement in community, culture and mentoring.

550 RMG is a brand new house of five black corporations, including eleventh & COCreative Agency Six Degrees, Production Collective Genius Club, Non -Profit initiative and a month on the table and the approaching nine distribution, a brand new distribution company that’s to start out in September 2025.

“It gives me so many opportunities to help many more people,” said Ward. “Especially other black women who are interested in music business, entertainment, television, music, film … allows me to open and support so many other people.”

Ward has an extended history of cooperation with the founders of enterprises positioned at 550 RMG.

“I worked with B. Wright (Brian” Bwrightous “Wright) since 2011, when he was in Morehouse,” she said. “I used to have a Sneaker boutique on Peter Street and sold his shirts. We have been working together for years, and this allows us to support our companies in a more intentional way.”

The recent facility can be an area in which creativity and community coexist. Designed by an interior designer based in Atlanta, Annies Lamantia, 550 RMG features a recording studio, edition and production bay, wardrobe showroom, open kitchen, patio and plenty of conference rooms.

“Studio is a place where magic is created,” Ward said, although she also emphasized the importance of versatility of space. “I really wanted to pull energy from this space. I wanted the versatility of opening up, so that people could cooperate and be common, but also have a space in which people can be focused and have a certain level of privacy.”

The intention for 550 RMG is deeply rooted in service. “This is the point for me – the messenger,” said Ward. Her Non -Profit organization, a spot on the table, recently hosted the third annual dinner on the occasion of HBCU scholarship holders. “I’ve always walked about music, art, philanthropy, fashion and finance. That’s what I call my Big Five. But philanthropy has such a close and expensive place in my heart.”

Ward’s commitment in social care is as comprehensive as its business tip. From events supporting women who’ve experienced losses in the course of the Mother’s Day, to programming breast cancer awareness in October, significant financial investments in scholarships for young black women attending HBCus, her work through the place on the table changes life. “I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Borority Incorporated, and the service is always the first. But even more so, service with a mission,” she said.

Building a team of powerful black women can be the predominant part of Ward’s legacy. While Ward is the overall director, owner and company manager, Jenna Tyson, Jenna Tyson, is the marketing director (CMO), Alexandria Kindle has 11^thAnd the financial director I CO (CFO), Krishna Lee is EVP Touring & Logistics, and Zita R. Brack is the corporate’s internal legal advisor.

“I’m not without them,” Ward said. “As far as I am celebrated, if I could put them on a pedestal – on every pedestal I am in – they would be right next to me. I saw it and I was looking for many of them who came with me because of how amazing I thought.”

With the launch of nine distributions on the Ward horizon, there’s the inspiration for a more fair music industry. “Independence flourishes,” she said. “You don’t have to be signed now to the main label to succeed, but to be able to run a company, it requires a team. This is what we will be able to do differently – you can enter the incubated system in which everything is already working.”

550 RMG was born in addition to vision. “I wanted a comprehensive store,” she said. “There was no institution or a company where you were able to do everything in one.”

While the obligations to work require an everyday travel department to Los Angeles, a return to Atlanta, to construct 550 RMG, seemed vital. “You must be a change you want in the world,” she said. “If I do not give people work, resources and tools, I do not create opportunities. Black women must see that it is possible.”

Traveldream.com.au sold with holiday discounts – chosen tourist trips, boutique and cultural trips trips through A clever website and refined social media ads. But last week there have been news that a tourist company from Melbourne He fell to administrationleaving customers from pocket by 1000’s of dollars, and in some cases got stuck abroad.

Many didn’t know that Traveldream has not been formally accredited with a leading industry body since 2020. His status under Australian travel accreditation programLeaded by the Australian Travel Industry Association, has been canceled.

Even worse, most travel insurance policies Do not include insolvencymeaning Many customers cannot get well their losses.

Australians are expected to end $ 2 billion Online holiday reservation in 2024–25.

Large platforms, corresponding to Booking.com and Expedia Account O 60% this motion. But many travelers also turn to smaller or less known suppliers offering flashy offers and lower prices, often with fewer security.

So how are you able to protect yourself? Start with these five controls.

1

This is a common tactic that is difficult to resist. You scroll, see a dreamy picture, the value is tempting and suddenly you’re in the course of the money register.

But refined promoting doesn’t guarantee legitimacy.

Travel fraud If They growEspecially engaging Sellers only online.

Check for those who can confirm your corporation address, phone number and customer support. If the contract seems unclear, underestimated or excessively urgent, it’s a red flag.

Look for independent reviews (on Trustpilot, TripAdvisor or Google) and check Scamwatch for known problems.

2. Look how the company is involved with clients

The company’s status isn’t only what it guarantees: It is predicated on how he reacts to questions and complaints. Before booking, take a moment to see how the company interacts with clients online.

Do they respond constructively to complaints? Do they provide updates or explanations when problems arise?

Also concentrate to the tone. Does it feel Human and responsiveIs general and manual? This may suggest how they’ll treat you after sales.

Small characters can speak to the amount. A page with 1000’s of followers, but no visible commitment may indicate a paid audience – and a company that disappears when the situation becomes difficult.

3. Check if the company is accredited

Another way to assess the credibility of a tourist company is to check whether it has formal accreditation. This signal that the company has met financial security standards, customer support and dispute resolution.

Search for the Australian Travel Accreditation Program register https://www.atas.com.auor search High -quality accreditation. In the case of foreign suppliers, check the recognized local programs.

Accreditation offers additional assurance, but this isn’t the entire picture. Some large, reputable corporations, corresponding to expedia, operate without it. If the company isn’t accredited, proceed caution and give attention to how reservations and payments are supported.

4. Carefully examine the foundations

Before booking, check what is going to occur if the supplier receives whether you’ll be able to cancel or change the date and how the reservation has been confirmed. Where possible, proceed directly with the hotel, air or cruise line to make certain that the reservations are secured.

It can also be vital to understand what Travel insurance does – and doesn’t include.

The company’s insolvency is one among the The most typical exclusion. While the policy doesn’t include the “failure of the end supplier” or a similar clause (most don’t), you might not have the ability to apply for a refund. Always read the product revealing instructions to check exactly where you’re.

Another security is to pay for defense. Although the conditions differ depending on the supplier, bank cards can offer a return load If goods or services are usually not delivered.

5. Book directly where possible

During accredited travel agencies It may be helpful in complex routesLike foreign trips with many stops or package services, it is usually price booking directly with the supplier when organizing online travel, no matter whether it’s a hotel, airline or a trip company.

Cutting out brokers can offer higher value, including free add -ons, flexible cancellation and full access to loyalty programs.

Direct reservations normally reflect the provision and costs in real time, reducing the danger of outdated information. You will use direct communication and confirmation, making it easier to adjust or solve problems.

If something goes improper, there’s also greater clarity about who’s responsible – it offers a stronger appeal Australian consumer law.

Lower line?

As increasingly more Australians book online, it’s tougher to say what’s trustworthy and what can reject you out of your pocket.

The fall of Traveldream is a reminder. Even on this planet of digital travel offers, it pays to ask: is that this company built to last, not only the departure of the trip, but until you come home?

Although the US economy Over 170,000 jobs were added last monthmore black women lost their jobs than anyone else, in accordance with The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

According to APRIL’s work report, despite the fact that the US unemployment rate remained at 4.2%, black women constituted a complete of 106,000 lost jobs. The employment of black women was immersed from 10.325 million in March to 10.219 million in April. Meanwhile, their unemployment rate increased from 5.1% to six.1%, which is the most significant increase in month to month amongst all demographies. According to data, black women lost 304,000 jobs since February.

General black unemployment also increased in the third in a row a month in a row from 6.2% to six.3%, the highest rate from January. However, black men noticed a not very disturbing increase in employment-the echoes of unemployment dropped from 6.1% to five.6%.

As for other demographic data, the unemployment rate remained mostly unchanged, including white women who amounted to three.3%, and Latin women who amounted to 4.6%. In addition to the Black Americans, the Latin Americans had the second highest unemployment rate in April at 5.8%, while Asian Americans had the lowest 3.0%. The unemployment rate for white Americans in April was 3.8%.

This report appears after 4 months of Trump’s administration, which cut off every thing and any work function that is remotely related to the diversity, equality and employment and initiatives. The influence began to resound in all corporate America, and plenty of corporations announce the end or change of their politician Dei.

The arrangements on this report are disturbed by black experts.

“The extraordinary nature of this growth of black women’s unemployment is a testimony and a direct result of anti-dei and anti-black concentration of new administration policy,” William Michael Cunningham, economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, he said about data. “This is clearly harmful to the black community, which we have not seen before.”

Other experts strive for cautious optimism around the general image. Just a few agree that matters are able to deteriorate with such a great amount of flow between ongoing tariff wars and the growing costs of work and life.

“Let’s face it, everything will deteriorate this year, probably later in summer,” said Robert Frick, a company economist from the Federal Credit Union of Navy CNN. “But for now we really have to correct our thumbs and hope that the income and work will continue.”