Follow DDG on Facebook, Twitter and also subscribe to get all deals via one daily email.

News Roundup

This is a roundup of news that I have come across during the day. Read about Hilton’s Homewood Suites refresh, millions of people skipping second doses of Covid vaccine, Rental car prices are so high in Hawaii, CBP officers find $4M in meth in pickles shipment, Manchester United Credit Card from fintech startup Cardless, and Brex raises $425M at a $7.4B valuation.

Hilton unveils Homewood Suites refresh

Hilton has unveiled a brand refresh for its extended stay Homewood Suites brand. The brand celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, and has over 500 locations across the US, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, with more than 100 properties in the pipeline. The group said that the ‘Prototype 10.0’ had been designed “to offer added value and versatility for owners and developers, while exceeding the needs of guests who want the comforts of home”.

Millions Are Skipping Their Second Doses of Covid Vaccines

More than five million people, or nearly 8 percent of those who got a first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, have missed their second doses, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is more than double the rate among people who got inoculated in the first several weeks of the nationwide vaccine campaign.

Rental car prices are so high in Hawaii, tourists are renting U-Haul trucks

U-Haul trucks are unexpectedly getting a new look in Hawaii. While the trucks are usually used for moving, tourists are now renting them because rental car prices have skyrocketed with the rebound of the tourism industry. Covid-19 brought tourism to a halt, but with states now easing restrictions, the industry has come bouncing back with force. The cheapest rental car in Maui in March ran for $722 a day.

CBP officers find $4M in suspected meth hidden in pickles shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered more than $4 million in suspected methamphetamine this month in a tractor-trailer hauling a commercial shipment of fresh cucumber pickles. CBP officers assigned to the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility in Texas found the drugs on April 17 hidden among the pickles in 114 plastic-wrapped packages, officials said.

This Surprising Gem May Be The Best New No Annual Fee Cash Back Card On The Market

There’s a way to earn an effective 6% back on rideshare, streaming services, and some of your restaurant spend on a no annual fee card. And you’ve probably never heard of this product. That’s because if you came across the new Manchester United Credit Card from fintech startup Cardless you might have skipped right over it, but that would have been a mistake.

Brex raises $425M at a $7.4B valuation

Brex disclosed a $425 million Series D led by Tiger Global. The new capital marks Brex’s largest fundraise to date, and was compiled at a valuation that is more than double its most recent private valuation. According to Crunchbase data, Brex’s mid-2020 Series C valued the company at just over $3.0 billion, including the investment’s $150 million in issued equity. Brex offered a big $1,100 bonus for new applicants recently (now only $250 through referrals), and there is another $1,000 bonus for signing up for a PayPal Business account.