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We created a ski vacation for Israelis at premium clubs, at prices that are hard to compete with.

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time: 4 min read
The international ski club chain Belambra, together with the Israeli Penguin Tourism company, have taken the market by storm with significantly lower prices, without compromising on particularly high standards. “For a price of 1,950 euros, we are giving Israeli ski enthusiasts an end-to-end solution: flights, transfers, all-inclusive accommodation and a ski pass. Everything is pre-arranged down to the smallest detail.”

Many Israelis fly abroad for a ski vacation every year, and the popularity of winter trips is only increasing. It seems to be an optimal combination of adrenaline-filled extreme sports, a vacation in a luxury hotel, around-the-clock entertainment, restaurants and bars, and all in a calm and peaceful European atmosphere, but there is just one small problem: the price tags for these vacations tend to be very high, especially when it comes to the prestigious and sought-after ski resorts of France.

The international ski club chain Belambra has chosen to enter the Israeli market, in exclusive collaboration with Penguin, and offer the Israeli skier audience the chain’s five premium clubs (5 B ) at launch prices.  Adults start at 1,950 to 2,300 euros on average for a weekly vacation and children start at 1,590 euros. This is compared to prices of 2,900-3,600 euros for comparable packages. The ski packages marketed by Penguin include everything you need, from round-trip flights (El Al flights to Geneva on Sundays or Penguin chartered planes on Saturdays), Israeli representatives, transfers, 7 nights on an all-inclusive basis, a ski pass and the option to add equipment rental and instruction to the package. 

“We like to say that you can come to this vacation without a wallet – because the accommodation is on a true all-inclusive basis,” says Yaron Ohana, CEO of Penguin Travel Services. “We offer a perfect solution for ski enthusiasts who are interested in staying at premium ski clubs. Accommodation at the clubs includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, unlimited soft, hot and spicy drinks, a pampering spa center with an indoor swimming pool and saunas, spacious rooms, children’s clubs and elaborate entertainment shows every evening.”

5B: The highest level clubs

Penguin offers five Belambra ski clubs at level 5B, two of which are new (from December 2023) in the Grand Massif and Les Deux Alpes ski resorts in France. The clubs are characterized by a young and lively atmosphere, an alcohol bar, shows and entertainment evenings. The vacations are also tailored to families, with children’s clubs, and even ski camps in Hebrew for children aged 6 to 14, on selected dates. Skiing is possible in most clubs from/to the club entrance.

Is it really possible to pay less for the same product without compromising on quality? According to Ohana, the answer is definitely positive. He explains that “the Belambra club chain has decided to invest a lot of effort in wooing Israeli skiers, and with our recommendation, this is done at very attractive prices. All Belambra chain clubs are rated with the letter B (similar to stars), and we at Penguin market five of the chain’s clubs at level 5B only – the highest level. Also in terms of value for money, there is no doubt that Belambra clubs receive the highest score.”

The most popular surfing sites

One of Belambra’s flagship clubs is located in the Tignes ski resort in France, in the center of the lively town of Val d’Isere. The club was completely renovated in 2021 and is located on the slopes of the ski resort. The resort offers 300 km of slopes suitable for all levels of skiing, from beginners to advanced and even a glacier, which can be reached by underground train. The ski area shared by the towns of Tignes and Val d’Isere is known as one of the best in the French Alps.

Another club, opening in winter 2024, is located in Grand Massif, known as the ski resort with the highest number of sunny days per season. The site offers 265 km of trails and additional activities such as snowmobiling, mountain sledding, paragliding, ATVs and more. Surfing in the area allows you to visit no less than five magical towns in the area, all on one ski pass. The other clubs are in Les Deux Alpes, Les Arcs and Avoriaz.

In the winter of 2026, the chain plans to launch two more completely new premium clubs. 

“Go on vacation without worrying”

“The feeling we all look for when going on vacation is that there is no need to worry about anything – that everything will be organized in advance, taken care of and tidy, at the highest level, with an Israeli company representative who takes care of everything,” says Ohana. “This is exactly what you get in the packages we offer at Belambra clubs. We were very happy to open the chain’s first club in the winter of 2021, because we realized that it fits exactly the needs and character of the Israeli audience.

“After careful consideration, the chain’s management chose Penguin to represent it exclusively in Israel, a fact that allows us to purchase a large inventory of rooms in advance, at a special price that is passed on directly to the company’s customers. Quite a few of our customers have already returned from a vacation at one of the clubs, and decided the following year to book a vacation at another club in the Belambra chain, a fact that testifies more than anything to the level of customer satisfaction. The trend shows that more and more Israelis are discovering that it is possible to enjoy an amazing ski vacation, with everything paid for in advance, and at a very attractive price.”

Exclusive benefits for those who book a ski vacation at one of the Lambra clubs by the end of December!

Base Camp Pro suitcase for €49 instead of €155,
high-quality thermal suit + 3 pairs of ski socks for €39 instead of €79,
free ski suit rental for children,
and a variety of other benefits to choose from!

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A team of Harvard researchers introduces TxAgent: an artificial intelligence agent for personalized care

May 20, 2025
The Zitnik Lab at Harvard has developed TxAgent, an artificial intelligence agent that combines multi-step analysis and real-time access to medical databases, with the goal of providing personalized treatment recommendations and improving treatment outcomes.

 

TxAgent: A Breakthrough in Personalized Medical Care

The Zitnik Lab at Harvard University recently introduced TxAgent, an innovative artificial intelligence agent designed to revolutionize the therapeutic decision-making process. The development comes at a critical time as healthcare systems around the world seek ways to improve the efficiency of medical care and reduce medical errors.

Led by Prof. Marinka Zitnik, the team of researchers developed a system that combines advanced multi-step analysis and real-time dynamic access to huge medical databases. The system is able to assess complex drug interactions, identify potential contraindications, and suggest treatment strategies tailored to the specific patient based on their entire medical data.

“TxAgent represents a completely new approach to precision medicine,” explains Prof. Zitnik. “Instead of relying on standard protocols that are not always appropriate for every patient, our system analyzes each patient’s unique situation and offers a personalized treatment plan.”

TxAgent’s complex architecture integrates 211 different data analysis tools, ranging from traditional statistical models to advanced deep learning algorithms, all working in harmony to provide accurate and reliable treatment recommendations.

 

Advanced capabilities and technological innovation

One of TxAgent’s significant advantages is its ability to perform complex analyses of medical data in real time. The system can analyze a patient’s medical history, laboratory test results, genetic data, and information about previous treatments, and combine all of this with the latest scientific knowledge from global medical databases.

Unlike traditional clinical support systems, TxAgent goes beyond providing basic alerts, but offers in-depth, layered analysis:

  • Drug interaction analysis : The system identifies not only direct interactions between drugs, but also combined effects of several drugs together.
  • Genetic matching : TxAgent takes into account the patient’s genetic profile to predict drug efficacy and side effects.
  • Continuous learning : The system is constantly improving with each new case, updated in real time from new studies and clinical protocols.
  • Transparency in decision-making : Unlike “black box” systems, TxAgent provides clear explanations for each recommendation, which increases the medical team’s trust in the system.

Dr. James Chen, one of the senior researchers on the project, emphasizes: “One of the biggest challenges in medicine today is the enormous amount of information that doctors have to process. TxAgent helps filter the most relevant information and presents it clearly, allowing doctors to make more informed decisions in less time.”

 

The potential to improve treatment outcomes and patient safety

The clinical application of TxAgent holds significant potential for improving treatment outcomes and patient safety in several aspects:

  1. Reduce medical errors : According to studies, medication errors cause many unnecessary hospitalizations each year. TxAgent can reduce these errors by accurately identifying drug interactions and contraindications.
  2. Dose personalization : The system is able to recommend dosage adjustments based on many factors, including patient weight, kidney and liver function, medical history, and genetic profile.
  3. Improving treatment compliance : Through personalized recommendations, TxAgent can help reduce side effects and improve patients’ compliance with drug treatment.
  4. Streamlining decision-making processes : Making relevant information available in real time allows the medical team to make faster and more informed decisions.

In initial trials in a controlled clinical setting, TxAgent showed a 28% improvement in identifying potentially dangerous drug interactions, and a 34% improvement in tailoring treatment protocols to unique patient profiles.

 

Ethical challenges and questions

Despite the great promise, the development and implementation of systems like TxAgent also raises significant challenges:

  • Privacy and data security : The system requires access to sensitive medical information, which raises questions about data security and privacy.
  • Medical liability : Questions regarding liability in cases of error or system failure have not yet been fully resolved.
  • Integration into existing systems : Integrating the system into existing medical information systems poses a significant technical challenge.
  • Training of medical teams : The success of the system depends largely on the ability of medical teams to use it effectively.

Prof. Zitnik is aware of these challenges: “We take the ethical and practical questions seriously. TxAgent is intended to be a decision-support tool, not a substitute for medical judgment. The physician always remains the ultimate authority in the decision-making process.”

Summary: The Future of Personalized Medicine

TxAgent represents a significant step forward in the era of personalized medicine. The system demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be used as a powerful tool in the hands of medical staff, enabling more informed decisions tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

“Personalized medicine is not just a trend, but the future of medicine,” concludes Prof. Zitnik. “With tools like TxAgent, we are moving toward a world where medical care will be more precise, more efficient, and perfectly tailored to each patient.”

The research team is now planning larger clinical trials in collaboration with several hospitals across the United States, with the aim of testing the system’s effectiveness in a wide range of clinical scenarios and patient populations. If the trials are successful, TxAgent could be available to medical institutions within two to three years.

We tailor unique financing solutions for importers based on deep knowledge of the business.

May 19, 2025

Many importers are unaware that they can grow quickly and efficiently with a more efficient financing solution than the bank. ​”The solutions we create for importers take a lot of the headache out of the business owner, while providing a deep understanding of the entire supply chain and the challenges they face,” explains Yossi Shekler, CEO of the financing company Tomaam​

Yossi Shekler, CEO of the financing company Toam

“Importers are faced with a reality where they have to do everything – take care of advertising, bring in customers, communicate with the customs broker, choose a shipping company, make sure that the goods have arrived at the port, take care of collection, make payments to suppliers, track shipments and cash flow – and in the midst of all this, also make sure that the business grows and prospers. We say, “Come and let us take care of the financing and logistics side, we will take care of all this headache – and you can focus on running your business,” says Yossi Shekler, CEO of Tomaam Maimon, which specializes in financing and logistics solutions for importers.

Toma’s control over all links in the import chain comes from years of experience. Toma was established in 1974 by the Kibbutz Movement (TKAM), with the aim of serving the kibbutz enterprises with financing and service for their purchases abroad.

“We have been supporting importers for nearly 45 years,” says Shekler. In fact, there is no company in Israel that knows this field on such a deep level. Furthermore, we understand how critical the financial aspect is for an importer’s business in order to grow and prosper. Tomaam is the oldest non-bank financing company in Israel, and we tailor unique financing solutions for importers based on our deep knowledge of the business.”

“In 2013, when the kibbutz crisis ended, we decided to offer our services to the private market. We thought to ourselves that if it was good for kibbutz clients, it would provide great value to organizations and companies in the economy. The company grew in a very precise and calculated manner. We did it without advertising. We turned to financial advisors who know their clients’ businesses and are aware of their financing problems, and we showed them that we know how to provide service from A to Z.”

What does service from A to Z mean?

“Our services include everything related to logistics and financing. We have financing services for importers, shipping services, and customs clearance. Everything under one roof, based on familiarity with their business and a deep understanding of the service they need to grow.”

“We collect the goods from the supplier, handle transportation to the port abroad, shipping to Israel, customs clearance, the necessary handling until the goods reach the customer, payment for the goods, extension of the supplier’s credit days, handling letters of credit and everything related to the import process.”

“This is a very unique company, there is no other company like it in Israel that provides all the services to importers. We have the experience and technological capabilities to operate this complex procedure.”

“The bank looks back, we look forward”

What are the challenges that importers encounter in terms of financing?

“When an importer comes to the bank and requests a loan aimed at increasing his business activity – for purchases from overseas suppliers, inventory, finished products, raw materials, new machines, and so on, to purchase new machines, raw materials, cars for employees, to pay salaries – the bank looks back and examines what the importer has done so far.

“We do exactly the opposite – we look ahead, and examine where the importer will grow. We are a non-banking company with an expanded license, and can provide financing beyond the banking framework in accordance with the rapid growth needs of the business, to allow the importer to grow.”

Importers have the option of deducting checks. Isn’t that enough?

“Our solution is more convenient, cheaper, and allows the importer to plan long-term business activities according to the business’s business capabilities and not according to the number of checks he has. We will give him the financing according to his goods, and if he is able to grow further, we will help him grow and not stop him.”

“We are interested in giving our customers smart solutions according to their needs. Flexible solutions that change as the business develops, financing frameworks that will give them peace of mind and direction for strategic planning and investment in the business, and not a one-time Band-Aid of cash in exchange for a check. We have the ability to provide non-bank financing services, which allows us to provide more sophisticated and appropriate solutions, and this is our main advantage: even if the importer arrives without a single check, but with a working business, we will know how to tailor a framework for him.”

“Living the market, with your finger on the pulse”

From your experience, are importers encountering new challenges in the post-Corona period?

“Right now, the challenges are rising prices in the world, inflation, the rising cost of transportation from abroad. These are the things that worry them. We know how to tailor the suit and accompany it even in difficult times. For example, during the Corona period, we knew how to support high demand for products that customers had to purchase due to the situation, and the banks did not respond to them.”

“For example, because everything was delivered home as take-away, there was a huge demand for food packaging. But in terms of financing, everything came to a standstill during the Corona period. An importer who needed to increase his credit limit to purchase packaging did not receive a response from the bank. We understood that purchasing packaging products would lead to business growth and supported our clients who needed an increase in cash flow for this purpose, at a time when banks were tightening their belts.”

“We live the market, and with our finger on the pulse: we are in the ports, in the airports, we live the entire world of imports. And that’s why we give customers what they need, before they even know they need it,” concludes Sheckler.