diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c265fce..edf20fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ TestNG Remote - the modules for running TestNG remotely. This is normally used b
 <dependency>
   <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
   <artifactId>testng-remote-dist</artifactId>
-  <version>1.5.1</version>
+  <version>1.6.0</version>
   <classifier>shaded</classifier>
 </dependency>
 ```
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index df9c10f..1933835 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Release Remote TestNG
 
 1. Create a release branch like `release/1.6.0`
 2. Go to https://github.com/testng-team/testng-remote/actions/workflows/release.yml
-  * Select the `branch` you just created: `release/1.6.0`
-  * Set `releaseVersion`: the new release version, for example, `1.6.0`
-  * Set `developmentVersion`: the next development version, for example, `1.6.1-SNAPSHOT` 
+    * Select the `branch` you just created: `release/1.6.0`
+    * Set `releaseVersion`: the new release version, for example, `1.6.0`
+    * Set `developmentVersion`: the next development version, for example, `1.6.1-SNAPSHOT` 
+3. Merge the release branch without squashing to retain the git tag
diff --git a/dist/pom.xml b/dist/pom.xml
index 5bb4531..5f3bfc1 100644
--- a/dist/pom.xml
+++ b/dist/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote-dist</artifactId>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 9c2e747..c73bdc5 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
     <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
-    <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     <name>Remote TestNG</name>
     <description>Run TestNG in Distribution Mode (Remote Client-Server Mode)</description>
     <url>https://github.com/testng-team/testng-remote</url>
diff --git a/remote-test/pom.xml b/remote-test/pom.xml
index 7f53bd9..09d0510 100644
--- a/remote-test/pom.xml
+++ b/remote-test/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote-test</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote/pom.xml b/remote/pom.xml
index d3c0647..523d777 100644
--- a/remote/pom.xml
+++ b/remote/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_0/pom.xml b/remote6_0/pom.xml
index dd2318b..e760885 100644
--- a/remote6_0/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_0/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_0</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_10/pom.xml b/remote6_10/pom.xml
index 91b4198..db7c870 100644
--- a/remote6_10/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_10/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_10</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_12/pom.xml b/remote6_12/pom.xml
index 08b3adc..c07e146 100644
--- a/remote6_12/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_12/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_12</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_5/pom.xml b/remote6_5/pom.xml
index 12058c7..f4f77b0 100644
--- a/remote6_5/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_5/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_5</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_9_10/pom.xml b/remote6_9_10/pom.xml
index d827ac0..e3e4613 100644
--- a/remote6_9_10/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_9_10/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_9_10</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote6_9_7/pom.xml b/remote6_9_7/pom.xml
index 0406855..ac7c2f8 100644
--- a/remote6_9_7/pom.xml
+++ b/remote6_9_7/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote6_9_7</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote7_8/pom.xml b/remote7_8/pom.xml
index 0bb8433..7b4b454 100644
--- a/remote7_8/pom.xml
+++ b/remote7_8/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote7_8</artifactId>
diff --git a/remote7_9/pom.xml b/remote7_9/pom.xml
index 154cf85..fc9bb17 100644
--- a/remote7_9/pom.xml
+++ b/remote7_9/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.testng.testng-remote</groupId>
         <artifactId>testng-remote-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>1.5.2-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>1.7.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>testng-remote7_9</artifactId>