Author: Rabindra

JTB Meetings and Events Attends Cvent Accelerate Singapore 2024

July 20, 2024,Singapore : As a Cvent Platinum Partner, JTB Meetings & Events*1 was delighted to lend their support by attending the 3rd edition of Cvent’s annual event.

Here are the takeaways from the event​:

Event Highlights

With over 400 attendees, the event was a melting pot of industry leaders, event planners, marketers, and hospitality professionals, all gathering to hear about the latest trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of the events industry. The event kicked off with a welcome note by Brian Ludwig, Senior Vice President of Sales, Event Solutions at Cvent. His insights set the tone for the day, emphasising the power of in-person events in generating demand and establishing meaningful connections. Brian highlighted over 7 million events on Cvent’s platform since its inception in 1999, underscoring the unmatched impact of meetings and events in fostering human connection.

Keynote Address

The opening keynote by Simone Heng, a Human Connection Specialist, was a significant highlight. Simone’s engaging talk revolved around the importance of human connections in an increasingly digital world. She emphasised that while AI can serve as a gateway to human connection, it should not and cannot replace the deep, vulnerable interactions that are essential for meaningful relationships. Her insights on the “loneliness epidemic” and its potential impact on the future were particularly thought-provoking.

Data-Driven Insights

A panel discussion titled “Uncover the Story of Your Meetings & Events Data: Insights, Benchmarks, and Best Practices from Experts” featured industry leaders like Adam Piperdy, Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Unearthed Productions, and Kenneth Leong, Executive Director of Marina Bay Sands. Moderated by Will Kataria, Senior Director & General Manager, Asia Pacific of Cvent, this session delved into how data can be leveraged to enhance event personalization, marketing segmentation, and overall attendee experience. The panellists shared practical examples of how data analytics have transformed event strategies, and provided attendees with actionable insights.

AI and Events

The session on “AI and Events: Debunking Myths and Embracing Opportunities for Success” by Harsha Hariharan, Regional Sales Director, Event Solutions at Cvent, was another major draw. Harsha demystified AI’s role in the events industry, highlighting its potential to automate repetitive tasks and enhance creative processes. He encouraged attendees to start small with AI, using it to support internal events before scaling up to more significant, market-facing events.

Tech Tours and Innovation

Participants were treated to two tech tours that showcased the latest innovations in event technology. These tours provided hands-on experiences with cutting-edge tools designed to streamline event management and enhance attendee engagement. The event also featured a session on “The Future of Event Tech: Exploring the Road Ahead,” which discussed futuristic concepts like using turnstiles or footsteps to power sessions within events and 3D printed food for attendees to help reduce food wastage.

Customer Spotlight

The “Customer Spotlight: Enhancing Efficiency and Cost Savings with Event Tech” session, moderated by Valerie Liow, Account Manager at Cvent, featured insights from Yeow Ching Shiong, Senior Manager at SMU College of Graduate Research Studies, and Diana Sani, COO of Chab Events. They discussed the evolution of event technology and its critical role in improving efficiency and customer experience. Key takeaways included the importance of pushing technological limits and providing on-the-spot support to enhance user experience.

Sustainable and Inclusive Event Design

The final session of the day, “Innovative Event Design: Reflecting Brand Values through Accessible, Sustainable, and Inclusive Experiences,” was moderated by Nico Nicholas, CEO of Trees4Travel, with insights from several panellists including Manpreet Kaur, Director of Meetings & Events at Cvent, and Edward Koh, Executive Director of Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel Experience Development Group. They explored how event organisers can integrate sustainability into event design without compromising attendee experience. The session also addressed the importance of avoiding greenwashing and ensuring cultural sensitivity and accessibility.The speakers emphasised the need for the events industry to remain humble yet innovative, continuously adapting to new trends and technologies.

The session concluded with a song using keywords that the panellists selected after each question. The lyrics were written during the talk by Christo Alexander and Ze, both from SongDivision, who created the melody by asking the moderator to select 3 keys. This was a great way to highlight the importance of harnessing the power of engagement and entertainment.

Will Kataria wrapped up the day with a poignant analogy; meetings and events are like rice. They are the foundation upon which business is built.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, the insights gained and connections made at Cvent Accelerate 2024 will propel ongoing innovation and excellence in the global events industry. With a renewed emphasis on technology integration, attendee engagement, and sustainable practices, the foundation is laid for continued growth and transformation in events worldwide.

Footnote
*1: JTB Meetings & Events is a leading name in corporate meeting & event management and travel technology solutions in the JTB Corp Group.

Asia Today Media Honors Achievers at Prestigious Pride of Nation Award 2024

Saturday, July 20, Bangalore, Karnataka, India : Asia Today Media hosted a “Pride of Nation Award 2024” to honour exceptional individuals from various fields for their dedication and expertise. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Shri Jagdish Shetter, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Member of Parliament, Padma Shri Dr C. N. Manjunath, Member of Parliament and Gulshan Grover – Indian Bollywood Actor.

This prestigious event aimed to honor the highest levels of achievement within the worldwide Indian community, celebrating outstanding success across diverse sectors. The awards were presented to individuals excelling in Art & Entertainment, Education, Healthcare, Business, and Social work.

Among the distinguished winners were renowned achievers such as: –
Padma Shri Dr. C R Chandrashekar – Pride of Nation Award – Medicine
Padma Shri Dr. Prema Dhanraj – Pride of Nation Award – Medicine
Chemix Specialty Gases & Equipment – Best Manufacturer of Gas Mixtures And Applications of Gases of The Year
Nalanda International Independent Pre University College Periyapatna, Mysure – Best Day Cum Boarding Pu College In Karnataka
Dr. B R Patil – Outstanding Cancer Specialist of The Year
Ms. Simran Balar Jain – Internet Personality of The Year
Asthaz Self Defence Academy – Most Admired Self Defence Academy for Empowering Girls
Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre – Best Bio Research And Innovation Centre of The Year
Brindavan Group of Institutions- Best Engineering College of the Year, Karnataka
Dr. Sadanand Poojary – Best Urologist of The Year – Karnataka
Apoorva Supermulti Speciality Hospital – Best Healthcare Services Provider In Belagavi, Karnataka
Tapovana Group of Institutions – Best Ayurvedic Medical College of The Year – Karnataka
Anantha Lakshmi International School – Best International School With Academic Excellence In Andhra Pradesh
Dr. B. A. Gopala Krishna – Most Promising Arthroplasty Surgeon of The Year – Karnataka
Dr. Bharavi Chunduri – Most Promising Cardiologist of The Year – Telangana
Why Not – Best Electronic And Home Appliance Chain of The Year
Spectraa Technology Solutions Ltd. – Best Manufacturer of Customized Equipment
Dr. A Vamsi Krishna – Young Pediatrician of The Year – Andhra Pradesh
Viswam Engineering College – Best Engineering College In Andhra Pradesh
Mr. Lutfat Haque – Outstanding Contribution to Social Work
Anantha Lakshmi Institute of Technology And Science – Most Promising Engineering College In Andhra Pradesh
Mr. C A Philipose – Social Achievement Award – Karnataka
Prayaga Foundation For Excellence In Education And Training – Pride of Nation Award-Education Excellence
CNR Arts & Science College – Most Promising Degree College In Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Ohm Prakash Gunasekaran – Most Promising CEO of The Year -Tamilnadu
Shri Vinaychandra Mahenderkar (Chairman) Institute of Business Management & Research – Most Admired Educationist Of The Year-Karnataka
Dr. Musharraf Ahmed Khan – Best Educationist And Social Activist of The Year-India
Media Connect- Most Promising Healthcare P R Service Provider of The Year – Karnataka
Profix Med- Best Emerging Manufacturer of Medical Equipment And Consumables
Mr. Shivanand S Hoogar – Social Achievement Award-Karnataka

While addressing, MP Dr. C.N. Manjunath said, “that incomplete works and poor infrastructure are responsible for the spread of health problems like dengue and fever in urban areas.

He further said, “that the dengue health problem has increased in urban areas and is creating concern. The reason for that is incomplete projects, half-finished roads, flyovers, and underpasses. This problem has been created due to poor infrastructure and polluted water and filth standing everywhere. We should keep the area around us as clean as possible to avoid dengue problem. He said that mosquitoes should be controlled.”

Success is neither magic nor mystery. It is the result of constant effort. There is a difference between success and contentment. Success is judged by others. We know satisfaction by ourselves. Thus, Dr. Manjunath said that today the achievers of various fields have got satisfaction along with success.

Dr. said, “that quality education and medical services should be available at an affordable price. Educating children today is extremely expensive. Providing affordable education is not just the job of the government. Today, 70% of medical education is provided by the private sector. Thus, the private sector should reserve 10% of the beds for the grassroots communities.

Living in big cities today invites major health problems. Traffic, air pollution, child rearing and commuting to work are becoming more of a problem. Good hospitals and educational institutions should be established in the near future. To be built in second tier cities. Otherwise, the problem will continue to increase. We should advise children to be healthy and cultured. There should be continuous efforts, loyalty, authenticity. There is no success without effort. Unemployment problem is huge in a country of 140 crore population. Machine learning, robotics should be used with caution. the Modi government has created 10.2 crore jobs in the last ten years,” Dr. Manjunath said.

MP Jagdish Shettar congratulated the awardees, In the past decade, Padma Award has been given to deserving achievers in the country. Before 2014, those with pressure, profit and recommendation were getting the award. Now the deserving are getting it. No application, recommendations required. Modi government is awarding meritorious people. They used to come to MLAs and MPs recommending them for the award. In recent years no one comes asking for a recommendation. Jagdish Shettar said that Modi government is special.

Yoga has been widely introduced to the whole world by Prime Minister Modi. I too have been doing yoga for many years. So, I have no health problems including BP, sugar. Due to yoga, I ran continuously for 35 days during the elections.

P. K. Choudhary, CEO of Asia Today Media, expressed that the Pride of Nation Award were conceived with a clear vision: to create an event that celebrates exceptional achievements within the global Indian community. This vision aimed to establish one of the most prominent and distinctive events of its kind. The Pride of Nation Awards is a groundbreaking and prestigious occasion, uniquely designed to honour Indian accomplishments across various domains, with a special focus on inspiring achievements and remarkable role models in fields such as Art & Entertainment, Education, Healthcare, Business, and Social work.

Tata AIA Features in Top 10 Global Ranking with 2584 MDRT Qualified Advisors

Saturday, July 20,Mumbai, Maharashtra, India : Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA), one of India’s leading life insurance companies, is pleased to announce that the company has secured #6 position in the Global Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) rankings for 2024*. The Company achieved the largest number of MDRT-qualified Life Insurance Advisors in India with 2584 registered MDRTs. With 1238 qualified Women MDRT Advisors, the Company ranked #1 in India and #7 globally ** among companies with Female MDRT Members.

MDRT, the premier association of Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from over 700 companies in 80 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

The company witnessed a 30.64% increase in MDRT-qualified Advisors registered in comparison to the previous year. For the same period, female MDRT qualifiers saw a 32.26% increase.

Amit Dave, Chief Distribution Officer – Proprietary Business, Tata AIA said, “It gives us great pride to have achieved the largest number of MDRT members in India for the second consecutive year and rank # 6 MDRT Company in the world. This validates our continuous commitment to our consumers, by ensuring they receive best-in-class advice to secure their future and fulfil their aspirations towards their loved ones. Our MRDT certified agents and Direct sales employees enable our consumers to be Har Waqt Ke Liye Taiyaar and live a fikar-free life.”

Life Insurance solutions are long term products and hence receiving the right advice from a long-term perspective is very important for consumers. A higher number of MDRT advisors clearly puts a life insurer at an advantage since the right advice during product sales ensures happy and loyal consumers who keep renewing their policies year on year. No wonder, Tata AIA has benefited by having a large count of MDRT agents and employees as it strengthens its leadership position on persistency, by being ranked No. 1 in 4 of the 5 persistency cohorts.

Persistency ratio measures the percentage of consumers who choose to renew their policy with a life insurer, thereby reposing their trust in the brand.

LT Senior Services Continues Its Monthly Series for Seniors on Tuesday, August 13, with Discussion on Decluttering Your Home

Austin, TX, July 20, 2024 — Owner of Declutter Bee, Sahiba Bassi is a professional organizer with a mission to reduce clutter and chaos-caused anxiety in people she works with. She does this by helping them declutter and teaching them how to get and stay organized. Sahiba will be joined by Jamie Steele of Tidy Your Time, a dynamic productivity coach and consultant dedicated to empowering retirees to achieve their goals by enhancing their productivity and time management skills.

Cyndi Cummings, President and Founder of LT Senior Services, is also a real estate professional with a focus on serving aging adults. “Decluttering not only creates a safer and more navigable living space for seniors, but it also reduces stress and anxiety, fosters a sense of control, and promotes overall well-being,” said Cyndi. “By letting go of unnecessary items, seniors can enjoy a more organized and peaceful environment, making daily activities easier and more enjoyable.”

LT Senior Services facilitates free monthly seminars on topics of importance to aging adults. Seminars are held at the Lake Travis Community Library, and are also presented online via Zoom. Upcoming scheduled topics include:

August 13: Decluttering Your Home
September 10: Living, Dying, and Leaving a Legacy
October 8: Sleep and Aging
November 12: Your Forever Home – Building, Buying, and Remodeling Options

The in-person events take place on the second Tuesday of each month, 10:30 AM-12 noon, at Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd, Austin, 78734. Virtual attendance is available by registering for the simultaneous Zoom session.

Joseph’s Tea is Now Franchising

Clearwater, FL, July 20, 2024 — Joseph’s Tea is now expanding its business operations by way of franchising locations throughout the United States.

Joseph’s Tea is a family-owned business specializing in its own high-quality tea blends made with all-natural ingredients: you can see, smell, and taste the difference. At Joseph’s Tea, the quality of the tea is just as important as the food and atmosphere. Joseph’s Tea has a wide selection of high-quality teas that are sourced from the best tea gardens around the world. Joseph’s Tea Room is designed to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere that is perfect for hosting afternoon tea parties, bridal showers, baby showers, holiday parties, corporate events, weddings and more. From the comfortable seating to the beautiful decor, every detail has been carefully chosen to ensure that guests feel relaxed and comfortable throughout their experience.

Owning a Joseph’s Tea Room or Joseph’s Tea Bar is now possible through franchising. Joseph’s Tea is looking forward to welcoming new franchisees across the United States over the next few years. Josephs Tea Enterprises LLC will work with each and every candidate to ensure their success.

Velocity Redefines Luxury Restorations With Classic Chevy C10 Street Series

Cantonment, FL, July 20, 2024 — Velocity continues to pioneer the restomod industry with its latest build based on the classic Chevy C10. The Velocity Chevy C10 Street Series debuted last month at the C10 Nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it joins an already vast lineup of luxury restorations that blend classic style with contemporary performance and comfort.

Like all Velocity builds, the Chevy C10 Street Series is a modern interpretation of an iconic American classic. Each is completely rebuilt from the ground up, starting with the frame. Instead of the old Chevy truck frame, the Velocity Chevy C10 Street Series rides on an advanced Roadster Shop SPEC Series chassis. This chassis ensures that the C10 Street Series rides and handles like a new truck without losing the truck’s vintage appeal.

Based on the vintage Chevy C10, built from 1967 through 1972, the Velocity Chevy C10 Street Series is a bold expression of a classic truck. Velocity’s Street Series includes custom-machined billet accessories (including the liftgate handle with an integrated backup camera), LED exterior lighting, and staggered-width 19” Forgeline wheels. Buyers can further personalize their builds by choosing from two-tone combinations and various stainless trim options.

As eye-catching as the custom exterior is, the Velocity Chevy C10 Street Series reveals a stunning interior befitting a world-class luxury restoration. This particular build shows off an all-red interior-from the thick carpet to the matte-painted interior roof-contrasted only by custom-machined billet and black wood veneer. The Velocity-exclusive Dakota Digital gauge cluster and Alpine double-din head unit give this custom Chevy C10 a high-tech interior. At the same time, the Vintage Air air conditioning, power windows, and all-new glass and weather seals make this street rod as comfortable as it is fun.

“Our Chevy C10 is an homage to the classic street truck. We have worked remarkably hard to do its legacy justice. American street trucks have so much history and culture behind them, and we’re excited to bring this classic performance-focused C10 to the world,” said Velocity CEO Stuart Wilson.

Under the hood, the Velocity Chevy C10 Street Series features GM’s 460-hp 6.2L LT1 V8, giving this custom Chevy truck the performance to back up its street rod style. A custom-fabricated exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers gives the C10 Street Series a proper street rod sound, and the adjustable Fox coilover shocks, four-wheel Baer disc brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport tires have this truck handling like a sports car.

Rhino Investments Group Acquires Zecca Plaza in Gallup, NM

Gallup, NM, July 20, 2024 — Rhino Investments Group, a leading commercial real estate investment firm, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Zecca Plaza, a premier retail property located in Gallup, New Mexico. This strategic purchase underscores Rhino Investments Group’s commitment to expanding its portfolio with high-quality assets in key markets.

Zecca Plaza, a well-established retail center, boasts a prime location and an impressive mix of tenants, including national retailers and local businesses. Zecca Plaza offers a total leasable area of approximately 110,500 providing ample space for current and future tenants. The tenants include Albertsons Grocery Store, O Reilly Auto Parts, and many others with an average tenancy of over 15 years. This is a prime location located on the famous Highway 66.

“We are excited to add Zecca Plaza to our portfolio, it fits our investment strategy, we plan on improving the property significantly for the existing and new tenants ” said Sanjiv Chopra, CEO, of Rhino Investments Group. “This acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing in properties that offer strong growth potential and value creation for our investors. We look forward to working with the existing tenants and exploring opportunities to enhance the property’s appeal and performance.”

Rhino Investments Group specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of commercial real estate properties across the United States. With a focus on creating long-term value, Rhino Investments Group leverages its extensive market knowledge and expertise to identify and capitalize on investment opportunities.

The acquisition of Zecca Plaza marks a significant milestone for Rhino Investments Group as it continues to expand its footprint in the retail sector in New Mexico. The firm’s disciplined approach to investment and commitment to excellence ensures that properties like Zecca Plaza will thrive under its ownership.