Hutong Dubai takes over Shang Palace at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi

New Delhi, September 2024: Shangri-La Eros New Delhi is excited to present an exclusive three-day culinary showcase at the renowned Shang Palace, featuring the celebrated Hutong Dubai from 13 to 15 September 2024. Originally established in Hong Kong in 2003, Hutong is famed for its modern and occasionally fiery Northern Chinese cuisine. As the first Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong to receive a Michelin star, and with a series of prestigious awards to its name, Hutong is set to make its highly anticipated India debut at the 39th Shang Palace in the world, located at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi.

Since its inception in Hong Kong to its current global presence, Hutong has been turning heads with its fiery Northern Chinese fare and stellar cityscapes. Pioneering as the first Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong to earn a coveted Michelin star, Hutong now boasts five locations worldwide, including Dubai’s gem that expertly marries Shanghainese and Sichuan flavours.

This collaboration is set to be a highlight, showcasing the finest of Northern Chinese cuisine by merging Shang Palace’s sophisticated ambiance with Hutong’s innovative interpretation of traditional Northern Chinese flavours.

During this limited three-day affair, guests will engage in a sensory experience as Hutong’s culinary artistry transforms Shang Palace into an oasis of fine dining. This extravaganza showcases the inspiration drawn from Sichuan’s bold spices and Beijing’s refined culinary techniques. Hutong, renowned for its modern take on traditional recipes, promises a feast that combines classic flavours with contemporary flair.

Behind the scenes, Hutong deftly weaves together tradition and innovation by blending centuries-old culinary wisdom with unique elements. The promotion spotlights age-old recipes, preserved through generations, now reimagined by Hutong’s skilled chefs using recent methods and premium ingredients.

“We are excited to host Hutong Dubai at Shang Palace for this unique three-day event. This collaboration showcases the best of Northern Chinese cuisine, blending age-old traditions with modern, stylish elements. We’re offering our guests an extraordinary dining experience that truly captures the essence of culinary luxury and creativity,” says Abhishek Sadhoo, General Manager, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi.

Guests at Shang Palace have the option to indulge in the culinary offerings through a meticulously crafted à la carte menu or a specially curated set menu. The menu offerings are available for lunch and dinner.

The à la carte menu offers a diverse assortment of refined dishes. Guests can start with vibrant appetizers like the Seared Scallops with Spicy Dongbei Salad or the Black Diamond, featuring deep-fried charcoal tofu with black truffle sauce. The menu includes a variety of soups, dim sum and seafood options, such as the signature Red Lantern, a dish of deep-fried spiced soft-shell crab served on a bed of dried chillies, Tea-Smoked Dried Tofu and Mix Vegetables Dumplings. Non-vegetarians can indulge in the Sichuan Lamb Shank with spiced crust or the Herbal Grilled Lamb Chops. For those seeking vegetarian options, the menu offers flavourful dishes like Mapo Tofu and Sanchen Spiced King Oyster Mushrooms. Rounding off the meal are noodle and rice dishes, along with decadent desserts like the Mala, a spicy chocolate mousse with sour plum sorbet. Furthermore, the pop-up’s dedication to inclusivity is evident in its thoughtful range of gluten-free and vegan options, designed to cater to diverse dietary needs.

Discover an elevated dining experience with three expertly curated menus. The signature non-vegetarian menu offers a refined exploration of Hutong’s culinary excellence. For a taste of the restaurant’s star dishes, the legacy non-vegetarian menu is also available offering a five -course selection of signatures. Vegetarians can savour the legacy vegetarian menu that features a harmonious selection of Hutong’s finest offerings. Each menu provides a flavourful journey, from delicate dim sums to bold mains and sweet finales, highlighting the kitchen’s artistry. The set menus start at INR 10,000 plus taxes per person.

The beverage selection features a Hutong special comprising of Rose’s Secret, a drink made with passion fruit infused gin and Hutong syrup, while the Aurora contains cucumber infused gin, lemongrass syrup and apple juice.

The Shang Palace signature cocktail selection features Dounan Blossoms with hibiscus infused with tequila and green apple juice. The delicious drink Yuan Xiao Bloom contains vodka,

cranberry, lime, elderflower, lavender and grapefruit with active charcoal. This delectable cocktail selection starts from INR 2,000 plus taxes.

For more information and reservations, guests may call +91 88 0080 4541 or email shangpalace.slnd@shangri-la.com.

Viva De Madera: Bringing Forest Elegance to Facades for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Viva, Asia’s largest manufacturer and supplier of aluminium composite panels (ACP), proudly introduces De-Madera, a groundbreaking line of facade panels that marries the timeless elegance of wood with cutting-edge sustainability. De-Madera represents a leap forward in architectural design, combining the natural charm of wood with Viva ACP’s advanced facade technology. Each panel in the De-Madera collection features unique lines and textures, ranging from the classic White Oak to the striking Charred Wood, all crafted with a commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. This innovative collection made its grand debut at the prestigious IIID event in Hyderabad unveiled by eminent architects present at the event.

The Viva De-Madera collection offers a diverse palette of shades, including White Oak, Larix Fume, Raw Pine, Canvas Pine, Nevada Red Oak, Classic Chintopine, Sawtook Oak, Charred Wood, and Spring Wood, each designed to capture and enhance the natural beauty of wood. Ideal for residential, commercial, hospital, and educational buildings, these panels provide elegance and sophistication while withstanding various weather conditions. De-Madera guarantees durability and reliability for a wide range of applications.

“Our De-Madera collection represents a harmonious blend of nature’s elegance and innovative technology, setting a new standard in sustainable architecture. We were thrilled to launch this unique line of facade panels at the prestigious IIID event in Hyderabad, where we shared our vision for a greener tomorrow,” said Mr. Prakash Jain, Chief Managing Director of Viva.

In addition to its impressive performance, De-Madera is designed with sustainability in mind. Featuring weather resistance, low maintenance requirements, and an eco-friendly approach, De-Madera stands out as a cost-effective and environmentally responsible choice. De-Madera remains stable during wind, UV exposure, and temperature shifts, ensuring consistent performance. Viva ACP is excited to offer this innovative solution that aligns beauty, durability, and ecological responsibility.

Join us in embracing the future of sustainable architecture with De-Madera, where the elegance of nature meets innovative design. Experience the perfect blend of beauty and durability with Viva ACP’s De-Madera Series transforming spaces and elevating aesthetics for a greener tomorrow.

SGF (Spice Grill Flame) India: Transforming Lives through a Pioneering CSR Initiative

New Delhi, India – September 11, 2024 – SGF (Spice Grill Flame) India, a trailblazer in vegetarian cuisine, continues to make a significant impact with its enduring CSR initiative. In partnership with Jan Kalyan Seva Sanstha, SGF has provided essential meals to patients and their families outside major hospitals across Delhi-NCR, including RML and AIIMS, for over 2.5 years. This initiative has become a beacon of hope, offering free food boxes to those in dire need.

Celebrated as India’s fastest-growing pure vegetarian restaurant chain, SGF specializes in soy-based delicacies, particularly their signature chaaps, setting a new standard in vegetarian dining. With over 100 strategically located outlets nationwide, SGF serves more than 1.5 lakh meals monthly, showcasing its expertise in soy products and authentic North Indian cuisine. This commitment to taste, quality, and nutrition extends beyond its restaurants and into the community through its impactful CSR efforts.

As part of the ongoing food box initiative, SGF provides 100 nutritious meals per outlet, which Jan Kalyan Seva Sanstha distributes. This esteemed NGO, known for its dedicated grassroots work, ensures these meals reach the most vulnerable. This partnership reflects SGF’s mission to excel in culinary innovation while giving back to society in meaningful ways.

“Our commitment at SGF is not just to serve exceptional vegetarian cuisine but to use our success to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Through our partnership with Jan Kalyan Seva Sanstha, we’ve been able to provide nourishment and hope to countless individuals, reinforcing our belief that food has the power to bring comfort beyond the dining table,” said Mr Kewal Ashwini Ahuja, Founder of SGF India (Spice Grill Flame).

Furthering its community support, SGF has also introduced a dedicated helpline for those in need of meals. Individuals seeking assistance can contact the SGF helpline at +91- 8585999945 to receive free meals.

AD Ports Group Awards ZPMC Cranes Contracts for Terminal Projects in Africa

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 11 September 2024: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics and industry, has agreed to award Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (“ZPMC”) contracts worth over AED 420 million, to supply six ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, and 17 hybrid rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, to be deployed at its terminal projects in New East Mole Terminal in Pointe Noire – Republic of the Congo, and Noatum Ports, Luanda Terminal in Angola. 

This move comes within the framework of AD Ports Group’s 30-year concession agreement to develop and operate a multipurpose terminal in Pointe Noire Port in the Republic of the Congo; in addition to the 20-year concession agreement to modernize and operate the Luanda Terminal in Angola. 

These agreements are in-line with AD Ports Group’s strategy for advanced development within emerging markets for mutual and sustainable economic growth. 

Under the awarded contracts, the Pointe Noire, and Luanda terminals will each receive three Super Post-Panamax STS cranes, which are able to reach 21 container rows, a distance of 60 meters. On the other hand, the Pointe Noire will receive nine hybrid RTGs, while Luanda terminal will receive eight hybrid RTGs. The hybrid RTGs can save up to 60% diesel in comparison to the traditional diesel RTGs which equivalent to one million liters per year and approximately 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “We are pleased to advance our concession agreements in Angola and Congo. These cranes play a crucial role in modern port operations. In line with the vision of our wise leadership to enhance trade and promote investment relations with key global partners, we are committed to investing in our terminals’ infrastructure and adopting advanced, innovative technology solutions to add value to our customers and partners and benefit the economies we operate in.” 

Ruikai You, Party Secretary and Chairman of ZMPC, said: “As the world market leader in STS cranes and ports equipment, ZMPC’s global footprint is unparalleled, as is the strength of our specialist upgrades teams. We are pleased to expand this multi-year partnership with our key client AD Ports Group to supply state-of-the-art Super Post-Panamax STS cranes for its expansion into Africa”. 

In June 2023, AD Ports Group signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Congo for the management and operation of the multipurpose New East Mole Terminal in Pointe-Noire. With an estimated US$ 500 million to be invested over the duration of the concession, the terminal is set to handle container, general cargo, breakbulk and various other types of cargo. 

In addition, in April 2024 AD Ports Group signed agreements for a 20-year concession (extendable for another 10 years) with the Luanda Port Authority for the operation and upgrade of the existing Luanda multipurpose port terminal in Angola. For this project, AD Ports Group has committed an estimated USD 250+ million towards the modernization of the terminal and development of the logistics business over the next three years, with this investment potentially increasing to USD 379 million over the concession term and in line with market demand. 

These agreements underscore AD Ports Group’s ambitious international expansion plans, aimed towards enhancing the efficiency of global supply chains, creating faster trade routes and providing diverse logistics solutions for key strategic trading partners.

Red Bull Racing installs Record Breaking 46m Philips LED wall inside MK7 HQ

PPDS drives new experiential energy into Oracle Red Bull Racing’s MK-7 events venue with a record-breaking 46.25m Philips Public LED wall

Where cutting-edge technology and exceptional entertainment converge: PPDS and Oracle Red Bull Racing team up together with Vogel’s and Ruitech Solutions to create one of the world’s most unique, deeply immersive, experiential event locations, with MK-7 now home to Europe’s largest* indoor dvLED wall.

Amsterdam, 11 September 2024: PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays, is delighted to announce the latest evolution of its partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing, with the installation of a record-breaking* 46.25m wide Philips dvLED wall inside the reigning Formula 1™ giants’ newly updated MK-7 headquarters in Milton Keynes, UK.

Creating one of Europe’s most unique and immersive experiential event spaces, the vibrant 1,004m2 MK-7 venue – located within the Red Bull Racing Technology Campus – has been welcoming and entertaining visitors from around the world since 2018, providing a once-in-a-lifetime, F1-infused event setting for businesses and individuals. With priceless Oracle Red Bull Racing memorabilia, artefacts, and championship-winning cars at every turn, MK-7 is a venue like no other.

Mirroring PPDS’ desire to always lead from the front and backed by a fearless and relentless approach to innovation both on and off the track, Oracle Red Bull Racing wanted a fresh look and feel for the MK-7 event space, with the existing audiovisual setup deemed outdated, too static, and no longer reflective of its brand values and the fast-paced world of F1 racing.

Setting the pace
Seeking a more dynamic, versatile, and immersive way to host its wide and varied range of events, Oracle Red Bull Racing once again turned to trusted partner PPDS to transform the MK-7 experience. Bringing a trusted team into the mix, a spectacular, custom-designed horseshoe-shaped Philips dvLED wall was conceived.

Measuring a colossal 46.25m x 2.75m, the Philips Public dvLED wall –understood to be the largest dvLED wall installed in an indoor events space in Europe – was carefully constructed to provide an incredible centrepiece to the main auditorium, and a perfect backdrop to the growing horseshoe of F1 cars on display. This priceless collection of F1 cars ranges from 2005 – the Team’s F1 debut – through to and including those driven by reigning and three-time World Drivers’ Champion (2021, 2022, 2023), Max Verstappen.

Formula for success
PPDS – an official Oracle Red Bull Racing team supplier since 2022 and exclusive digital display supplier since 2023 – teamed up with Netherlands-based AV integration specialist, Ruitech Solutions for this transformative project.

With no visible windows or natural light inside the main MK-7 event space, the Philips Public LED 7000 Series was the standout choice for Oracle Red Bull Racing, with high refresh rates, colour and brightness quality, together with a 2.4mm pixel pitch, delivering a total screen resolution of 19240 x 1144 for picture perfect performance and viewing experiences.

Equally, befitting this premium event venue, Philips LED displays feature built-in cabling to keep wires tidy, with display cabinets daisy chained for both power and data, minimising clutter for the tidiest presentation. The Philips Public LED 7000 Series’ low power consumption also adhered to both PPDS’ and the Team’s sustainability commitments, while Active Health Monitoring makes maintenance and parts replacement predictable, fast, and efficient.

Jump starting a new era
The project was completed in just 23 days, beginning with the erection of a dedicated freestanding mounting system supplied and supported by AV mounting specialist, Vogel’s. This was quickly followed by the installation of 484x 41BDL7224L and 33x 31BDL7224L LED panels. Content is brought together with a Novastar H9 LED Controller and a CMS system for easy management of content.

To celebrate this new era for MK-7, the new Philips LED wall was officially unveiled during a special PPDS ‘Advancing dvLED’ grand unveiling event on 10 September, with Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO at Oracle Red Bull Racing, among the guest speakers.

Doing it differently
Nick Kenton, Director of Hospitality and Events at Oracle Red Bull Racing, commented: “Since Oracle Red Bull Racing’s F1 debut in 2005, its mission has been encapsulated in one simple phrase – to win and do it differently. We don’t see barriers, we see only challenges to overcome, a mentality that helps us to achieve our targets and goals in everything we do, on and away from the racetrack.

“The MK-7 event space is home to a number of winning race cars and the space needed to adapt to allow flexibility for growth and change, as well as a fresh look and feel, with cutting-edge technologies to match. Working with PPDS, our visions for this stunning venue have been fulfilled, with the new Philips LED wall able to deliver the cutting-edge technology and performance befitting of our brand with the capabilities we craved.”

Wim Arts, Video Wall Specialist at Vogel’s, commented: “We were delighted to be selected by PPDS and to be a part of this incredible project at MK-7. Like any successful F1 team, for Oracle Red Bull Racing this project required meticulous planning, knowledge, and teamwork, leaving no stone unturned to achieve the desired outcome. The process from start to finish was seamless, and we couldn’t be prouder of the results achieved within this remarkably renovated event space.”

Driven by partnership
Tim de Ruiter, Business Development Director at PPDS, commented: “Working with Oracle Red Bull Racing is far from a traditional supply deal – it’s a relationship ‘driven by partnership’, with our teams collaborating and innovating together to move forward and achieve our aligned goals and ambitions. For Oracle Red Bull Racing, being second best is simply not an option, and that includes the capabilities and experiences available inside MK-7.

“Believed to be the largest of its kind, with this spectacular Philips LED wall, MK-7 has reaffirmed itself as one of the most unique and technologically advanced event spaces in Europe, if not the world. We are incredibly pleased with the impact the Philips Public LED 7000 Series has had on this amazing location. The immense direct view LED display extending around the entire horseshoe of cars delivers an instant wow factor.

“Working with the teams at Oracle Red Bull Racing, as well as our trusted partners in Vogel’s, and Ruitech Solutions, this project has been a resounding success with a sensational result.”

This latest collaboration between PPDS and Oracle Red Bull Racing follows the recent upgrade of the team’s MK-7 marketing team offices in the same building, which included 13 ‘game changing’ digital signage and interactive displays. PPDS also continues to exclusively supply a range advanced Philips Professional Displays, used to elevate the VIP hospitality experience for guests in the Paddock Club™ during F1 race weekends.

Aprecomm Expands its Broadband Device Ecosystem and Targets New Markets Through a Strategic Partnership with Netlink

The new strategic partnership widens the footprint for Aprecomm’s customer experience suite enabling Netlink to offer its service provider customers out-of-the-box access to AI-powered cloud-driven services including whole home managed WiFi and more.

Bengaluru, September 11, 2024:

Aprecomm (www.aprecomm.ai), the intuitive network and customer experience platform provider, announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Netlink (www.netlinkict.com), one of the largest manufacturers of broadband customer premises equipment (CPE) and a key supplier to the Asian and African markets.

The partnership agreement includes the integration of Aprecomm’s software across Netlink’s range of broadband CPE devices, including Wi-Fi 7 gateways, routers, and extenders. Netlink will also re-sell Aprecomm’s customer experience applications to its service provider customers to create better online experiences for homes and businesses. In addition to serving both companies’ home market, India, the partnership will target business development in Africa, a developing market that is particularly suited to Aprecomm’s cost-effective and cloud-based model.

“We’re excited to partner with Netlink and immediately widen the geographic availability of our customer experience products,” said Pramod Gummaraj, Founder & CEO of Aprecomm. “Both of our solutions have been home-grown in India, a market that is attuned to a high-tech and cost-effective approach. This blend is perfectly suited for emerging markets, such as Africa, where improving the digital infrastructure and customer experience is a high priority for many government organisations.”

The partnership adds immediate value to Netlink’s offering enabling it to capitalize on the growing trend of service providers putting customer experience right at the top of their agendas. Netlink’s CPE devices will offer out-of-the-box access to Aprecomm’s cloud services reducing deployment friction and speeding up time to market.

“Consumers demand the best possible online experience wherever they are in the world,” said Saiko Thomas, CEO of Netlink. “This means that service providers can no longer see customer experience as an optional extra. It is a given. In taking this important step we’ve immediately enhanced our hardware offering by partnering with a company that has demonstrated continued innovation and leadership in the space and amassed over 45 service provider customers in a very short space of time.”

Serving both residential and business subscribers, Aprecomm’s CX suite helps broadband service providers transform their approaches to connectivity, ensuring that consumers can enjoy online experiences without wasting time managing their WiFi networks. By using sophisticated artificial intelligence—including a unique quality of experience algorithm—Aprecomm is paving the way to intuitive zero-touch networks by taking a self-optimizing and self-healing approach to managed WiFi, tuning the network to the unique needs of each user and the application they are using.

On the back end, Aprecomm’s advanced analytics and automated support tools provide access to real-time data enabling service providers to monitor end-to-end network performance—on both the access and customer premises sides of the network—to predict and resolve problems before they reach the subscriber. Its CX suite is field-proven to increase subscriber satisfaction and reduce operational costs—service providers have seen multiple improvements across 100% of their networks such as a 62% reduction in truck rolls, a 35% improvement in first-call resolutions and a 30% reduction in call resolution times.