Vistara announces daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Bali

Mumbai, 20 October 2023: Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, today announced daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Bali, starting 01 December 2023. This makes Vistara the only airline offering direct connectivity between the two cities currently. Vistara will be deploying its A321LR aircraft, with a three-class configuration, giving its customers the option to fly in Business, Premium Economy, or Economy cabins when travelling on the route. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Bali has become an increasingly sought-after holiday destination for Indians due to its accessibility, proximity, and hassle-free visa on arrival facility.

Commenting on the introduction of the new destination, Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara said, “India is the second-largest source of foreign tourists to Bali, and with hassle-free visa-on-arrival , Bali remains one of the preferred holiday destinations for Indians, besides being popular for MICE traffic. Additionally, as the second largest trading destination for India in the ASEAN region, Indonesia exhibits great potential for business travel as well. We are delighted to be the only airline offering direct connectivity between Dehi and Bali. We  are confident that customers will appreciate having the option to travel on India’s finest full service airline on the route.”

Introductory all-inclusive, round-trip fares

Schedule of flights to/from Bali effective 1 December 2023

Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings.

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The only Indian carrier to feature amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines, Vistara has been named ‘16th Best Airline’ globally, while also being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff in India and South Asia’ for the fifth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row and ‘Best Business Class Airline in India and South Asia’ for the second time in a row at the coveted World Airline Awards 2023 by Skytrax. Vistara also received the ch-aviation Asia’s Third Youngest Airline Fleet award for the second consecutive year.

53 percent of CMOs in India state that sustainability and environmental protection are essential components of their brand

Delhi, October 20, 2023 – Despite chronic crises, marketing executives are looking positive into the future: They feel confident about what is to come, tend to invest in long-term brand-building activities, and have few troubles securing their budgets. Data from the new GfK CMO Outlook Report shows how adept marketing leaders are with new technology like AI and real-time insights. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows: the report also illuminates a huge gap between marketer’s and consumer’s expectations in terms of sustainability.

Given current economic uncertainties, it would be tempting for marketers to focus on short-term marketing activities that yield immediate results while slashing long-term investments. While these tactics may temporarily improve balance sheets, building and nourishing a strong brand tends to pay off more in the long run. Experience shows that a strong brand reduces customer acquisition costs, improves customer retention rates, makes for more impactful product launches, and may protect margins even in times of inflation.

Fortunately, marketing leaders worldwide have got the memo. GfK’s new CMO Outlook Report Data, Decisions, and Optimism: How CMOs are driving change in an evolving world shows that despite ongoing crises, over two-thirds of marketing decision-makers worldwide (70 percent) are investing more than half of their budgets in long-term initiatives, e. g. campaigns focused on strengthening the brand. Among CMOs, this proportion rises to 78 percent.

Industry-wise, marketing leaders in consumer tech (76 percent), automotive (76 percent), and retail (74 percent) are zeroing in on long-term brand-building strategies. B2B brands are more willing to make long-term investments. Longer conversion cycles and smaller customer bases probably play a role.

Despite crises marketing leaders are optimistic about the future

Overall, 61 percent of marketing decision-makers worldwide believe that their industry has been hit harder than others by the ongoing turbulences of recent years. However, there are regional differences: 66 percent of marketing decision-makers in Europe and 65 percent in North America feel particularly affected by the economic situation. In Africa and the Middle East, only 52 percent agree with this statement, and 55 percent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite this, CMOs remain remarkably confident: Almost three-quarters state that their company has grown in the last three years and 78 percent say that they are optimistic about the future. These optimistic marketing leaders are more focused on long-term brand building (77 percent), suggesting a link between optimism and long-term investment. Most marketing leaders also show impressive confidence in their budgets. Nearly two-thirds overall say they find it easy to justify their financial needs, particularly in North America and Europe. Especially optimistic marketing decision-makers say they have no problems funding marketing expenditures.

Marketing leaders in India embrace sustainability to shape brand identities

The report features >50 CMOs or marketing leaders from India, revealing that more than half of surveyed respondents believe sustainability is a vital component of what their brand represents. Furthermore, 34 percent noted that sustainability is integral to their business operations, although it may not be as central to their marketing efforts. Surprisingly, only 9 percent of them perceive sustainability as a subject reserved for politicians or governments. Instead, they firmly believe that sustainability is a narrative owned by brands, reflecting a profound paradigm shift in perception.

At the same time, 45 percent stated that they are ahead of their competitors in addressing sustainability, while 40 percent acknowledged that their customers expect sustainability initiatives from brands. Nearly 40 percent recognized sustainability as an area where their brand can differentiate itself from competitors, further underlining the evolving landscape of conscious consumer choices and corporate responsibility.

Which region’s CMOs are the frontrunners of real-time insights?

Data analytics and customer insights are more important than ever for improving marketing campaigns. 61 percent of global marketing leaders state that they receive actionable insights either immediately after data gathering or short of real-time, but still fast. Only 3 percent claim that generating insights takes too long to be useful at all. Larger companies seem to have an advantage: the bigger the company, the higher the proportion of insights generated in real-time.

Europe leads the way with 33 percent of marketers answering they receive insights in real-time, versus the global average of 26 percent. The score is lowest in Africa/Middle East, where only 19 percent claim to have access to real-time insights. Data integration is the main obstacle for achieving real-time insights, as stated by one-third of global marketers. Overall, 44 percent of the survey’s respondents want to improve their capabilities in generating actionable insights, while 42 percent aim at improving data integration in their companies.

“In recent years, market disruptions have shown us just how quickly buyer behavior can pivot, highlighting the need for real-time predictive data. The businesses that thrive in this environment will be those that can anticipate what’s coming next,” predicts Gonzalo Garcia Villanueva, CMO at NielsenIQ/GfK. “It is notable that marketing leaders across regions who say that their company has grown in the last three years and are optimistic get their insights faster than others. This indicates that successful companies are more digitalized and prioritize real-time insights for marketing.”

Next to real-time insights, AI is transforming the way many marketers work. Almost half of marketing leaders worldwide (45 percent) say they are already using AI, while 40 percent are familiar with, or using, Machine Learning models. The uptake of ChatGPT has been rapid, with 36 percent of respondents already using it by March 2023 – despite it being in the market for less than a year. Marketers working in the biggest enterprises are those most familiar with such technology and much more likely to be early adopters than those in smaller firms.

Are marketers failing their audience in terms of sustainability?

After a summer marked by extreme weather events, sustainability is squarely on the CMO agenda, with 42 percent stating that sustainability and environmental protection are important parts of their brand. The number is especially high in Africa/Middle East (56 percent) and Asia Pacific (46 percent).

However, there seems to be a gap in how marketers perceive their audience: Only 30 percent of the survey respondents feel that their customers expect them to address sustainability. On the other hand, the global long-term GfK Consumer Life study finds that most consumers (73 percent) expect companies to take environmentally responsible actions. This is a huge perception gap. One factor might be that companies tend to see sustainability as a corporate initiative rather than a marketing one. At least 24 percent of global marketers agree, especially among North American companies.

Overall, marketers need to keep in mind that any engagement for the environment and the climate must be authentic and long-term to be credible for the consumers.

New GfK CMO Outlook Report published

Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical turbulences, CMOs are optimistic about the future and look forward to maximizing several exciting opportunities for growth in the current marketing climate. Read more about how to do it the new GfK Outlook Report “Data, Decisions, and Optimism: How CMOs are driving change in an evolving world”.

LP Logiscience Prepares for Exponential Growth in Nagpur Warehouse

Nagpur, 20th October: LP Logiscience, the warehousing and contract logistics arm of the esteemed Liladhar Pasoogroup, is gearing up for exponential growth in its Nagpur warehouse, in the backdrop of supportive policy and infrastructure development. Currently, LP Logiscience has a multi-client warehouse in Nagpur, boasting a capacity of 1500 pallet positions and offers customized warehousing solutions focused on FMCG & FMCD sectors.

According to the recent Knight Frank report on Indian Warehousing, the Nagpur warehousing market has exhibited remarkable resilience throughout the pandemic and remains robust as of FY 2023. Annual leasing volume has surged by 26% year on year, totaling 0.06 million square meters. The Mihan cluster in Nagpur alone accounted for 63% of this leasing volume, with notable participation from prominent retail players like Reliance Retail and Tata Croma, constituting 48% of the transacted area. Additionally, 3PL companies, which are pivotal in this market, accounted for 37% of the leasing volume, while manufacturing companies such as Royal Enfield occupied the remaining share.

The above growth is driven primarily because of the strategic location and the planned transport infrastructure development in the region. Located almost exactly at the center of the country’s vast geography, Nagpur is equidistant from major consumption markets such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. The city has also evolved into a hub for industrial and Agro commodities production. Major national highways, including NH7 (connecting Varanasi to Kanyakumari) and NH6 (connecting Mumbai-Sambal-Kolkata), intersect the city.

Also underway are the multi-modal international cargo hub and airport, which is expected to play a pivotal role in handling heavy cargo traffic from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Additionally, the imminent completion of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, or the Nagpur Mumbai Expressway, is anticipated to revolutionize the region’s economy and logistic significance. This expressway will drastically reduce travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur, enhancing the efficiency of cargo transportation.

In this dynamic environment, LP Logiscience has risen as a key player, poised for growth in the Nagpur region. LP Logiscience was established a decade ago as the warehousing and transportation business arm of the legendary Liladhar Pasoo group and today handles over 3 million sq. ft of storage space and a reach of 7000+ distribution pin codes PAN India. Since its inception, LP Logiscience has registered an impressive evolution, growing at the rate of 20% – 25% YoY. Now, it is ready for the next phase, with plans to set up state-of-the-art warehouses with aggressive tech adoption and greener operations to qualify for environmental certifications that will help the brand enhance its global reach.

Speaking about his plans for the Nagpur market, Mr. Varun Gada, Director of LP Logiscience, a Liladhar Pasoo Company, said, “We are extremely thrilled about the growth prospects of our Nagpur warehouse. Nagpur’s strategic location and the positive policy and infrastructure developments make it an ideal choice for expanding our operations. This expansion represents a significant step in our commitment to delivering top-notch warehousing solutions and logistics support to our clients, ensuring that they benefit from Nagpur’s strategic location and the city’s growth potential.”

With a strong business model supported by an IT backbone, LP Logiscience’s warehouse setup offers customisation and flexibility.The company also aims to introduce sustainable practices for energy and resource optimisation and also plans on building an EV fleet for distribution. As LP Logiscience continues to contribute to the thriving Indian warehousing sector, it remains dedicated to its vision of transforming the logistics industry, setting new benchmarks, and driving positive change in the world of warehousing and contract logistics.

Travel Buddy, a new-age social travel network is organising Vibrant Dandiya night celebrations in Hyderabad

New Delhi, 20th October 2023 – Travel Buddy, a new-age social travel network and experiences marketplace announces its latest offering, a vibrant Dandiya night celebrations in Hyderabad at the Moinabad Farmhouse by their Chapter Head, Ravikanth, who is excited to bring the city an exciting event. Travel Buddy is a vibrant global community of over 2.5 million+ travellers. Travel Buddy understands the value of a local, who has an in-depth understanding of their own city and State.

As per the event schedule, the programme will commence at 5 PM with anticipation for a night filled with excitement and entertainment. This will be followed by the Fancy Dress Competition at 6 PM. Witness a burst of creativity and innovation as participants showcase their creative and eye-catching costumes. Prize Giveaways will start at 7 PM where the winners of the Fancy Dress Competition will be rewarded for their creativity. This is going to be a moment of excitement and anticipation. At 7:30 PM, the highlight of the evening will arrive as the Dance Floor opens up, inviting everyone on the floor to groove to their favourite tunes.

Expressing his views about this event, Mr. Saurav Chakraborty, Founder, and CEO of Travel Buddy, said – ‘’Travel Buddy is all about redefining how travellers experience destinations and their localised culture. Our celebration of Dandiya Night is an authentic representation of our values. We encourage explorers as well as locals to foster meaningful interactions and authentic experiences. Our prime focus revolves around transforming your travel experiences into unforgettable adventures. We believe that travel isn’t just about visiting places, it’s about experiencing cultures and appreciating the incredible beauty of different places..’’

Dandiya Night, a joyous celebration held during the Hindu festival of Navratri, signifies the victory of good over evil. Participants, dressed in traditional attire, perform the lively Dandiya dance, using sticks in synchronised moves to folk music. This event aims to promote community bonding and cultural festivities and includes elements like a Fancy Dress Competition, and exciting giveaways.