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Continuing its expansion plan in India, Radisson Hotel Group is excited to announce the signing of 150-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya. A greenfield project, the hotel is being developed by Jeewani Hospitality in partnership with EaseMyTrip and is expected to open in 2027. This is Radisson Hotel Group’s second hotel in Ayodhya as it continues to invest in the potential of the city’s immense historical and cultural significance. Previously, it announced the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Ayodhya in January 2024.

The hotel is strategically located within two kilometers of Shri Ram Mandir, Ayodhya. It is at a convenient distance from the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Railway Station and further enjoys excellent road connectivity via National Highway-27. The hotel will boast excellent visibility while providing effortless connectivity to the region.

Guests can also explore revered religious sites within 2-5 kilometers, such as Hanuman Ghari, Kanak Bhawan, Nageshwarnath Temple, and Treta Ke Thakur. This strategic location enables the hotel to capture significant demand from devotees, pilgrims, and tourists visiting Ayodhya.

“The signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya marks a significant milestone in our expansion strategy for India and the country’s high-potential tier 2/3 markets. Our decision to open another hotel in Ayodhya is greatly influenced by the robust guest demand and positive feedback that underscores the attractiveness of this holy city. Ayodhya stands strong as a promising market for Radisson Hotel Group, occupying a significant position in our expansion plans in 2024 and beyond.” said K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya, is set to redefine the hospitality landscape of the city, with its grand opening scheduled in two phases. With a total inventory of 150 rooms, the hotel will provide a seamless blend of opulence and comfort for the guests. From culinary venues to recreational facilities like a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and expansive banquet halls, the hotel also makes an ideal choice for corporate events and social gatherings.

Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip and an investor in Jeewani Group, said, “We are excited to partner with Radisson Hotel Group to open Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya. This collaboration reflects our commitment to enhancing hospitality offerings in the city and providing exceptional experiences to travelers. By joining forces, we aim to set new benchmarks in the hospitality industry and create a landmark destination in Ayodhya.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with Radisson Hotel Group for the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya. Through this collaboration, we aim to provide a world-class hospitality experience for guests visiting Ayodhya with a blend of our expertise in the region. As we join forces with a renowned global leader in the industry, we are confident that this property will become an iconic landmark in the city” said Dhruv Jeewani, Director, Jeewani Hospitality.

Radisson Hotel Group continues to command a leading presence in the Indian market and is one of the country’s largest international hotel operators with over 165 hotels in operation and development. It continues to be the largest hotel operator in tier-1 markets like Delhi NCR and at the same time, more than 50% of its portfolio is in tier-2 and 3 markets where it has benefited by being the first mover. With hotels dotted across 70+ locations in India, there is a Radisson Hotel Group hotel in every 4 hours of drivable distance across the length and breadth of the country operating under brands, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Inn by Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn & Suites by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and Radisson Individuals and its extension Radisson Individuals Retreats.

20 February 2024, Bengaluru: IIM Bangalore’s Centre for Software and Information Technology Management (CSITM) co-hosted the sixth edition of the India Software Product Management Summit, along with the International Software Product Management Association (ISPMA)This year, the theme for the SPM summit was ‘Product AI: Navigating the Future of Product Management’.

 The India Software Product Management Summit 2024 featured keynote speeches, presentations by industry experts, panel discussions, interactive workshops, academic paper presentations, and more. This year’s summit also featured a student case competition that underscores the active involvement of students from Product and Business disciplines nationwide, fostering a diverse and vibrant community of future leaders in the field.

 ISPMA University Chapter at IIM Bangalore was unveiled by Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore; Summit Chair Prof. S. Sadagopan, Chairman, ISPMA India Chapter; Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, Chairman of the Board, ISPMA; Program Chair (Academic Track) Prof. Spurthy Dharanikota, faculty from the Information Systems area of IIM Bangalore and ISPMA Fellow; Prof. Shankhadeep Banerjee, Chairperson of the Centre for Software & Information Technology Management as well as IT Facilitation Committee and faculty of the Information Systems area of IIMB, and Prof. Haragopal Mangipudi, Global Board Member, ISPMA.

 The summit was inaugurated by Prof. S. Sadagopan; Dr. Pramod Varma, Former Chief Architect of Aadhaar; Hans-Bernd Kittlaus; Prof. Shankhadeep Banerjee; Prof. Spurthy Dharanikota, and Abhijit Bendigiri, Program Chair, Industry Track, and Director – Product Management, Oracle Health and AI.

Dr. Spurthy Dharanikota and Abhijit Bendigiri provided an overview of the summit, while Prof. Shankhadeep Banerjee and Prof. S. Sadagopan delivered the welcome address. Dr. Pramod Varma delivered the keynote address on, ‘Building Products and AI for Societal Transformation’. Hans-Bernd Kittlaus delivered an address on, ‘Product Manager vs Product Owner – Why Do Companies Still Struggle 23 Years After the Agile Manifesto?’.

 The summit included Academic/Research and Industry tracks. Student case competitions, panel discussions and presentations by the students of UC Berkeley, IIM Sambalpur and IIM Bangalore were held as part of the Academic Track, apart from the academic/research paper presentations. The Industry Track consisted of the keynote address, presentations,
panel discussions and fireside chats with industry leaders.

 Student Case Competition: The jury of the Student Case Competition comprised Prof. Haragopal Mangipudi, Prof. Spurthy Dharanikota, Muthu Ranganathan, Ankita Parihar, Anjan Goswami and Deepak Padmanabha. The winning teams were Dexters – BITS School of Management (BITSoM), Mumbai, India (second runner-up); Vision Crafters – IIM Bangalore (runner-up), and Alpha – Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), University of Delhi (DU), Delhi (winner).

 Panel discussions: Haragopal Mangipudi moderated a panel discussion on, ‘Product Innovation and the Emerging Role of AI’, featuring Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation; Rishi Nayar, SVP & Country Head, Ellucian; Suresh Rajagopalan, CEO, Wibmo, a PayU Company, and Somshubro Pal Choudhury, Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund.

 Prof. S. Sadagopan moderated the panel discussion on, ‘Emergence and Sustainability of Non-AI Solutions in AI World’, with panelists Srivatsan Santhanam, VP, Spend Management, SAP; SatyaKrishna Pillarishetty, Principal PM, Oracle Health and AI, and Anand Srivastava, Head Products, Genesys.

 SPM Excellence Awards: The global jury of the SPM Excellence Awards comprised Peter Stadlinger, Senior Director of Products, Freshworks, USA, Jury Chair, Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, Venkatesh Balakrishnan, Manager, CSITM, IIMB, and Andrey Saltan, Researcher, LUT University, Finland. The winners were Utpan from Vridhi Cap (Start-up category); UPI Transaction Manager from Infosys Edgeverve Finacle (New Software Product from Established Company category); Vin eRetail from Vinculum (Established Software Product category), and ZEE5 from Zee Entertainment (Platforms category).

 Best Academic Paper Awards: Dr. Spurthy Dharanikota, announced the awards for the Academic Track. The Best Research Paper winners were Manisha Rathi for a paper titled, ‘Leveraging AI Public Goods for Social Welfare through Ecosystem Approach’ (second runner-up); Ramalingeswara Rao K V for the paper titled, ‘System and Method for Automatic Naming Convention of Audio Files Based on User Preferences’ (first runner-up), and Sanyam Jangir, Deepan Gk and Ravi Dave for a paper titled, ‘A Bottom-up Approach for Analyzing Fluctuations in Financial Statements’ (winners).

 Pre-conference workshops: Three pre-conference workshops were also conducted on 15 th February 2024, which saw more than 350 participants. The interactive and informative workshops were conducted by Prof. Haragopal Mangipudi, Vidhi Chugh, Hans-Bernd Kittlaus, Abhijit Bendigiri, Bhaskaran Srinivasan and Ashish Gupta.

 SPM Summit India is an annual event that brings together product management professionals, academicians, thought leaders and experts from all around the world. This informative and engaging event aims to share knowledge, insights and best practices in the field of software product management. At SPM Summit India, attendees get the opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with peers and explore the latest trends and innovations in product management. The event features keynote speeches, interactive workshops, panel discussions, fireside chats, academic papers, presentations on industry best practices and success stories covering a wide range of topics under software product management. The CSITM of IIM Bangalore has been hosting the annual event in India in collaboration with ISPMA since 2019.

New Delhi, 20 February 2024: Renault India, the European car brand in India and BLS E-Services, a subsidiary of BLS International, has formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance the availability and accessibility of Renault’s new 2024 range of Kwid, Triber and Kiger – in rural India.

This partnership aims to boost the reach and accessibility of new 2024 range, stimulating product experience among consumers in rural market. Through this collaboration, Renault India will leverage BLS E-Services’ widespread network of approx.100,000 touchpoints, B2C, CSPs, and VLEs, along with 1,016 digital stores, to drive awareness and facilitate sales of Renault cars in rural and semi-urban regions across the country. Customers opting for BLS E-Services to book cars will enjoy seamless car booking experience, Finance options and access to hassle-free test drive facilities.

On this occasion, Mr. Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), said: “Rural India holds great potential for us, and through our collaboration with BLS E-Services, we aspire to deepen our presence in these markets by introducing our made-in-India, made for the world cars that are designed to cater the unique preferences of our customers. Leveraging the digital and on-site strengths of BLS, we have the assurance of presenting Renault’s automotive technology to newer and diverse customer segments.”

Shikhar Aggarwal, Chairman of BLS E-Services, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “By forging this alliance with Renault India, we are sculpting a dynamic landscape of progress. Through an extensive distribution network, we are unleashing the prowess of Kwid, Triber, and Kiger across the tapestry rural landscape. This collaboration transcends transportation; it’s a transformative journey, delivering Renault’s automotive brilliance directly to the heart of rural India. Brace for the resonance of innovation echoing through every corner as we redefine the very fabric of mobility.”

This partnership with Renault India is in harmony with BLS’s vision to work as a catalyst for rural economic growth, reinforcing Renault’s dedication to the Indian market. BLS E-Services will actively promote awareness and empower rural consumers to access a variety of goods and services transparently through its platforms.

New Delhi, February 20, 2024: Gamers and typists have one thing in common, and that is the need for an efficient mechanical keyboard that is ergonomic and designed to register keystrokes faster with greater precision. India’s most loved portable gadgets brand, Portronics, has answered this need with the addition of the K1 and K2 Gaming Keyboards to its line of input devices for those who want something that’s tailored for gaming and comfortable typing.

These Portronics gaming keyboards sport a high-quality ABS body with 104 full-sized backlit keys. The K1, which is equipped with blue tactile switches, is for those who prefer a more tangible feel while typing. The K2, on the other hand, uses red linear switches for those who like a ‘softer’ and faster typing experience.

Both keyboards support anti-ghosting, allowing gamers to press multiple key combinations at the same time to execute special moves without any issues. To enhance focus during prolonged keyboard use, the K1 and K2 series have raised kickstands for comfortable positioning of the wrist. The keys are colourful, they are backlit and rigged with RGB lights with the option to choose from 20+ different dynamic modes and also customize their brightness and flow speed according to the gamer’s preferences.

Users can also be rest assured about the durability of these gaming keyboards. The K1 and K2 have been tested to last for up to 50 million keystrokes without a hitch for official work and games. They are accompanied by a 1.5-meter plug-and-play cable for convenience and portability.

Pricing and Availability:

The Portronics K1 & K2 Gaming Keyboards can be purchased from the company’s official website Portronics.com at an introductory discounted price of just INR 2,099, backed with a 12-month warranty. The mechanical keyboards can also be bought from Amazon.in, Flipkart.com and other online and offline stores

Mumbai, 20 February 2024: Club Vistara, the award-winning loyalty program of Vistara, today announced one of its biggest annual campaigns – Points Fest 2024, across its Bank/Hotel Point Transfer Partners. The campaign will be live from 20 February till 31 March 2024, offering members and Vistara Flyers (post-enrolment) the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100,000 CV Points (per transaction per eligible Points Transfer Partner) when transferring Bank/Hotel reward points to CV Points.

The campaign allows Club Vistara members to earn up to 40% Bonus CV Points (up to 100,000 CV Points per partner and up to 11,00,000 CV Points with all Points Transfer Partners) on eligible Bank/Hotel reward programs with a minimum transfer of 5000 CV Points. The eligible Points Transfer Partners include American Express, AU Bank, Club ITC, FAB, FI Money, HDFC Bank, HSBC, IndusInd Bank, SBI AURUM, SCB UAE, and Yes Bank.

Mr. Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara, said, “In the last three years, our annual Points Fest has become a much-anticipated campaign amongst the members of Club Vistara. This year, we are delighted to launch yet another edition of this campaign with bigger benefits and rewards for our customers. This is our way of expressing gratitude to our loyal customers for their continued support and love over the last nine years.”

 Bonus CV Points Structure for Bank/Hotel Points Transfer

 With the accumulated CV Points, members can enjoy various redemption options such as award flights and upgrade awards across all Vistara destinations. Additionally, participants stand a chance to win exciting prizes, including a weekly raffle where two lucky winners will receive a Vistara Purple Ticket Gift Card worth INR 5000 each. Furthermore, the top five Club Vistara members with the highest CV Points transferred across eligible partners until 31 March 2024 will each receive a Vistara Purple Ticket Gift Card worth INR 10000.

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 has also been recognised as World’s 4^th Youngest Aircraft Fleet and Asia’s 2^nd Youngest Aircraft Fleet in 2024 by ch-aviation. Club Vistara also won several awards at the prestigious Freddie Awards and Frequent Traveller Awards in 2023.

DoubleTree By Hilton Gurugram Baani Square is proud to announce its partnership with Dhagaa, a heartfelt endeavor dedicated to the sustainable development of handloom weavers in India.

 The hotel hosted the one day exhibition that was enthusiastically attended by guests and team members of the hotel at its beautiful lobby.

 This exclusive exhibition showcased a stunning collection of 100% natural handwoven sarees, stoles, dupattas, tote bags, indo-western dresses, artisanal handcrafted jewelry by incredibly talented Indian weavers and artisans especially women on 18th Feb 2024 from 10 am to 7 pm.

 As part of WTMRG (Women Team Member Resource Group) initiatives, Hilton started this drive across all Hilton Hotels in India and this time, DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square had the honour to showcase the great work by underprivileged women and their artistry. The total sale from the event would solely be utilized to better the life of these artisans and bring out their talent to the fore.

Bengaluru, India – February 20th, 2024 – Easebuzz, a leading full-stack payment solutions platform, has been honored with the Outstanding DevOps Team Collaboration of the Year (FinTech) award at the prestigious 3rd Annual India DevOps Show 2024 by Quantic India. This recognition commends the team Easebuzz for their exceptional dedication, innovative approaches, and collaborative spirit in implementing Industry best DevOps practices.

The India DevOps Show recognizes outstanding contributions and innovations within the DevOps community, celebrating the teams and individuals who drive excellence and transformation in the field of technology. The coveted award acknowledges the committed effort by Easebuzz’s team in furthering the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions and services to Indian businesses.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Amit Kumar, Chief Technology Officer, Easebuzz, expressed gratitude on behalf of Team Easebuzz, stating, “We are truly honored to receive the Outstanding DevOps Team Collaboration of the Year award. It is a testament to the relentless efforts and cohesive teamwork exhibited by every member of our organization. At Easebuzz, we prioritize collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, and this award reaffirms our commitment to excellence in delivering transformative payment solutions to our clients.”

The 3rd Annual India DevOps Show, hosted in Bangalore, witnessed participation from leading industry experts, thought leaders, and technology enthusiasts, highlighting the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the DevOps ecosystem. This prestigious accolade not only underscores Easebuzz’s commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation but also reaffirms its position as a trailblazer in the FinTech landscape.

Mumbai, 20 Feb, 24: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, recently premiered the much-awaited final season of its teen romance series, Crushed. This season, the story takes a surprising turn with the unexpected reappearance of Samvidhan, emphasizing the emotional turmoil between him and Aadhya. The narrative further delves into the lives of Aadhya and her friends, Zoya and Jaz, as their bond becomes stronger after facing multiple hurdles along the way. Featuring Aadhya Anand, Arjun Deswal, Urvi Singh, Naman Jain, and Rudhraksh Jaiswal in pivotal roles, the series boasts a wholesome blend of emotions, drama, and heartwarming moments.

Rudhraksh Jaiswal, who essays the role of Samvidhan, made a comeback to Crushed for its final season. Elaborating on his character’s growth, from the first season to the fourth season, Rudhraksh shared, “In the first season, Samvidhan displayed a youthful and playful demeanor as a 9th grader. He had a joyful personality, cherished spending time with his family, and was fixated on a particular girl. These experiences are common during our formative years. Subsequently, he strives to establish a connection with this girl, aiming to spend a significant amount of time with her and empathize with her emotions. He also learns to navigate his own emotions, as maintaining a balanced emotional state is crucial in any relationship. Ultimately, it becomes a process of mutual discovery and understanding, as two individuals strive to find common ground.”

He also added, “In the fourth season, he has transformed into a more refined individual. He has gained wisdom through his life journey and has delved into the depths of his own complexities. Not only does he comprehend the essence of life, but he also possesses a deeper understanding of people and their perspectives. He has a profound understanding of his friends and their current situations. Hence, I believe that he has attained a sense of maturity, gradually evolving into a more composed version of himself. This theme resonates strongly with Samvidhan’s character development.”

Get ready to dive into the lives of the audience’s most loved teens and embark on a journey of nostalgia, love, and friendship with the final season of Crushed. All 4 seasons of the series are now streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV, available on the Amazon shopping app, FireTV, and Play Store.

INDIA, 20 February 2024 ‒ AirAsia today announced the launch of its much anticipated Big Sale Campaign with INR0* base fare seats from several cities in India to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and beyond!

Unearth the wanderlust in you by exploring the jewel of Malaysia ‒ Kuala Lumpur ‒ when you fly from Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Trivandrum, Ahmedabad, and much more. Planning a flight to bustling Bangkok? AirAsia has got you covered. Fly direct from Lucknow, Guwahati and so much more at no cost* for the seat. From Kuala Lumpur, make your way to hundreds of destinations in Malaysia and beyond that are also offering INR0* seats, such as the beachy island of Langkawi, the mountainous Kota Kinabalu, serene Bali, and much more! The airline offers affordable and accessible Fly-Thru options, where guests travelling from India to Malaysia can utilise Kuala Lumpur as a connecting hub to AirAsia’s more than 130 destinations in 22 countries and counting.

Seats booked during this campaign can be used for travel between 1 September 2024 till 18 June 2025. Simply visit the airasia app or www.airasia.com to book your seats and plan your trips!

AirAsia’s world-renowned Big Sale Campaigns have enabled travellers in India from all walks of life to travel the world affordably over the years. Under these promotional fares, the base fares of the flights are priced from INR0* for its base fare and guests need to only pay for the airport tax and relevant fees, allowing them to travel the world for minimal costs.

Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam said: “Everything about AirAsia, from our vast network to unique routes to inexpensive fares, is curated with our core value at heart ‒ being a ‘people’s airline’, and thus, we’re always pleased to offer more value-added deals with our signature Big Sale Campaign. This is also our humble way of expressing gratitude for our guests from India who’ve supported us over the years as we celebrate having flown close to an incredible 1 billion guests and counting.”

“Guests can seamlessly travel to Kuala Lumpur from these amazing cities in India and explore Malaysia and the region via our popular Fly-Through services. For those of you who love to experience adventure or explore the beautiful Kuala Lumpur, this is your chance, so grab your INR0** seats early.”

Bengaluru, 20th Feb 2024: Style Icon of the Year (SITY) 2023-24’ presents a pool of talent that is sure to take the industry by surprise. Our talent this time exudes confidence & charisma, with heaps of signature ‘SITY’ spunk.

We are super pumped to see them transition from raw youthfulness to polished professionals. These amazing individuals evolved under the mentorship & rigorous training of Watermark Productions, and the grand finale conducted at the Bowring Institute was a testament to that.

35 finalists that were narrowed down from a pool of 4,000+ students across 25 colleges in Karnataka. They were fully charged with the right blend of original style, spunky walk & confidence personified. Our expert judges were very impressed, making it truly hard for them to crown the final two winners.

Our judges’ panel included actor Sharmiela Mandre, renowned Bharatnatyam dancer Rukmini Vijayakumar, fashion photographer Wasim Khan & fashion designer Sounak Sen Barat. Before arriving at the grand finale, Style icon finalists underwent an intensive two-month grooming program that trained them in ramp walking, etiquette, fitness, acting, dance, skincare, and mental wellness. The results were nothing short of phenomenal.

Winners of Style Icon Of The Year 2023 are Lakshita Thilagaraj & Rohan Rangnath.

The Style Icon of The Year competition by Watermark Productions was a star-studded event with several industry luminaries in attendance. Drawing a crowd of nearly 1500 people from all quarters, to watch the gala night.

“Fashion is what you make of it. The right attitude can make anything look fashionable, and that’s why our hunt has been to find luring personalities, as opposed to typical models.

Yes, fashion is ever-evolving and we have to stay attuned to current trends. But what remains constant is your unique personality. That’s literally half the battle won. Our focus has been on empowering individuals to embrace their unique style journeys. We take immense pride in witnessing the transformation of our students, from fresh, raw enthusiasts, to becoming polished professionals, ready to take on a multitude of industries. There’s nothing more satisfying than helping these energetic young students in shaping their flourishing careers”: Zulfikher Ahmed, Co-Founder, Watermark Productions

Quote “India, is soon to be the world’s 3rd largest economy, and the fashion landscape in our country is only expanding. We have insane talent but limited platforms for them to shine. All we do here at Watermark’s Style Icon is give them a nudge in the right direction. Considering the competition in the field, it’s important for aspirants to have the right skills. Here we are, giving them a crash course in everything they can imagine. You want to act, dance, ramp walk, polish yourself for a corporate job… or just understand your unique style… the Style Icon platform is a golden stage to unveil your true self. I needn’t say more. Honestly, the opportunities our previous contestants have got should give you an insight into the quality of our program. Style Icon opens doors to endless possibilities, the sky is the limit for aspiring fashion luminaries- Ria Jamal, Partner, Watermark Productions

Watermark is set to widen its horizons to be the largest talent-scouting platform in the country.