Archive: November 2, 2021

Three Michelin-Starred Chef Jason Atherton opens Maraya Social restaurant in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

AlUla, home to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula is set to welcome its first signature fine-dining restaurant. English Chef and restaurateur Jason Atherton, who owns and runs three-Michelin-star restaurants across the world, opened Maraya Social on 27 October 2021.

The restaurant is located on the rooftop of the iconic-mirrored building with 360-degree views of stunning rock-strewn valleys and canyons of the Ashar Valley.

Jason Atherton said, “My team and I are so impressed by the natural beauty, history and culture of AlUla. I jumped at the chance to be one of the first permanent fine-dining venues in AlUla and be part of the exciting progress in the Kingdom. The beauty of the Ashar Valley, the native produce and the iconic Maraya architecture are all the ingredients we need for what is sure to be a sought-after destination dining experience.”

“AlUla has an amazing diversity of produce unique to the region and an incredible history and culture which I am excited to explore both in the landscape and in the menu,” said Chef Atherton.

Reflecting the architecture of Maraya and complementing the natural beautify of AlUla, the open-plan design puts comfort first featuring bespoke furniture and soft fabric materials including silk, cotton and rayon with colors that reflect its environment. The restaurant offers relaxing yet vibrant atmosphere during the day, and by nights, it will be low-lit to create an unforgettable dining experience under the bright stars.

The menu is sourced from seasonal fruits, vegetables and locally produced ingredients and features a selection of sharing plates, served with high-quality mocktails. The menu is designed to share and create a social environment for diners.

Maraya Social will be the newest addition to Jason’s portfolio of international restaurants and his first venture into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The restaurant will receive reservations through the website.

Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Offices, Royal Commission for AlUla also welcomes the new addition to AlUla’s dining scene.

“Maraya Social is set to be a destination restaurant for Middle East and the world. We are delighted for AlUla to be the home of Chef’s first restaurant in Saudi Arabia. AlUla presents a unique opportunity both in terms of the historical setting as well as the untapped pantry of produce and flavours.”

“With new international and home-grown food and beverage brands flocking to AlUla this winter, and an exciting calendar of events, the opening of the Maraya Social complements our strategic plans to boost AlUla’s tourism infrastructure and become a favorite boutique cultural destination for visitors from the Kingdom and beyond,” said Jones.

Iconic shopping destination R CITY Mall opens its gates to the city in a brand new avatar

Mumbai, November 2021: One of the city’s favourite and the largest shopping destination for last ten years, R CITY Mall, has undergone a 360-degree makeover with completely revamped plush new interiors, ensemble of Iconic International brands, a widespread global F&B palate with 250+ cuisines accompanied by a brand new elegantly designed logo and tagline. With a sprawling courtyard spread across 24,000 sq.ft. that makes for a perfect venue for stand up performances, musical gigs, food fests and much more, the mall is also the largest leisure and recreation hub of the city that houses 12+ leading entertainment centres.

Building onto the renewed catchphrase – ‘Experience the Extraordinary,’ the mall’s new look is set to offer a sublime experience to every visitor. By transforming it into an iconic shopping destination, the mall caters to aspiring shoppers who like to indulge in high fashion and lifestyle shopping. These developments come at a time when R CITY reopens to the public in adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols, thereby keeping up with the changing times yet continuing to be the mall that Mumbai has loved since its inception.

The newly revamped mall is all geared up for the festive season with its mega event – ‘R CITY Fiesta’ which is an 80-day long extravaganza comprising an awe-inspiring and majestic festive décor – The Fountains of Light, an ornate structure, inspired by the royal light water fountains from around the world. It’s an elaborate design of 5 majestic horses that appear to be galloping out of the Light fountain with crystal detailing. The display is 34ft tall surrounded with over 2 lakh glass crystals and creates a gleaming ambience to mirror the forthcoming gaieties.

This imperial decor is perfectly complemented with high value gratification worth ₹ 2 crore that include the limited edition all-new Jeep Compass 4 x 4, an iPhone every week and Gold coins every day via lucky draws. Additionally, assured prizes up to ₹5000 to be given via a Spin the Wheel activity.

Pancham Lillaney, CMO, R Retail Ventures Private Ltd. said, “We are extremely delighted to unveil the new avatar of R CITY which is not only a transformation in its look and feel but an extraordinary experience in the truest sense. Our mega R CITY Fiesta is poised to be a testimony of this with an extravagant breath-taking décor and high value prizes worth ₹ 2 crores. Not only that, but we also have an exciting line-up of events and activities which includes Wedding Fest, Jewellery Fest, Christmas activations, Stand-up comedy shows by well-known comic personalities, a city level food fest, and much more. Through these, R CITY is committed to delivering on its promise of an extraordinary and memorable experience to its customers.”

When it comes to shopping, the mall has an array of iconic international brands like H&M, The Collective Outlet, Nykaa Luxe, Steve Madden, ALDO, Superdry, Vero Moda, MAC and more, that together offer a delightful shopping experience to patrons. Sephora, Enrich Salon, Tapa Tora – A Tex-Mex restaurant format and Dyson are some of the premium additions opening soon.

Attributing utmost importance to the safety of its customers, staff and employees, the mall’s efforts were recognized recently at the prestigious Mapic India Award for “Most Admired Shopping Centre with innovative Covid-19 protocols”. With 100% Vaccinated staff and best-in-class safety, hygiene and social distancing measures, customers can look forward to a cheerful, and exciting shopping experience this festive season at the safest shopping destination – R CITY Mall, Ghatkopar.

Leading freight forwarder JetFrieght logistics appoints Mr. Arvind Kumar Talan as Chief Financial Officer

2nd November 2021 India: Jetfreight Logistics announces the appointment of Mr. Arvind Kumar Talan as its Chief Financial Officer. He joined the company on October 21, 2021. The newly appointed CFO is a fellow member of the Institute of the Chartered Accountants of India with additional qualifications of Company Secretary, LL.B., CPA (Australia) and MBA amongst others.

Mr. Talan was last associated for more than 14 years with Mahindra group as General Manager (Finance & Accounts). He handled various assignments under different sectors at different locations including as Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary of Mahindra Australia for 5 years. During his tenure in Australia, Mahindra group had its highest profitability & turnover, and he was instrumental in getting “Australian Trusted Trader” status for the company.

Mr. Arvind Kumar Talan has also been associated with IFFCO Ltd, the world’s largest fertilizer cooperative and leading player in India’s fertilizer industry, for 9 years. He is known for his expertise and vast experience in streamlining business processes, compliances, business strategy, people management, revenue & cost optimization, working capital management, demerger, and making the best use of IT infrastructure.

About JetFreight

Established in 1986 with a vision to be the front-runner in the logistic industry, Jet Freight is one of the leading freight forwarders today, offering complete logistics solutions. It offers a wide variety of services to its clients, managing over 150 tonnes of air cargo daily with all the leading global airlines. The company has a strong presence in 10+ cities in India and caters to over 200 countries in the world. Its branches have state-of-art technology that support round-the-clock operational processes, enhancing its efficiency and response rate. It follows a long tradition of excellence in services that reflects a lasting commitment to putting customer’s needs at the center of its strategic planning, providing value proposition to clients, and over time, building a long and trusted relationship.

Amo electric bikes witnesses consistent growth records 500% jump this October

New Delhi, November 2nd, 2021 – Amo electric bikes, a brand creating reliable, sustainable, and affordable e-mobility solutions in India, has witnessed a growth of over 500+% in October’ 21. The company has sold 2500 units in October this year as compared to 416 units in the same month last year.

This is a result of the continuous efforts of the leadership to motivate employees to look beyond and out of the box to deliver striking results when it comes to sales. At the managerial level, they introduced scrupulous methodologies to instigate and motivate the team of sales and service members at the highest level and introduced the step-by-step processes to boost sales. The festive season of Dhanteras and Diwali added to the trial of those methodologies which led to rapid growth and momentum.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Sushant Kumar, Founder and MD, AMO Electric bikes, said, this gigantic growth in the festive season is just a delightful indicator. We have been witnessing a consistent growth pattern through the 3rd quarter this year, with 200% in August, 350% growth in September to 500% growth in October. In the future, we aim to sell 6000 units on a monthly basis. We aim to play a big role in the electric mobility sector in India and aim to close an investment of $200 million in the next 3 years.

The single-day end customer retail sale on Dhanteras exceeds 2500 e-bikes (Novemeber’21) as compared to 316 last year’s Dhanteras sales (Based on pre-Dhanteras booking to be delivered on THE DAY). The company has further expanded its dealerships to150 across the country.

AMO recently launched its campaign ‘Karle Raho Se Yaariyan’ with an aim to bring awareness towards the tragic consequences of climate change and highlight the importance of e-mobility solutions

Zypp Electric is building India’s first EV D2C business

Zypp Electric (https://www.zypp.app) India’s leading EV Logistics Tech delivery startup has built India’s 1st EV D2C business. Zypp Electric is on a quest to achieve 100% electrification in last-mile logistics and to assist businesses from all sectors in becoming carbon emission free. It caters to a wide range of enterprises, including huge ecommerce companies, e-grocery, kirana stores, and restaurants. Zypp Electric handles their end-to-end last-mile deliveries – from stores to customers’ homes – with a variety of differentiated tech-enabled custom solutions, including the use of e-vehicles, service timing fixes, IoT-enabled battery swapping infrastructure, ensuring good riders, and providing an exclusive experience to their end customers.

Zypp Electric now has a fleet of 2000+ electric scooters and does 500k deliveries each month. In India, last-mile delivery is a major business. According to KPMG, by 2025, India will have 6.1 million delivery executives doing last-mile deliveries.

To achieve its mission of Zero Emissions, Zypp has created interesting industry 1st products which are as follows.

Last-mile logistics include more than just delivering a few packets; it might also entail hefty packages and many orders. Zypp Electric debuted India’s first B2B heavy electric scooter, the ‘Zypp Cargo,’ in July 2021. This heavy-duty scooter is designed for last-mile logistics and can carry up to 250 kg. It has a 40 Ah battery and can go 120 kilometres in one charge. It can accommodate multiple battery systems and have swappable batteries. Its resilience makes it ideal for shipping crates, pet bottles, cylinders, high load shipments, groceries, huge food bags, and ecommerce bulk shipments, among other items, making it an easy option for e-commerce, grocery, and B2B delivery firms in India. It’s known as a “Two Wheeler Truck” because of its tough and ruthless power to help with last-mile deliveries. At the last EV Expo, Zypp Electric received 5000+ open orders for this model and has already delivered 300 scooters in nine locations.

Zypp Electric offers a wide range of investment and lease opportunities. It offers a one-of-a-kind Buy, Lease, and Earn program under the Zypp Entrepreneurship Program, in which anybody can purchase electric scooters/loaders and lease them, receiving guaranteed monthly returns/rentals directly in their bank account. In comparison to other investment tools, this program offers returns of about 21% and is risk-free of market swings.

Zypp also assists its delivery riders in purchasing a scooter on simple EMIs over a period of 2-3 years with no additional interest, allowing each delivery rider to earn more and generate higher monthly profits.

With its MISSION ZERO EMISSION mission, Zypp intends to grow its fleet to 100,000 EVs in the next two years and continue its quest to become the leading D2C brand in the market and establish a tech EV fleet ecosystem for a sustainable future. Bigbasket, Spencer, Amazon, Flipkart, Licious, and Myntra are just a few of the e-commerce, grocery, e-retail, and food tech companies with which the firm has worked. Zypp now operates in nine cities: Delhi, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad, where it recently debuted its services. It now has 300 clients and plans to reach 1,000+ partners by FY2022.

“We are extremely proud to be the first EV D2C Business in India. Our goal is to achieve 100% electrification in last-mile logistics and to assist businesses from many sectors in becoming emission-free. We aim to demonstrate the robust and savage force of the Zypp Cargo, A Two-Wheeler Truck launched in the last EV Expo at Pragati Maidan. Zypp Electric has received 5000 open orders for this model. Zypp believes that everyone should be able to participate in this ecosystem and benefit from the multibillion-dollar EV business. With its MISSION ZERO EMISSION mission, Zypp Electric wants to expand its fleet size and continue its path to become the largest D2C brand in the market with our successful Zypp Buy & Earn program where all our 2000 bikes are invested by HNIs and they get healthy return via Zypp Platform”, said Akash Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO of Zypp Electric.

PokerBaazi wants you to apply your Poker skills for a ‘sweet’ victory

With families separated by the pandemic for long, it’s time to come home, sit together, and catch up on what they missed, over a game of poker. But with a twist!

For Diwali, PokerBaazi gave a sweet twist to the game with family members applying Poker skills to win sweets.

Poker is a game of patience and focus, and winning a game depends on a player’s skill to understand and read their opponent. Time to apply your poker skills to win a pot of sweets!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JJBWJjEP4I

Comviva launches next generation BlueMarble platform for digital commerce and business systems

Cloud native & microservices based integrated digital commerce, customer care and partner management platform for driving business agility and growth

New Delhi, India – November 02, 2021 – Comviva, the global leader in mobility solutions, today announced the launch of its next generation BlueMarble platform.

The new BlueMarble is an integrated digital commerce, order management, customer care and partner management platform. Specifically designed for Communication Service Providers (CSPs), it is 5G ready, cloud-native, microservices based, open and modular digital platform that delivers business agility, high performance and flexibility to rapidly offer personalized digital experiences and journey.

Comviva’s BlueMarble empowers CSPs to serve all customer types (consumers and businesses, existing and new), all channels (assisted, unassisted, current and future), multi-play businesses and actively leverage partner ecosystems. With the new BlueMarble, Comviva supports the entire digital customer lifecycle from discovery, shopping, ordering, and billing to payment and care. It enables CSPs actively access to new revenue sources while accelerating time to launch and monetize new lines of business, such as 5G, Cloud applications, IoT and virtualized services.

Speaking on the occasion, Manoranjan (Mao) Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Comviva said, “We are significantly raising the digital bar with our next generation BlueMarble solution. Industry boundaries have blurred and Communication Service Providers today, are competing against digital native companies at various levels. The new BlueMarble solution represents a major upward shift and will present whole lot of new opportunities for the CSPs in this 5G era, driven by innovation and agility. It shall help organizations quickly launch new products, grow revenue, expand partner ecosystems, and provide world-class customer experiences.”

“We are intensely customer-focused, in our product roadmaps, consultative led engagements and client advocacy. The new BlueMarble solution provides organizations immense flexibility and technology choices by driving openness and interoperability”, further added Mohapatra.

With the new BlueMarble, Comviva has introduced an extremely strong proposition for the CSPs to drive their digital transformation journey. The solution has been built with modularity in mind enabling a phased approach to add digital capabilities. Microservices provide the agility to introduce new features and services rapidly, without affecting the rest of the elements.

Comviva’s BlueMarble solution has been awarded Platinum Badge by TM Forum for Open APIs Conformance. The open APIs enable businesses to monetize and launch bundled services, fast and seamlessly. It enables quick and flexible integration among management systems which makes it easier to build complex services.

Hrithik Roshan Shares A Sizzling Video From Burj Khalifa

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan treated his fans with some thrilling shots of himself in Dubai. The star shared a never seen video on the top of the world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa. In the video, Hrithik can be seen donning a rugged look and is seen carrying bottle Mountain Dew, a brand he endorses. Sporting a khaki toned t-shirt and a pair of cargo pants, Hrithik’s ensemble was a fashion inspiration, as always.

The video and images are from behind the scenes of the Mountain Dew’s new TVC shoot, which shows brand ambassador Hrithik Roshan amused with the thrill of being at the top of Burj Khalifa and capturing his experience. In the video, Hrithik is seen feeling exhilarated from the top of the world and enjoying the breathtaking view of Dubai’s skyline. Engaging with his Instagram fans at the end of the video, Hrithik shares the majestic view and is excited about his new campaign with Dew.

Hrithik Roshan, Brand Ambassador, Mountain Dew also said in an exclusive video, “It’s always a pleasure to be in Dubai as it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s even more special this time because Mountain Dew is bringing me to the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa for our next shoot and I cannot wait for all of you to see it and bring alive the Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai philosophy from the top of Burj Khalifa.”

To watch the video on YouTube: