Category: Brand Marketing

I want over 1000 hotels in India. I don’t want that to take me 20 years: Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin

Sebastien Bazin says as much as he loves the opportunity of India, he also questions how long it takes to open hotels in India. “It takes 5-6 years to open hotels in India, whereas globally it is around 3-4 years on the higher side. Why does it take two years more to get the hotel running?” he questions.

‘India invented Luxury with Oberoi, Taj and Leela… I am only learning,’ says Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin. In a special interaction with Storyboard18, the group chairman and CEO of the French multinational hospitality chain and hotel chain Accor, speaks about the India opportunity, the company’s plans, his excitement around the Paris Olympics and more.

Why do “budget customers of Bharat” expect to be treated poorly by financial services brands?

Piramal Finance is building a "scalable model of empathy" to meet the diverse financing needs of the under-served and unserved people of ‘Bharat’ market. (Image credit: Unsplash via Jerry Mathew)

“They expect to be treated poorly and when they just get treated like a human, it overwhelms them,” says Piramal Finance’s MD Jairam Sridharan about the ‘budget customers of Bharat’. Find out why.

‘Customization, sustainability, premiumization’ driving the $ 4.2 billion LED lighting industry in India

The Indian LED lighting market alone has reached US$ 4.2 billion in 2023. According to market research firm IMARC Group the market is expected to reach US$ 23.2 billion by 2032, at a growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4 percent during 2024-2032. 

India is rapidly embracing advanced lighting solutions, seeking data-driven, energy-efficient, and integrated smart solutions. The focus has shifted beyond mere illumination to encompass comprehensive lighting solutions.

ZEE becomes a one-man show as Punit Goenka assumes charge of all critical roles

The company's focus has been on "frugality", optimization, and quality content, after the ZEE-Sony merger collapsed in January 2024. As part of the restructuring efforts, Goenka streamlined and revamped ZEEL's technology and innovation centre, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in its workforce at the end of March 2024. (Image source: Moneycontrol)

Although ZEEL plans to elevate certain team members across businesses, MD and CEO Punit Goenka plans to assume direct charge of the critical business verticals.

McDonald’s India steps into anime world; launches ‘WcDonald’s’

McDonald’s India has also unveiled a transformation of its restaurant at Linking Road in Bandra, Mumbai. Conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group, the restaurant's décor and ambiance captures the essence of Anime aesthetics, the company further added. (Stills from the campaign)

This includes the launch of a savoury sauce, new collectible manga-themed packaging and an anime themed restaurant followed the release of four anime films.

Lionsgate Play partners with Smart Communications for affordable binge-watch deal

“Our alliance with Dhiraagu in Maldives has further solidified our footprint in South Asia, fostering a deeper connection with the diverse audience in the Maldivian market. This collaboration is poised to offer the nation’s viewers seamless access to Lionsgate Play’s premium content, taking a step ahead towards enriching the entertainment experiences of our audience. As we continue our quest of bringing global entertainment closer, this moment marks an important milestone in our journey and we look forward to the exciting chapters ahead,” stated Rohit Jain, President, Lionsgate Play, Asia. (Image source: Unsplash)

Starting today, all Smart Prepaid and Smart Postpaid subscribers in the Philippines may enjoy affordable premium streaming subscriptions as they dive into Lionsgate Play’s expansive library of blockbuster franchises and innovative original series.

The Power of Problems

While traditional advertising may not mesh well with games, the power of narrative communication tends to go extremely well with gaming as a medium. And with more people increasingly getting into gaming, this has given rise to increased fears around game addiction as well as very creative ways to address this potentially sensitive topic, writes Skandaram Vasudevan. (Image source: Unsplash)

Perception shapes the world and how we view it. More than reality, it is how we perceive it that truly matters, writes Skandaram Vasudevan.

Kalyan Jewellers records 34 percent revenue growth in Q4 FY2024; plans to launch 130 showrooms in India in FY 2025

In FY2025, Kalyan Jewellers plans to launch a minimum of 130 showrooms in India (80 Kalyan and 50 Candere) and 6 showrooms across the Middle East and USA. (Image source: Kalyan Jewellers)

In Q4 FY2024, Kalyan Jewellers recorded consolidated revenue growth of approximately 34% when compared to the same period in the previous financial year.