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Tag: ITC Hotels

  • ITC Hotels unveils an ‘Epiq’ new chapter in luxury

    ITC Hotels unveils an ‘Epiq’ new chapter in luxury

    MUMBAI: ITC Hotels is spelling epic with a ‘q’. The hospitality giant has unveiled its newest premium brand, Epiq Collection, marking a fresh chapter in its growth story and adding sparkle to its ‘Asset-Right’ expansion strategy.

    The first destinations to host this new brand are two of India’s most culturally vibrant cities, Puri and Tirupati. The 118-key Epiq Collection Puri, an owned property, and the 201-key Epiq Collection Tirupati, a managed hotel, are set to open within the next two years, both joining the Club ITC rewards programme. Together, they signal a refined blend of modern sensibility and soulful Indian hospitality.

    “The launch of Epiq Collection marks an important milestone in the evolution of ITC Hotels’ brand architecture,” said ITC Hotels Limited managing director Anil Chadha. “We are curating experiences that are contemporary in sensibility yet timeless in their connection to place.”

    The brand aims to add around 1,000 rooms in the medium term and will feature premium hotels and resorts, each with its own distinctive character, design language and culinary identity. Staying true to ITC Hotels’ reputation for sustainability and culinary excellence, the Epiq Collection will celebrate regional cuisines with a modern twist, where local inspiration meets global sophistication.

    Designed to host both new builds and repositioned premium properties, Epiq Collection promises to be a reflection of social vitality, service finesse, and that unmistakable Indian warmth that defines ITC’s hospitality ethos.
     

  • Kinnect appoints Varun J. Bansal as AVP of media

    Kinnect appoints Varun J. Bansal as AVP of media

    Mumbai: On Thursday, Kinnect India announced the onboarding of Varun J Bansal as associate vice president of media, to handle its Delhi operations. He will directly report to Kinnect VP of media Mihir Palan.

    With over 14 years of experience in integrated media planning and strategizing, Varun has worked with brands like Nestle, GSK, Pernod Ricard India, Snapdeal, Gaana.com, ITC hotels, and Uber. His last stint was with Wavemaker as business director.

    Talking about Varun’s appointment, Kinnect COO Chandni Shah said, “Post-covid19, we see more brands transitioning to digital transformation. We, as media partners, are constantly striving towards bringing in meaningful business outcomes with measurable targets, and that’s where Varun steps in. His experience and portfolio perfectly fit our integrated business and complement our data-driven philosophy. I am happy to onboard him, especially to lead our Delhi media operations and wish him all the success.”

    About his new role, Varun said, “Kinnect’s reputation precedes itself. The organisation is at the forefront of all media skills in a highly competitive sector. All of this is supported by an inspiring leadership team, of which I’m proud to be a member. By developing cutting-edge solutions for client and agency business objectives, I am excited to use this chance to elevate further and enrich the current media function.”

  • Get your read on: ITC Hotels’ latest perk for guests

    Get your read on: ITC Hotels’ latest perk for guests

    NEW DELHI: Keeping in view the new normal of today's times, ITC Hotels and select Welcome Hotels have enabled contactless ‘smart reading zones’ in association with Magzter. The guests will now have unlimited free access to 5,000+ popular magazines and newspapers on the Magzter app. ITC Hotels’ guests can enjoy reading the magazines and newspapers on their mobile devices while they are anywhere inside the hotel premises – whether it is the room, the restaurants, the conference hall, the lobby, or the spa. This facility can be accessed by anyone entering the property, including in-house guests, customers of other services, visitors and employees.

    These magazines and newspapers also spread across 60+ widely spoken languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati and Spanish. Some of the popular titles that can be read for free in these smart reading zones include The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Business Standard, The New Indian Express, India Today, Filmfare, Cosmopolitan, Forbes India, National Geographic Magazine, Lonely Planet Magazine India, and Tinkle.

    ITC Hotels COO Anil Chadha stated, “We have pioneered sustainable practices in hospitality. The association with Magzter is a one-of-its-kind offering by ITC Hotels. It caters to people of all age groups and with diverse interests. While businessmen can stay updated with leading business magazines and newspapers, family travellers can relax by binge-reading popular fashion, lifestyle and entertainment magazines. Kids are sure to love reading their favourite comics in an exciting digital format too.”

    Magzter Inc CEO Girish Ramdas stated, “We always strive to provide solutions to real-world problems with our product and innovative ideas. During these unprecedented times, we’re immensely pleased to partner with ITC Hotels and turn all their properties into smart reading zones. We firmly believe that guests will love indulging in unlimited reading on the Magzter app even as they enjoy the world-class hospitality of ITC Hotels.”

  • Chance to demonstrate proven global tools in India: Havas’s new digital head Nitin Karkara

    Chance to demonstrate proven global tools in India: Havas’s new digital head Nitin Karkara

    MUMBAI: Havas Media Group India has appointed Nitin Karkara as head – Digital, to promote and drive growth for the 360 degree digital offering of Havas Media in India for existing and new clients.

    Havas Media Group India and south Asia CEO Anita Nayyar said, “Nitin has the rare mix of leading from the front, both from the client and agency side. We’ve had tremendous organic digital expansion. Although, digital cum mobile has been a core part of every new business win, Havas Media today is a firmly established fully integrated media company providing both online and offline solutions. Collaboration is the cornerstone of our unified operating model, allowing us to deliver 100 per cent accountability and ideas that flourish without boundaries.”

    Havas Media Group India MD Mohit Joshi added, “Our Digital at the core and Meaningful Connections Planning philosophy has always impressed clients. Nitin will only add more value and strengthen our philosophy by nailing the clients’ challenges in the context of Digital & Mobile Marketing.”

    Karkara said, “Havas Media Group is one of the pioneers in bringing their integrated media and creative offerings with specialized proprietary global tools for developing strategy, planning, media buying, analytics, and reporting. This is a huge opportunity for me to demonstrate these proven global specialized tools and frameworks in the Indian market and create value for existing and new clients. This will also help us further integrate client businesses and successfully partner with them in their overall marketing stories.”

    Having graduated from University of British Columbia, Canada, Nitin brings to the agency, an experience of 16+ years in business development, brand strategy, product marketing, mobile and e-commerce. Nitin previously was the G.M. and Head of Digital (HHP Division), Cheil Worldwide and prior Digital Marketing Lead – India & South West Asia, The Coca-Cola Company. He started his career with Samsung and since then has been associated with companies like Sapient India, Microsoft in Wunderman, IBM, ITC Hotels, Manipal Education and Vodafone in OgilvyOne, Fritolays, GSK, Readers Digest and Tetrapak in ISHIR Digital.

  • Chance to demonstrate proven global tools in India: Havas’s new digital head Nitin Karkara

    Chance to demonstrate proven global tools in India: Havas’s new digital head Nitin Karkara

    MUMBAI: Havas Media Group India has appointed Nitin Karkara as head – Digital, to promote and drive growth for the 360 degree digital offering of Havas Media in India for existing and new clients.

    Havas Media Group India and south Asia CEO Anita Nayyar said, “Nitin has the rare mix of leading from the front, both from the client and agency side. We’ve had tremendous organic digital expansion. Although, digital cum mobile has been a core part of every new business win, Havas Media today is a firmly established fully integrated media company providing both online and offline solutions. Collaboration is the cornerstone of our unified operating model, allowing us to deliver 100 per cent accountability and ideas that flourish without boundaries.”

    Havas Media Group India MD Mohit Joshi added, “Our Digital at the core and Meaningful Connections Planning philosophy has always impressed clients. Nitin will only add more value and strengthen our philosophy by nailing the clients’ challenges in the context of Digital & Mobile Marketing.”

    Karkara said, “Havas Media Group is one of the pioneers in bringing their integrated media and creative offerings with specialized proprietary global tools for developing strategy, planning, media buying, analytics, and reporting. This is a huge opportunity for me to demonstrate these proven global specialized tools and frameworks in the Indian market and create value for existing and new clients. This will also help us further integrate client businesses and successfully partner with them in their overall marketing stories.”

    Having graduated from University of British Columbia, Canada, Nitin brings to the agency, an experience of 16+ years in business development, brand strategy, product marketing, mobile and e-commerce. Nitin previously was the G.M. and Head of Digital (HHP Division), Cheil Worldwide and prior Digital Marketing Lead – India & South West Asia, The Coca-Cola Company. He started his career with Samsung and since then has been associated with companies like Sapient India, Microsoft in Wunderman, IBM, ITC Hotels, Manipal Education and Vodafone in OgilvyOne, Fritolays, GSK, Readers Digest and Tetrapak in ISHIR Digital.

  • ITC marketing spend trends – FY-2014

    ITC marketing spend trends – FY-2014

    BENGALURU: Indian fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), hotels, paperboards and specialty papers, packaging, agri-business, and information technology company ITC Limited (ITC) advertisement and sales promotion spend (ASP) in FY-2014 was 1 per cent lower at Rs 825.81 crore (2.28 per cent of Total Revenue or TR) as compared to the Rs 834.23 crore(2.57 per cent of TR) in FY-2013.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    The company has a huge brand and sub-brand portfolio and is one of the biggest player in the highly competative FMCG market, that is constantly adding newer and newer product categories and products. Some of the brands and sub-brands under the ITC umbrella across vertials include Sunfeast, Fiama Di Wills, Kitchens of India, ITC Hotels,  John Players, Bingo, Vivels, candyman, Mangaldeep, Aashirvaad, Classmate, Paperkraft, Wills, Aim, Engage and Mint-o.

    ITC’s ASP in terms of percentage of TR in FY-2014 was the lowest at 2.28 per cent over the 11 year period beginning FY-2004 till FY-2014. However, in absolute value terms, FY-2014 ASP at Rs 825.81 crore was the second largest during this period, the largest being in FY-2013 at Rs 834.23 crore. The company’s highest ASP spend in terms of percentage of TR was in 2004 at 3.97 per cent (Rs. 265.72 crore).

    The linear trend in Fig A below indicates that while in absolute rupee terms, the company’s  ASP will be higher in FY-2015 and beyond, ASP in terms of percentage of TR, ASP is likely to be lower or flat.

    ITC’s annual reports indicate some interesting facts. Please refer to Fig B below. The company’s TR has increased by 5.42 times from the Rs 6695.32 crores in FY-2004 to Rs 36288.03 crore in FY-2014, correspondingly, its total expenditure has gone up 5.31 times from Rs 4376.26 crore (65.4 per cent of TR)  to Rs 23236.48 crore (64 per cent of TR); it corresponding PAT too has jumped 5.58 times from Rs 1592.85 crore (23.8 per cent of TR) to Rs 8891.38 crore (24.5 per cent of TR), while its ASP has gone up by only 3.11 times from Rs 265.72 crore (3.97 per cent of TR) to Rs 825.81 crore (2.28 per cent of TR). Even in FY-2013, ASP was just fractionally more at 3.14 times the ASP in 2004. This indicates that the improvement in expenditure has been at the cost of lowering of ASP in terms of percentage of TR.

    Big players like HUL, Britannia and Parle in the foods and FMCG space are vying for the viewers attention and stomach space in the case of food, as ITC Foods division past CEO Ravi Navare once said. Over time, its ASP and specifically its ad spends should grow in absolute rupee terms, and maybe remain flat in terms of ASP as percentage of TR?

  • Cheil Worldwide SW Asia appoints Saurabh Mathur as senior VP

    MUMBAI: Cheil Worldwide SW Asia has brought on board Saurabh Mathur as senior vice president – client servicing as part of the agency’s strategy of building a strong integrated local team. He will be leading Cheil India’s client servicing team and working closely with Cheil Worldwide SW Asia president and head of regional headquarters John Koo.

    Before joining Cheil, Mathur was with Dentsu, where he led the agency’s efforts on all key businesses including Aircel’s Wifi and 3G campaigns, Panasonic business and launch of the Ingersoll Rand group in India.

    Koo said, “Cheil’s SW Asia’s operations are growing at an extraordinary pace. Saurabh’s rich experience and stellar track record makes him ideal to lead the client servicing team. He is highly energetic and is well aligned with the agency vision and philosophy Cheil India to manage the growing business.”

    Mathur said, “Cheil is leading the change with its new model of communication that is holistic in its approach and with a greater degree of integration across disciplines. This represents a great opportunity and I believe it is the right time for me to be at Cheil and drive the change.”

    Mathur has 20 years experience in advertising and has worked with ad agencies like JWT, Contract and Grey. Prior to joining Dentsu, Mathur was at Contract where he was involved with brands like DelMonte in India besides leading the communication efforts for Dabur’s Hair Care and Glucose businesses, Spice Group’s mobile handsets and retail business. At Grey, he launched Suzuki Motorcycles and Ebony Gautier apart from handling other businesses like Wrigley-JoyCo, India Today group, Ranbaxy, Haier, Genpact and Halonix. During his eight-year stint at JWT, he worked on some iconic brands like Pepsico’s Kurkure, Nestle’s Maggi, Reebok, HT, ITC Hotels, Swatch Group and Hero Honda.