Solaire Resort and Casino Unveils Its New Plane Livery

Solaire Resort and Casino, the Philippines’ premier integrated resort, in partnership with Air Asia unveils a breakthrough branding project in the Philippines.  

Solaire again raises the bar as it wraps its brightly colored livery on Air Asia’s popular Airbus A320, which is scheduled to embark on its maiden flight this July.  Solaire is the first-ever consumer brand in the country to fully wrap and brand a commercial airline, with an underlying thrust of further promoting tourism in the Philippines and in greater Asia.  

This dynamic collaboration between Solaire and Air Asia represents another step forward in an on-going journey towards providing modern travel and leisure experiences for its customers, with a fresh new approach to their target market.  This partnership will facilitate more passenger and cargo traffic in both regional and domestic flights, and foster stronger trade, cultural and tourism ties within Asia.

“This milestone is a key undertaking between two passionate brands with entrepreneurial and dynamic mindsets. This unprecedented branding project in the Philippines may be taken as a "leadership statement," which attests to Solaire's strong growth momentum in the industry. Yes we are again raising the bar; this time we're taking it to the skies.” says Donato Almeda, Board Director of Solaire Resort and Casino.

Currently, Solaire’s brand colors are donned by just one airplane, but nothing is stopping them from further rolling out this innovative wrap on additional aircrafts in the future with broader partnership arrangements.  The campaign will continue until 2016 and it is envisioned that this high-impact ad in the sky will generate more hype and publicity as the partnership progresses.

Jasper Evangelista, Vice President of Brand & Marketing, Solaire Resort and Casino said, “This aircraft-branding campaign is a strategic branding initiative which would allow us to literally take our brand to greater heights. We have created amazing moments for our customers since Solaire launched last year, and now we’re aiming to further connect with our local & foreign guests and travellers by reinforcing our brand presence in the country’s airports. Sky Solaire will enable us to get immediate traction on this effort and even take it to a level all its own.”

In-line with Solaire’s “Create Your Moments" campaign, which highlights Solaire as the perfect place to create unforgettable memories, this fitting partnership with AirAsia, one of Asia’s leading and multi-awarded airlines in their category, harmoniously evokes the key thrusts of customer service, hospitality, and excitement for both their industries.  This marketing initiative is also primed to open up new revenue streams for both the integrated resort and the airline carrier.

AirAsia Philippines Chairman Maan Hontiveros said, “AirAsia Philippines is a sociable and innovative brand. We also take pride on our collaborative nature. This new livery demonstrates our creative approach to partnerships and marketing opportunities especially with companies that support our vision to grow tourism. We are thrilled to carry Solaire’s brand in the sky and on the grounds at the airports here and abroad extending to as far as our destinations in Malaysia, China and Korea.”

The Solaire experience is stamped with an unparalleled brand of service style, world-renowned Philippine hospitality, top-of-class luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options and impressive gaming facilities, which have all contributed to the way people people view resort casinos in Manila. Many have opted to extend their stay at the resort, to have simply grown to embrace the aspirational and stress-free lifestyle offered to them at Solaire. Solaire Resort and Casino clearly offers the utmost experience of comfort, elegance and luxury in the Philippines right now. 

About Solaire Resort and Casino:

Solaire Resort & Casino, the primary property of Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, is a USD $1.2 Billion integrated destination resort on an 8.3-hectare site in Manila, Philippines opened March 2013. Solaire, a luxury destination casino resort, is the first property to open in the Entertainment City, a government sponsored (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) economic development zone.

Solaire’s Phase 1 features 500 luxurious rooms, suites and bayside villas, 18,500 square meters of gaming space, a wide range of award-winning dining experience and signature restaurants, sophisticated bars and lounges, and an ample multi-level car park. The property has additional 258,721 square meter expansion project under development which is expected to open 3rd quarter of 2014. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.solaireresort.com

CDO Gears Up for Its First CDO Startup Weekend

This July, Cagayan de Oro plays host to its first ever Startup Weekend. Basically, the SW is like a crash course in creating a business. For 54 hours, managers, developers, designers, leaders, product managers, students, and anyone with entrepreneurial goals will gather in one venue to pitch ideas, form teams, and develop and launch startups. The 3-day event is open to both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs.

What Should Participants Expect in a Startup Weekend?

The Startup Weekend is a concept-to-launch event that follows one model. One the first day, participants will be given time to pitch their ideas (usually 60 seconds or less) without visual aids or any other supporting material. Each participant is then given the opportunity to vote for the pitch he likes best and to choose a team. On Saturday, everyone will be busy working with their teammates develop their chosen pitch. There will be discussions on which business models and designs to use, while others will be thinking about marketing and customer development. On the third and last day, Sunday, all groups will have the chance to present and demonstrate their prototypes in front of a panel of judges composed of industry leaders and local entrepreneurs. The judges will offer feedback and choose a winning startup team.

Throughout the 54-hour event, mentors and leaders will move around so participants can interact with them. They can share ideas and even fish for suggestions. The Startup Weekend, after all, is an event for like-minded individuals whose goal is to become a part of global communities by launching their own startups.

Why You Should Join Startup Weekend

There are two main goals that Startup Weekend organizers all over the world intend to highlight. First, to create local startups; and second, to support local businesses. SW is an activity that encourages growth and innovation, especially in the local scene. Anyone who is success-driven will want to be a part of this campaign.

Aside from these, there are other reasons why you should join the Startup Weekend:

·         It is the ideal way to meet and interact with people who share your passion, ideals, and goals.

·         It is the best way to meet and connect with inspiring business leaders, successful entrepreneurs, developers, marketers, and success-oriented students.

·         It is an excellent opportunity for learning from some of the best and most successful people.

·         It is a good venue for welcoming opportunities that showcase your business and creative abilities.

·         It is your chance to become a part of the city and the region’s growing startup community.

Who are Qualified to Join the SW CdeO?

Every Startup Weekend gathers people with varying backgrounds. If you’re a kindergarten teacher wishing to experience a big change in your life; if you are a college student oozing with interesting ideas; or if you are an established businessman who wants to try out something different, the Startup Weekend is for you. Every SW is designed for anybody; for everybody – even for high school students. It is not just for managers, business leaders, or programmers. It is for anybody who is eager and passionate to share, create, learn, and develop ideas.

CDO’s First Startup Weekend

The success and influence of Startup Weekend is evident in the many cities and countries that have participated in the event. There are hundreds of grants around the world at present, and the number of Startup Weekend alumni total to around 100,000.

Kagay-anons will get the chance to become a part of this distinguished group through the Startup Weekend happening on July 11, 12, and 13, 2014 at Capitol University. The intense 54-hour weekend event will have local entrepreneurs and industry leaders serve as mentors for the teams. Startup enthusiasts, marketing people, designers, programmers, developers, students, and anyone interested in developing and launching a startup are invited to register through http://cdo.startupweekend.org/.  

Cagayan de Oro’s first Startup Weekend is co-presented by the Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council, DevCon (Developers Connect), Ideaspace, DOST-ICTO, and Microsoft. Updates about the event can be found through the SW CdeO Facebook Page.

About Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend started in 2007 in Boulder, Colorado when Andrew Hyde decided to gather some people for a weekend of brainstorming for a business idea.  The group spent the weekend working on the idea and bringing it into fruition by Sunday. By 2-009, the Startup Weekend was registered as a non-profit organization. Since then, it has been operating in Seattle under the direction of Marc Nager, who gained full ownership of the organization along with Clint Nelsen. Together, the two developed the Event Model that is currently used in all SWs.

About the CDO ICT Business Council

The Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council is CDO’s recognized and official ICT (Information and Communication Technology) organization. It is accredited by the city government as a social organization. CDO ICT members include BPO stakeholders, members of the academe, computer hardware vendors, and locators. The organization works in partnership with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and government agencies that support its objectives and goals. 

Where were you at 28?

A Profile Article on InancBalci – Co-Founder and CEO of Lazada Philippines

While many of us can only dream of changing the world, InancBalci is already doing it. At 26, he co-founded South East Asia’s online retail tiger Lazada and now, at age 28, he sits as the Chief Executive Officer for Lazada Philippines.

On Being a young CEO

Balci, a Turkish raised in London, attended Purdue University in the U.S. with a double-degree in Industrial Engineering and Economics. Afterwhich, he worked on mergers and acquisitions for an investment bank in London. While working for the investment bank, Balcisaw the eminent potential in e-commerce which led him to join Rocket Internet and eventually co-found Lazada in Southeast Asia.

In the Philippines, Balci heads a pool of more than 300 employees, all of which he works very closely with. With an unabashed outlook, agile wit, and a laser-sharp eye for details, Balci perfectly fits the bill to lead a rapidly-growing online company.

Online Shopping in the Philippines

In a country where shopping malls are practically part of the fabric of the society, online shopping is something quite a number of Filipinos are unaccustomed to – there comes the perennial trust issue on using credit cards, the surprise surcharges, and unfortunately, the products not arriving at all. The malls in the Philippines, on the otherhand, have creatively articulated themselves to be not just shopping destinations but also as a means of recreation (i.e. be it the cinemas, the gaming zones, the restaurants, or as simple as the airconditioning they offer as a break from the raging tropical weather outdoors) - all of these were the issues that Balci had to dispel – and dispel he and his co-founders did. Lazada has made shopping quick, effortless, and risk-free to South East Asia and in the Philippines, this is the same principle that Balci is harping on to the Filipinos. How is this so? 

First, Lazada accommodates all those shoppers without credit cards via its cash-on-delivery payment mode. This is essential given that not everyone has a credit card or is keen on sharing their credit card details to someone – or anyone for that matter. This makes online shopping risk-free for everyone. Being an archipelago of 7,100 islands, accessibility is always an issue – a significant portion of consumers doesn’t have time or access to visit the malls but with a minimum of PhP 1,000 purchase, Lazada offers free nationwide delivery, to customers anywhere in the Philippines, just log-in, shop, and the products will be delivered at the customer’s doorstep. Lastly, Lazada offers the flexibility of having the customers return the products within 30 days for free – provided that the products are in mint condition.

In a span of two years of being in the Philippines, Balci has steered Lazada to further heights and now with more than 40,000 SKUs, reaching 90% of the online population of the Philippines, and ranking as the 4^th top Facebook brand in the country with a direct audience close to 2 Million. What the dot-com bubble holds for Lazada is still yet to be revealed, but one thing is for certain, InancBalci, the 28 year-old co-founder and CEO, is definitely changing the way Filipinos buy.

**END**

About Lazada

Lazada(www.lazada.com.ph) is Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment. Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments and free returns. Lazada mobile applications for Android, iPhone and iPad provide additional convenience to its consumers’ allowing them to shop anywhere, anytime.

For more information, please visit http://www.lazada.com.ph. For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests and promotions, connect with us via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).

PRESS CONTACT:

ARVI PERSAN LOPEZ
Partnerships and Public Relations Manager
Lazada Philippines
3/F Salustiana T. DyBldgPaseo de Roxas corner Perea Street, Makati City PHILIPPINES
(e) a.lopez@lazada.com.ph
(m) +639178239725

Custom Bandanas Help You Express Your Unique Style

Most people like to have a unique look. They like to express their personal style through their clothing and accessories. They want their style to represent who they are, who their friends are and what they stand for. The ability to choose a unique style is something that helps a person stand out from the crowd. Many people realize that they will be judged by the first impression that they give to others. For this reason, they work hard to make sure that the first impression they present is their true self or what they truly want to be.

Most people know that wearing a bandana is much more than wearing a simple covering over the head or on another part of the body. It is more than just a small piece of colored fabric. It actually is a representation of what an individual truly is or what they want to be. They realize that wearing a bandanna is a way for them to show more style and accessorize their already unique outfit. Most people who wear bandannas are interested in making sure that they look unique. This is true no matter if they are using it to wrap their head or if they are simply allowing it to hang out of their back pocket.

There are lots of different bandanas that a person can buy in department stores, flea markets and online. However, all of these are basically the same style. A bandanna is obviously something that adds to the look of an individual. However, when a person wants to stand out from the crowd, they are going to wear custom bandanas. They will be able to choose from a large variety of colors. This will allow them to accessorize properly with their clothing and represent their favorite sports team, their country, or their group of friends. A person can choose to have their name written across their personalized bandanna.

Even though bandanas play a large role in accessorizing the outfit of an individual who is interested in expressing their own unique style, there are other accessories that can help with this. For example, there is a lot of people who carry a flask. Instead of buying one in the exact same style that the vast majority of other individuals already owns, it would be better to buy custom flasks. While expressing your own individuality and uniqueness, you will never lose a flask that has your name on it.

Could Your Business Benefit from Corporate Hospitality?

Most of us have heard of corporate hospitality but you may be unaware of the huge range of advantages it has to offer. This article reveals more about corporate events and enables you to make the most of this opportunity for your business.

If you have never considered corporate hospitality days or events for your business before, you could be missing a trick. There are lots of opportunities to indulge in this area to enhance your business, as well as your relationships with your employees and your clients.

There are many different corporate events that you can treat clients to, mostly based around sport. Football is a sport that naturally lends itself well to the hiring of corporate boxes that come with food and drink thrown in (most Premier League and a number of Championship clubs have the stadium facilities to offer this type of experience to those willing to pay for it), and horse racing is not far behind – the likes of Aintree, Epsom and Cheltenham all have corporate packages and facilities available for visitors to sign up for as a way of making their day out extra special.

 

The one tripping point many business owners see is the fact that they have to pay to enjoy corporate hospitality. Cheltenham racecourse, Wimbledon tennis and all manner of football venues – these all provide great choices when it comes to hospitality, but they all cost money. However if this is how you are looking at the situation you should look to the long term instead.

The key focus when you are looking at investing in this area is to look at the long term picture instead of the short term one. You’ll notice I used the word ‘investing’ there as well. It’s well worth making sure you have the ability to change your mindset if you see every penny you spend as an expense. When it comes to corporate hospitality Cheltenham based or anywhere else, you are investing in the future relationships. These will help to provide more income for your business, which isn’t a bad thing.

You can take your day at Cheltenham to the next level by adding transport to the racecourse via its vintage steam-powered train to your package. While you can drive to the venue, the traffic around the area on race days can be extremely busy and delay your arrival – when you’re paying more than you normally would for the experience, you don’t want to waste a minute! Instead, why not park at Toddington station, enjoy the live band on the platform and cruise to the racecourse on a beautifully restored train with a buffet and bar to keep you and your party suitably refreshed? The journey takes about thirty minutes at a leisurely pace through some of the most attractive countryside that Britain has to offer.

Many business owners tend to add corporate hospitality events to their regular annual marketing expenditure because they work. If they do it regularly it must mean they are getting results – otherwise why spend the money? Keep this in mind when you are considering booking such an event for your target audience in order to get the results you want to.