Air India plans more international flights to save fuel costs

Debt-ridden Air India plans to divert part of its capacity to nearby overseas destinations such as Dubai and Singapore to increase its revenue from operations, according to a report. The move is expected to help the airline get cheaper fuel in the overseas market, thereby reducing operating costs and generating more cash compared with domestic flights. The airline has taken the decision in the face of its inability to raise funds from banks and financial institutions. The airline's daily losses have skyrocketed to about Rs. 20 crore compared with Rs 14 crore a year-and-a-half ago. Air India loses on over 80 per cent of its total 395 domestic and international flights. “We are planning to put eight to ten domestic flights on international sectors. This would bring in a little extra cash. Till the time the newlyset up CoS (Committee of Secretaries) suggests ways to strengthen the airline's financials, we have to look for all possible ways of enhancing revenues,” an airline official said.

Tata Steel, TRIL sign joint venture for new Jamshedpur airport

Tata Steel and Tata Realty and Infrastructure (TRIL) are entering into a joint venture to set up a greenfield airport at Jamshedpur. The new airport will have the capacity to allow commercial airliners such as the Airbus A320 to land and take off, which will pave the way for airlines to connect Jamshedpur with the rest of the country, according to a report.“Tata Steel is in the process of acquiring 600 acres of land in the outskirts of Jamshedpur to set up the new airport which will replace the small air strip presently being operated by Tata Steel. We are in discussions about the exact split of equity stake between TRIL and Tata Steel for this project,” said a top Tata group official familiar with the discussions. In 2007, Tata Steel had said that it had located land at Adityapur in adjoining Saraikela- Kharswan district for an airport which was to have a 7,000-feet-long runway. However, the company had not been able to make much progress in the ensuing four years. By roping in TRIL, Tatas now hope to give the project the required momentum to move ahead.

British High Commission and JCB India organise cycle rally to raise awareness on cancer

The British High Commission organized a sponsored cycle ride with the support of JCB India. Motive of this association was to raise funds for Cansupport and NICCI Cancer Care.

Leading the cyclists were Lady Arabella Stagg, wife of His Excellency Sir Richard Stagg, British High Commissioner to India, and Jane Sanders, Deputy Head Trade & Investment Northern Region, UK Trade and Investment.

The cycle ride was flagged off by Julian Evans, Deputy High Commissioner, from the British High Commission, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Present at the occasion were members of the British High Commission, representatives from JCB India, Cansupport and NICCI Cancer Care. The cyclists were followed by JCB 3DX machines to cheer and support them. The cyclists finished, 45 kms later, at BAAS Village School, Tikli village, off the Sohna Road.

On the occasion Lady Stagg said, “Jane and I have been discussing a charity bicycle ride in India for the last four years and thanks to the generous sponsorship of JCB. It is actually happening for two such wonderful causes, Cansupport and NICCI. We are hoping that this will be the first of an annual 'Charity Bike Ride' in Delhi.”

Mr. Vipin Sondhi, MD & CEO, JCB India Ltd. said, “At JCB India, CSR (corporate social responsibility) is a way of giving back to the society. This cycle rally is a great way of supporting the cause which will ultimately benefit cancer victims. We are grateful to Lady Stagg who initiated such an event that gave JCB an opportunity to get associated with this noble cause.

Marriott International Inc announces launch of Marriott Jaipur

Marriott International Inc. and Dangayach Group announced the launch of the first Marriott hotel in Rajasthan at Jaipur. Owned by Dangayach Group, a local real-estate company with interests in hospitality development, Marriott Jaipur has 365 rooms. It has almost 42,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. In terms of room inventory and meeting space, Marriott Jaipur happens to be the largest hotel in the state. Speaking at the launch, Rajeev Menon, Vice President, India, Australia, Malaysia & Maldives, Marriott International Inc., said that the hotel will help in bringing more MICE groups into the city. He also said that Jaipur Marriott is significant in the Group's quest to put together a circuit of hotels with MICE facilities. Marriott International Inc. already has hotels with convention facilities in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and now there is one in Jaipur also. Hari Mohan Dangayach, Chairman, Dangayach Group, said that it was their vision to set up a hotel with expansive MICE facilities. Pankaj Birla, General Manager, Marriott Jaipur said that the hotel offers a lot of space, which makes the hotel stand apart. He said that 85 per cent of the staff are local and that would help preset local hospitality experience to the guests. Also present at the launch were Don Cleary, Chief Financial Officer, Asia Pacific, Marriott International Inc. and Atul Dangayach, Managing Director, Dangayach Group.

Goa to monitor film scripts before shoots

After the uproar against a few Bollywood flicks, the state-run Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has decided not to allow any shooting in the tourist hotspot without a declaration from filmmakers that the film will not spoil the image of the state.

More than 1,000 days of film shoots are recorded in Goa, mostly on the beaches or in the Portuguese-era mansions, and this trend has seen an upward graph.

ESG's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manoj Srivastava said, “It has now been made mandatory that permission to shoot will be given only after brief synopsis of the film and also a declaration assuring that the movie will not spoil image of Goa, is furnished." Srivastava said that the state government is wary about filmmakers portraying state's image or culture in the negative light.

"The idea is to be little cautious. While we welcome everyone, we should not be taken for granted that you can do anything in Goa," said the CEO of ESG, which offers single window clearance for shooting in the state.

The state has been asking for synopsis of the movie shot, since last two years. Banners like Yashraj Films or Ashtavinayak Productions, which have shot their films in the state have respected the state's regulation by offering the film synopsis and declaration before the shooting. Goa has recently seen big banner films like Singham, Murder-2 and Ladies versus Ricky Bahl being shot here.

Recently, the ESG was taken aback after reports here claimed that a film Anjuna Beach, supposedly portraying the real-time story of British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling, was shot in Goa for ten days, without permission.

Superbrands Honours India's Leading Business Brands

Superbrands, the independent authority and arbiter of branding hosted a Tribute Evening to honour for their achievements and excellence in branding India's leading brands at The Grand, New Delhi. Amongst an august gathering of corporate honchos, brand superpowers and marketing excellence, Superbrands also unveiled the 2011 Superbrands book featuring the story of 50 of India's strongest brands. Only brands that achieved a very high level of recognition were invited to participate in the Business Superbrands book. This compendium traces the history and achievements of each of the brands.

Addressing the event, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, CEO, Superbrands Worldwide Limited, said, “We are witnessing the arrival of not just powerful brands but those which truly wield extraordinary influence on the lives of entire families and on the choices that people make. While India is still an emerging market there is no doubt that these Superbrands that we are honouring will play an exceptional role as the Indian economic juggernaut gains greater momentum.”

Anmol Dar, MD, Superbrands India, & Chairperson, Superbrands India Council said, “It's easy to see that as the benefits of liberation percolate downward more people will dig deeper into their pockets preferring the more expensive but the unyielding promise of better quality that branded products offer to the vagaries of unbranded ones. The greater the reach brands achieve, the greater it may be reasoned, is the economic freedom people enjoy. One look at the developed markets and this equation becomes an inescapable reality.” The 2011 Superbrands Tribute Event was a true celebration of many of the country's highest profile brands, and lived up to its global reputation of being the Oscars of Branding.