Percept Sports & Entertainment, the strategic business Unit of Percept One, bagged the brand activation & promotions mandate for Maharashtra Tourism. Percept Sports & Entertainment’s 360-degree scope of work encompassed conceptualizing the complete event design, managing and executing all promotional activities dedicated to promoting Maharashtra Tourism. Taking forward the mandate, Percept Sports & Entertainment conceptualized and executed a 3 day Road Show in Japan from 9th to 11th September, 2015 with support of the Wakayama prefecture, Japan. The Honorable Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis headed the delegation and was accompanied by top officials of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, including Mr. Paraag Jaiin Nainutia, Managing Director – MTDC, Hon. Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs Maharashtra – Mrs. Valsa Nair Singh, Hon. MP. Mr. Ramdas Athavle and Industries Minister – Maharashtra State - Subhash Desai. Hon. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met leaders and businessmen in Osaka on 9th September at Hotel New Otani and Tokyo at Indian Embassy where he pitched in for Japanese investments in India and also pitched for the Tour and Travel operators from Japan to increase the tourism footprint into India. This was followed by the historic signing of the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and the Koyasan University. The MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) road show commenced from 9th September at Hotel new Otani Osaka, followed by a grand event at Koysan to inaugurate the Ambedkar statue at The Koyasan University, in Mount Koya, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, on September 10th. On 11th September a road show was organised for Tour and Travel partners at the Indian Embassy of Tokyo. 12th September saw cultural performances by Wakayama Prefecture where the monks of Kumano performed the traditional trumpet shell act. The event also witnessed some vibrant cultural dance forms from the state of Maharashtra. Speaking on the occasion, Honorable Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra expressed, “Koyasan has been revered as a Buddhist destination, enchanting various tourists and spiritual Buddhists world over. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the creator of the Indian constitution, was also the man who revived Buddhism in modern India and thus, unveiling a statue of the father of Indian Constitution in the sacred Buddhist site in Japan is an utmost honor. I would like to thank the Government of Japan for this opportunity. Mr. Yoshinobu Nisaka, Governor of Wakayama also thanked Mr. Fadnavis and Maharashtra Tourism for this thoughtful gesture.” Secretary, Tourism Government of Maharashtra, Valsa Nair said, “With this road show in the commercial capital of Japan and one of the global cities of the world, we intend to have exchange of ideas and invite the tourist and businessmen alike to make the most out of the inflow of information that we bring along with this road show and explore the opportunities with regards to tourism and investment. This will definitely further strengthen the bond of both the countries with barter of cultural and financial thoughts.” Mr. Paraag Jaiin Nainutia, Managing Director – MTDC, while expressing his gratitude said, “We are very grateful to all those who have made this road show possible and smooth to conduct, my friends and colleague at MTDC, Government of Maharashtra officials, Mrs. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Tajima San the Director, Wakayama Prefecture and the very hospitable people of Japan. We sincerely hope that this exchange of information between the business communities, diplomats and the travel trade delegates result into a successful partnership and influx of tourists in both the countries.” Speaking on this significant account win and the successful 3 day road show across Japan, Mr. Sanjay Shukla, Chief Operating Officer, Percept One said, “It’s an honor to have won the MTDC mandate and we were determined to surpass their expectations with an innovative and memorable show. The entire event execution was a challenge given the distant location and lingo of Japan, but every element and detail was superbly synchronized and managed by every member of the Percept team to deliver a fantastic show that helped to achieve the goal of positioning Maharashtra as a prime investment and tourist destination. We appreciate the level of trust showed in us by MTDC and look forward to handling many such challenging and unforgettable events with them in the future.”
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‘Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!’ ~ goes the adage and it couldn’t have been truer. The Beer Café is set to delight its customers with the largest collection of authentic German brews under one roof for the much-awaited annual Oktoberfest! Those who will not be able to make it to Munich, need not worry as the bar has prepared to bring festivities from the Schottenhamel tent, right here to your neighbourhood. Through the initiative The Beer Cafe aims to create an entertaining month with great offers on buckets of authentic German beers, beer flight (sliders), special food menu, cheerful Bavarian tunes and props for fun photo ops, so that people can capture the beery moments! What’s more? Well, as a customer places an order when the special tunes are playing they are in for a cool surprise! Additionally the bar has shared with us a list of beers the customers must try- All Delhi and NCR Outlets: Erdinger- Weissbier Erdinger- Dunkel, Schneider Weiss Valentins Delhi Only Kaiserdom Weizenberg Paulaner- Original, Hefe Weissbier, Salvator Krombacher Pils The festival is scheduled to be held from Date: 19th September, 2015- 31st October, 2015 Venue: The Beer Café outlets across Delhi NCR
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It is an unabashedly open fact, that the events industry in India is a disorganized business. The consequences of which sometimes have to faced by the artists who come on board with such planners as performers for their event. From changes waiting to be made at the last minute for an event planned months in advance, to the agenda of a corporate event being whispered to an emcee as he is about to start to the show and from waiting for their payments to be cleared after months of performance to haggling over who would pay the hotel bills. There are a lot of things that artists in India do not like about the event agencies today and we at EE met with established event artists Vipin Aneja, Singer and performer, Rupali Suri, anchor, actor and model and Kubra Sait, anchor, actor and model, to ask for the same. 1-Experience not valued- Vipin Aneja begins his opinions by establishing the fact that experience today is not valued most of the times by event planners. He says, “Even newbie performers who have no experience are sometimes paid and put in the same category as established performers who have a considerable amount of experience. Not only is this practice unfair and unjustified but at the same time this brings down the level of the event for everyone.” 2-Tax Issues- Vipin further says, “There have also been times when I have been paid my fees after the deduction of TDS but the certificate of TDS deduction has never been given to me. This I feel is a wrong practice and needs to be changed.” 3-Equipment issues- "Just like guns and ammunitions are the weapons of a soldier, light and sound are the weapons of a good performer, however most event agencies today start of by negotiating over every simple thing. They get cheap equipments for your performance at times to save money and when the performances are not up to the mark the onus of that falls on us”-completes Vipin, 4-No budget hoax- Kubra Sait begins her list by saying that 'hate' is a very strong word to use and she does not hate anything about even planners or organizers. However she feels. there are a few things that event planners need to change in themselves. She says, “Agencies call you today and they start the conversation with fact that the event is going to be a larger than life one, with all top stars coming in however we have no budget for same. It is actually funny at times when they expect us to believe this.” 5-No hospitality- Kubra continues her stance, “Also, there are times when you are booked for an event months in advance however when you reach at the venue on the day you will be told that there is no room available at the hotel.” “As a result we sometimes have to stay at a different location which is so far from the event venue. Also some event organizers disappear immediately after the event has been executed and we sometimes have to sit and wait for our hotel bills to be cleared. I just hope the event organizing industry gets a little more organized in that sense.” 6-Call Timings- Nothing ever starts in India on time, however the call timings for invitees are much in advance. Speaking about the same phenomenon, Kubra says, “We as emcees are sometimes called 4 hours before the show has been started. Many a times even the stage has not been constructed but we are called way in advance and we have to sit and wait for things to get into place which hinders our performance.” 7-The script issues- Rupali Suri says, “As artists there are a lot of issues we face as far as the script of the emcee is concerned. In spite of asking for it much in advance there are times it is only on the last minute where you are handed over that precious piece of paper. There are also times when you literally have to beg them for it.” 8-Payments- “Getting your payments out of some event planners is a bigger challenge than anchoring an event with no script at times. I am not talking about all event planners but yes there are a few who haggle over the budgets from the get go and even after we have settled down for a low fees we are at times not even paid that after the event”-says Rupali. 9-Unreasonable requests- Pointing out the unreasonable requests made by event planners at times, Rupali says,“There are times when event planners ask you to wear a certain type of dress for an event which at times costs more than what you are paid for the event itself. And when you ask them to pay for the same they expect it to be a part of our fees, This kind of experience is certainly the worst for any performer and agencies should restrain from following such practices.” 10-No to greenroom- "There are also times when some event planners do not understand the importance of greenrooms for artists. There is a certain kind of mental preparation that needs to be done before an event and a greenroom helps you to do that. However, most event organizers feel that it is a waste of space and hence no such services are provided. I hope this culture changes soon”-says Rupali Suri as she completes her stance on things she does not like in event planners.
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The EEMAX Global conclave and awards organized by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) was held across 19th and 20th September 2015 at Hotel Taj Lands End in Mumbai. The annual event targeted at the events and experiential industry within India had experts from various parts of the world share experiences from their respective areas of focus. From insightful panel discussions to engaging performances by notable artists and from experiential elements to high profile celebrities, all were part of EEMAX Global Conclave 2015. Here are a few moments we snatched from the event- [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="24504,24505,24506,24507,24508,24509,24510,24511,24512,24513,24514,24515,24516"]
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Gone are the days when merely the announcement of brand name by emcee and logos being present on marketing collateral was enough to make event sponsors happy. Today not only do sponsors want the value for money they invested into the event but also they are looking for a higher level of engagement with their target audiences through it. Those event managers who do not deliver on the above guidelines end up with an unhappy sponsor, who next time opts to go with another event agency, for all its further event requirements. So if you are thinking what you can do to make your event sponsor happy? Well, we have the answer decoded for you as we share 5 incredible ways to make sponsors happy, before and after the event. 1-Establish personal relationships and understand their requirement It is always better to work with a friend than with an unhappy boss. Similarly, making event sponsor your friends can help you a lot in understanding his requirements from the event and deliver on it. Know your event sponsor on a personal level and get down on the basics of the event, streamline and discuss each and every aspect beforehand. Try to make these meetings as informal as possible so that an event sponsors opens up to discussing his ideas with you rather than ordering you to execute them. Even if there are a few glitches during the event execution, there is always the friendship that will be developed which will make your sponsor stick around. 2-Engage the audiences by integrating sponsors brand Even a sponsor has to meet his targets at the end of the day and hence to make sure that your event sponsor is happy with the event, engagement with the audiences for his brand has to be an integral quotient while you design the event. Interestingly, this engagement has to be more evolved and should not seem thrust upon the event attendees. Trying to use the sponsors brand to elevate the fun element of your overall event is the best strategy to adopt here. Through this not only will the sponsor have a big smile on his face but with a happy and engaged audience event managers too can have a sign of relief. 3-Deliver more than promised It is fairly obvious that event sponsors are money minded people and expect you to deliver in more ways than one. However, a guaranteed way to make sure they are happy is to deliver a positive surprise to them on the day of the event. You can perhaps give your event sponsor perks like better seating arrangements to his special guests, or special gift vouchers, or anything that lifts up their spirits even before the event has started. This initiative is a sure shot way to make execution of your event smoother as there will be no grumpy sponsor to obstruct you with complains. 4-Facilitate networking Another way to integrate sponsors into events is by making them network with a lot of people which facilitates them to grow their business. This is an added element into your event which will make sure your organizer sticks with you for a long time for all his event needs. Networking opportunities also add up to the engagement quotient of your event. 5-Provide post-event analysis metrics Most event managers think that there work ends with the event being over but not all of them realize that providing a post-event analysis to your sponsors of what transpired during the event will help them immensely in the long run. This little move on a planner’s part can help them in showing their dedication to an event sponsor and also help them improve with each and every event they execute. These are hardcore numbers such as engagement quotient of the event, savings made throughout the event, what could be elevated the event, the negatives of the event and others.
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It’s surely a reason to be bummed if you’ve missed the EEMAX Global Awards held in Mumbai on Sunday. Not to rub it in but you also missed the opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of DiaMirza, Celina Jaitely, Neha Dhupia, Lauren Gotlieb, and (depending on your preference) the original ‘Bad Man’ of Indian cinema- Gulshan Grover. Did we mention the spectacular performance by Rahet Fateh Ali Khan? Okay, the more we spill the worse you’ll feel so we’ll stop. But we certainly don’t want you to miss the chance next year. So while you prepare to participate and make a clean sweep atEEMAX Global 2016, here’sthe FIRST LOOK at the winners from this year, just so you know what you’re up against. Best Event Marketing Education Program National Institute of Event Management Best use of Digital Marketing for an event or activation Encompass Décor/Design for Best use of Digital Marketing Encompass Best Use of Technology for an Event or Activation Gold- Tro Experiential Silver- Group M Dialogue Factory Best Social Media Amplification or Mobile Application for an Event or Activation Silver- Pulp Strategy Silver- 70 EMG Best Roadshow Activation Gold- Brandwidth Gold- Touchwood Silver- Encompass Best Mall or In-store Activation Gold- Encompass Silver- Group M Silver- Laqshya Live Experiences EEMAX Global Honour Amsterdam Lights Festival Tampa Bay Tourism ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Best International Event Gold- Wizcraft Silver- Cineyug Best Internal Event or Activation Gold- Phase1 Gold- Aura Integrated Solutions Silver- Aura Integrated Solutions Best Event for the Government Gold- Lalooji Silver- Vision Force Best CSR Event or Activation Gold- Laqshya Live Experiences Gold- Encompass Silver- KrayonEdumedia Best Exhibition Space, Retail Display or Experience Centre Gold- TRO Experiential Silver- TRO Experiential Best Consumer Activation Gold- Encompass Gold- TRO Experiential Silver- Wizcraft Best School or Youth Activation Gold- KrayonEdumedia Gold- Laqshya Live Experiences Silver- Encompass Best Product Launch Activation Gold- Event Crafter Silver- Madison OOH Best Dealer Activation Gold- Rashi Entertainment Silver- Event Crafter Best Wedding Gold- Ankita Chugh Silver- E Factor Best Social Event other than Wedding Gold- Touchwood Silver Rashi Entertainment Best Destination Wedding Gold- E Factor Silver- Motwane Entertainment Silver- E Factor Best Décor Design for a Wedding or Social Event Gold- E Factor Silver- Rashi Entertainment Best Ceremony for Sports Gold- TIC (The Innuendo Communications) Silver- Encompass Best Product Launch Event Gold- Encompass Silver- Encompass Silver- Oaks Best MICE Event Gold- Enthuse Silver- Phase 1 Best Integrated Communication for an IP Gold- Fountainhead Silver- Fountainhead Best new IP Event or Activation Gold- Fountainhead Silver- Cineyug Best IP Event & Activation Gold- Wizcraft Silver- Wizcraft Best Televised Event Gold- Wizcraft Silver- Wizcraft Best Public Event (Ticketed & Non-Ticketed) Gold- 70 EMG Silver- TIC Silver- Lalooji Best Signature Event Gold- TRO Experiential Silver- Encompass
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DY Works, India’s premier brand strategy and design firm today announced the appointment of Ms. Amrita Chowdhury as Business Head. An alumni of IIT Kanpur, Amrita obtained an MS from University of California, Berkeley and then an MBA from Carnegie Mellon. She has worked on three continents in Chip Manufacturing, Strategy Consulting and has also led the Harvard Business School education portfolio in India. She holds seven US patents for semiconductor manufacturing. Prior to joining DY Works, Amrita was the Country Director of publishing firm Harlequin in India. Amrita has also written two fiction books and contributes regularly in mainstream media, magazines and electronic platforms. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Alpana Parida, President, DY Works, said, “Amrita joins us at a critical time - when we are searching for new ways to do things - and living our India-centric approach through greater exploration. It is incredibly exciting that she is not from the world of branding or communications - and thus will bring a fresh perspective to what we do and add value immense value to strategic initiatives of the company going forward." Year 2015-16 has been a year of strategic growth at DY Works. In August 2015, eminent brand consultant, Santosh Desai invested into the company in his personal capacity. The company has witnessed almost 3-fold growth in the past six years. Having established its presence across Corporate, Consumer and SME practices with offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, DY Works is now focusing on rural markets. The company is currently conducting an extensive rural research to understand the emerging consumer – new behaviors and beliefs in over 150 villages firsthand. The study seeks to decode the deeper belief systems of Indian consumers in rural India. Given the scale, the study is among the largest qualitative study of this kind in India.
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The EEMAX Global conclave and awards organized by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) was held across 19th and 20th September 2015 at Hotel Taj Lands End in Mumbai. The annual event targeted at the events and experiential industry within India had experts from various parts of the world share experiences from their respective areas of focus. If you haven’t read our post about Day 1 of the conclave, view it here. Following a spectacular performance by Shillong Chamber Choir chiming to the tune of VandeMataram, a session on ‘building events tourism’ marked the start of Day 2 of the conclave where Santiago Corrada, President and CEO, Tampa Bay and Valsa Nair Singh , Secretary - Tourism and Culture, Govt of Maharashtra spoke about the impact and contribution of events towards a state economy. A case study was presented by Rogier van der Heide , Artistic Director, Amsterdam Lights Festival,offering a closer look at the annual extravaganza created in the city using compelling artwork and ‘light’ as a medium. Daniel Rodriguez, Copywriter & Creative Director, DDB Spain, shared a case study of ‘The world’s first ever virtual political demonstration’ in which holograms were used to protest against a new law that violated the right of freedom of expression. The subsequent session was orchestrated by Rajeev Jain, Treasurer, EEMA, and featured a panel consisting Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Delhi Government; Sanjay Kumar,IAS, Commissioner- Excise, Delhi Government; and Vijay Nair, Director, OML. The discussion was focused at ‘Licensing made easy in New Delhi’ and was perceived as one of the most heartening sessions of the day with the Delhi state representatives extending promising support to address the issue. More on that, here. The panelists representing the last session of the day featured intellectual property owners Viraf Sarkari, Wizcraft International, Creators of IIFA; Vivek Singh, Procam International, Creators of Mumbai Marathon; Vijay Nair, Only Much Louder, Creators of NH7 ; and RajeshKejriwal, Kyoorius Group, Creators of Kyoorius Design Yatra. Each speaker shared his unique experience of creating a successful IP and the challenges that riddled their respective paths. Find a detailed look at the discussion here. After a power packed conclave the evening graduated to the much awaited EEMAX Global Awards. Encompass achieved a clean sweep by bagging 11 awards across all categories, followed by Wizcraft with 6 wins, TRO with 5 and E Factor with 4. With this year’s awards the new EEMAX trophy was also unveiled to the fraternitycreating aspiration for many who did not win. The event saw the likes of Bollywood celebs including Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia, Celina Jaitley, Gulshan Grover and many others and performances by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Lauren Gottlieb, Stars of India’s Got Talent and singer-duo Raftaar.
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