Archive: March 2, 2021

Business World

Creativity was on display at VMSIIHE’s student-led event Meraki

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Culinary arts, #V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education

Hyderabad, March 2021: Meraki is a word that modern Greeks often use to describe doing something with soul, creativity and love. And that’s what was evident at the event ‘Meraki’ hosted by the students of V.M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE).

Held entirely in the virtual mode, the vibrant student-led event included a plethora of contests in photography, vegetable carving, flower arrangements, food plating, singing, fashion and more.

“It was challenging to organise, plan and conduct the entire event online but it was a tremendous learning experience for us. We had to ideate and plan the event while working remotely. The experience will help us to be able to comfortably work remotely during the pandemic and beyond”, said Sharlene Colaco a student of VMSIIHE who was part of the planning committee.

Aditya Desai runner up of Photography competition with Prof. Irfan S. Mirza, Director and Principle, VMSIIHE.
Aditya Desai runner up of Photography competition with Prof. Irfan S. Mirza, Director and Principle, VMSIIHE.
Food Plating done by Kevin Raj Silas as part of the Meraki event at VMSIIHE
Food Plating done by Kevin Raj Silas as part of the Meraki event at VMSIIHE

Meraki encouraged students to explore their creative talents to the fullest. The flower arrangement competition saw students repurpose daily objects such as teapots, ladders and even a cycle wheel into dainty and beautiful flower arrangements. The winning entry created by Dionne Gouveia included the traditional Goan grinding stone and a ladder which was adorned with colourful flowers and foliage. The bright colours of the flowers contrasted with the rustic objects. The added element of a jet black teapot with a bunch of bright pink flowers placed in it added to the drama of the creation.

Culinary Arts does not involve merely cooking a tasty dish. Plating the meal to make it look like a piece of art while adding elements which add to the gastronomic experience is a big part of the learning. Participants of the food plating contest were judged on the aesthetics, colours, balance of flavours and textures, all of which make for the perfect plate. First place winner Breanna Moraes’ submission saw a melange of colours and flavours visible on a single plate. Seafood was paired with fresh vegetables and herbs with a hint of flavours from the sauces used which culminated into a beautifully plated meal. Second place winner Kevin Raj Silas’ creation was just as fascinating with beautifully cooked prawns and the crunch of crisps coming together.

The singing and fashion themed contests required students to send in their submissions through a short video which was judged by an external guest and an internal faculty member. Breanna Moraes won the award in the singing category. The photography contest meanwhile saw submissions coming in from a number of students, many of whom had captured the beauty and landscape of Goa through their lens.

Health

Grand Slam Fitness announces collaboration with GIPHY on their 30th year of operations

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Director of Grand Slam Fitness, #Grand Slam Fitness, #Health and Fitness Industry, #Mr. Prateek Sood

New Delhi: Grand Slam Fitness, a health and fitness industry leader and a pioneer in the gym equipment industry for nearly 30 years has recently announced its exclusive collaboration with the largest GIF search engine- GIPHY. For the first time, Grand Slam Fitness aims at increasing awareness by integrating your favorite Indian snacks & foods with fitness.

The idea of the campaign is to showcase popular Indian snacks and foods working out. Some of the popular Indian foods targeted by the campaign include Gol Guppas, Pakoras, Samosa, Tandoori Chicken, and Roti. Other delicacies range from the mouth-watering Jalebi, Kulfi, Chai Cup, to the Gujrati delight Dhokla. These foods are presented in a fun manner doing some sort of exercise. Keeping in mind peoples’ true love for food especially Indian, both Grand Slam Fitness and GIPHY have tried to create a unique food and fitness connection with the Indians.

Giphy Grand Fitne

This viral and engaging campaign was launched with the sole aim to connect with many Indian audiences. It will also help people to understand the relationship between food and fitness. It offers a subtle hint to people that ‘how important it’s to burn what we eat’. The idea of the campaign has been brainstormed by the GSF team and brought to life by the GIPHY artist, Aishwarya Sadasivan. The campaign incorporates comedy, color, food and fitness, thus making it a memorable & at the same time bringing out the uniqueness of the campaign in our daily life.

Speaking about the unique collaboration, the Director of Grand Slam Fitness, Mr. Prateek Sood says, “We were really excited to launch this unique food-fitness campaign on our 30thyear of operation of Grand Slam Fitness. Grand Slam Fitness was launched with one goal, to deliver fitness to every door step in India. Today we are able to generate so much fun for the users. All GIFs that are extensively used on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tinder, Slack, and Pinterest are powered by GIPHY. It is worth mentioning that GIPHY’s creative GIFs are used in iMessage and on IG Story Stickers as well. Hence, we collaborated with GIPHY as GEO (GIF engine optimization) is the future of becoming the first social fitness brand.

Isn’t it fascinating to see a Pav Bhaji doing jumping jacks? It is way more attractive and worth remembering than a person doing jumping jacks, right? The same goes with a person jump roping vs a ‘golguppa’ doing jump ropes, or a person doing sit-ups vs a ‘roti’ doing sit-ups. Such a fun-infused campaign has surely never been seen before.”

About Grand Slam Fitness:

A pioneer in the Health and Fitness Industry, Grand Slam Fitness has been an industry leader for nearly 30 years.Grand Slam Fitness has been associated with world-class and award-winning brands. Grand Slam now deals exclusively with 8 international brands i.e. TrueFitness, TuffStuff, Turbuster Fitness, Landice, Training Wall, Wattbike, Octane Fitness and XPT by GSF. We are currently India’s only exporter of outdoor fitness equipment.

The Grand Slam brand is synonymous with Quality, Design, Durability, Efficiency, Functionality, Ergonomics, and Aesthetic Superiority.

Business World

Demand for spacious units increasing in residential, commercial in demand by investors: Homekey

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Homekey, #top property consultants in NCR

New Delhi: Homekey, one of the top property consultants in NCR, has announced that it is witnessing a healthy sales turnover in NCR’s real estate market and recovering at a fast pace post pandemic. The property consultant has revealed that it has registered an encouraging growth of over 150% in sale of properties during the quarter Nov 20 – Jan 2021 as compared to its precedent quarter (Aug 2020 – Oct 2020).

HomekeyHomekey sold properties worth Rs 30 Cr between August 2020 and October 2020 by selling approx. 75,000 sqft residential and commercial area, which also includes more than 50 residential units. The figures went up in the period November 2020 to January 2021, when it registered sales worth Rs 75 Cr by selling approx. 1.5 Lakh sq ft residential and commercial area including over 100 residential units.

“Post-pandemic, the demand is picking up pace. The revenue figures are a clear indication that people are now valuing real estate assets. It is a matter of few months now for the real estate sector to be back to the pre-COVID sales. One trend that we have witnessed is that the demand for 3 BHK is good, and it continues from the pre-pandemic period. The number of inquiries for spacious units has increased after the lockdown,” says Arfeen Ahmed, Director, Homekey.

In post-pandemic period, the size of 3 BHK units in demand was between 1300 Sqft – 1400 sq ft during August-October 2020, and in the period Nov 2020-Jan2021, the demand for bigger homes increased and went up to 1400 sqft – 1600 sqft for 3 BHK units, which remained in demand. The sale of commercial also increased as people are investing more in this real estate asset due to the return on investment it promises. “Most of the buyers of residential units were end-users, and the commercial was dominated by the investors. In post-pandemic, the same trend is continuing,” adds Ahmed.

Business World

Enjoy Casual dining with your friends & family at Zoobys kitchen!

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Zooby's Kitchen

Casual dining has become interesting after the launch of Zoobys kitchen in Delhi NCR. They are currently having two outlets – one in Jasola and the other in Nainital.

Zooby’s Kitchen is a chain of family restaurants located in Nainital – UK, New Delhi – the capital of India and Noida – UP. The restaurant is a family owned business. It started out in 2009 with its first outlet in Shaheen Bagh – Kallindi Kunj, an area in South Delhi, with Mughlai, North Indian Cuisine and a wide range of Quality Beverages. The interior of the restaurant has been designed to give a slight hill station look. The walls are adorned with framed posters of Nainital’s classic beauty. The restaurant attracts a fairly eclectic crowd and is usually a go to place for youngsters and family! The modern rendition of a Contemporary style restaurant has a lavish and extended indoor and outdoor seating arrangements which enhances and makes the place super interesting! Some of their most famous and best seller dishes are Chicken Kalmi Kebab, Mutton Burrah Kebab, Tangri kebab etc. Not only starters they are also very famous for their beverages which includes – smoothies , various kinds of shakes, Colas, soda drinks, etc.

Zoobys kitchen

The relaxed atmosphere, the beautiful ambiance & the lip-smacking food will no doubt captivate your soul & heart. Keeping the taste in mind – Zoobys Kitchen definitely has to be the new favourite food joint for everyone. The outlet in Nainital is a perfect romantic joint for all the young couples where as the outlet in Delhi is perfect to hang out with your fam jam!

Health

Marking 10 months of Post COVID Rehabilitation

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Helping Hand Foundation, #SEED

Hyderabad: Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), an NGO that works in the Health Care space in aiding weaker sections has forayed into establishing a state of the art & fully integrated Rehabilitation & Home Care Centre in association with US based charity, SEED on a Non-profit model.

In its 1st year of operations, the 30 bedded, Comfort & Care Centre (CCC), set up to bring high quality and low-cost rehab & home care, has successfully treated over 100 patients out of which 50% were for tracheostomy care, 20% was post COVID-19 rehab and rest 30% was neuro and ortho rehab.

With charges at almost 1/3rd or as low as Rs 1500/- per day for Bed, Nursing, Doctor, physiotherapy, ambulance a total cost of Rs 60 lacs was saved in providing rehab services to 100 patients if the same patient were treated in any other rehab centres as per the present rates prevailing in the market.

Helping Hand Foundation
A grateful post COVID patient with the team of doctors, physiotherapists and nurses who helped him recover, on being discharged from the rehab center run by HHF and SEED-USA.

Most of the patients who need rehabilitation care have typically spent a significant out of pocket expenses in critical care, particularly the COVID cases, while undergoing treatment. Expensive rehab care is a deterrent and many prefer to keep the patient at home due to the financial constraints post treatment in the present scenario.

We saw immense amount of fear and stigma in peak of COVID, so much so that even after treatment and testing negative families refused to accept their kith and kin back home, that’s when we thought and dared to start post COVID Rehab for such cases says Mr. Mujtaba Hasan Askari, of Helping Hand foundation.

10 months back – The Comfort & Care Centre (CCC), was in fact one of the first centres to offer post COVID rehabilitation an area which not many had feared venturing into due to the stigma and fear associated with COVID -19.

Till date the CCC has successfully treated over 20 post COVID cases that were in need of rehabilitation care. A combination of O2 therapy, Chest Physiotherapy, YOGA, diet was used for post COVID rehabilitation that saw 98% success rate and most recovered fully and went back home.

Although the COVID cases have come down, the centre has been receiving 2 to 3 cases per month, where patients are coming with lung tissue damage or pulmonary fibrosis who need oxygen therapy along with respiratory physiotherapy, Yoga sessions & Counselling

Alongside In-patient Rehab, the CCC is also offering affordable HOME CARE to patients at door step. The Home care services will comprise of bringing to the doorstep basic primary health care including Bed Side & Nursing care, checking vitals including ECG, wound cleaning, and dressing, administering IV fluids, bedsore care, providing medicines for acute medical conditions all under medical supervision Comfort & Care Centre (CCC), is also offering In patient care for tracheastomy patients, paralysis/stroke, dementia, trauma patients amongst others at affordabe cost.

Thus, good quality rehabilitation & home care with affordable cost is very important for most patients, who invariably spend a huge sum in seeking critical care initially and by the time they need rehab they are exhausted and our model has addressed these two significant issues said Mr. Syed Mazhar Ullah Hussaini, Executive Director, SEED, USA.

Run-on Non-Profit basis, the centre provides 24×7 doctors, nurses, physiotherapist, counsellors, nutritionist, bed side care givers and other support staff in a highly hygienic and sanitised environment. Open Air gym, Yoga, day care physiotherapy and a kitchen are all meticulously etched into the top floor of the complex that give most patients the comfort & pleasure of exposure to light and nature.

Business World

Schools are Gradually Reopening – Should they start Physical Education andSports too?

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Business Head, #Institute of Youth Sports, #Krish Iyengar, #Sportz Village Schools

The year 2021 has started on a positive note with schools in several states of India re-opening, in a staggered manner. However, it is of utmost importance that school leaders give sports and physical education the same priority as academics, especially in the current scenario.

Along with several physical and mental health benefits, sports and nutrition are the two elements that can boost a child’s immunity. World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 60 minutes of reasonably rigorous playtime every day for a growing child to be healthier and fitter. Moreover, according to a 2019 study in the US, children who were not involved in exercising were twice as likely to have mental health problems such as anxiety and depression compared to their counterparts.

In addition to reducing anxiety and depression among children, sports or play also helps with stress reduction, improvement in confidence and higher self-esteem. The reason being any physical activity or sports help produce endorphins within the body that leads one to feel happy and positive. Additionally, by instilling the values of sportsmanship, discipline, and leadership, play or sport also becomes instrumental in the social-emotional development of children.

Sports or physical education not only contribute to a child’s health, immunity, and fitness but also to his/her academic performance. Physical education or sports is an important part of modern education. There are several studies that prove a direct and positive correlation between sports and academic performance.

For instance, “According to research done by Budde et.al, aerobically fit students are 2.4 times more likely to pass math tests and more than twice as likely to pass reading tests than those who are not fit. Also, 20-40 minutes of brisk walking is said to improve mathematical performance in children.”

Moreover, studies have also shown that participation in sports on a weekly basis is associated with higher GPAs in English and Mathematics.

Sports can also be used as a tool to meaningfully engage with children and improve their attention span, attendance, and peer relationships. Additionally, studies have also shown that structured physical activity can improve a child’s classroom behavior by approximately 20%5.

According to the Institute of Youth Sports 20096, most children enjoyed going to school after the inclusion of sports in their timetable.

Sports or play helps build the 21st century skills in children. Play also helps develop the 3Cs of learning in children- Critical thinking, Collaboration and Creativity. Various concepts of science and math such as speed, velocity, gravity, and kinetic energy etc. can be taught to children with the help of sports.

Commenting on the importance of integrating sports with academics, Krish Iyengar, Business Head, Sportz Village Schools, said, “It is heartening to note that the National Education Policy 2020 includes sports and physical activity as an integral part of the education of a child.Integrating play or sports in the core academic curriculum will help educators better understand the thought process and the learning process of a child. Play can also be an instrumental tool to develop formative assessments that focuses on the 360-degree development of a child.”

Business World

‘Shoorveer Sewa Pariyojna’ launched to extend gratitude to corona warriors

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Investors Clinic, #real estate consultancy firms, #Shoorveer Sewa Pariyojna

New Delhi/Noida: India’s one of the leading real estate consultancy firms, Investors Clinic today launched ‘Shoorveer Sewa Pariyojna’ in collaboration with Supertech. Under the scheme, the company is offering interest free, subsidized residential plots and apartments at Yamuna Expressway, with starting price of INR 20 lakhs only. The two companies have joined hands to thank and showcase gratitude towards unsung frontline pandemic warriors.

The project’s proximity to the airport, upcoming film city and industrial hubs will provide convenience to the consumers in terms of facilities and amenities. The scheme intends to help the COVID warriors avail their dream home with just 30% of booking amount and 1% of the remaining amount every month with zero interest.

Shoorveer Sewa Pariyojna is launched only for frontline Health Workers, Government Officials, civil defense officers, postal servicemen, essential Goods’ sellers and Social/NGO workers. The project is situated in sector-22D, Yamuna expressway, Gautam Buddh Nagar. With one bedroom flat (690sq.ft.) and 2 bedroom flat (1000 sq. ft), the apartments offer services like gym, 24*7 power backup, swimming pool, community hall and much more.

On the launch, Honeyy Katiyal, Founder of Investors Clinic said “This is one of our dream projects to honor our pandemic heroes, who served the nation in such challenging times. Their courage, commitment and dedication to ensure our survival during the phase is unforgettable and deserve our deepest gratitude and admiration. We have joined hands with Supertech for this noble initiative.”

The apartments are exclusively golf centric ones. The payment plan has been designed in such a manner that apart from initial investment the balance payment is to be done in ‘interest-free’ installments of up to 35 months from the booking date in order to make it more affordable and within investment reach. Due to availability of limited inventories, the units will be allocated on ‘First come, First serve basis’.

About Investors Clinic:

Investors Clinic has a strong network of 34 offices across India, more than 1.5 lakh sq. ft. of office space and global foray with international presence in Dubai, Doha and Singapore. Investors Clinic’s brand value is -reckoned at more than INR 2000 Cr with a turnover of INR 300+ Cr. Investors Clinic is strengthening its reach and presence very rapidly. Investors Clinic has a proven track record of working with more than 200 leading developers. The company is committed to providing best-in-class customer service through world-class technology, processes and response mechanisms. Investor Clinic is involved into end-to-end property deals, from property value appreciation to new property launches.

Business World

How the behavior of people has changed in the last 10 years towards adventure sports?

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Director-Business Development, #Jumpin Heights, #Ms. Niharika Nigam

By Ms. Niharika Nigam, Director-Business Development, Jumpin Heights

Experiential travel has gained momentum over the years. People want to spend on experiences and creating memories more than ever before, which is a very favourable trend for the adventure sports industry.

Comprising of various diverse activities services and experiences, it has created a niche for itself in all holiday packages and itineraries be it budget trips or luxury vacations.

The term ‘extreme sports’ is associated with high- adrenaline activities like bungy jumping, skydiving, scuba diving, surfing, rock climbing, etc.; They are different from our usual sporting activities, in that they are more mentally challenging than physically demanding. They are more about overcoming fears and consciously establishing equanimity amidst ‘perceived chaos’ or usually fearful situations, rather than a test of skill and stamina. Which is why standing at the edge of the bungy bridge, you can have an athlete back off, while someone at 110 kgs could not only attempt it, but accomplish it as well! Its an entirely different ball game- and we love seeing people face their fears- and rise above them!

Why indulge in adventure sports?

Adventure sports offer thrill, excitement and the adrenaline rush of having accomplished a milestone by overcoming fears. By indulging in these action-packed activities, people get to have their once in a lifetime hero-moment like experiences and memories to be cherished forever. Needless to say, it’s a great de-stressor to shake out of the monotony of an otherwise mundane routine.

It is a common misconception that adventure sports are for fitness/adventure enthusiasts or ‘experts’. Just like any other activity in life, while better fitness levels improve the experience, it is most definitely not a prerequisite. In fact, one must experience these activities to generally improve their joie de vivre or the joy of living!

We have often seeing travellers book budget hotels and spend more of their time and money on adventure and experiential services instead.

What makes individuals choose extreme sports?

> To test our limits

> To face – and overcome- our fears

> Step out of our comfort zone

> The excitement and thrill of it

> To feel alive!

> The happy hormone released because of the adrenaline rush

A once-in-a-lifetime experience and memories to cherish forever

When the pandemic struck us, tourism was the worst hit. However, once everything started getting unlocked, people, as an outlet for being stuck inside, eventually took solace in travelling and adventure sports to satiate their wanderlust.

While these activities are getting more accessible and feasible, it is becoming a natural preference for the avid traveller, which will further aid its growth. One needs to ensure they fit the medical parameters of these activities, such

Summing Up

A notable fact is that these adventure sports are not just limited to already planned vacations. They have upscaled their reach and are now the major reason for a one day travel as well, minimising on the cost of stay and the travel time. Also, an increasing number of festivals are being organised to increase their reach: It was just a few days ago that The Tripura Government recently organized a five-day festival dedicated to adventure sports. This was a brave move, especially during the COVID-19 times. But such initiatives are important for the growth and uplifting of the adventure sports sector. We are hoping that 2021 will come up with its share of opportunities, advancements, and happy times for the adventure sports vertical.

Business World

Operation Food Search Nutrition Manager Named State Policy Representative

Mar 2, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Carmen Berry, #Operation Food Search

Carmen Berry selected to serve on the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Board

 

(St. Louis, Mo., March 1, 2021) — Carmen Berry, Manager of Nutrition Education Programs at Operation Food Search (OFS), was recently appointed as State Policy Representative for the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MOAND) board.

 

As a member of the public policy team, Berry is responsible for tracking state legislative issues relevant to nutrition and health while establishing relationships with key legislators.  She will handle communication with members regarding current legislative issues that affect Missouri nutrition and dietetics technicians.

 

The Missouri Academy—which is the largest group of registered, licensed dietitians in the state of Missouri—is the advocate of the dietetic profession serving the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition, health and wellbeing.  For more information, visit MOAND.

 

“This is the perfect opportunity to stay informed about new legislative information that affects the dietetics profession,” said Berry.  “This role complements my background and experience while enabling me to learn more about health policies that surround food and nutrition.”

 

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd. that provides free food, nutrition education and innovative programs proven to reduce food insecurity.  With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families and increases access to healthy and affordable food.  The agency provides food and services to 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of whom are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 27 Missouri and Illinois counties and the city of St. Louis.  For more information, call (314) 726-5355 or visit Operation Food Search.

Business World

Social media response management tool, Trooya by Germin8 introduces new features

Mar 1, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Dr. Ranjit Nair, #Founder and CEO, #Germin8

Mumbai: Trooya, a proprietary tool of Germin8, an AI based Digital Intelligence company has added tracking and response management of Google My Business and LinkedIn to its application. Trooya is a social media helpdesk that helps brands respond to their customers’ queries, complaints and leads that appear in social media. It also helps brands across the world in streamlining their social customer service with real time insights allowing users on an enterprise level to collaboratively work in real time.

Trooya also features a state-of-the-art chatbot which can accurately handle customer queries in real time, which helps brands respond to their customers day or night without deploying extra manpower. One of the key USPs that Trooya possesses is that it can prioritize customer queries based on their influence, follower count and whether the post is from verified accounts. This reduces the chance that customer issues go viral and spiral out of control.

On the launch of this new feature, Dr. Ranjit Nair, Founder and CEO, Germin8 said “Google My Business has become a vital platform for any business that has physical locations that are visited by customers. This makes it important for brands to treat it as an important channel for engaging with consumers – tracking, analysing and responding to the feedback received here. On Google My Business, due to the campaign which was coined in the early days of the Pandemic “Vocal for Local” there was a sudden rise in the number of reviews for businesses on Google My Business Pages, making it a prominent source of consumer communications. It makes us feel very proud that the development team worked relentlessly and were successful in including support of Google My Business in Trooya.”

Some of the key features that Trooya already possesses are: Enterprise level collaborative workflows, real-time engagement & analytics, safe storage of consumer databases, as well as full history of consumer interactions, etc. It also supports an array of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Play Store, YouTube, and now LinkedIn & Google My Business. It can also be integrated with various Customer Relationship Management Systems.