Brands
Bharat Petroleum introduces Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador for premium petrol ‘Speed’
Mumbai: Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), a leading Fortune 500 Maharatna Energy Conglomerate, is pleased to introduce Olympic and world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra as the brand ambassador for their premium petrol ‘Speed’.
Neeraj Chopra, with his stellar achievements in athletics, epitomizes the essence of winning, performance, and success. His role model status, exceptional journey and unparalleled accomplishments align seamlessly with the ethos of ‘Speed’, making him the perfect embodiment of the brand’s values.
BPCL chairman & MD G Krishnakumar expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “‘Speed’, the hi-performance petrol from Bharat Petroleum personifies peak performance and the thrill of staying ahead each time, every time. Now with bespoke friction modifier technology, your drive fueled by ‘Speed’- not just petrol, is much smoother, delivering accelerated mileage and ensuring peak engine performance. “
We are happy to have Neeraj Chopra, the epitome of performance, efficiency and consistency, embodying the soaring spirit of the aspirational Indian as our brand ambassador for ‘Speed’”.
Echoing similar sentiments, BPCL director (marketing) Sukhmal Jain emphasized the transformative power of sports and the significance of Neeraj Chopra’s association with Speed. “Sports have always been a catalyst for convergence and inspiration. Neeraj Chopra’s winning spirit and dedication to excellence resonate perfectly with the attributes of ‘Speed’, our next-generation high-performance petrol. Neeraj’s partnership with ‘Speed’ will undoubtedly inspire customers to strive for greatness”.
This collaboration with Neeraj Chopra follows BPCL’s successful alliance with cricketing legend Rahul Dravid, who serves as the brand ambassador for the company’s ‘Pure for Sure’ initiative and range of ‘MAK lubricants’. The association with sports personalities like Neeraj Chopra and legendary Rahul Dravid underscores BPCL’s commitment to quality, authenticity, excellence and trustworthiness.
With a heritage steeped in upholding integrity and bringing innovative solutions, BPCL has consistently distinguished itself as an industry leader. Amidst the dynamic landscape of competition, the company’s steadfast commitment to these values has consistently set it apart. The introduction of Neeraj Chopra as the face of their premium petrol ‘Speed’, reaffirms this commitment, reflecting a shared ethos of maintaining the highest standards of performance and reliability.
Brands
Uber launches hotel bookings feature in partnership with Expedia
From hotel bookings to room service at your door, the ride-hailing giant is making its boldest push yet into everyday life
CALIFORNIA: Uber is done being just a taxi app. At its annual GO-GET product event, the world’s leading mobility and delivery platform unveiled a sweeping set of new features designed to plant itself at the centre of how people travel, eat and shop, hotel bookings included.
The headline move is a partnership with Expedia Group that lets Uber users in the United States book hotels directly within the Uber app, with access to a catalogue that will eventually grow to more than 700,000 properties worldwide. Uber One members get 10 per cent back in Uber One credits on all hotel bookings and savings of at least 20 per cent on a rolling list of more than 10,000 hotels globally. Vacation rentals from Vrbo, Expedia Group’s home-rental brand, will be added later this year. The partnership is expected to expand beyond the United States. From June, Uber rides will also be integrated directly into the Expedia app, with push notifications sent to travellers ahead of hotel check-in to book discounted Uber rides for the duration of their stay.
Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of Uber, framed the expansion in terms of the modern condition. “Uber is becoming an app for everything, helping people go, get, and now travel all in one place,” he said. “We’re all living through a moment of real cognitive overload: too many apps, too many decisions, too much noise. At the end of the day, our job is to help people reclaim their time, spending less of it managing the logistics of life and more of it actually living.”
Ariane Gorin, chief executive of Expedia Group, struck a similarly ambitious note. “Travel should feel effortless, and this partnership gets us one step closer to offering a seamless traveller experience,” she said. “By connecting our two-sided marketplace with Uber, we’re bringing Uber rides directly into the Expedia app and Expedia Group’s lodging inventory into the Uber app through our Rapid API technology. Together, we’re helping travellers spend less time planning and more time enjoying the journey.”
Beyond hotels, the product announcements come thick and fast. Travel Mode, available within both the Uber and Uber Eats apps, offers curated recommendations on local favourites, tourist destinations, OpenTable restaurant reservations and on-demand delivery to hotel rooms. Uber One International means the membership programme now works globally, allowing members to earn credits on rides abroad that can be redeemed once back home. A new Shop for Me feature lets users request items from any store, even those not listed on the app. Eats for the Way allows riders in select cities booking an Uber Black or Uber Black SUV to have a drink or snack waiting for them in the car. Voice Bookings, powered by artificial intelligence, lets users book a ride conversationally, without touching their phone. And a redesigned One Search bar consolidates results for places, food and items across the entire Uber platform in a single query.
Uber has now logged more than 72 billion trips since it launched in 2010. The question it is now answering is what comes after the ride. The answer, apparently, is everything else. Whether users want a hotel in Paris, a coffee in the back of a car or a snake plant from the local garden centre, Uber would very much like to be the one to provide it. The app economy’s land grab has a new front-runner.
NOTE: The image used is AI generated and only for representational purposes.
