MAM
The Leela Palace Jaipur crafts a literary escape for JLF
JAIPUR: As Jaipur readies itself for another whirl of words, wit and worldviews, The Leela Palace Jaipur is turning the Jaipur Literature Festival into an experience that lingers well beyond the final applause. Its newly unveiled offering, A Literary Sojourn, blends festival fervour with palace-bred calm, inviting guests to enjoy ideas by day and indulgence by night.
Set amid the gentle folds of the Aravalli hills, the two-night residency is designed for travellers who like their culture curated and their comfort uncompromised. Guests wake to leisurely global breakfasts at The Aravalli Dining Room before stepping seamlessly into the buzz of JLF, courtesy VIP festival passes, priority assistance and coordinated transfers that remove all logistical fuss.
What sets the experience apart is access beyond the obvious. The stay includes an invitation to the Writers’ Ball, the festival’s much-anticipated closing celebration, where conversations continue long after the microphones are switched off and literature feels personal again.
Back at the Palace, the pace softens. Evenings unfold with signature cocktails at Amber Terrace, followed by a specially curated dining experience in the Palace’s newly opened spaces, where flavour, craftsmanship and setting take centre stage. A Jaipur Literature Festival keepsake offers a tangible memory of the journey, while a 30-minute rejuvenating foot ritual at Aujasya, The Leela’s wellness sanctuary, provides a welcome pause after days rich in ideas and encounters.
Rooted in The Leela’s philosophy of atithi devo bhava, a literary sojourn is less about ticking boxes and more about savouring moments. It offers a fresh way to experience one of the world’s most celebrated literary gatherings, wrapped in heritage, warmth and contemporary luxury, even for those who do not usually read past the first page.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
