MAM
MakeMyTrip launches new campaign with its brand ambassadors Alia & Ranveer
MUMBAI: MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel company has launched a new campaign, with its brand ambassadors – Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, to encourage Indian travellers to choose and book from a wide range of alternative accommodations including Villas, Apartments, Homestays, Hostels, Cottages, Farm stays and more through its app and website. Targeted at aspirational Indian traveller, the campaign spotlights the salient benefits of Alternative Accommodations, in a fun and light-hearted manner through its brand ambassadors Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh.
The multi-platform campaign underlines how alternative accommodation options on MakeMyTrip will cater to varied travel interests and needs. From offering privacy to couples, value for money and sense of freedom to a group of friends, access to a private kitchen to a family with kids, the segment provides options to all travel cohorts to get an accommodation that aptly fits their needs.
Sharing his thoughts on the new campaign, MakeMyTrip Group Chief Marketing Officer Sunil Suresh said, “A stay that suits your needs perfectly doesn’t just elevate your experience but is also a travel delight like no other. With over 1,70,000 choices of apartments, villas, hostels and homestays on our platform, everyone is sure to find a place that's just their kind of stay. It is this aspect of travel that we have brought alive through our campaign on alternative accommodations. We have expanded the accommodation choices to fit everyone’s travel needs. We are confident that the campaign will attract a large number of travelers to try these diverse stay options through our platform.”
As part of the television commercial, Alia will be seen in a quirky avatar, advising Ranveer ‘not to worry about space constraints as the booked Villa or Apartment will have enough room for everyone’. First in the series, the two commercials targeted at ‘Group of friends’ and ‘large family’ – successfully delivers the message that ‘travellers will never have to adjust or compromise with space and other accommodation needs while picking these properties. The campaign will be run across social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and YouTube among others.
The campaign is well-timed as demand for Alternative Accommodations gains a strong foothold in the market. A recent survey by the company revealed that more than 48% of travellers are most likely to book an alternative accommodation for their next trip.
Commenting on the growth of the category, MakeMyTrip Limited Group COO Vipul Prakash shared, “At a time when customers, especially millennials prefer experiential travel choices – alternative accommodations are offering quality yet economical, offbeat options and it is only set to grow more popular within Indian travellers. As a platform, our endeavour is to empower our customer with more and more choices so that they always find the best fit at their one stop travel shop.”
Conceptualized by MagicCircle Communications, Hemant Misra, Managing Director of the company shared “The campaign breaks set expectations from accommodations. For years travellers know what to expect and where to compromise. With new accommodation offerings, MakeMyTrip breaks these ‘adjustments’ travellers make and delights them with new possibilities. The distinctive personality and styleof the brand is brought alive by Alia and Ranveer.”
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.
