MAM
Fastrack ‘moves’ hearts with an initiative conceived by Lowe Lintas
MUMBAI: One of the most youthful brands in India, Fastrack, has come up with a moving initiative celebrating Valentine’s Day. Conceptualised by Lowe Lintas Bangalore, it addresses the conservative section of the society who have held back the LGBTQ+ community in India from enjoying the liberty to love.
Valentine’s Day celebrations in India have always been represented by young, heterosexual couples and big red hearts. This initiative aims to make this day about not just expressing heterosexual love, but love of all forms, embracing all colours of the rainbow. Therefore, Photography – as a tool for self-expression – seemed like the perfect way to portray the newly legitimized love.
Seven photographers, who were handpicked for their diverse styles, were invited to photograph genuine intimacy between real couples from the LGBTQ+ community across the country. Their photographs have been artistically displayed in public places of crowded metros for all to see. The message of each photograph of every couple is simply to 'move on'.
Commenting on the agency's approach, Sagar Kapoor, Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas, said "As a brand Fastrack has always defined its own 'cool'. This idea is one such expression. Expression of another kind of love. Also in execution, we wanted it to have an unbiased lens. We literally got 7 photographers on board to capture this love through their lenses. The captures are hence their interpretation and not just an execution of a creative brief."
This is the first Valentine’s Day after the repeal of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code. While the honourable Supreme Court has decriminalized homosexuality, the battle for their social legitimacy is far from over.
Ayushman Chiranewala, Marketing Head, Fastrack, Titan Company Limited, added further, "Supreme Court’s verdict on Sec 377 was a step in shaping a progressive generation to come, that, however, has not yet helped change the society’s mindset. While there is a lot being spoken, we saw this day as the perfect start to do something to normalize ‘love’ no matter who expresses it.
The photo exhibition is an attempt at showcasing ‘love’ among some of the most conventionally unconventional couples, free of judgement from society and naysayers. As the brand that has always voiced the youth’s opinion, Fastrack has never shied away from taking a stance this is our way of triggering a discussion the multitudes are shying away from. There’s more to be done by Fastrack to celebrate the different individualities. It’s only the first step from Fastrack to contribute to the efforts of finding acceptance for ‘true love’."
The Fastrack initiative will prove to be a one-off, unconventional medium promoting equality, fair treatment and social acceptance of the marginalized LGBTQ+ community, and their right to live and love.
The initiative is live and aims to build greater awareness amongst people. To this end, the photographs have been displayed at prominent places in Bangalore, Kolkata and Noida.
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.
