MAM
GroupM Dialogue Factory’s Katgara moves out, co-founds marketing solutions co
MUMBAI: Group M Dialogue Factory Business Group Head Farhad Katgara has moved out.
Farhad has been part of the advertising and marketing community for over 16 years. He started his career as Assistant Manager (Production) with Resources & Beyond, a support agency for Lintas, McCann Erickson, Tata Nova, Seventy and many more in 2000. He was also associated with various event companies like Showtime India Pvt Ltd, LIVE 1 Entertainment, CATPRO Events, Rams Relationship, Seventy, Cineyug Worldwide and Leo Brunette where he has successfully planned and executed events. His last stint was as Business Group Head at Group M Dialogue Factory in March 2017.
Farhad has also successfully planned and executed events and activations for brands like HPCL, Mumbai Police, Lakhme Fashion Week, Smirnoff, Launch of Fiat Palio, Samsung Blue I & True I, Axe Deodorants and many more. During his career, Farhad has built and developed large teams providing brand development support through, events, sales promotion campaigns, visual merchandising and product merchandising.
With years of experience in live concerts, corporate events, awards and corporate shows, Farhad has co-founded Resources Go Beyond, a result based Integrated Marketing Solutions provider.
Resources Go Beyond is looking at coming up with three IPS this financial year. The first one is a Horror Short Film Festival slated for May 2017 in Mumbai.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
